This preview is part of a three part series on the Philadelphia Union.
This preview will take a deeper look at the Union defense and midfield ahead of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final on Wednesday September 30th against Sporting Kansas City.
Alike the goalkeeping situation, Philadelphia Union coach Jim Curtin has some selection decisions to make at central defensive midfield and possibly at central defense.
In the backline, there are relatively little choices to be made. The backline will probably be Fabinho, Maurice Edu, Richie Marquez and Raymon Gaddis. The key word there is probably. The reason this is not a near definite is because of something Curtin said last Sunday.
“I didn’t think it was smart to play Mo in the midfield his first game back because of the ground you have to cover,” Curtin said after his team’s 2-0 win against Houston on last Sunday.
Then the Philadelphia skipper was asked if Edu could return to the midfield in Wednesday’s final and, with a chuckle, he responded, “I’m going to look at my full selection of players.”
It was a weird choice of words in the first part of the quote for Curtin, considering Edu has not played in the midfield since May and has only played central defensive midfield five times this season. In the other 17 starts he has in the MLS regular season, Mo has played in central defense. With this said, Edu is naturally a CDM, who just happens to be a very good central defender as well.
By starting Edu as a central defensive midfield, Curtin would have to likely rely on starting either Ethan White or Steven Vitoria. Both of these possible fill-ins are inconsistent and present a risk/reward scenario for the Union coaching staff. In all likelihood, Edu will start as a centerback, but coach Curtin leaving the possibility of Edu at CDM on Wednesday is certainly worth discussing.
Assuming Edu starts at centerback, there is another possible position battle that has flown under the radar of most fans. At CDM, the Union coaching staff has an interesting choice between Michael Lahoud and Brian Carroll. Carroll has turned back the clock this year to give Philadelphia a rock right in front of their central defense. Lahoud is no slouch himself and certainly will give Curtin another tough decision. However, both give little going forward as Lahoud and Carroll are both very defensive-minded. This defensive mindset is what allows Vincent Nogueira to have more roaming ability in the Union’s double pivot.
On the wings, barring any injuries, it will be Tranquillo Barnetta and Sebastien Le Toux. To add, in the central attacking midfield position, Cristian Maidana will be the catalyst that makes this Philadelphia team’s offense go.