The Union are back in action tonight, but this is a less than competitive match. They meet English Premier League (EPL) side Swansea City. This match is an opportunity for players to get a run through against a lower-tier EPL side in their preseason. Jim Curtin said fans could see a lot of player rotation in this game. So who could feature in the Union’s friendly vs Swansea? Some Union regulars will likely get some minutes to shake off rust. However this match is for bench players, and Bethlehem Steel players to show their worth to the coaching staff.
This match will be one where bench players will have time to show the coaching staff that they deserve more time in the 18 or starting 11. The Usual suspects on the bench have all had runs late in games, but none have been so inspiring as to break into the starting 11. This could change tonight. Players will likely get 15-20 minutes agaisnt an EPL side to show their worth I’d look for these Union players to get minutes:
Jay Simpson, Marcus Epps, Fabian Herbers, Roland Alberg, Adam Najem, Ken Tribbett (at CDM NOT CENTER BACK), Warren Creavalle, Brian Carroll, Josh Yaro, Richie Marquez, Keegan Rosenberry, Auston Trusty, Aaron Jones.
Of these players Simpson, Alberg, and Rosenberry have the most to gain from these valuable minutes. All three are one spot shy of the starting 11.
Simpson:
Jay will need to score a goal or two in his time to jump Sapong. His form was good at the beginning of the year, but his injury and Sapong’s early season highs have been enough to keep the English striker on the bench. He needs to show reason for him to be back in the 11.
Alberg:
Roland will need to show his distribution skills, and key passing abilities to jump Ilsinho at the moment. His defensive movements have improved this year. If he can keep this going and show true play making abilities, then he could find himself back in the 11.
Rosenberry:
will need to put in an impressive shift to win the right back spot form Gaddis. He has had oppertunities this season, but last years rookie of the year runner-up has struggled. He’s having a sophomore slump, but that could all turn around by stopping premier league attackers
All of these players have one to two players ahead of them on the depth chart maybe a good shift agaisnt Swansea changes that. Who knows?
Last season, Bethlehem Steel’s Derrick Jones had the opportunity to play against EPL side Crystal Palace, and he shined. Not long later he was signed as a Union. Could we see the same thing this season? There are a lot of players who deserve the chance to prove themselves. Here are a few players from Bethlehem Steel that could feature today and give the coaching staff cause for signing them to the first team:
Seku Conneh, Anthony Fontana, Mark McKenzie.
All of these players would be missing a game Bethlehem Steel game tonight, incidentally Steel are on a seven match unbeaten streak their longest in club history. If these players are allowed to miss this coming Steel match, it’s because they are going to have a shot at securing a contract with the first team.
Conneh:
Seku is a great speedy attacking player. He has scored seven goals for Steel in the past two years. He’s been the number one striker this season. His pace and ability to hit a shot make him an obvious choice for a look at first team minutes if he can play agaisnt Swansea and be his normal dangerous self, maybe he will get that first team contract.
Fontana:
Anthony is a 16-year-old, who has impressed over the last year and a half. He went to through the academy, and he’s played in a few games with Bethlehem Steel over the last few years. While he is a young kid he doesn’t show much fear. His debut for Steel was agaisnt FC Cincinnati who sell out their stadium with around 20,000 people. He loves to make attacking runs and being a playmaker, maybe he can do that agaisnt Swansea and find himself signing a Union homegrown contract soon?
McKenzie:
Matt is another youngster who has risen through the Union’s academy, to Bethlehem Steel, and now looking to make the leap to the Union’s squad. The recent grad of the Union Academy has been a good center back for Steel. Like Auston Trusty before him, McKenzie has shown that his skill warrant’s a bigger stage. That stage could be agaisnt Swansea. While the Union have a good amount of center backs, this could be the chance that McKenzie has to shine on a bigger stage.
These players could have a chance to move to the highest tier of professional soccer in the United States by performing well. If these players are with the union tonight, they will have to prove if they are ready for MLS.
The yearly international friendly is always a fun exhibition where Union fans get to see a lot of different players play. It’s a great opportunity to see players compete for moving up the roster/seeing players play their way onto it.
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Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
