Earnie Stewart and his first decisions as the Union’s Sporting Director
Union fans have been buzzing at the major changes that the Union organization has undergone over the past week. After losing the U.S. Open Cup Final for the second straight time, the Union fired CEO Nick Sakiewicz, who had been making player acquisition decisions for the team, a fact revealed by Union majority owner Jay Sugarman last week. They refocused their efforts on hiring a sporting director to help assist Coach Jim Curtin and Technical Director Chris Albright.
In the mist of unveiling the Union’s new USL franchise, Bethlehem Steel FC, the Union also created quite a splash by hiring former United States Men’s National Team midfielder Earnie Stewart as the team’s sporting director. Earnie has spent most of his career as a player and technical director in the Netherlands’ top leagues: the Eredivisie and Eerste divisie. As a technical director, Stewart was in charge of the club’s coaching, medical and scouting staffs, youth development, and transfer deal Stewart served as technical director for VVV, NAC, and powerhouse AZ Alkmaar. Stewart led each team to new heights even with each team struggling to keep up monetarily with its competition. Stewart was able to find key players for low prices and to develop them into some of the strongest teams around. USMNT fans may remember that Stewart was the one to bring in both Jozy Altidore and Aron Johannson to AZ Alkmaar before they moved on to the English Premier League and the Bundesliga.
Earnie Stewart seems to be the perfect combination for the Union as he has proven that he can compete in a top-level league with budget constraints similar to the ones he will have with the Union. Union fans have a right to be excited as Stewart has a history of bringing in players who might not be the biggest names in the world, but work and play hard as a team to become greater than the sum of their parts. The Union, with a ravenous fan base, haven’t been to the playoffs in 5 years and need the direction that Stewart can provide.
For some more about Stewart check out this ESPN article about him a few years ago:
Union Decisions in 2016:
The Guaranteed contracts: Maurice Edu, Ray Gaddis, Tranquillo Barnetta
Earnie Stewart will begin his role as Sporting Director on January 1, 2016, and he already has a lot of decisions to make. Major League Soccer is notoriously opaque about the length and terms of contracts with its players but from what can be gathered, the Union might only have 3 guaranteed players under contract next season: Maurice Edu, Ray Gaddis, and Tranquillo Barnetta. All signed deals for more than one year at some point in 2015. The three are big contributors to the Union, so it benefits the team to have them locked in for at least one more year.
The Team Options: Vincent Nogueira, Cristian Maidana, CJ Sapong, Andrew Wenger, John McCarthy, Michael Lahoud
In most cases, MLS adds one or more team options to the end of contracts to allow the club to retain the player past the time of the actual contract. It appears that Vincent Nogueira, Cristian Maidana, CJ Sapong, Andrew Wenger, John McCarthy and Michael Lahoud are in this scenario. These players are the backbone of the Union, and it is difficult to see any of them being released before the 2016 season.
The Rookie Deals: Eric Bird, Andre Blake, Leo Fernandes, Richie Marquez, Dzenan Catic
The Union also have several players on rookie deals in which the organization has a lot of power over what to do with the player. These include Eric Bird, Andre Blake, Leo Fernandes, Richie Marquez, and Dzenan Catic. I would imagine most of these players remain with the Union given their young age and low-cost salaries.
The one-year deals: Conor Casey, Fred, Brian Carroll
Each of these MLS veterans signed one year contracts last year to serve as player coaches. As they continue to age, the Union could sign them again. But with more coaching positions opening up with Bethlehem Steel FC, it is more likely that these players will begin to move into coaching and management roles with the team.
The Homegrowns: Zach Pfeffer, Jimmy McLaughlin
Chris Albright has said that both Zach and Jimmy signed deals earlier in 2015. But as with rookies, the team has a lot of control over its homegrowns and could move on from them at any time. It is likely Pfeffer will continue to be on the Union bench week in and week out but given his little playing time (1 minute in 2015), I would not be surprised to see the Union let go of McLaughlin. That being said, it is possible for him to be sent to Bethlehem.
The Players on Loan: Fernando Aristeguieta, Steven Vitoria, Eric Ayuk
Here is where things start to get tricky. The Union have three players on loan from other clubs that all had major impacts on the first team this year. The Union could decide to buy all or some these players, negotiate another loan, or send them back to their original clubs. I have previously discussed whether the Union should keep Aristeguieta and Vitoria as both would demand large transfer fees (Link to previous article). My guess is the Union will look to keep Aristeguieta if the right price can be negotiated with FC Nantes, but they will let go of Vitoria and look for another option opposite Richie Marquez at center back. Ayuk would only demand a $200,000 transfer fee from his Cameroonian club Rainbow FC. Given that Ayuk is only 18 years old and has shown tremendous potential while contributing to the first team, especially in the U.S. Open Cup run, the Union will pay the fee and bring him in as a Union player for the present and the future.
Coming Off Rookie Deals: Austin Berry, Zac MacMath, Warren Creavalle, Antoine Hoppenot
Other tricky players for the Union are the ones coming off of rookie deals for whom the Union may or may not still have options. The Union could release as many as three of these players. After a great start to his career in Chicago, Berry couldn’t break in with the Union and was sent to South Korea on loan this year despite the Union’s struggles defensively. Antoine Hoppenot never really gained favor in Jim Curtin’s eyes after being a super sub for Jack Hackworth. MacMath was on loan to Colorado this past season but couldn’t unseat Clint Irwin. With Blake looking more and more like the keeper of the future with McCarthy as a young, strong backup, it doesn’t seem like MacMath can work his way back into the Union’s stable. Warren Creavalle was brought in from Toronto this summer to provide depth at center defensive midfield and right back. I think the Union will choose to move on from Berry, Hoppenot, and MacMath—all players acquired during the Jack Hackworth era—but keep Creavalle as he provides depth at crucial positions for the Union.
The out of contract: Fabinho
Fabinho signed his contract with the Union in the summer of 2013 but played mostly as a backup before forcing his way into the starting lineup in 2015. Now at the age of 30, Fabinho seems to be slowing down and the Union will probably look to replace him with someone younger and more established.
The possible free agent: Sebastian Le Toux
Le Toux is in an interesting situation. While it does appear the team has an option on his contract, Le Toux is the only player on the Union roster eligible for the newly created free agency after being signed by MLS in 2008. At 31 years old, it doesn’t seem like he can start week in and week out for the Union, but it doesn’t appear he is going anywhere since he fought to come back to the team after his trade away in 2012. Le Toux loves the team, the fans, and Philadelphia, and he has shown a loyalty that would make him stay with the team for a lower salary.
The possible reentry: Danny Cruz
Danny Cruz played the last year on loan in Norway. After serving as a starter for the Union for a few seasons, many people interpreted the move as the Union deciding that Cruz could no longer keep up with ever-developing play in MLS. As his loan comes up at the end of the year, the Union could sell Cruz to FK Bodø/Glimt but it seems more likely that Cruz will seek to reenter the league through the MLS reentry draft. Cruz at 25 is three years away from free agency so he would have to go through the reentry draft to join another team in the league. Cruz still has top-level speed and has valuable MLS experience, so the Union will likely see him opposite them at some point in 2016.
Since with the MLS Super Draft and preseason take place within weeks of Stewart’s start date, I don’t see him making a large number of moves in his first offseason. A few cuts and acquisitions are to be expected, but look towards the summer transfer window and the 2016-17 offseason for Stewart to truly make his mark on the Union.
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Categorized:Union