Merry Christmas Eve and Happy Holidays, Philadelphia Union fans. It’s almost time to wake up early, sit around the tree with your family and loved ones, and open presents with holiday music playing, a coffee in hand, and the fireplace roaring (either real or on tv, I don’t judge).
But what’s on the Christmas list for DOOP fans this year? After last season, I’m sure there’s lot of things fans of the Blue and Gold would be delighted to see underneath their tree come Christmas morning. Here’s a few from the top of my list.
A New Union Head Coach
Can’t win many games without a Head Coach! It’s been 6 weeks since Jim Curtin’s sacking shocked the world of Major League Soccer, and it looks as if Union are going to go into Christmas morning manager-less after Thomas Letsch, rumored to have been one of the leading candidates for the position, took the managerial position at Red Bull Salzburg last week. It sounds like we might hear some news on that front soon, with former St Louis City SC manager Bradley Carnell now thought to be in contention for the position, but what a nice Christmas surprise it would be to have that confirmed this Holiday season.
New Away Kit
Last season Union released their XV Home kit, which means it’s officially time to retire the Away kit that many fans say resembles the clouds from the Simpson’s intro. I can’t argue with that too much to be honest, and this definitely wasn’t one of my favorite kits Union has had over the years, so I’m happy to see a new one come in for next season. I’ve heard rumblings of Union’s iconic Center-stripe coming back from their inaugural jerseys, but I truly have no idea. Whatever they end up looking like, I think it’s a huge miss from MLS to not have teams release their new kits before the holiday season.
New Signings…please!
Do I have to explain this one much? Union added 23 year old Center-back Ian Glavinovich to the mix a few days ago, which I think is a pretty decent bit of business, but there’s still lots of work to be done. Give me something, Ernst!
Safe Standing in The River End
This one is still debated by many who occupy the River End, but I truly think a General Admission, Safe Standing type setup would increase the atmosphere within the River End and Subaru Park as a whole. I completely understand Day-One fans not wanting to lose the seats they’ve had for over a decade, but I think it’s for the greater-good. Add a roof over the River End to trap the sound in and then we’re really cooking with gas.
A Reason to Believe Again
I could write 5000 words on how different the energy around this team feels now in comparison to the way it felt just a few seasons ago, and I’d still feel like I left things out. No matter how involved you are with this team, I think everyone can sense that things feel different. And of course they do – that’s going to happen when you miss the playoffs, fire your coach, and look to bring in a new one for the first time in a decade.
It’s a new era for the Union, and I think fans are willing to be open-minded and patient (at least a little) with that. But at the same time, fans need Ernst Tanner, Jay Sugarman and the rest of the Union Front Office and Ownership group to give them a reason to believe in this team again. And listen, both me, the fans, and Union’s front office know this – Winning truly does cure all. But even if they don’t go out and win trophies right away, I think Union fans deserve a reason to believe things are heading that way eventually, and I’m just not sure it’s there right now.
Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
