Football Season Guide

It was a season of two halves for Philadelphia Union last campaign as they just about managed to book a place in the playoffs only to be falter at the first hurdle. Philadelphia were the team to beat for the first half of last season as they racked up consistent displays and at one point even emerged as serious challengers for the top spot in the Eastern Conference. However a sharp slide in form, especially near the end of the season saw them secure just two points from their final seven games and they carried over their poor form into the playoffs where they were dumped out in the knockout round by Toronto FC. Coach Jim Curtin will be looking to put behind the disappointment of the second half of last season and aim for another place in the playoffs this season, having managed to hold on to most of the players from last campaign. Curtin is unlikely to make too many changes to his system despite a poor finish to last campaign and Philadelphia have been busy trying to strengthen their roster depth. Philadelphia have brought in Giliano Wijnaldum but the Dutch fullback is expected to act as a backup for Fabinho, at least in the opening weeks of the season. With Tranquillo Barnetta leaving at the end of last campaign, Philadelphia have brought in Haris Medunjanin, with the Bosnian midfielder expected to partner the fit-again Maurice Edu in the center of the midfielder, allowing Alejandro Bedoya to push high up the pitch to play behind CJ Sapong who will be supported on the flanks by Chris Pontius and Fabian Herbers. Other signings include Oguchi Onyewu, Jay Simpson and Fafa Picault though they are expected to only play a supporting role this season. There will be a very familiar look to the lineup that Curtin will be sending out against Vancouver Whitecaps in the opening game of the season with Medunjanin expected to be the only new face in the lineup.