This past Wednesday night, the Union traveled north of the border in search of points agaisnt a Montreal team that was decimated by injuries and Gold Cup absences. Philly fielded a strong lineup missing only three starters, and executed a pressing style of defense early. Fafa Picault turned Montreal over inside their own box. Ilsinho was making a bounding run in the box as well. Picault decided to shoot from an acute angle. He missed. After the miss Ilsinho, and the trailing Roland Alberg, let Fafa know of their unhappiness. This behavior set the tone of the match for Philadelphia. Selfishness and bickering lead to the Union’s most recent loss, and it will need to be snuffed out when the team takes on Columbus.
The bickering and selfishness was vibrant in the match. The Union were out of sync in a game that was very important. The players put on the field were strong, but a lack of cohesiveness in the attack, and stability in defense created the issues that resulted in the loss.
Curtin: "The guys were disappointed (Fafa) didn't square the ball. At halftime, it was as heated as a conversation we've had."
— The Union Soccer Podcast (@UnionSoccerPod) July 21, 2017
Against Montreal, the Union played Alberg at the 10 and Ilsinho on the wing for the first time in 2017. This proved to be one of the reasons the offense had no cohesion. All four of the attacking players possessed different skills, but none of them are “playmakers.” Fafa is a speedster, Alberg is a scorer, Ilsinho is a skilled dribbler and Sapong is a hold up, target forward. The lack of playmaking was evident throughout the team agaisnt Montreal. Players that usually step up to claim the role of playmaker didn’t make plays agaisnt Montreal.
Via the DisCo, Roland Alberg has been suspended for Saturday's game vs. Columbus pic.twitter.com/PY1HzC31GR
— Matthew De George (@sportsdoctormd) July 21, 2017
Alberg had a tough time. He had very little impact on the match. He always seemed a step too far behind. When he was with in the midst of the action he was decent. He scored a goal that was called offside that would have preserved a point for the Union. His defensive play was lacking. A late challenge resulted in a yellow card. A further look by the disciplinary committee found the tackle to be reckless, and suspension worthy.
Ilsinho had a bad night as well. His dribbling usually helps him evade defenders, this was no the case agaisnt Montreal. He couldn’t beat anyone, and was lacking on the defensive side. Haris Medunjanin also had a quite game. He’s usually the one that takes on the playmaking role, but was absent for most of the match. The defense also struggled.
The back four collectively were late to react many Montreal attacks. Giliano Wijnaldum was late to respond to the attacks that lead to both goals. The center backs Oguchi Onyewu and Jack Elliot let a ball go between them that resulted in a goal. The midfielders did little to help the back line, especially on the goal scoring moments. All of these issues will need to be corrected as the Union travel to Columbus. How can the Union learn from their loss at Montreal?
More Cohesiveness in the attack:
The Union’s attack has been stagnant and different almost every game this season. One game, the wingers control the flow of the attack. Another Sapong dictates it with his hold up play. Gone are the days of the Nogueira and Barnetta types of attacking. The types where Philly could have a playmaker on the ball and have numbers pushed forward for multiple options. Now it’s a different one-way street each game. Some games, like the last one at Montreal. The offense is nonexistent. The Union need to be more cohesive in their attack. Build through Haris Medunjanin, and get numbers forward. That should be the plan at least until a playmaking number 10 is brought in.
Better fluidity from the whole team:
The Union’s recent play style has been choppy to say the least. They need to get back to a fluid unit that moves together. Whether it be having players move as a group going forward, or shift as a group while defending. Fluidity will create mismatches in the offensive end, and limit mistakes on the defensive end.
More team defense:
With the idea of fluidity in mind, the Union need to defend better as a team. There have been too many times where there has been no help for players. The Outside backs have been left on islands recently, getting little to no help from the wingers/center backs. There needs to be more help in dangerous situations. The Union couldn’t snuff out chances for Montreal on Wednesday, and they paid the price of getting no points from the match. Fixing this problem will create solid performances by the entire team, and give Philly more chances to win.
Kill the bickering and selfishness in the locker room:
Jim Curtin talked about how the players were going back and forth at one another, and how he let it go because of the good competition it creates. If this happens more often, this could prove to be the downfall of the team. Spats and selfish play as a result of those spats will create a team that misses every opportunity to make the final pass to an open teammate. It will create a team of players trying to put the team on their backs. The Union need to come together, and the players who are thinking selfishly should be benched. This is a team sport, the only way the Union make the playoffs are by ceasing every opportunity that comes their way.
Play guys who are hungry:
Ilsinho back in the middle and Epps on the wing. Bring in Najem at 70' Also Bedoya back in the midfield! #DOOP https://t.co/TrlyfotwDG
— Tim Lovenguth (@Tim_Lovenguth) July 21, 2017
The Union have played a lot of players who have talent this season. However, some have gotten comfortable with lackluster play. Now may be the time to play those players who are hungry for opportunities to break into the first team. Players like Marcus Epps and Adam Najem deserve chances to make a mark on the season. Resting the players ahead of them on the depth chart would, one, give those starters rest and also give them a chance to see why they are no longer seeing the field, and two, would give those young hungry players the chance to leave their mark. So far there has been little of this, now may be the time to do it to re-energize this squad.
So we may see Epps wide left, Ilsinho in the middle, Bedoya wide right, and Creavalle/Najem at the eight? 🤔🤔🤔🤔 #DOOP https://t.co/dsshPjiaG5
— Tim Lovenguth (@Tim_Lovenguth) July 21, 2017
What should we expect?:
The Union are six points out of a tie for the sixth and final playoff spot. They play two games against Columbus in five days taking six points from those matches, especially since they dropped points at Montreal, should be the goal of this team. Anything less than four points from these matches could put a damper on those playoff hopes. So, the Union start this home-and-away by playing at Columbus. Because of injuries, suspension, Gold Cup, Philly will be without: Chris Pontius, Andre Blake, Derrick Jones, Roland Alberg and possibly Fafa Picault who took a knock in Montreal. This will call for roster rotation in one of the two games. The first match is where the Union will be the most shorthanded so I’d expect some kind of change in the lineup. The squad for the first match could look like this:
McCarthy, Fabinho, Elliot, Onyewu, Gaddis; Medunjanin, Creavalle; Epps, Ilsinho, Bedoya; Sapong.
Subs: McGuire, Yaro, Rosenberry, Creavalle, Fafa, Najem, Simpson.
This lineup would be if Fafa couldn’t start, but made the bench. Look for Charlie Davies to replace Fafa on the bench should he be ruled out of the match. This squad is different, and showcases changes from Wednesday. Fabinho could come in to help solidify the left side, after Wijnaldum’s bad showing. Epps would come in for the injured Fafa. Bedoya, who is back from Gold Cup duty, would start on the wing, due to the shortage of wingers. This would move Ilsinho to the 10 while Alberg is suspended. Some rotation could help them get the result in a much need match.
This Union are desperate for points. Playing against an eastern conference foe, and responding to a bad game could help propel them to three points in Columbus.
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Follow me on twitter @TGing21 for Soccer Twitter fun! Coming soon: A look at the Gold Cup semi-finals and A look back at the Union’s weekend away match at Columbus. Until then, Peace out!
Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports
