Philadelphia Union: 2018 Union offseason observations

With less than a week before preseason camp begins, let’s look back at the Philadelphia Union’s offseason, and see how their moves will affect the team.

With less than a week to go before preseason camp starts, it seems like the Philadelphia Union aren’t going to make an offseason splash before the season gets underway.

With the better part of the team’s offseason moves being subtractive, although perhaps addition by subtraction, the biggest players coming in seem destined for the Bethlehem Steel. While multiple players, like Ilsinho, Fabian Herbers, and Fabinho did re-sign with the team for less money, for the better part of the offseason not many moves were made.

But just before the draft, two homegrown players, left back Mathew Real, and center back Mark McKenzie joined the fold from the Academy. While these signing served as a continued showing of the Academy’s offerings, it was not the greatest sign for the upcoming Union season.

With MLS officials in Philadelphia for the draft, moves were sure to be on the way. With no picks in the early rounds for the Union, a deal had to bring a new player to Philadelphia. With nothing much to do on draft day but work out a possible intra-league transfer, the Union ultimately acquired David Accam from Chicago for a combination of General and Targeted Allocation money.

The Ghanaian winger joins the team just in time for preseason to begin and remains the lone exciting offseason acquisition by Earnie Stewart and Jim Curtin.

But what does Accam’s arrival mean for the Union? Well, Accam’s razor-sharp quickness and forward instincts are a proven MLS commodity. The good news is he fills one of the biggest needs for the Union, a starting caliber winger. With Accam on one side for most matches and Fafa Picault on the opposite, the team will have some speed on the wings. This move also helps CJ Sapong at forward as well, as this gives him two flanking options who look to get forward. Also, people who can score and work off his hold up play.

That said, the team still has some holes to fill. Their depth at many positions is solid. On the wings, they have multiple options, and Derrick Jones and Warren Creavalle are solid defensive midfielders. The team also has a serviceable striking corps, and while they do not have the most tested defensive group, they are all able to do the job. With Andre Blake signing a new contract, the Goalkeeper position continues to be in some of the best hands in the league.

There does, however, continue to be a gaping hole in the attacking midfield for the Union, with returning starter Ilsinho and young options like Adam Najem and Anthony Fontana failing to come off as reliable every week starter. Stewart has acknowledged their continued attempts to get a number 10, a position it seems they have been searching for since Curtin took over the management position.

Next: Offseason rumors and possibilities for Philadelphia Union

That said, with the team’s current moves, while the team does not have the sexiest pieces, the roster is serviceable at most positions. An actual number 10, could take this team back to the playoffs, and while not competing with Atlanta, and Toronto on the money spent, they should be able to compete on the field.

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