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Philadelphia Union: Curtin in, Alberg, Edu, Onyewu out

By Jordan Jacobsen

FOXBOROUGH, MA - JULY 29: Starters for the Union during an MLS match between the New England Revolution and the Philadelphia Union on July 29, 2017, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. The Revolution defeated the Union 3-0. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MA - JULY 29: Starters for the Union during an MLS match between the New England Revolution and the Philadelphia Union on July 29, 2017, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. The Revolution defeated the Union 3-0. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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The Philadelphia Union were included in a few offseason moves this week, one with head coach, Jim Curtin, another with their player options.

Following a shorter than hoped 2017 season, the Philadelphia Union have already set their sights on the future. The Union opened up November, announcing that head coach Jim Curtin would be given the keys once again for the 2018 season. The Union snuck into the MLS Cup Playoffs last season on a tie-breaker with the Revolution but were plagued with inconsistency in 2017, finishing in eighth place in the Eastern Conference.

Along with extending Curtin, the Union also announced they had declined the options on several players. Maurice Edu, Fabian Herbers, Ilsinho, Ronald Alberg, Charlie Davis, Oguchi Onyewu, Giliano Wiljnaldum, and Aaron Jones all had their options declined. Veteran winger Chris Pontius and defender Fabinho are both out of contract.

https://twitter.com/PhilaUnion/status/925869524234014720

With Curtin remaining at the helm, and opening up 10 roster spots along with just under $3-million in cap space, it’s obvious the Union are prepping for some major changes. Curtin will likely look to improve on his injury-plagued back line. Youngster Jack Blake established himself as a week to week starter next to Oguchi Onyewu, but Onyewu’s future is now up in the air after coming to the Union several seasons removed from competitive play.

Oneywu had a renaissance year this past season, after playing his previous professional contract ended in early 2015. The 35-year-old started 22 games after getting thrown into the fire early on and proved he could still play at a high level. The veteran could be a solid depth piece for another MLS squad looking to be in contention, but his age was likely the key factor in the Union’s decision to cut ties with the USMNT legend, opening up a spot for a younger, more long-term option.

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Ronald Alberg has already signed with Bulgarian side CSKA Sofia. Several of the former Union players have a good chance to be picked up in the 2018 Waiver or Re-Entry Drafts, while Pontius is eligible for free agency. Maurice Edu, on the other hand, has been hampered by injuries and has not played since 2015. The versatile midfielder turned defender likely will have a hard time landing on an MLS team with anything close to his reported salary of more than $800,000, but he could find his old form with a good change of scenery.

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