Post-Game Thoughts: SKC def. Union 3-2

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I think the Union didn't play a bad game against SKC on Sunday night. In fact, they played great if you don't watch the game from the 85th minute to the end. Think about it, during that great run last year where the Union got back into the playoff race, this is how they played. Strong defense, and quick counters. However, just like last year, last minute goals became the death of this team. But I do see some positives from last night's gut wrenching loss. Overall, the camaraderie was better between the team. It was nice to see; also, watching Ray Gaddis take this step to become a leader on this team is also a big positive. I can't think of anyone that embodies this city more: the guy works his tail off, worked his way to the starting job, and  last year he played more minutes than anyone else in the league. I think a January camp call up is in the works next year if all goes well.

I'm not trying to make excuses for this team, but I think we all saw the effect of having so many players out. There are quite a few fans that criticized subbing Raymond Lee in at LB when Fabinho went down. I personally don't see why. Yes, Lee is inexperienced but McLaughlin and Ethan White do not play LB as their natural position or are left-footed and would have been just as, if not more clueless in defending. So, if you have to choose between inexperience in the league and inexperience in the position, I would have chosen inexperience in the league(Lee) too. Although, I have to say, Lee's marking on the two goals was awful. He gave the runner an inside track to goal instead of forcing the runner out and making him shoot across the goal.

Le Toux should have buried that in the back of the net. Lahoud  had two great options: a) settle the ball and rip or b) lay it off to Nando who had no one within 10 yards of him. I mean, I don't know what else to say other than that. I'm just too demoralized from this loss to get angry.

Anyone else think Ayuk was the greatest thing since sliced bread last night. Yeah, he gave up possession easily a few times; but, this kid is dynamic which is something the Union just haven't had....... ever.

What do we do now:

I think we should still give it more time(until end of game 11), Yes I am jumping on this band wagon. But, I saw something promising yesterday which I didn't against Colorado, RSL, Dallas, or Chicago: an identity. The players finally know what they are doing and with Edu in the back line, the defense will become more and more stout; this will help out with the counter attack, which is what we do best. Also, with Le Toux playing up-top in a 4-4-2, it gives the Union a fast striker which is very important for a team relying on counters. Fernando is great in the box(as we have seen), but he is just not fast enough to threaten teams on the counter by himself. Also, with Pfeffer definitely coming back this weekend, I would have the Union play in a 4-4-2 with the following line-up(I'm also assuming Sheanon Williams comes back). Gaddis-Vitoria-Edu-Williams; Wenger-Lahoud-Noguiera-Pfeffer; Arristeguita-Le Toux. If possible,

The way NYCFC plays, it falls right into our lap. They are a possession team that likes to control the tempo. Which is great, Union can play good defense counter when possible. If the Union can sneak out 4 points with the two games against NYCFC(yes, I realize how big of an ask this is, but it's doable), we are back in business.

What do the Union do long term:

1) Sell M'bolhi, get rid of him, eat the money and terminate his contract, do something, anything to not have him play on this team. Yes he played mindbogglingly well in Brazil, but he has shown that he simply is not the same player or teammate(the more alarming change one of the two) that he was in the World Cup, for whatever reason. As Kevin Kinkead said "The US produces enough keepers to not have to pay one an absurd amount of money and use up an international slot." Also, yes you can chalk away some of the goals to bad defending but where do the excuses stop. For a guy getting paid that much money, he has to be a leader and a good keeper; but he has done neither, the buck has to stop somewhere, and it should end now.

2) We have seen that with Edu playing CB, the Union does need an upgrade at DM(Lahoud is clearly not the long-term answer there). On a side note, does anyone else get why  Okugo is no longer here? He was the DM, keep him there let him develop the kid was on like 24 years old. But yeah, get a better DM.

3) Ayuk, Lee, and Catic need playing time. Loan them out to Harrisburg City( I mean, a proper full time loan not a this whole train with the Union and play for HCI stuff). Let them get the full experience of playing in a professional environment. Let them gel with the players out there and play as a team. Watching the HCI games the last two weeks, I've noticed that there seems to be something off(players not being on the same page, sloppy play, etc.) and training and being the HCI team full time will only help with that. Half-assing this affiliation with only stunt their development. I could wrong, but I think HCI now trains in Chester, this should be fairly easy.

4) Nick Sakiewicz needs to go. I looked this guy up, and he seems to pretty decent at laying out the foundation and infrastructure for a club. He has built to soccer specific stadiums(Red Bull Arena and PPL Park) and worked through the bureaucratic mess whole to get the practice fields, and starting this affiliation to HCI. But he has underachieved: he could have built a stadium in a better location, he could have located the practice fields in a better location(again building PPL Park in a better location), and he could have started(and maybe he has) to buy out HCI so Union get more of a say on the development of their players. So essentially, from a business perspective Sakiewicz isn't a failure. The guy has put in the groundwork to establish this club; in terms of the soccer knowledge, this guy could not be more clueless. I think he needs to go. All of his products have been decent in the sense that he got it done, but his overall performance has been so mediocre it's not even funny.