The 3-5-2 Formation is the Way to Go for the Union

During his time managing the club, Philadelphia Union manager Jim Curtin has usually used the 4-1-2-1-2 Diamond as his go-to formation week in and week out. But as of late, Curtin has changed things up for his side. He has decided to move to a 3-5-2 formation for his squad, and that move has definitely benefited the Union so far. They have a 3-1-0 record when rocking the formation, with their only loss coming against FC Cincinnati with a heavily rotated squad.

In their three wins using the formation, they have seemed to dominate the teams they are playing, and that is exactly what manager Jim Curtin will want to see. They have only conceded one open goal play using the 3-5-2, with that goal occurring in their latest match against NYCFC. Now, their attack has been much better, with Philly scoring a total of eight goals in the four matches. Curtin seems to use a similar Starting XI when using the 3-5-2, and it goes as the following: Blake, Lowe, Elliott, Glesnes, Wagner, Mbaizo, Flach, Martinez, Gazdag, Carranza, and Uhre.

Depth of the Union

The main reason that Jim Curtin has been able to switch to the 3-5-2 formation is the fact that the Union side has some much-needed depth in their squad. The addition of Damion Lowe has shown to be the best signing of the offseason, as he has become a constant starter with Curtin using three in the back. The Jamaican CB has shown glimpses of why Ernst Tanner wanted to bring him into the squad for the season. He has been a crucial part of why Curtin has been able to switch to the 3-5-2, and will hopefully continue to show what a top player he can be for the Union.

The midfield depth is another reason why the 3-5-2 formation is working as well as it is. Jim Curtin has a lot of quality midfielders he can use, and even with the absence of Alejandro Bedoya to injury and Jack McGlynn to the U20 World Cup, Leon Flach, and Jose Martinez have shown their talents playing well together. The Union manager will have some tough decisions to make when Bedoya and McGlynn do return, as Flach and Martinez have shown that they are a good duo in what Curtin is asking for.

The Use of the Wingbacks

When using the 3-5-2, both Kai Wagner and Olivier Mbaizo have the ability to push up and play more of an attacking mindset. Due to Damion Lowe, Jack Elliott, Jakob Glesnes, Jose Martinez, and even Leon Flach staying back, the Union has defensive cover for Jim Curtin’s side. This gives both Kai Wagner and Olivier Mbaizo the chance to show their qualities on the attack, as they don’t always need to rush back to help defend. The two wingbacks have definitely shown their quality on the attack, constantly pushing up the field and causing a threat when sending crosses into the final third.

With Mbaizo and Wagner pushing up the field, it also opens up the field more for the club. When Philly was utilizing the 4-1-2-1-2 Diamond formation, they seemed to play more narrowly and concentrate on playing through the middle of the pitch. But now under the 3-5-2, the team is playing more wide with their fullbacks, creating more chances from the outside. With the Union doing this, it also opens up play through the middle, so defenses will have a hard time stopping the attacks.

Positive for the Youth

One important outlook in using the 3-5-2 is the fact that it benefits the Union utilizing players from their youth academy, which is something that Jim Curtin loves doing. At the moment, there is one player that sticks out that will benefit most from the formation change. This player is Brandan Craig, who is performing insanely well at the U-20 World Cup for the USMNT right now.

Rocking with the 3-5-2 formation would give Craig more chances to get minutes with the Starting XI, as he will be the first center back off the bench if one of the three needs rest. When the Union was using two center backs, Lowe would be the first option with Craig being the second. With his performances at the U-20 World Cup, Union supporters will want to see more of the center-back, and the 3-5-2 formation would provide the best chance for Craig to do just that.