CHESTER, Pa. – One of the few constants throughout the Philadelphia Union’s six-year history has been Sheanon Williams starting at right back.
But now even that is changing.
Heading into Saturday’s game against the Vancouver Whitecaps at BC Place (7 pm ET, MLS LIVE in US, TSN1 in Canada), Union head coach Jim Curtin confirmed that Ray Gaddis would be permanently moving over from left back to right back and that Williams will be competing with Fabinho for the left back spot while the club searches for a new player at that position.
For Williams, the only player who’s been with the Union continuously since their 2010 expansion season, that comes as a tough blow – but one he’s trying to take in stride.
“Obviously I want to play right back,” he told reporters following Wednesday’s training session. “That’s my position. But I’ll do whatever it takes to help this team win. I’ve always said that. I’ve always been the guy to move to different spots. Whatever this team needs to win games, I’ll do it.”
The Union have struggled to find a suitable left back since trading Jordan Harvey in the middle of the 2011 season. That's left two natural right backs – Williams and Gaddis – occupying the fullback spots over the last couple of years with Gaddis mostly playing on the left.
But with Williams struggling and the team leaking goals, Curtin felt the time was right to let the right-footed Gaddis play on his natural side.
“I think Ray’s been the one who has always sacrificed and moved to the left on his weak foot,” Union head coach Jim Curtin said. “At this stage, I’ve made the decision to move him to the right. Sheanon’s had some good games and some bad games and now we’ll let Ray be the one that makes that position move forward.”
Williams has played along other spots in the backline throughout his Union tenure, often being called upon at center back in a pinch. But he knows moving over to the left could prove to be a difficult adjustment, especially in a tough road environment in Vancouver and with the team possibly working in a young new center back pairing of Ethan White and Richie Marquez as other players battle injuries.
“Obviously I’m not left-footed, so I have to work on positioning my body better to see up the field rather than using my right foot as a crutch,” Williams said. “So I’ve got to adjust my angles. I guess people don’t really realize but it’s two completely different spots.”
Curtin admitted that he’s had some tough conversations with Williams over the past year and that he still believes the 25-year-old fullback has the qualities that “a lot of coaches in our league think of highly.”
- Get more Union news at PhiladelphiaUnion.com
But the Union coach added that “talking about it and doing it are two different things” and that he wants Williams to get back to playing as consistently as he did earlier in his Union tenure when he was considered one of the league’s rising defensive stars.
What’s changed for Williams since then?
“That’s a good question,” he said. “I guess I really don’t have a good answer for that. I think I can play better. I can be better and that’s what I need to do to help this team. We all need to do a little better and I’m definitely one of those guys.”
Dave Zeitlin covers the Union for MLSsoccer.com. Email him at djzeitlin@gmail.com.
