Rate the U: Skillsinho strikes again

Ilson Pereira Dias Júnior was a huge part of the Union’s blow out win in Chester last Saturday night. Philadelphia left the pitch with six goals and remained top of the table in the Eastern Conference. Ilsinho scored the go ahead goal for The Union in the 47th minute, right after half time. Following this goal, the flood gates opened for Philadelphia.

The 33-year-old has proven himself to be a great weapon for Jim Curtin coming off the bench in games. He uses his dynamic playing style and bursts of speed to tear up the tired legs of the opponents defense. Ilsinho has rightfully earned the nickname Skillsinho for his highlight reel of moves and goals in his time in Chester.

Jim Curtin came in second this week, with an average rating of 4.81. Curtin also was elected to the Head Coach of the “Team of the Week” for MLS. He’s been very impressive so far this season and the chants for “close the Curtin” are starting to become more of a whisper although I believe he is on thin ice still. Some of the fan base, including the Doopy Brothers podcast, believe this could be the year for Jim Curtin to win the Coach of the year for the MLS.

Sergio Santos also found himself in the top three of the Community Poll this week. Santos has not played for the first team since the second week of the season, suffering multiple injuries in the past couple of months. He came on to the pitch to play for only 26 minutes but was able to do what he came here to do and what many of the Union fans were hoping for. He scored two goals in a five-minute span and recorded five shots on goal.

Fafa Picault and Brenden Aaronson were on the bottom of the Community Poll this week, which isn’t really fair to Aaronson because he left the game in the first half with an injury. But it is interesting that the Community still rate Fafa at the bottom of the table. Going forward it would not be surprising to start seeing a starting duo of Kacper Przybylko and Sergio Santos starting at the top of the formation and Fafa to be used more as a dynamic player to be subbed on.

Thank you to everyone who voted this week in the community poll, don’t forget to tune in after the game on Saturday for our next poll after the Toronto FC game, which starts at 3 p.m.