SoccerBlogs

Photo: MLSSoccer.com

Roster turnover. Throughout the Union's brief two year life in MLS, it has been one of the unavoidable topics surrounding the team. Each season has seen a drastic overhaul of the lineup and this year is no different. With the opening kickoff in Portland only days away, PSP takes a moment to check in with all the former Union players to see where they've landed for the 2012 season.

Philadelphia Union declined contract options for midfielder Stefani Miglioranzi and goalkeeper Chase Harrison, leaving each out of contract and available for election in Major League Soccer's Re-Entry Draft.

Miglioranzi, 34, is one of two remaining Union originals selected in the Expansion Draft in November 2009, along with Sebastien Le Toux.

Another MLS Cup, another expansion draft.

For most clubs around the league, that's what the year's final match really means. The day after Sunday's championship game, MLS teams must submit to the league office the list of eleven players they plan to protect in the Nov. 23 expansion draft.

The draft's rules are largely the same as last year, tweaked a bit to account for the Montreal Impact drafting alone, whereas last year's draft had two expansion teams.

Photo: Nicolae Stoian

Click here to view the embedded video.

We know, guys. Trust me. We know.

We know you played your hearts out Sunday.

We know you left everything on the field in those ridiculously exciting, maddening, painful closing minutes.

We know you had to overcome your manager's bad decisions.

The Union will have a one goal differential to make up when they travel to Houston on Thursday evening in the second leg of their playoff match up. A frantic first half saw Houston score on only six minutes through Andre Hainault, only for the Union to equalize a minute later through Sebastien Le Toux.

Photo: Nicolae Stoian

ESPN2 is broadcasting New York Red Bulls v LA Galaxy at 3pm, which pushes the kickoff of Sunday's Union v Houston game, which is also on ESPN2, up to 5pm. Why the start times aren't the other way around, given the fact that the Eagles are playing the Cowboys at the Linc at 8pm, the Giants are playing Miami at 1pm and the Jets have a bye, is beyond me.

Photo: Nicolae Stoian

Kerith Gabriel reports at the Daily News that, with Sheanon Williams out with a concussion, "As of now, midfielder Stefani Miglioranzi is slated to fill in at right fullback." Deep breaths, people, deep breaths.

Sporting Kansas City v Philadelphia Union match previews from the Brotherly Game, the Daily Wiz, SB Nation, AP, PhillyBurbs.

Photo: Paul Rudderow

His name on a Union lineup card results in instant vitriol on this and other websites.

His face in the Philadelphia locker room produces a very different result. Following a spectacular three-goal turnaround that earned a 4-4 tie against the Revolution, Sebastien Le Toux said with a laugh, "My teammates joke around with me, especially Stefani Miglioranzi, that in the last ten games I'm going to score every game and help the team the best I can like I didn't do at the beginning of the season.

Photo: Earl Gardner

Whenever the Major League Soccer Players Union releases players' salary numbers, it's usually the rare opportunity to step back and see who's worth their salary and who's not. So that's exactly what we're going to do here, with a look at each Union player's salary and evaluation of whether they're worth it or not.

Photo: Paul Rudderow

As far as first starts go it was not what Zac MacMath would have wanted, but it was certainly not a contest he will forget anytime soon. The rookie goalkeeper will fondly remember the night the Union stormed back from 4-1 down in the second half to earn a gritty point.

Click here to view the embedded video.

New England Manager Steve Nicol put it best: "Both teams were as bad defensively as each other."

In a game that featured eight goals—two by way of penalty kicks—the Union overcame a three-goal deficit to salvage a draw at home against the Eastern Conference bottom-dwelling Revolution on Wednesday night.

Justin Mapp was active, involved and positive. Sebastien Le Toux scored a fine open-play goal. Zac MacMath played 45 minutes of shutout ball and saved a breakaway.

And the Union still lost.

No shots, but who to blame?

An indifferent opening half-hour turned into a desperate chase for a tying goal.

(Photo: Paul Rudderow)

With a weather-induced fixture logjam in their immediate future, the Union need to start scoring goals (and earning points) quickly. Yet, the attack continues to be lacking as the Union languish near the bottom of the MLS table in almost every offensive statistical category.

Carlos Valdes missing the New England match: Meh.

Carlos Valdes missing the game at Real Salt Lake? Dammit.

Due to New Englanders being scared of weather, the second scenario has come true. The options to replace Valdes are clear because, well, they are so few.

1. Drop Stefani Miglioranzi back and fill his spot with either a recovered Brian Carroll or an antsy Amobi Okugo.

When PSP runs our live commentary during away matches, we get lots of interesting comments and questions from readers. We take those comments and try to put together a list of questions that get to the heart of what Union fans want to know about the team.

Photo: Daniel Gajdamowicz

No time was wasted spinning Wednesday night's dismal performance from the Union against last place Chicago with this tweet going out moments after the end of the game: "With the 1-1 draw, the Union extend their road unbeaten streak to four matches and avoid their first losing streak of the season.

Peter Nowak said before Wednesday night's supremely disappointing draw with Kansas City, "We want to give other guys a little time...We can mix things up, create a different look, make other teams guess who's gonna be playing and what kind of quality. All of [the strikers] have different qualities.

There are certain basic adages that should be considered general knowledge...

Don't mess with success.

Unfortunately, Peter Nowak doesn't know that one.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Nope. Not that one either.

In the three games since the exciting 6-2 drubbing of Toronto in which the Union offense ran riot, the lineup has been altered every time.

Ever read those posts on SI.com, Fox Soccer, or ESPN.com with the "five thoughts about ..." and then, well, lo and behold, they offer you five random thoughts about a topic?

Yeah, I always thought they were mailing it in too, too rushed or whatever to come up with a lede, coherent structure for the column, etc.

Photo: Nicolae Stoian

There is no other way to look at it: it is halftime, and the Union are down one goal.

Carlos Valdes: "We have one more game. This is not over yet...DOOP"

Sebastien Le Toux: "Thanks for the great support tonight! You are the best! We still have 90 minutes to beat them.

Photo: Nicolae Stoian

1-0 looked like it would be enough against Houston. With ten minutes to play the Philadelphia Union looked as if they were on their way to another one goal, home victory. Second goal or not, they should have made it stand and for the second game in a row they are left with a draw that felt like a loss.