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- ⚽️ Union Look To Build Playoff Momentum in Season Finale
⚽️ Union Look To Build Playoff Momentum in Season Finale
+ Jim Curtin Optimistic About Bedoya, Wagner Situation
Matthew Ralph
October 20, 2023
Photo by Carl Gulbish
MATCHDAY
vs. New England Revolution
Start time: 6 p.m.
Where to watch: Apple TV - MLS Season Pass Injuries: Union: QUESTIONABLE: Olivier Mbaizo, Matt Real (ankle), SUSPENDED: Jose Martinez (yellow card accumulation)[: OUT: Dylan Borrero (left knee season ending), Brandon Bye (right ACL season ending), Damian Rivera (right knee), Ian Harkes (head), Esmir Bajraktarevic (international duty), Noel Buck (international duty), DeJuan Jones (international duty), Christian Makoun (international duty), QUESTIONABLE: Andrew Farrell (right leg)
Line: New England -105 | Draw +285 | Union +225
Matches To Monitor: Columbus vs CF Montreal, 6 p.m. Apple TV - Free
Good morning. One more sleep until Decision Day. There’s been a lot of talk circling the Union about who will or won’t be back next season but the push for MLS Cup continues tomorrow with the season finale in New England.
In the email today:
📈 Union Look To Build Playoff Momentum in Season Finale
🎧 Curtin Optimistic About Bedoya, Wagner Situation
🛡️Tweet of the Day: San Diego Crests
💧Water Cooler: Best Union Bargain
🔗 Link Roundup
1) 📈 Union Look To Build Playoff Momentum in Season Finale
The wait is finally over. Decision Day is here.
Though there are many scenarios of how things could end up, a road win for the Union would lock up third place and secure home field advantage for at least the first round. That would be big.
“We're a group that's played in a lot of playoff games together, a lot of elimination games already this season with Leagues Cup and Champions League,” Curtin said Thursday. “So I still say this group is a really tough out and I know a lot of teams don't want to play us.”
All the scenarios for Philadelphia Union’s playoff seeding. Curtin’s side control their destiny for seeding this weekend:
— Philadelphia Soccer Now (@phlsoccernow)
5:42 PM • Oct 19, 2023
Our take: The Union are being overlooked right now because of off the field distractions but make no mistake. This team should be one of the favorites to win it all. A convincing win on Saturday would be a timely reminder of that.
2) 🎧 Curtin Optimistic About Bedoya, Wagner Situation
All the talk around the team lately has been centered around a report that captain Alejandro Bedoya and star left back Kai Wagner won’t be returning in 2024.
Head coach Jim Curtin said Thursday that he’s optimistic the “right thing” will be done and said that the team is focused on the task at hand.
“Sometimes you have to put out some fires, but everybody’s fully focused now on the playoffs,” Curtin said.
Our take: Though a very different situation, the dust-up with Jamiro Monteiro in 2021 didn’t prevent the team from making a deep run. Covid on the other hand…
3)🛡️Tweet of the Day: San Diego Crests
The crest we want vs the crest we have at home.
— Morgan Tencza (@morgantencza)
9:29 PM • Oct 19, 2023
4) 💧 Water Cooler: Best Union Bargain
Best Union Bargain This Season |
Have additional thoughts? Reply directly to this email to comment, and see if we include your response tomorrow.
…
Results from our last poll Most Improved Player This Season:
5) 🔗 Link Roundup:
💰 The MLSPA released updated salary figures earlier this week and it added fuel to the discussion around the Union’s spending.
🗣️ The Union website has a run-down of Jim Curtin’s comments at his Thursday press conference.
🗳️ The Sons of Ben Board has an election coming up.
6) 🏟️ Gamewatches
Are you in search of the ideal spot to watch the @PhilaUnion match on Saturday? Look no further! our fantastic pub partners will be broadcasting the match! 🎉
Embrace your Union spirit and unite with fellow fans to passionately support our team!
— Sons of Ben (@SonsofBen)
8:56 PM • Oct 18, 2023
The newsletter today was written by: Matt Ralph @MattRalph_
Thanks for reading! ⚽️