MATCHDAY: Union try to salvage something from trip to California (and the greatest paper airplane throw ever)

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Union manager John Hackworth is desperately seeking a lineup that works. He gets another shot tonight against Chivas USA. (AP Photo)

Before we get into tonight's match, I present the greatest paper airplane toss of all time (below). This dude at the England-Peru game Friday threw an airplane from the nosebleeds at London's Wembley Stadium, and actually hit a Peru player.

(I am not condoning the tossing of objects onto the field).

[nbcsports_video src=//www.youtube.com/embed/rKeCNwScSyg width=620 height=349]

Now, onto something far less impressive: The Philadelphia Union.

The Union played so listlessly the last time out that you'd be excused for forgetting the game even happened. But it did, and the Union lost 4-1 to the LA Galaxy.

The team stayed in California for the week to prepare for tonight's game against Chivas USA (10:30 p.m. - Comcast SportsNet), in the same stadium where they were embarrassed last week.

Cristian Maidana is set to return from a red card suspension, but it's anyone's guess what kind of lineup John Hackworth will throw out there. Tactically, nothing has been working of late. And, more frighteningly, it was pretty obvious last week that the team was just not ready to play. Once it was clear that LA was going to run wild, the Union absolutely rolled over and let it happen.

(phillysoccerpage.net)

Personally, I wish Hackworth would look inward a little bit, and see that his guys don't fit into the formation that he seems dead-set on using. There was a great post this week from the always-excellent Dan Walsh of the Philly Soccer Page, where he gives credit to Hackworth and the Union for TRYING to play attractive soccer this season. I'd sum it up here, but it's definitely worth your time to give it a good read.

At the end of the post, Dan proposes a new Union lineup that I would be 100 percent behind (seen at right). Mostly, he calls for Hackworth to put the lineup out there and leave it alone for a few games. At this point, the Union only have two games left before a long break for the World Cup (the only chance for a Hackworth firing during the season, in my opinion), but I would not mind seeing this lineup for two games. You have nothing to lose, and what you're doing is not working. So let a young prospect like Zach Peffer learn on the job, and let Maurice Edu and Vincent Nogueira thrive in more comfortable positions.

And, please, for all that is holy, put Brian Carroll on the bench.

Prediction: I somehow, actually think the Union figure it out and provide some false hope against a pretty bad Chivas team. They will at least make it worthwhile to stay up past midnight. ... Union 3, Chivas USA 1.

 

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