It’s been a long four month off season for Philadelphia Union. Sporting Director Ernst Tanner has changed the teams tactics from a possession based team in a 4-2-31 formation, to a high pressing compact team in a 4-4-2 diamond formation. As the Union take on struggling Toronto FC, Tanner’s tactics will be put to the test!
The change in tactics
The Union will certainly look different when they take the field tomorrow afternoon. Coming off of their most successful season ever, the Union have a lot to live up to in 2019. This led to Ernst Tanner wanting to change the identity of the team.
Until we saw the Union played a 4-4-2 diamond in preseason, there was a lot of speculation of how this Union side would lineup. Talks of a 4-5-1, 4-3-3 or 3-5-2 lineup were thrown around. While those formations don’t look to be how the Union function, this team will be very open to tactical shifts in different game situations.
Ernst Tanner said yesterday that Jim Curtin will be allowed to make in game changes that give the team the best chance to win. Ernst and Jim decided that the default formation will be a 4-4-2 diamond formation, but if the Union have to change to better suit them in the flow of a game, we could see a formation change! This is huge, and will be the first time Jim Curtin has been allowed to change his team on the fly since 2015.
Amid all the changes tactically, the personnel also changed, which will mean an even different look for the Union.
The change in personnel
This off-season many familiar faces have left Philadelphia. Most notably, right back Keegan Rosenberry and Striker CJ Sapong were dealt to Colorado and Chicago respectively. Couple those moves with additions of Marco
Fabián, Sergio Santos and Kai Wagner, and also committing to play many homegrown’s at the first team level and this squad looks completely different.
These new players and young players will be asked to play in different formations that will not feature traditional wingers. This means all the width in the attack will have to be accomplished by the outside backs. The fullbacks are a big question mark.
Will the left back spot be newcomer Kai Wagner’s spot or homegrown Matt Real’s spot? Will Oliver Mbaizo take over Keegan Rosenberry’s place, or will it go to veteran Ray Gaddis? Whoever plays in those wing-back positions, they will need to help create width on offense and still be able to defend smartly and strongly against the opposition.
With all the personnel changes, and formation changes this Union side will have to be firing on all cylinders to beat Toronto FC. TFC seem to be crashing their way into regular season play, which could be dangerous.
TFC’s recent struggles make them dangerous
Toronto FC sold Giovinco, and have yet to replace him with another DP attacker. The Canadian Champions have already been playing meaningful soccer, in the Concacaf Champions League.
They were effectively eliminated in their first CCL match against in a 4-0 loss to a Panamanian CA Independiente side who were supposedly miles behind TFC’s quality. Now they have to swallow their pride and try to get back on the right track against the Union in the opening game of the MLS season.
Toronto still has Michael Bradley, Jozy Altidore, and their MLS Cup winning coach Greg Vanney. While all three will be fuming after getting knocked out of Champions League, Toronto will be with out Altidore who is still recovering from off-season surgery. Even so TFC will try to take out their frustrations against Philly.
Toronto played in the second leg of their CCL bout where they drew CA Independiente 1-1 back on Tuesday. This was not a result that kept their CCL hopes alive. Toronto looked to be playing in a flat 4-4-2 formation, and it was close to a full choice lineup. This is good new for the Union, as many of the players may be tired playing four days before.
Even if their squad is tired, they will be out for blood. They are seen as a laughing stock in MLS right now; a win vs the new-look Union would change that perception quick. If they can exploit Philly while the Union’s fullbacks are high up the field they could just beat the Union.
Speaking of the Union’s fullbacks, let’s take a look at how they could start the game.
How will the Union lineup?
I see the Union opening season 18 being as follows:
The Starters
Cory Burke and Sergio Santos up top. Burke’s strength and nose for goal coupled with Santos’ speed and lethal left foot make this attack partnership strong in the first game of 2019.
In the midfield diamond, new signing Marco Fabián plays in the number 10 spot. His was brought in to play this role, and we’ll get to see how he odes as the season gets underway.
The shuttlers behind him will be Alejandro Bedoya on the right side, and Ilsinho on the left. Bedoya is going to be more of that grinder who plays more of a box-to-box role, while Ilsinho will be asked to help create offense when the Union transition forward. Jim Curtin said the team would be very attack minded at home, so I see them starting Ilsinho for his creativity in the attack.
Haris Medunjain reprises his role as a deep laying play-making number six. This year it will be at the base of diamond. Any little slip up, and it could be Derrick Jones time as more of a destroyer in the six role.
The center backs will be the Homegrown duo of Auston rusty and Mark McKenzie. They have a full season of MLS experience under their belts and now it’s time for both to show they can make the jump to being elite, European club caliber, center backs.
The most up-in-the-air positions are the full backs, but I see Kai Wagner starting on the left and veteran Ray Gaddis on the right. Both will be asked to do a lot; the game could come down to their play.
In goal, it’s Andre Blake. He’s playing to show clubs around the world that he is a premier talent. He’ll help lead the young back line in front of him.
Bench players
On the bench Carlos Coronel will be the back up keeper. Jack Elliot will be the third center back who could come in in a pinch and keep the fires out. Matt Real gets the outside back spot on the bench in case Wagner or Gaddis need a sub.
Derrick Jones will be in the 18 as a player who could play any of the three lower positions in the diamond if need be. Brenden Aaronson will be on the bench as well ; he’ll cover the top three spots of the diamond if a substitution is needed.
Fafa Picault will be one of the replacement strikers on the bench, and we could even see him come in in one of the top three diamond spots if the Union want to go very attack minded in the later stages of the match. David Accam will also be there as a striker substitution. If there was a way for the Union to have Santos, Picault and Accam on the field late on you’re talking about punishing TFC with blazing speed.
We’ll see if the Union roll out this lineup tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. when the season kicks off!
The Season Starts Tomorrow! Get Hype!
It’s time to get hype for the Union season kicking off! We here at Philly Sports Network have you covered with the content. Check out our match preview, make some predictions on the Union’s season, and see what Auston Trusty sees as the keys to victory against Toronto.
Match Preview: Philadelphia Union start MLS campaign vs Toronto FC
You make the picks! Predicting the 2019 Philadelphia Union MLS Campaign
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