Philadelphia Union Visit In Flux Toronto FC

The Union will go after their second road victory in a week at BMO Field.

The Philadelphia Union step into an interesting environment on Wednesday night at BMO Field.

Toronto FC is a team in flux after John Herdman was announced as Bob Bradley’s replacement earlier this week.

Herdman will not take charge of Wednesday’s match, but his presence could impact some of the performances from the home side.

Every cliche in the book was used by Jim Curtin to describe TFC’s situation in his pre-match press conference.

To sum it up, Curtin called TFC dangerous because some of the players are auditioning for 2024 now that a new head coach is in charge.

On paper, the Union are the better overall team and should find a way to pick up three points on Wednesday.

But TFC does possess two dangerous, and motivated when they care, individuals in Federico Bernandeschi and Lorenzo Insigne.

Even moments of brilliance have not been able to save the Reds from losing matches, and lots of them, in 2023.

After Inter Miami’s triumph at Red Bull Arena on Saturday, Toronto sits in last place in the Eastern Conference with 19 points, a -18 goal differential and the second worst expected goal differential in the conference.

The Union reside in the exact opposite side of every statistical category than TFC. They are in the top five in goals scored, goals allowed, xG, xGA and xGD in the East..

Philadelphia’s sights are on the No. 2 seed, and maybe the Supporters’ Shield depending on how FC Cincinnati closes out that trophy.

Wednesday marks an opportunity for the Union to either gain ground on Cincinnati, or reinforce their position as the No. 2 seed.

Cincinnati visits Atlanta United, Nashville SC is on the road at Inter Miami, Orlando City faces Charlotte FC at Bank of America Stadium, the Columbus Crew are in Houston and the New England Revolution host the New York Red Bulls.

We could be talking about some important separation in the standings by the time Wednesday’s full Major League Soccer slate concludes.

For the Union to take full advantage of that situation, they need to focus on themselves and playing their best game possible.

As usual, Jim Curtin will rotate his squad at the positions with the most depth to keep his squad fresh.

By now you know the potential changes that could happen. Olivier Mbaizo for Nathan Harriel at right back, starts from Leon Flach and Alejandro Bedoya and a potential center back switch with Damion Lowe giving Jack Elliott or Jakob Glesnes a game off.

Starts for Flach and Bedoya could be beneficial in this type of road game because their running in midfield can help neutralize whichever TFC playmakers are on the field.

Jose Martinez is fine after suffering an injury scare against D.C. United on Saturday, and while it is easy to keep him in the starting XI, the move of Flach or Jesus Bueno to the defensive midfield role suits the Union better.

Flach and Bueno are less aggressive than Martinez, and that works better against a team whose deadliest attacking quality is off free kicks.

Having Martinez and Jack McGlynn come in to close the game out suits the Union better in this spot.

The front three of Daniel Gazdag, Julian Carranza and Mikael Uhre will remain unchanged with Quinn Sullivan and/or Chris Donovan coming off the bench.

Curtin revealed on Tuesday that new signing Tai Baribo “is in preseason” in terms of his fitness.

Baribo mentioned to me last week that he was one week away from the start of the Austrian Bundesliga season before his move to the Union. His build-up to full fitness got affected by the travel involved with the move and missing close to a week while finalizing his P1 visa.

I would guess the games after the international break is when Baribo makes his impact, and that is fine since the Union should beat TFC and the Red Bulls with their current attacking players.

Photo courtesy of Philadelphia Union.