The 2010 Philadelphia Union was a young team learning on the job, a squad that was fun to watch in part because of the surprising rise of Sebastien LeToux, but also because of the promise of so many youngsters.
A year later, Peter Nowak is ready for his team to grow up. He signed a handful of key veterans to help bolster a team that just might have the pieces to make a serious playoff push. With Colombian newcomers Faryd Mondragon and Carlos Valdes, midfield addition Brian Carroll, as well as the arrival of former MLS star Carlos Ruiz, Philadelphia looks ready to put the expansion year behind it and make a playoff push.
Here is my Fox Soccer Preview on a Union team that will be more mature, and should be better in 2011 than it was in 2010.
Here are some more thoughts on the 2011 Philadelphia Union:
2011 PHILADELPHIA UNION
They'll win because: Faryd Mondragon is stellar in goal, Carlos Ruiz can find the net regularly and Sebastian LeToux keeps up his MVP-caliber form.
They'll lose because: Ruiz has lost it, LeToux can't keep up his high standard and the rebuilt defense still isn't strong enough.
Player who could break out: Roger Torres. The diminutive playmaker showed some good flashes in 2010, but he'll be needed to step up his game if the Union want to make the playoffs.
Player who could regress: Sebastian LeToux
Player who needs to improve on 2010: Dan Califf
Newcomer to watch: Faryd Mondragon
Projected Finish: The Union still is a star or two away from being able to compete for a conference title, but if the veterans the team added all step up, there's no reason Philadelphia can't challenge for a playoff spot.
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What do you think of the Philadelphia Union's chances this season? See Mwanga and LeToux having big years? Still worried about the defense?
Share your thoughts below.
The key here is having Farfan, Okugo, or Nakazawa step up in Central Midfield. And who is the Right Mid???
Brian Carroll is pedestrian at best…They need more help in the midfield. Le Toux can do it by himself once again.
The midfield isn’t good enough to play 3 in the back. They should have gone after a DP midfielder after the sponsorship if they truly wanted to contend. Le Toux cannot continue to be the lone playmaker.
Once again, injuries will determine how deep they go IMHO. There is no reason that this side can’t make the playoffs, but since they lack depth, a season ending injury or a mistimed lengthy injury toward the end of the season to a keeper, forward or outside player could be present big problems. Plus, season is such a slogfest, it’s hard to see everyone making it through in once piece.
I will say this, looking at how the division is shaping up on paper, I’d put us in the upper third: games against DCU and NYRB, are going to be classics. Losses against TFC and NER should be seen as disappointments. Matches against the Fire Crew Dynamo and KC will be toss-ups.
Ruiz has NOT lost it. Clearly you have not seen him since he left MLS. I on the other hand followed him in Greece. He is back to the size and form he had during his initial time in LA. He will score 10+ goals for this team once his teammates figure out how to use him.
Though I am not a huge Ruiz fan, he alway had the ability to draw a lot fouls (and commit a lot of fouls as well, but, no matter). The Union should worl a lot on their set pieces; maybe they can get some cheap goals against the run of play.
The difference between playoffs and an early vacation will be the defense. Even if Ruiz isn’t firing on all sides, he’s good enough to add a big enough threat. It’s whether the defense continues to have moments of stupidity.
Looking forward to see Mondragon, been a fan of his for awhile. However as a DC fan I wish all the worst : )
What’s the story with Levi Houapeu? Why haven’t the Union signed him? Its obvious they know his quality or else he would have been cut already. Are they low balling him so he hasn’t signed yet?
We’ve got good depth at central D with Carlos Valdes, Danny Califf and Juan Diego Gonzalez. Captain Califf was error-prone at the beginning of last year but got his act together a little towards the end; I expect him to be better. Valdes is an unknown MLS quantity, but *on paper* he looks like he’ll do well. 4 Colombian caps and 1 goal to his name. JDG is solid, as he proved last year, but will probably be backup. Not too many worries on this end.
However, the same cannot be said for the fullback corps. Our projected starters are Jordan Harvey at left back and Sheanon Williams at right back. I like Sheanon; he looked good last year (he started later in the season) and he’s speedy, which means he can come up on the attack and fade back into defense when necessary. Harvey was the opposite; like Williams, he did good getting forward, but he didn’t have the speed to rush back to his position and I can recall one incident in which this cost us a goal. The other worry is our lack of depth at the sides. We’ve got nobody who can cover that area in the field in case of injury, and the option the team is looking at (retraining rookies as fullbacks) isn’t a plan for success. I hope our scouts can pull another solid Colombian to reinforce the left back position at least.
Other than that, I’m satisfied with the roster. Mondragon is a great improvement over Seitz and MacMath has a bright future and an experienced tutor. Midfield is crowded, but with good options. Attacking corps is fine, and if Ruiz produces, will be even better.
I’d say we’ll either make or miss the playoffs by a couple of points this year.
If the stay healthy look out
The Union weren’t afraid to attack last year but their downfall was their defense especially with very inconsistent play in goal. In many of their loses they had 1 mental lapse that their opposition took advantage. With their new additions on defense and the fact that Sheanon Williams will be with the tam all year I expect them to be very competitive and vie for a playoff spot. They will just need a little more depth in defense to guarantee it.