The Union has just 1 game remaining in the MLS season. Currently sitting outside of the playoffs, the Union is looking to miss the playoffs for the first time since 2016. After this roller-coaster season, do the Union deserve to play on?
The Union’s path to the playoffs is simple: It needs to win, and DC United needs to lose. The only complicated part is the Union needs to beat Cincinnati, one of the top teams in the league.
Should the Union manage to get into the playoffs, they would only be a wild-card team. That means they would have to win a wild-card game just to make it to the first-round series. Let’s just say the Union have had better times.
However, after this season, does the Union deserve to make the playoffs?
Too Many Playoff Teams?
A huge gripe about the current state of MLS is the playoff setup. More than half the teams in the league make the playoffs one way or another. The Union currently sits as the beneficiary to that. The club has played 33 games this season and won only 9 of them.
The Union has already regressed from its golden era. Do they deserve a reward for taking a monumental step back? The Union has failed to build a competitive roster and has not shown any heart at all. A playoff spot seems like a reward this team does not deserve.
At the end of the day, the best-case scenario for the Union may just be the worst outcome.
No Reason to Look for Positives
Every situation in life has highs and lows. This season, the Union saw the debut of a star in Tai Baribo. That is a fact they can hang their hat on. However, if Union ownership tries to spin the season in a positive light, it may come to haunt them.
The worst-case scenario is the Union don’t learn from this season and stay the same. Which would lead to a regression to the 2010-2016 era of Union soccer a lot of fans wish to forget. During the Union’s golden era, the sport has grown exponentially in the city. A regression would send the Union back to half-filled stadiums and no trophies to compete for.
The Union needs to go into this off-season with a sour taste in their mouths. If the Union just “run it back” then the fanbase will turn on this team and ownership. Philly does not stand for mediocrity and it certainly doesn’t stand for owners that accept it.
The landscape of MLS has changed. If the Union continues to refuse to change with it, they will be left in the dust. While it is obvious the Union stand no chance against the top teams in MLS, it doesn’t mean the Union deserve a shot to make a run.
Unfortunately, the best thing for this Union team is to be embarrassed. It will be the true test if ownership cares or not. If the Union opens the checkbook and creates a competitive roster, then this abysmal 2024 season may not have been for nothing. However, a playoff spot seems like a reward ownership will use as an excuse to run it back. That would be the worst-case scenario for this club.
Featured Image: Wes Shepherd/PHLSportsNation
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