Matchday roster full of question marks as Fafa Picault and a shorthanded Philadelphia Union look to get on same page before Saturday night

Fafa Picault spent some time Thursday morning chatting with PSN’s Matt McClain about the upcoming home match against Columbus Crew SC Saturday night at Talen Energy Stadium.

Fafa Picault will be called upon for the Union with a short handed squad in their fourth match of the 2019 season. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports.

The Philadelphia Union coaching staff have a very difficult task ahead of them tonight as they welcome Eastern Conference foe Columbus Crew SC in Chester Saturday night with a heavily depleted roster.

Five Union players have earned international call-ups with their respective home countries while three other players are sidelined with injuries. To cause even more headaches, veteran playmaker Marco Fabian will be sidelined once more following MLS’ decision to extend his suspension to two games. Fans remember too well Fabian’s red card at Kansas City when he landed studs up on defender Johnny Russell.

As of Wednesday, Union Head Coach Jim Curtin fully expected Fabian to be a part of the matchday roster. However, that will not be the case tonight after MLS announced Thursday night their decision.

Curtin and his staff now have some tough decisions to make. Strings need to be pulled in order to make their matchday roster compliant with league rules. As of late this week, there were 10 players holding international roster spots, two more than the league allowed eight spots. The team already loaned German back-up striker Kacper Przybylko to Steel FC which removes an international spot but more maneuvering is needed.

According to team sources, two players were to be set up with green cards by this point in the season but immigration bureaucracy has been painfully slow. New loanee Jamiro Monteiro has yet to receive proper immigration papers, leaving Curtin and his staff checking in minute by minute to determine if Monteiro will be available for selection tonight.

Fabian has been rumored to be loaned to Steel FC which would free another international roster spot, but official word on whether USL officials will allow the suspended MLS player to participate is unknown at this time.

For Fafa Picault and the other Union players, Saturday night’s matchup will be a difficult test. “Obviously, there are players missing so we need to find a way to gel with whoever is going to be in the group. It’s important that we move forward while those guys aren’t here with the same tactics but of course with new personnel. That’s probably the key to this weekend: getting everyone on the same page,” said Picault during a phone conversation Thursday morning. “The group has quality and we’re looking forward to it.”

Curtin mentioned similar thoughts during his weekly press conference Wednesday. “You have some injuries and international call-ups, which is a good thing but at the same time, we’re piecing together our lineup now and preparing for Columbus. The last thing we said in film today is that our great effort at Atlanta means nothing if we don’t follow it up at home and get a result against Columbus,” said Curtin.

With Sergio Santos sidelined with a nagging injury and Cory Burke with the Jamaican national team, the Union only have two forwards on their roster: Fafa Picault and David Accam. Of course, Przybylko will most likely make the matchday 18 but whether or not he’ll start is up for debate. Accam has certainly earned a right to make a starting appearance as well given his ability to influence games with speed in the final third. Tough decisions await Curtin and his staff for sure.

For Picault, however, the changes aren’t necessarily as drastic as they’ve been made out to be. “The beginnings of seasons are always tricky. As a group, I feel that this last game definitely helps us confidence wise – at least seeing a point on the board. We just want to move forward from it and bounce up in the table. We’re definitely ready for it and looking forward to the opportunity to try and jump up the table,” said Picault.

In other words, it’s simply business as usual. Professional soccer players are expected to handle roster changes with grace while never sacrificing any competitive spirit at the same time.

Regardless of who suits up for Philadelphia, the goal remains clear: earn a result or their impressive road result last week would become meaningless. And missing players cannot be an excuse for Curtin and his club. And it seems everyone understands that.

“Some faces that haven’t gotten minutes yet are going to be called upon to be starters and as professionals, that’s what you play for,” said Curtin.

So consider tonight’s matchup as an early litmus test of sorts for Philadelphia. Not only is the team adjusting to a new style of play and formation, but now they’ll have to do so with some new faces in the matchday 18.

“There’s maybe going to be some guys that haven’t gotten minutes mixed in with guys that have been getting all the minutes. I think it’ll be fine,” said Picault.

Picault will look to make impacts up top for Philadelphia as he continues to strive for good form in front of net. He had one real solid chance so far this season but his attempt was spoiled off the line last weekend in Atlanta. He’ll continue to try and get in good positions in front of net and soon those finishes will become second-nature just like the previous two seasons.

“If I’m being fully honest, I haven’t gotten as many opportunities as I’ve wanted to but I think things are going to start opening up,” said Picault. “Once one goes in more will follow. I just got to keep building on that.”Union fans should rely on Picault to be a dangerous attacking option in an otherwise shorthanded roster Saturday against a rather impressive defensive side in Columbus Crew SC. With injuries and international duty robbing the headlines this week, expect the Union to come out on top tonight and to show that some early season adversity won’t be a problem.