UPPER MERION, Pa. – There were quite a few new faces as the Philadelphia Union gathered for their first official practice of the preseason Monday, with trialists and academy players joining the returners at YSC Sports.
By the time the team leaves for Florida next week, there will likely be at least a couple of more.
“There will be signings,” Union head coach Jim Curtin told reporters following Monday’s training session. “This is not a final product by any stretch. There’s always things that come up to the final finish line. It takes time to close a deal.”
So far this offseason, the Union have made more subtractions than additions, parting ways with longtime starters Amobi Okugo and Zac MacMath, while also losing role players Pedro Ribeiro and Brian Brown. And it appears as if it’s only a matter of time until they move starting center back Carlos Valdes, who skipped practice Monday and spent much of the session in a closed-door meeting with technical director Chris Albright.
But in addition to vowing to sign more players, Curtin also said the trialists in camp will be given a fair chance to make the squad. They include forward Hermes Palomino, defender Coady Andrews, and goalkeepers Brian Sylvestre and John McCarthy.
Draftees Dzenan Catic, Eric Bird, Aaron Simmons and Raymond Lee all need to earn their place on the roster, as well.
“I told all of the young guys that they’re not going to impress us in the first four minutes of a training session,” Curtin said. “So you’re not going to make a team by doing a trick or a step-over. It’s about guys putting together a good day, then a good week, then a good two weeks and then a good month. … I think that’s a good message for any young player.”
All of the trialists have local ties, with McCarthy previously starring at nearby La Salle University and Andrews and Sylvestre playing key roles for the Harrisburg City Islanders, Philly’s USL PRO affiliate, in their narrow loss to the Union in last year's US Open Cup.
Curtin also said that Palomino, a 26-year-old Venezuelan forward, had a “good connection” with the City Islanders, but added that “whether he’s a guy we take to Florida remains to be seen.”
Either way, the Union will certainly have a different look when they enter the next phase of their preseason in the Sunshine State.
“We’re close on some things,” Curtin said. “Pieces that will help in a major way.”
Dave Zeitlin covers the Union for MLSsoccer.com. Email him at djzeitlin@gmail.com.
