Ahead of the 2015 SuperDraft, MLSsoccer.com is breaking down each team's needs and potential draft targets. The Philadelphia Union picked first last year, but lack a first-round pick this time around.
Like several other teams around the league, the Union decided it would be better to send out their only first-round pick in exchange for some proven talent. This is the kind of gambit that has paid dividends each of the last two years for Sporting KC (traded their 2014 pick to New England for Benny Feilhaber, who helped them win the 2013 MLS Cup) and then New England (traded their 2015 pick to Sporting for Teal Bunbury, who helped the Revs make this past MLS Cup).
So, naturally, the Union got Sporting involved for their own gambit, which entailed sending out their pick for C.J. Sapong.
Sapong fills a need at target forward, provided he can recapture his rookie form. Beyond that, there are a couple of holes Philly have on the roster – unsurprising for a team that failed to make the playoffs.
Union SuperDraft selections: #31 & 41 (2nd round), #51 (3rd round), #71 (4th round)
Union Depth Chart: 22 players
Goalkeeper (2): Rais Mbolhi, Andre Blake
Left Back (1): Fabinho
Center Back (5): Maurice Edu, Ethan White, Carlos Valdes, Austin Berry, Richie Marquez
Right Back (2): Sheanon Williams, Raymon Gaddis
Center Midfield (3): Vincent Nogueira, Michael Lahoud, Jimmy McLaughlin
Left Wing (2): Andrew Wenger, Danny Cruz, Antoine Hoppenot
Right Wing (2): Sebastien Le Toux, Zach Pfeffer
Attacking Midfield (2): Cristian Maidana, Leo Fernandes
Forward (3): C.J. Sapong, Aaron Wheeler
Primary Need: Left back
It's worth noting that veterans Conor Casey and Brian Carroll may be back in 2015. Neither is the player they once were, but both can provide depth and eat up some minutes in important games.
It's also worth noting that Edu might end up playing at defensive midfield this year, even though Jim Curtin is on record saying he prefers the veteran in central defense (as do I). Even though Edu is better in the backline, Philly simply have more coverage and more options there, and it might be better for the team as a whole to play him as a true No. 6 – unless they decide to trade Carlos Valdes, which is a distinct possibility.
Or they could go out on the market and bring an entirely new d-mid, or even play without one – that's what the Nogueira/ Sacha Kljestan pairing would be.
Wheels are turning in Chester, and the draft is just a small part of it. Whoever they think has the best chance of making the team at No. 31 is who they'll probably take... but boy, will they be happy if it's a true, two-way left back.
Targets:Connor Brandt (San Diego), Jose Ribas (Creighton), Jordan Murrell (Syracuse)
Secondary Need: Goalkeeper
No, this isn't a cruel joke after trading up to get Blake, loaning Zac MacMath out and missing out on Zach Steffen. Right now the Union have just two 'keepers on the roster, so it makes sense for them to spend one of their later picks in a draft that's rich with netminding talent.
Targets:Tyler Miller (Northwestern), Andrew Wolverton (Penn State), Spencer Richey (Washington), Earl Edwards (UCLA)
SUPERDRAFT TEAM PREVIEWS
- Columbus Crew:Step by step, second time around for CCSC
- Colorado Rapids:Can Mile High Club find a contributor late?
- DC United: One more piece for one more step
- Houston Dynamo:One decade later, a new era begins
- LA Galaxy:Recalibrating a championship machine
- Montreal Impact:Building out after a promising stretch run
- New England Revolution:Suddenly great, but plenty of need
- New York City FC:Feeling kind of blue east of the Hudson
- New York Red Bulls:Another new era in Jersey
- Real Salt Lake: Not quite a rebuild in the high desert
- San Jose Earthquakes: Recapturing that Goonie magic
- Toronto FC: Trying to solve the eternal problem in Ontario
- Vancouver Whitecaps:A full roster for Cascadia kings
- New England Revolution:Suddenly great but plenty of need
- Phildelphia Union: Building around the core
- Seattle Sounders:Nothing glaring for Shield, USOC winners
- Sporting KC:Filling it all out after a mini-rebuild
- Chicago Fire:Endless questions in the Windy City
- Portland Timbers:Draft & stash with T2 up and running
- Orlando City:Is there a trade for No. 1 in the works?
