The Philadelphia Union endured yet another frustrating season in 2014, getting off to a bad start and seeing their manager fired by early June. The World Cup break enabled interim manager Jim Curtin to get the team back on the same page, while making a few adjustments. His biggest move was switching Maurice Edu and Amobi Okugo, moving Edu to center back and Okugo to defensive midfield.
The moves helped the team fight back into playoff contention, but Okugo saw his playing time diminish as a result. The summer transfer window saw the return of Colombian center back and former captain Carlos Valdes, as well as the arrival of Algerian goalkeeper Rais M’Bolhi after an impressive World Cup.
The highlight of the season was the run to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup final, which they hosted. The September final saw the Seattle Sounders travel to PPL Park for a memorable final. The score was 1-1 after regulation but Seattle’s superior depth won out as they brought on Obafemi Martins in extra time. Seattle scored twice for a 3-1 victory, crushing the Union’s hopes of winning the first trophy in club history.
The loss was even more crushing knowing the Union had two chances late in regulation to win but Vincent Nogueira hit the post and Pedro Ribeiro also missed an open net. The loss seemed to deflate the Union as they began struggling down the stretch and ultimately failed to make the playoffs for the fourth time in their five seasons of existence. The meltdown included blowing a 2-0 lead in the final 15 minutes to lose to Columbus 3-2 and a mind-bogglingly bad clearance by M’Bolhi led to a 1-1 draw with Chicago.
The Union headed into this offseason knowing they had to make some big changes but had a solid core of players to build around. First, Curtin had the interim tag removed and then former Manchester United assistant and Fulham manager Rene Meulensteen was hired as a consultant to help evaluate the club and find a permanent sporting director. The club also knew they had to address some important roster questions. Edu’s loan from Stoke City was expiring, so that was the first big decision to make.
Edu’s move was made permanent and he will most likely play center back and become club captain. The other big decision to be made is what to do with three starting-caliber goalkeepers. The M’Bolhi signing was not popular because it was deemed an unnecessary move with Zac MacMath playing well. That M’Bolhi struggled and only played four matches only made the move harder for fans to swallow. The Union also has Jamaican international Andre Blake on the roster. Rumors out of Europe suggested M’Bolhi would rather return to Europe, but that wasn’t true and instead MacMath has been sent to Colorado on a season-long loan. Blake may also be loaned out to get playing time.
The Union also have questions mark at left back and forward. Conor Casey and Brian Brown had their options declined and Fabinho is the only true left-footed player on the roster, but he is not a good defender. Raymond Gaddis has been playing left back even though he is a natural right back. Philadelphia did acquire forward C.J. Sapong from Sporting Kansas City and unless they sign someone from overseas he will be the opening day starter. Other than permanently signing Edu and acquiring Sapong the Union have been quiet in bringing in new players.
However, they have been active in shedding players. The biggest moves involve the MacMath loan and trading Okugo to Orlando City for allocation money. Orlando also chose Ribeiro in the expansion draft in December. Midifielder Leo Fernandes was loaned to the New York Cosmos last week for the 2015 NASL season. The Union have been looking in Europe for goal scorers and defensive help. They have been linked to Danish defensive midfielder William Kvist, who currently plays for Wigan Athletic in the English Championship, and now also Cezary Wilk. Wilk currently plays for Spanish club Deportivo La Coruña.
The Union have also been linked with U.S. international Sacha Kljestan, currently playing for Belgium’s Anderlecht. Philadelphia also had a good SuperDraft, acquiring forward Dzenan Catic, midfielders Eric Bird and Raymond Lee alongside defender Aaron Simmons. Catic was a big scorer in NAIA after spending time with Kaiserslautern in Germany. Simmons can play center back and defensive midfield and Lee is a left-footed player that can play left back or wing.
Casey and midfielder Brian Carroll may re-sign with the club and they have to deal with more offseason drama about Valdes moving to another club, this time it appears the club is Uruguay’s Nacional. The Union have so far denied this rumor, but it is getting annoying to have to deal with it.
The season itself will get under way at PPL Park on March 7th when the Union host Colorado. The club knows they have to really push hard to make the playoffs this as the fans are growing restless. They should be helped by having two expansion teams, Orlando City and New York City FC, in the Eastern Conference and Sporting Kansas City and the Houston Dynamo moved to the Western Conference to accommodate the new teams. With six clubs making the playoffs and the East weaker than the West, the opportunity for the Union to make the playoffs may never be greater than it is this season.