PBP: 2022 Match Day #8: Union v. CF Montréal, April 23, 2022 p/d/p

From the MLS power rankings where Seattle go to #1 despite losing and Philly drop to 3rd.

Well, Julian Carranza finished one chance. So I guess we can’t entirely do the whole “Philly need their forwards to step up” bit we normally do. But also, Philly need their forwards to step up. The Union out-created Toronto by a significant margin, but Alejandro Pozuelo and Jesus Jimenez finished and the Union mostly didn’t.

I think for now we can go ahead and chalk up their first loss of the season to some bad luck and we can safely still assume that this is easily one of the best teams in the league. However, it’s another data point that makes you worry about their ability to reach their ceiling. We just want what’s best for you, Philly.
(Red emphasis mine but you can just feel the passive aggressive cynicism in that last sentence.)
No one likes us, we don't care.
Most any other team in the league with 2 new forwards, one who arrived after season opener would be given a little slack but Philly is not going to "be able to reach their ceiling". Because they lost a game where the got shafted on a missed red and had to play through that uncertainty the rest of the game and didn't finish all their chances they are apparently living up to someone's expectations. Seems like MLS writers are given the Union a pat on the head and a few orange slices and telling them to sit back down on the bench and get out of the way of the real teams.

 

I was listening to Counter Attack yesterday and they were speaking with Felipe Cardona (ATL UTD Beat writer...) from the Athletic. He was surprised at how well the Union are playing this season so far, considering they sold Kacper.....

Even the people who get paid to cover MLS, aren't actually watching the entire league.....because if they did they'd realize the Philly returned it's entire defense and their midfield (Jamiro was out a lot last season). The Union have been good for what....5 seasons running now??? No One Likes US! WE DON'T F'N CARE!

The pundits should be patting Toronto on the head because they cashed in the two gifts Philly uncharacteristically handed them. Both goals happened in slow motion basically because the Union defenders (which were numerous in the box on both goals) were more concerned with being called for a soft PK rather then just stepping up and making a play.

 

Watching just the match highlights vs the actual game gives a much different impression of the game. I imagine most of the "press" do not watch most of the actual games.

On a side note as a coach one of my pet peves is players not hustling to stay onside when a corner or whatever seems cleared etc.

 

Wagner's disallowed goal was a bang bang play. Carranza wasn't the only player offside. Also there was a TFC player that was close to keeping Carranza onside as well.

 

Announced as a big surprise to no one and not commented on in any MLS article I can see other than buried in the DisCo report.

The MLS Disciplinary Committee has issued three fines and one suspension following Week 7 of the 2022 season.

Nelson serious foul play
Toronto FC forward Jayden Nelson has been suspended for one match and fined an undisclosed amount for serious foul play in the 19th minute of Toronto's match against the Philadelphia Union on April 16.

Nelson will serve his one-match suspension on April 24 against New York City FC.


So it was obvious to everyone except the ref and the VAR official. Any word on those 2 individuals being fined and suspended?

Always thought the punishment of the player after the fact without some sort of compensation to the offended team was lame. Can TFC be required to play with 10 men after the 19th minute the next time they play the Union?

 

Yea that's why I didn't call him out specifically and it's a common thing that mostly goes unnoticed (unless its one of your pet peves) till it bites you in the ass. The other team could track the ball and move their line immediately so you should be able to also. I don't know if a bit o hustle would have made a difference on this play but it might on the next one.

 

That was a bit of a soft PK but guess we are due a little benefit of the doubt from PRO.

 

They are a team of dudes that hustle really hard and have no skill to string together passes. For the love of God stop the Bedoya-Flach thing.

 

McGlynn needs to start over Flach.

Bedoya was way off of his normally reliable passing game today. IMO Curtin should have brought Sullivan in for Bedoya at around the 70' mark.

For the love of god would somebody, anybody really, on the coaching staff show Corey Burke the Low Lights of him dribbling TWICE for far too long instead of passing to an open teammate running into acres of space with no defenders around them???

And why exactly were both Uhre and Carranza subbed out???

The midfield and forwards seriously need to practice way more together and get on the same page. They squandered too many opportunities for scoring chances simply because they weren't on the same page.

Two points dropped at home to a team that isn't going to make the playoffs. MEH.

 

Having watched the RB-Orlando game and now the NYC-TFC game, the Union are going to have to figure out how to score two goals a game consistently from here on out. Both NY teams are better right now, and NYCFC very well might be the best team in the league.

The past two weeks are 5 points dropped for the Union.

 

Red Bull, yes. NYCFC seems overrated to me.