Inside Doop: Union still struggling for wins; how will new pieces fit?

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Just a few days after making the league’s biggest splash at the end of the MLS summer transfer window, the Union looked poised to keep their momentum going with a huge road win vs. rival D.C. United. 

Instead, they gave up a very late goal to leave RFK Stadium with a less-than-satisfying 2-2 draw.

What are the biggest takeaways from the game in D.C.? And how much different will the lineup look moving forward as the Union begin to further integrate their new additions and, perhaps, their long-injured captain? Here’s a look in this week’s Inside Doop: 

Three thoughts from the past week
1.
Alejandro Bedoya, the Union’s biggest signing of the week, did join his new teammates in D.C. but was unavailable for the game. Meanwhile, Charlie Davies, the team’s other acquisition, made his Philly debut at striker in the kind of reserve role he’ll likely take on for now. Perhaps the most interesting move from head coach Jim Curtin in the wake of the busy week was sitting out Roland Alberg, who had started the previous seven games with six goals in that span. Alberg figured to lose his starting spot once Bedoya debuted but it was surprising it happened before then as Curtin instead went with rookie striker Fabian Herbers in the attacking midfield and later inserted Walter Restrepo as his top offensive sub. If Alberg didn’t play at all in a game where Bedoya — and the injured Maurice Edu — were unavailable, it’s reasonable to wonder if the Dutchman is losing his grip as a regular in the midfield.

2. Another lineup decision from Curtin that raised a few eyebrows was once again going with Ken Tribbett at center back over Joshua Yaro, the highly touted rookie who’s started just once in five games. Tribbett is terrific in the air and made a stunning goal-line clearance Saturday (albeit one after the whistle was blown), but also committed an ugly foul that could have been a red card and made a mistake that led to D.C. United’s first goal. It seems cruel that defenders often get judged by one or two poor plays in a game they can play well in for 89 minutes. But it’s also the reality of the situation, and something Tribbett needs to figure out if he wants to keep playing ahead of Yaro.

3. Although giving up a late stoppage-time equalizer to Steve Birnbaum was tough to swallow, the Union scored a couple of memorable goals of their own with Tranquillo Barnetta netting his second stunning free-kick goal of the season and Chris Pontius putting one in thanks to a great play from Ilsinho. The Pontius goal was especially cool since it was the former D.C. United midfielder’s first game back at RFK Stadium since being traded to Philly in the offseason — and he decided not to celebrate out of his respect for his old friends. It was a classy gesture from a player who now needs just one more goal this season to hit double digits for the first time since his All-Star 2012 season.

Three questions for the week ahead
1.
Alejandro Bedoya, a longtime starter for Jurgen Klinsmann on the U.S. national team, will be officially introduced Tuesday and make his MLS debut Saturday when the Union travel to Gillette Stadium to face the New England Revolution (7:30 p.m., TCN). But Curtin has been purposefully vague as to where Bedoya will play. Logic dictates he’ll slot into the No. 8 central midfield role that Vincent Nogueira left open when he suddenly left the team due to a personal health issue in June. But following the trade of Sebastien Le Toux to Colorado, the Union also have less depth on the wing, where Bedoya has played throughout his career. Either way, it will be interesting to see how Bedoya adjusts to MLS, especially on the less-than-forgiving turf of Gillette Stadium.

2. Adding to the necessity of Bedoya making his MLS debut is a possibly significant injury defensive midfielder Brian Carroll suffered right before halftime of Saturday’s draw in D.C. Could that also mean Edu finally makes his season debut after missing the entire year with a stress fracture? Edu has been back in training for a couple of weeks now but doesn’t seem to be progressing as well as he’d like. But if he is feeling better this week, the idea of Edu and Bedoya partnering together in the central midfield behind Tranquillo Barnetta would probably be salivating to most fans — and usher in an exciting, new era for the club.

3. Davies will once again likely come off the bench but will the former U.S. national team striker get more than the 10 minutes he played last week to show what he can do? And how will he handle facing the team that just traded him a week after facing another one of his former clubs in D.C.? It certainly must be a whirlwind of a month for Davies, but the true test for him will come later in the season and perhaps into the playoffs — the cooler months when Curtin keeps pointing out that the striker is at its best.

Stat of the week
The Union have allowed 11 goals in last four games. By contrast, that’s the same amount of goals they gave up over the first 10 games of the season.

Quote of the week
“Playing on the road in MLS is extremely difficult. However playing on the road in New England is like playing at home for me, so I’ll be especially excited for that one.” — Union striker Charlie Davies

Player of the week
Tranquillo Barnetta not only scored a terrific goal but also should have had an assist on a great C.J. Sapong scoring chance and generally controlled the game well. 

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