The Philadelphia Union have experienced Leagues Cup Semi-Final heartbreak for the second year in a row, but this one feels a little different. Despite the tournament being widely critiqued by the fanbase, the teams’ inability to get over the finish line is the main reason for foul moods across the City this morning.
Is it all doom and gloom? Here are some kneejerk takeaways from last nights’ defeat.
Kneejerk Reactions to Philadelphia Union’s Leagues Cup defeat
Danley Jean Jacques flaunts a mixed debut:
The 24 year old made his Union debut on Wednesday night when Jim Curtin threw him onto the field in a game where Union were down 3-1 in the Semi-Final of a tournament – not exactly the most comfortable position to make your debut in.
Besides a rough start where he almost gave himself and Jakob Glesnes a concussion by head-butting his center back in the face, I think there were some real positive signs from DJJ on Wednesday night. Danley looks physical, committed to breaking up plays defensively, and showed a few times that he’s willing to relay the ball up the field quickly once he dispossess his opponent, something that will help Union get out on the counterattack that’s given them so much success over recent years.
Oh, and the dude looks fast as all hell. There’s absolutely zero chance that you can fully replace what Jose Martinez brought to this Union team, but Danley Jean-Jacques is going to be a headache in the midfield for opposing teams.
CCC Spot Still on the Line
Despite fizzling out of another semi-final, Union will still host the third place game against Colorado on Sunday afternoon, with a chance to punch their ticket to next years CONCACAF Champions Cup on the line. It’s a consolation prize for sure, but whether Union fans are tired of hearing it or not, qualifying for this tournament is an accomplishment on its own. Besides, you can’t win trophies if you’re not competing for them! Maybe, just maybe, Union can go into next season’s CCC a little more prepared than they did this season.
Changing Expectations
It’s another disappointing end to a cup run for the Philadelphia Union. Yet again, so close…but never enough to get over the hump. The front office has aspired to build a team that can compete across multiple tournaments, year in and year out – and they’ve done that. But the expectations have changed, and fans are tired of watching their team fizzle out of competitions they very well could win multiple times a season with the addition of one or two established players.
No one is asking Jay Sugarman and Ernst Tanner to throw their roster building strategy in the trash. In fact, I think a lot of people, myself included, truly do see and understand the vision they’ve laid out for this Union team and how it’s already helped build Union into a consistent contender. But now that they’re here, consistently competing for trophies year in and year out, why haven’t the Union Front Office made one single signing that you look at and say “That’s the type of signing that finally wins you a trophy?”
Again, no one is asking for the Lionel Messi‘s or the Lorenzo Insigne‘s of the soccer world to come to Philadelphia. But surely, with all of Union’s consistency over recent years, there has to be a player or two out there that fit’s within Union’s style and ethos, wants to play for Jim Curtin and live in the City of Philadelphia, and actually moves the needle In regards to bringing a trophy to the Union. When the Crew are attracting players like Cucho Hernandez, Diego Rossi, and Christian Ramirez to come play in Columbus, Ohio, it makes me cringe when I hear the excuse that it’s hard to recruit top players to come play in Philadelphia. Have you ever been to Columbus, Ohio??? It’s a fine place, but it’s ridiculous to hear the excuse that it’s hard to convince players to come to Philadelphia when players are willingly moving to Ohio.
Once again, I commend Union’s front office and ownership for getting this team to a point where they’re known as one of the consistent contenders in all of CONCACAF. But I can’t help but look at this team, and all the times they’ve been beaten by the exact type of players Union fans have been begging the front office to sign, and wonder what things might look like if Ernst Tanner and Jay Sugerman were to bend their roster building strategy ever so slightly. Am I wrong to think that with a true killer in the attack, Union would have at least one trophy in their cabinet to point to when questioned on their roster building tactics?
I think a quote from Jim Curtin after last night’s game sums it up perfectly.
“Cucho gives them just a different level of intensity, talent, ability, whatever word you want to use – he’s a killer. So the complementary pieces with the 3 real dangerous ones that I highlight in the film session…the top players make the difference”
-Jim Curtin on Cucho Hernandez
It’s not about filling the team with super-stars, but about building a solid foundation and adding that last piece that you look at and say “This is the type of guy that wins us a trophy some day”, but sadly Union have failed to go out and make that signing yet. Does another Semi-Final exit finally change the Front Office’s way of thinking? Or are Union destined to be the team that’s always there but never getting across the line? It’s a frustrating thing to hear, but only time will tell…
Mandatory Credit: Philadelphia Union
