RECAP: Union Get Starstruck Again at Miami, 3-1
The Union’s up-and-down season continued this past weekend in Miami.
Despite an early goal, the Union found themselves in what is becoming a familiar situation, having no way to compete with the stars they were facing.
It has been an unlucky season for the Union.
This past Saturday, they again found themselves on the wrong side. This time, they got to be the team that Lionel Messi made his return against.
Unfortunately, just like last summer, Messi is too big of a force for the Union to overcome.
The Union’s Kryptonite is Starpower
A very noticeable pattern has occurred in the Union in the past few seasons. Just about every time the Union has to face a superstar, they stand almost no chance. Of course, a big reason for that is the Union doesn’t have a superstar themselves.
Look at what has happened over the last few years. In the MLS Cup, Garreth Bale put the Union down. In the Leagues Cup last year, Lionel Messi practically single-handedly eliminated the Union. Messi once again downed the Union this year in his return from injury.
Every time a star player comes in front of the Union, the team might as well roll over and let them through. The Union just cannot compete with them. Unfortunately, if the Union’s roster philosophy doesn’t change, then we won’t be seeing changes any time soon.
Where Are the Union’s Stars?
The Union could compete with the top teams in MLS. However, the Union don’t have the star power to put themselves over the hump. There are some great players on the Union roster. Kai Wagner, Jack McGlynn, and Andre Blake are a few of them. However, there are no game-changing superstars. With the Union’s roster philosophy, there likely won’t be one coming soon.
Ownership clarified that spending would not increase much, and they would continue to rely on the youth academy. That is not a bad philosophy if there was at least one superstar on the roster who could change the game himself. The Union has a top academy that has and will continue to produce star players. However, those players are gone long before they reach superstardom.
Look at Brenden Aaronson.
He was a great player for the Union, but his peak value was to sell him before he reached his full potential. The same will be said for Quinn Sullivan, Jack McGlynn, and Cavan Sullivan. The problem isn’t that the academy can’t produce stars. It is a fact that those stars need to be sold before they reach their full potential.
If ownership isn’t going to open the checkbook to bring in an established superstar, like Cucho Hernandez or Lionel Messi, then the Union will be in this position season after season.
They will be good enough to tread water. However, they will always be missing the piece to put them over the top.
That piece will always be an established superstar.
PHOTO: Philadelphia Union/Facebook
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