Monday, March 26, 2012

The State of the Union

A year ago I posted this blog about the first three games of Philadelphia Union's 2011 season. Now that they've got the first three games of the 2012 season under their belt, I'd like to reevaluate where they stand. Last year Union won their first two games and lost the third. They finished the season well and even made it into the playoffs, which is incredibly significant considering that it was only their second year as a team and they sucked their first year. After this solid second season, management decided to make some significant and disappointing player changes, some of which I talked about here. So even before we began, the season was already disappointing. I'm trying to be optimistic anyway, but so far I don't have much of anything except proof that I was right to freak out.

March 12 — Portland Timbers vs. Philadelphia Union, 3-1
Let me start by tooting the Le Toux horn. (Toot toot!) (As I mentioned previously, Le Toux played for the Union until he was callously traded to the Vancouver Whitecaps a couple months ago.) This season Le Toux scored the fastest goal in MLS opener history (in the third minute). That's pretty cool, right? That sounds like a guy you want on your team, right? Lucky Vancouver.

Union could have used Le Toux in the game against Portland, since they didn't score a single goal. But wait, wasn't the score 3 to 1? It was. Portland scored all four. If it weren't for their own-goal, we would have had squat. I think our offense was lacking without Le Toux.

What about our defense? Zac McMath is the #1 goalie now that Faryd Mondragon left. McMath played seven games last season and didn't lose any, which is nice. The first half of this game ended 0-0, and McMath had some good saves. But in the second half he had a ball in his hands that then slipped into the goal. (Blame it on the rain?) Then Portland got two more goals past him. I don't think McMath is a bad goalie, but he just doesn't have anywhere near the experience that Mondragon does (he is only 20 years old).

Besides losing Le Toux and Mondragon (who I feel were our strongest offensive and defensive players), several other players were traded and we got some new guys. A lot of change happened—there's a new guy in goal (McMath) , there's a new captain (Danny Califf), there's a Le Toux-shaped hole up front that they're trying to fill, and there's a mixture of old and new players that somehow have to play as a team and work together. I'm disappointed by our season opener loss, but I can't say that I'm surprised. This isn't the same Philadelphia Union I dooped to the MLS playoffs last year.

Oh, and that knife that Peter Nowak stabbed in the collective back of Union fans just got twisted—Jack McInerney is now wearing #9. It's enough of a betrayal to trade Le Toux, and how you're slapping his number on the back of a guy who already had his own number with the team last year? What the heck for?! *sigh*

March 18 — Philadelphia Union vs. Colorado Rapids, 1-2
I got to see Philly's Home Opener in person. We had fantastically awesome seats right next to the field, and also had club access, which was cool.

The first half of the game ended 0-0, then the action really took off in the second half. Colorado scored 2 goals on us (Boo!) then Union scored a goal. I believe it was by Pajoy (a new player) with an assist from Torres. That felt good. Then the rest of the half was a nailbiter to see if we could make up the second goal, which we didn't. Colorado even had to play a man down for part of the second half cause one guy got two yellow cards—ha!

Torres was brought on as a substitute. He doesn't seem to start, usually, and I've come to realize that's because then we can't chant "Roger Torres clap-clap-clap-clap-clap" when he comes on. He didn't play in the first game because of an injury. In this game, Califf sat out because of an injury, so Carlos Valdes wore the captain armband.

After the game we went up to the club, where there is a special section for players to eat with their family and friends. We hung around in hopes of seeing the guys and maybe getting an autograph or two, which we did! McMath (#18) came through first, followed by others including Sheanon Williams (#25), Danny Mwanga (#10), Chandler Hoffman (#12), Porfirio Lopez (#24), Michael Farfan (#21), Gabriel Farfan (#15), and Roger Torres (#8). Torres almost didn't come over but we started calling his name and waving, so he did, and I even got my picture taken with him. :) Awesomesauce.


March 24 — Chicago Fire vs. Philadelphia Union, 1-0
As these games go on I have less and less optimistic enthusiasm that Union will win or tie or do anything but lose. Right until the last minute I had hope we could tie the game, but we didn't. We lost. Sigh.

Now we've flat out lost all of the first three games of the season, which is particularly disappointing in a sport where a tie is an option! I hope the rest of the season doesn't go like this. I'm hoping that since they've had a lot of changes, they need a little time to learn to work as a team and what not. I miss Le Toux.

And now it's time to toot the Le Toux horn again. (Toot!) I will toot this horn forever and never let it go. With every Union loss I will make comments like "If only Union had a player who could play every minute of every game of the season and never be out due to an injury?" I will also mention that Vancouver had their first season last year during which they sucked and finished in last place, while this year they have won their first three games. Wow, what an improvement! I wonder how they managed that? Meanwhile, Philadelphia did quite well last year but has lost their first three games this year. I wonder why? (Toot toot.)

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1 comment:

jesstexter said...

"I will toot this horn forever and never let it go!" lol yeah, team managers are idiots. (P.S. still bitter about the Eagles ditching Akers.)This was very well written btw.