Match Preview: Philadelphia Union vs. St. Louis City SC

Bradley Carnell faces his former side on Saturday, plus a chat with Indiana Vassilev about playing his former club.

CHESTER — Plenty of familiar faces will be on the other sideline on Saturday night for Philadelphia Union manager Bradley Carnell and midfielder Indiana Vassilev.

The Union host St. Louis City SC on Saturday night at Subaru Park. The Union come into Saturday in second place in the Eastern Conference, while St. Louis is third in the Western Conference.

A handful of opportunities will be handed to Union bench players with Andre Blake, Daniel Gazdag, Tai Baribo, Danley Jean Jacques, Frankie Westfield and Jesus Bueno away on international duty.

Vassilev is one of those players expected to receive more playing time, and potentially a start.

“I think the way that all of us aren’t starting, or who are starting, wherever you begin, everything is seen as an opportunity to make an impact and try and do something positive,” Vassilev told Union Soccer Blog this week.

Vassilev was acquired by the Union late in preseason in what he called a move that suited both parties.

“To make it as simple as possible, I think it was the best move for both parties,” Vassilev said.

“I think people like to say that it matters more because it is quite fresh. I have a lot of love still for those players on that team,” Vassilev said. “I have a lot of love for them. Now on the field I won’t show them any love because there are no friends on the field. No negative vibes or ill will toward the players or staff over there. I wish them nothing but the best except when they play against the Philadelphia Union. It’s going to be exciting. It’s the next game in our very long, long schedule. I’m not trying to put more emotion into it.”

I asked Vassilev about anything Carnell has done differently compared from their time together in St. Louis. It doesn’t seem like much has changed in terms of the South African’s approach.

“I think there are some small tweaks and some small differences given the players we have here and quality in different areas. I think there have been small tweaks, but I think as a whole the message and the principles did remain the same thing,” Vassilev said.

Vassilev is in the running for a starting position in midfield with Gazdag and Danley away from the team.

I took a deep dive into who might start earlier in the week when detailing all of the international absences.

The biggest question mark of them all is in goal, where Andrew Rick is slated to take over for Andre Blake.

The backup goalkeeper situation has been a nightmare, to say the least, over the last two years.

Rick was handed the backup nod over Oliver Semmle out of preseason and I think most of us can argue he was the better backup last season when Blake was out.

Still, improvements have to be made for the Homegrown goalkeeper to put in a strong performance, and potentially keep a clean sheet.

Ian Glavinovich is in line to get his first start next to Jakob Glesnes due to health and availability. Olwethu Makhanya is suspended because of the red card he picked up at the end of last week’s game.

I would believe Nathan Harriel is the No. 3 center back just by process of elimination. If anything happens to the center backs, or Carnell wants to make a late-game adjustment, Harriel would likely slide into the center and Olivier Mbaizo would be put on the right.

Cavan Sullivan should also receive an increase in minutes. It’s possible we see a midfield of Jovan Lukic, Vassilev and both Quinn and Cavan Sullivan.

Vassilev was once one of the heralded prospects overseas. He spent five total years on Aston Villa’s books and provided some insight on what the Union’s Homegrown players are going through.

“I think the best thing for them is they are around a group of players who won’t let them get ahead of themselves and won’t let them get too big of a head,” Vassilev said. “I think that’s the best thing for them. Because the quality and ability is most definitely there. I think the people who they are surrounded with, which when they are here is the right group of guys, helps put their trajectory in the right spot.”

Photo courtesy of Philadelphia Union.