⚽️ Carranza, Martinez & Glesnes Questionable

Good morning. FC Dallas is in town for a rescheduled midweek game at Subaru Park and it might not be raining? It’s the last regular season game against a Western Conference opponent, but hopefully not the last for 2023.

In the email today:

Julian Carranza is still in concussion protocol and Jose Martinez and Jakob Glesnes are both playing with pain amidst the second game of a three games in eight days stretch for the Union.

“At this point of the year, nobody's 100% healthy, and it's been a busy schedule so we have to navigate it,” Union head coach Jim Curtin said Tuesday. “No excuses, we have to find a way to get points.”

• Carranza suffered a concussion early in the game against LAFC, but initially passed the tests only to sub out at halftime. It’s uncertain when he’ll be available to play.

• Jose Martinez didn’t dress last game due to back pain, but Curtin is optimistic to have him available off the bench tonight.

• Curtin on Glesnes: “It’s hour by hour day by day how he wakes up and feels. I could tell you, if it's a playoff game tomorrow he's playing.”

2) 🧨 FC Dallas Front Line Poses a Threat

While they don’t have the numbers of the Union’s front four, Jesus Ferreira and company pose a real threat. Ferreira leads the way with 12 goals/4 assists, followed by Colombian attacker Jáder Obrian with 4 goals/5 assists and reserve forward Bernard Kamungo with 4 goals. Captain Paul Arriola roams the left flank and has a pair of goal and three assists while Argentine international Alan Velasco (2 goals/4 assists) slots in as a 10 along with Paxton Pomykal (2 assists).

• “They obviously have players with real quality to finish plays off like the Velasco, like Ferreira and are really strong opponents so we have to be sharp.” -Jim Curtin

• FC Dallas has one loss in their last 11 matches.

Our take: Dallas is clinging tightly to that last playoff spot in the Western Conference so they have incentive to go for all three points. An organized defense - even without reigning MLS Defender of the Year Jakob Glesnes - will be key. With a road trip to Columbus on tap for the weekend, the Union will need to snap their three-game draw streak at home.

3) 👀 Tweet of the Day: Seeing Union Gear

4) 💧 Water Cooler: Starting Forwards vs Dallas

Have additional thoughts? Reply directly to this email to comment, and see if we include your response tomorrow.

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Results from our last poll Must-Have Union Player in EA Sports FC:

5) 🔗 Link Roundup:

• 🧊 The margin for error for FC Dallas is slim with five games left.

• 🔋 Following three straight draws the Union find themselves outside of the top five in the MLS Power Rankings.

• 🐋 Logo Refresh: The Seattle Sounders keep the Space Needle as focal point of the crest, but update their entire look while adding some secondary and tertiary marks.

• ⛏️ Philadelphia Union II were picked as New England Revolution II’s first round playoff opponent in MLS Next Pro’s “pick-your-opponent” format.

6) 🏟️ Gamewatches

The newsletter today was written by: Matt Ralph @MattRalph_ and Alex Klein @DaddyKleinBucks

Thanks for reading!