SoccerBlogs

Game: Philadelphia Union vs. Chicago Fire

Where: PPL Park, Chester, PA

When: 7:30 PM ET

Channel: The Comcast Network

Commentators: JP Dellacamera and Alejandro Moreno

Meet the Opposition: Hot Time In Old Town

Philadelphia Union starting XI: (4-4-2) Zac MacMath; Raymon Gaddis, Bakary Soumare, Amobi Okugo, Sheanon Williams; Brian Carroll, Danny Cruz, Kleberson, Michael Farfan; Jack McInerney, Sebastien Le Toux

Philadelphia Union bench: Chris Konopka, Chris Albright, Keon Daniel, Leo Fernandes, Roger Torres, Conor Casey, Antoine Hoppenot

Chicago Fire starting XI: (4-4-2) Sean Johnson; Wells Thompson, Jalil Anibaba, Austin Berry, Gonzalo Segares; Dilly Duka, Logan Pause, Jeff Larentowicz, Joel Lindpere; Patrick Nyarko; Chris Rolfe

Chicago Fire bench: Paolo Tornaghi, Michael Videira, Corben Bone, Brendan King, Alex, Quincy Amerikwa, Sherjill MacDonald

Prediction: The last time these two squads met, the Union won but things could have gone better.

Game: Philadelphia Union vs. LA Galaxy

Where: PPL Park, Chester, PA

When: 7:30 PM ET

Channel: Comcast Sportsnet

Commentators: JP Dellacamera and Alejandro Moreno

Meet the Opposition: LAG Confidential

Philadelphia Union starting XI: (4-4-2) Zac MacMath; Raymon Gaddis, Bakary Soumare, Amobi Okugo, Sheanon Williams; Brian Carroll, Kleberson, Keon Daniel, Danny Cruz; Jack McInerney, Sebastien Le Toux

Philadelphia Union bench: Aaron Wheeler, Chris Konopka, Chris Albright, Michael Farfan, Antoine Hoppenot, Roger Torres, Conor Casey

Los Angeles Galaxy starting XI: (4-4-2) Carlo Cudicini; Todd Dunivant, Tommy Meyer, Omar Gonzalez, A.

Game: Chicago Fire vs. Philadelphia Union

Where: Toyota Park, Bridgeview, IL

When: 1:30 PM ET

Channel: NBCSN

Commentators: Arlo White and Kyle Martino

Meet the Opposition: Hot Time In Old Town

Philadelphia Union starting XI: (4-4-2) Zac MacMath; Gabriel Farfan, Amobi Okugo, Bakary Soumare, Raymon Gaddis; Brian Carroll, Keon Daniel, Michael Farfan, Danny Cruz; Conor Casey, Jack McInerney

Philadelphia Union bench: Matt Kassel, Roger Torres, Chris Konopka, Sebastien Le Toux, Chris Albright, Kleberson, Antoine Hoppenot

Chicago Fire starting XI: (4-4-1-1) Sean Johnson; Gonzalo Segares, Austin Berry, Jalil Anibaba, Wells Thompson; Dan Paladini, Logan Pause, Joel Lindpere, Dilly Duka; Chris Rolfe; Patrick Nyarko

Chicago Fire bench: Corben Bone, Quincy Amerikwa, Paolo Tornaghi, Alex, Maicon Santos, Michael Videira, Yazid Atouba

Prediction: The Union continue to run out a formation and starting XI that has been show time and again to not work.

Speculation has pointed to the Philadelphia Union's offseason transfer target list focusing upon the acquisition of players with scoring touch, but the newest link for the Union is out of the backline.

The Brotherly Game has learned that veteran defender Jeff Parke is in talks with the Union to bring the out-of-contract defender home to the Philadelphia area.

The Union midfield did well to silence Fernando Cardenas and the Revolution's midfielders. (Photo: Walter Silva)

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. A game to forget for the both the New England Revolution and the Philadelphia Union. A dour 0-0 draw where neither team really showed a desire to score a goal or put the opponent on the back foot.

PSP contributing photographer Barb Colligon was at PPL Park on Thursday night for the Philadelphia Union open practice for season ticket holders. Here's a look at what she saw.

The goalkeepers came out to warm up first.

Then the rest of the team came out.

Last year's record: 10 - 18 - 6 (eight out of 10 in the Eastern Conference, 16 out of 19 in Major League Soccer)

Key additions: Conor Casey, Sebastien Le Toux, Pat Anding

Key losses: Gabriel Gomez, Peter Nowak, Carlos Valdes

Projected starting lineup: (4-3-3 / 4-3-2-1) Zac MacMath / (r-l) Sheanon Williams, Jeff Parke, Bakary Soumare, Gabriel Farfan / Brian Carroll (CDM), Amobi Okugo, Michael Farfan / Le Toux, Jack McInerney / Casey - Bench: Chris Konopka (goalkeeper), Antoine Hoppenot, Roger Torres, Michael Lahoud, Raymon Gaddis, Chris Albright, Danny Cruz

The Eastern Conference's final playoff spot, no.

Ninety minutes in a reserve league game have prepared Bakary Soumare for a possible debut for the Philadelphia Union. The 6-foot, 4-inch tall central defender has waited a few months to make his first appearance for the Union.

"I've never had to wait so long," Soumare told reporters at a press conference, which included interim head coach John Hackworth, today.

Fotis Bazakos. MLS Career: 3 games; FC/gm: 24.3; Y/gm: 2.3; R: 0; pens: 0

HOUSTON DYNAMO -- OUT: DF Alex Dixon (concussion); MF Calen Carr (L hamstring strain); DOUBTFUL: DF Oscar Recio (concussion); MF Je-Vaughn Watson (L adductor strain); QUESTIONABLE: DF Jermaine Taylor (R hip flex- or strain)

PHILADELPHIA UNION - OUT: FW Chandler Hoffman (L big toe fracture); FW Krystian Witkowski (concussion symptoms); DOUBTFUL: DF Sheanon Williams (R big toe avulsion fracture); PROBABLE: DF Gabriel Farfan (lower back/pelvis contusion); DF Chris Albright (R groin strain); MF Gabriel Gomez (L knee contusion/patellar tendonitis)

ALL-TIME (4 meetings): Dynamo 0 wins, 4 goals .