5 Questions ahead of Union’s 2025 MLS season

Buckle up, Union fans. Today is the last Monday without Philadelphia Union soccer until at least mid-October, and I’m happy to announce that I’ll be back covering the team’s journey through the MLS season for the 3rd consecutive year – for better or for worse.

2025 marks the first season with new Head Coach Bradley Carnell at the helm, and there are still a few questions that need answering heading into a season that could have big implications for the club’s future direction. Let’s take a look at a few of those before Union’s first match of the 2025 season on Saturday night in Orlando.

1) Carnell’s preferred starting XI and formation

Carnell used several main formations during his time with St. Louis – 4-2-3-1, 4-2-2-2, and a 4-4-2 diamond, to name a few. Given the personnel and the fact that these players were familiar with a 4-4-2 diamond formation under the previous manager, Jim Curtin, I would favor Carnell rolling out the team in that type of setup, though I wouldn’t be entirely shocked by a 4-2-2-2.

I’m taking a stab at it, but here’s my best guess as to how things would be lined up in a 4-4-2 diamond on Saturday night – given everyone is healthy and ready to go

GK: Andre Blake
RB: Nate Harriel, CB:Jakob Glesnes, CB: Ian Glavinovich, LB: Kai Wagner
CDM: Jovan Lukić
RCM: Quinn Sullivan, LCM: Danley Jean-Jacques
CAM: Daniel Gazdag
ST: Mikael Uhre, Tai Baribo

2) Will Carnell be able to make adjustments?

From the small bits of pre-season action we’ve had access to, it’s clear Carnell is going to play Ernst Tanner’s desired style of Red-Bull-inspired soccer, which implements an over-the-top intense high-press that Carnell hopes will result in a 60-30-10 split on the attacking end – 60% of goals scored coming from transition, 30% from set pieces, and just 10% from possession.

But what happens when the Union plays a well-organized, low-block defensive team that forces them to play with the ball and create opportunities? What happens when Union goes down 1-0 early in the game, and the other team parks the bus? Will Carnell be able to adjust and tweak the squad to bring a different look to the pitch to try and change the game? Or will this Union team struggle to adjust and play with flexibility like they did under Jim Curtin at times?

3) Who’s the first player off the bench?

It’s been an issue each of the last two seasons – who do Union turn to on the bench to change the game when it’s not going the way they want?

37-year-old veteran Midfielder Ale Bedoya will likely be one of the first players Bradley Carnell turns to on the bench this season. Bedoya registered 2 goals and 4 assists in just under 1,500 MLS minutes last season and showed he still had it in him to impact games both in the starting XI and off the bench, but I don’t think he should be depended on as the main guy to come off the bench and get you a goal when it’s needed most.

Alternatively to Bedoya’s veteran presence, 2025 will be the season of introducing Union’s youth to the big stage. Players like Cavan Sullivan, Jeremy Rafanello, CJ Olney, and David Vazquez will likely get opportunities to make an impact off the bench as well in 2025.

And, of course, once the signing of Bruno Damiani is finalized, which seems to be all but official at this point, the Union will have 3 MLS-ready strikers in their arsenal. I’d expect Damiani to start on the bench while he gets acclimated, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him eventually take one of the starting spots, moving either Mikael Uhre or Tai Baribo to the bench and giving Union more solid options to bring on late in the game.

4) Can the new boys hit the ground running?

One factor in Union’s success this season is how quickly the new signings can transition into the group and start making an impact on the field. Centerback Ian Glavinovich and Midfielder Jovan Lukić are two names that look set to claim spots in the starting XI right off the bat, with rumored striker signing Bruno Damiani hoping to do the same upon his arrival and acclimation.

In positive news for Union, Ian Glavinovich has gotten to attend a majority of pre-season training with his new club and head coach, with Jovan Lukić joining the team in the later portion of pre-season. That’s on top of Danley Jean-Jacques, who made his Union debut in the middle of the 2024 season, getting his first full pre-season with Union and a new manager under his belt. Those 3 having a smooth pre-season will be a huge factor in how quickly Union starts the season.

Danley jean jacques union — Aug 28, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Columbus Crew midfielder Alexandru Matan (20) plays the ball defended by Philadelphia Union midfielder Danley Jean Jacques (21) in the first half at Subaru Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

5) What exactly are the expectations for this team in 2025?

2025 will be the Union’s first season with a new manager in charge in almost a decade, and it comes after missing the playoffs for the first time since 2017. So the big question is, what are the expectations surrounding this team in 2025, and how short is Bradley Carnell’s leash?

I don’t think silverware is realistically on the mind of many Union fans heading into 2025, but surely, getting back into a playoff spot will be one of the main goals for the Blue and Gold this season. With 62% of the league able to qualify for postseason play, it has to be. But what if they don’t?

I think it would be harsh to move on from Carnell after one season unless things go horribly, horribly wrong. But at the same time, Carnell is hand-picked by Ernst Tanner for Ernst Tanner’s style of soccer. The players brought in during the last 2 windows are players that fit Ernst Tanner’s style of play. The team will undoubtedly, and maybe even to a fault at times, play the style of soccer that Ernst Tanner has spent time and money building the entire organization around over the last few years.

If things start to head in the right direction and eventually it all works out, Union fans will all be singing praises about Ernst Tanner and the vision he’s brought to the club, and they should. But if it doesn’t work out, and the Union fails to make the playoffs again, who falls on the sword this time?