Since their MLS debut in 2010, the Philadelphia Union have pondered through life in the Eastern Conference. As a middling force in MLS, they’ve struggled to create a side that captures the imagination of those who watch soccer. A club high third in conference play and a Conference Semi-Final berth in 2011 has been followed by a four-year absence from the MLS playoffs. Preferring to invest in youth development and build a steady team from the roots up, the organization paid the price in the short term. Now, here comes Alejandro Bedoya.
With Alejandro Bedoya Arrival, Philadelphia Union Ready to Contend
Despite this, the pieces have been coming together for the Union over the last few years. Drafting Andre Blake in the 2014 draft was a perfectly executed chess move by Jim Curtin. Blake is only goalkeeper to have been drafted first overall in the MLS Super Draft. The goalkeeper has been in superb form for club and country during the 2016 season. As well as Blake, Chris Pontius signed over the off season as a free agent and has been imperious in the Union’s forward line scoring a team leading eight goals in the MLS this season and in production terms a virtual snip at $380,000 base salary for the season.
With consistency, the management needed guile and creativity. They added Ilsinho from Shakhtar Donetsk andTranquillo Barnetta from Schalke FC in Germany. Include CJ Sapong and Charlie Davies in the conversation and theUnion have found themselves to be a very competitive side.
