Rate The U: Wagner gets his second player of the week honor

Kai Wagner for the second time this season is the Brotherly Game Player of the Week as voted on by readers in our Community Player Ratings poll.

Kai has been playing impressive soccer so far in the beginning of this season, getting an average vote from the fans this week of a 4.59 out of 5. It is becoming clear why new Sporting Director Ernst Tanner brought him to Philadelphia before the 2019 MLS season started.

Kai seems to be the type of left back Tanner was looking for in the offseason. He fits well into the Union’s new high pressing attack system. Unlike last year the Union don’t have overlapping wings on the outside to keep the game wide. Wagner in his left back defensive position is able to get into a high attacking position by himself on the left wing with the ability to be there for a passing option and send the ball into the box while the other players get into scoring positions.

The 22-year-old left back could become a quick fan favorite in Philadelphia, a city that seems to get behind their strong defensive players, such as Fletcher Cox, Shayne Gostisbehere, Ivan Provorov, or even Keegan Rosenberry, before Keegan he was traded in the offseason to the Colorado Rapids.

After a strong and emotional performance in week four, David Accam took the starting position next to Fafa Picault at the top of the formation from struggling striker Cory Burke. Accam was able to score another goal against FC Cincinnati and register another assist, but was not able to get enough votes to beat out Kai Wagner for Man of the Match this week scoring an average vote of 4.57.

Another notable fan reaction from the poll is Jamiro Monteiro, the new center midfielder recently signed to the Philadelphia Union. Monteiro made his Union debut last Saturday after becoming available for the match the day before. The fans only had the chance to see Monteiro for 19 minutes, but still rated him at 3.69, ahead of Picault and Burke.

The next match for the Union will be at home against FC Dallas, Saturday April 6th at 7:30 p.m. Check out Rate the U after the game Saturday to vote on the Man of the Match for week six.