<div style="width: 410px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><div><figure class="image"></figure></div>A Younger El Pescadito, from soccerbyives.com</div>
For a second year club, the Philadelphia Union have made huge strides in improving their squad. Most Major League Soccer prognosticators considered them a mid-finisher in the Eastern Conference, just missing out on the MLS Cup playoffs. Two key acquisitions have bolstered their defense, former F.C. Koln goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon and Colombian back Carlos Valdes, and the Union have spent most of their 2011 campaign in the Eastern Conference lead.
Concerns are beginning to mount for Union supporters, though. With just over two months remaining in the season, the Union roster has been trimmed down. One has to wonder if it could jeopardize their standing in the Conference. After Philadelphia’s 2-1 loss to Colorado on Friday night, <a href="http:\/\/www.delawareonline.com/article/20110731/SPORTS/107310349/Union-leading-scorer-Ruiz-going-their-separate-ways?odyssey=tab|mostpopular|text|SPORTS" target="_blank">Manager Peter Nowak announced that goal poacher Carlos Ruiz would be leaving town</a>, even alluding to fan bias marring the one-time League MVP’s time with the club. It was reported yesterday by <a href="http:\/\/twitter.com/#!/FoxMauricio/status/97464440420712448" target="_blank">Fox Deportes’ Mauricio Cardenas that Ruiz is headed to Veracruz</a> in the Mexican 2nd Division (<a href="http:\/\/www.brotherlygame.com/2011/7/31/2306870/carlos-ruiz-veracruz-tiburones-rojos-philadelphia-union-rumor-transfer" target="_blank">h/t The Brotherly Game</a>). Nothing official has been reported from either club, but it is clear that Ruiz will be gone.
This has been the third in a series of players jettisoned from the senior squad. Earlier in July, Jordan Harvey was traded to Vancouver for allocation money. That left an already thin defensive corps to rely upon converted midfielder Gabriel Farfan to man the left back position. Earlier this week, reserve goalkeeper Thorne Holder was released, presumably to free an international slot.
This leaves Philadelphia with only a handful of reliable, senior reserves on the squad. Nowak has been creative with his reserves though, as with Farfan’s case. Another case is Stefani Miglioranzi, a defensive midfielder by trade but a reserve center back in Nowak’s book.
It also appears that Nowak may count on a few youngsters to provide depth beyond the four or five senior substitutes. This was made evident in the recent friendlies with Everton and Real Madrid, as youngsters like Zach Pfeffer, Jimmy McLaughlin, and Christian Hernandez&nbsp; performed respectably in substitute action. It is unclear if Nowak would consider bringing these younger players into a league match.
With plenty of midfielders, the primary needs for the Union are pretty clear. With Sebastien Le Toux off his 2010 scoring pace, there is a glaring need for a proven finisher, preferably one that exhibits better qualities than El Pescadito. Danny Mwanga has 5 tallies, but Nowak has seemed hesitant to use the Congolese striker as a consistent 90-minute player. Jack McInerney is only 18, and has not finished his few chances this season. And while Nowak did sign former Atletico Madrid and Rubin Kazan forward Veljko Paunovic in June, he’s in his mid 30’s and has been more useful as an attacking midfielder.
Even moreso though, Philadelphia could use reinforcements in the backline. The Harvey trade left the Union with four true defenders (Valdes, Danny Califf, Sheanon Williams, and rarely used and costly Juan Diego Gonzalez). Gabriel Farfan has been the consistent left back for the last three league matches, and it appears that Nowak is very comfortable with that situation. His brother Michael, as well as midfielders Miglioranzi and Ryan Richter, have been backline reinforcements. The conclusion one draws is that Nowak’s ideal fullback is more of a wide midfielder than the typical MLS defender.
Fans are hoping for these areas to be addressed before the transfer window closes, seeing that this squad continues to edge towards a playoff spot. A designated player may be out of the question, but at least one foreign transfer (or a returning USMNT player) could add enough quality to allow the team to threaten during the playoffs, especially up front. As for the backline, with the starting four doing well, adding a depth option or two would be sufficient. The only slot where an upgrade could be made is left back, and Nowak seems content with Farfan’s contributions in that role.
Will it be the end of the world if Nowak doesn’t make any splashes before the August 14 deadline? Possibly not. On Wednesday Philadelphia will have to face Chicago F.C. without Williams at right back due to red card suspension. Will Nowak start Michael Farfan in his place again? Richter? Or perhaps a three-back formation? Can Mwanga, Le Toux, and McInerney provide enough punch up front? While Philadelphia may be good enough to make the Playoffs in the East, Union fans are hoping that a few key additions will better their chances for the ultimate prize.

With Thin Squad, Union Fans Hoping For Upgrades - World Soccer Talk

With Thin Squad, Union Fans Hoping For Upgrades

<a href="http:\/\/csrnusa.com/ussoccerspot/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/landon_donovan_the_associated_press.jpg" title="landon_donovan_the_associated_press.jpg"></a><div><figure class="image"><a href="http:\/\/csrnusa.com/ussoccerspot/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/landon_donovan_the_associated_press.jpg" title="landon_donovan_the_associated_press.jpg"></a></figure></div>
Landon Donovan/AP
Major League Soccer has made several efforts in the past few seasons to eliminate the appearance of favoritism towards certain clubs that was often alleged in the early seasons of the league. Many fans of clubs in the league had what in my mind were legitimate gripes against clubs such as the Metrostars and LA Galaxy who seemed to be assigned the best players and biggest draws by the league which controlled all player contracts. The scouting networks of individual MLS clubs were not nearly as developed in the late 1990s so it appeared to be simple for the league to rearrange the deck ever so often and give teams like the Galaxy prized allocations while promising smaller clubs like the Columbus Crew or dearly departed Tampa Bay Mutiny the next “major” allocation.
MLS thankfully has moved past these days when club supporters would cringe when they’d hear the teams “partial allocation” or “major allocation.” However, the league has taken a step back in the wrong direction with its exemption of Landon Donovan, Carlos Ruiz and Eddie Johnson from the DP rule. While I am concerned about the cases of Ruiz and Johnson, I will admit it is the Donovan situation that really bugs me.
From the inception of the league until today allegations of bias towards the Los Angeles Galaxy franchise have existed from the fans of every other team in the league. I will admit that I sit on the fence in this debate. I for example thought it was terrible when the Galaxy were allocated Carlos Hermisillio in 1998 without having to give up another player and that they had jumped San Jose, Dallas, Columbus and Tampa Bay in line for the next allocation. (San Jose felt they were owed the allocation and were even angrier when they were not compensated following the season for the loss of Eric Wynalda and Eddie Lewis. Wynalda went on loan to Mexico where he was injured and then returned to MLS with Miami and Lewis went to England) However, in 2000 when Luis Hernandez signed with MLS with the condition he play in L.A., the Galaxy were forced to part with Clint Mathis who was assigned to New York and who then went on a scoring tear to match any in league history with his new club, I thought the Galaxy could feel hard done. In addition the Galaxy never seemed to benefit from the favoritism DC United got when signing youngsters: Ben Olsen, Bobby Convey, Chris Albright and Freddy Adu were all assigned to DC United simply because they wanted to play for DC. In the case of Albright, my favored club the Miami Fusion was assigned him with the understanding he would be traded to United for a “future allocation.” The Fusion were owed the allocation for losing Carlos Valderrama and instead the club ended up getting Welton, who had discarded by the Galaxy as belated compensation for Valderrama and an injured Eric Wynalda as compensation for Albright. San Jose was never compensated for losing Wynalda or Eddie Lewis as mentioned before. I believe something similar happened with Convey though I can not recall who was owed the allocation, but I do remember Olsen threatening to sign overseas if he wasn’t allocated to DC United.
MLS has a perception problem particularly when it comes to the Galaxy. It has been alleged that this favoritism is due to the large investment AEG has made in the league, but the reality is many of allegations and bitterness on the part of other clubs fans predate AEG’s purchase of the Galaxy. (At the inception of the league, AEG owned only the Colorado Rapids, which was sold to Stan Kroenke in 2005).
When it comes to the Galaxy, MLS has a problem. From a perception standpoint it would have been wise to somehow force Donovan to leave the Galaxy or force the club to dump David Beckham. While as I have admitted previously I see both sides of the argument no doubt fans of clubs like Chivas USA who find themselves with no current DP possibilities while sharing a stadium with a club known for clever book keeping and perceived to be a long term beneficiary of favors from the league will be screaming bloody murder about Donovan’s exemption. MLS needs to revisit this decision otherwise risk being accused of the same bias the league has worked so hard to distance itself from.

Grandfathering In Designated Players Smacks of Favortism - World Soccer Talk

Grandfathering In Designated Players Smacks of Favortism

MLS has suspended Ricardo Clark of Houston for nine games and given him a $10,000 suspension. This is an unprecedented fine for MLS, but given Clark’s actions against Carlos Ruiz last week, the league felt the fine and suspension were justified. Given Carlos Ruiz’s history as a provocateur I am anxious to hear Clark’s side of the story. It is entirely possible that Ruiz flopping and gamesmanship provoked Clark. If this is the case, the league which is these days filled with as many divers and cheats as Serie A needs to crack down on Ruiz also and suspend him for the remainder of FC Dallas remaining regular season games.

With Thin Squad, Union Fans Hoping For Upgrades

Carlos Ruiz

With Thin Squad, Union Fans Hoping For Upgrades

Carlos Ruiz

Grandfathering In Designated Players Smacks of Favortism

Carlos Ruiz

Clark Given Record Suspension