by Ridge Mahoney @ridgemax, Aug 13, 2013

[MLS: Playoff Push]

PHILADELPHIA UNION:

Record:

First 10:

Last 10:

THE STORY SO FAR.

John Hackworth

RECENT MOVES.

Fabinho

Raymond Gaddis

Gilberto

Kleberson

STYLE POINTS.

Sebastian Le Toux

Jack McInerney

Conor Casey

Sheanon Williams

Keon Daniel

Amobi Okugo

Zac MacMath

NEEDS WORK.

Aaron Wheeler

Antoine Hoppenot

Oka Nikilov

FINAL ANSWER.

MLS STANDINGS:

Eastern Conference:

PTS TEAM W-L-T +/-

REMAINING SCHEDULE:

Slow and steady wins the race, they say. Only twice all season has it won as many as two games in a row, but the Philadelphia Union has quietly stayed in the Eastern Conference top five thanks to its ability to avoid long slumps.10-7-74-3-35-3-2By avoiding any lengthy skids – its longest winless run is three games – the Union has stayed in the playoff tier for most of the season. Head coachhas molded a team of youth and experience that after suffering beatdowns against the Galaxy (4-1) and Montreal (5-3) in mid-May has cranked out results., signed in late June, got his first start last weekend in place of the injured, who had started all of the prior 23 games. An Aug. 2 signing, midfielder, is one for the future, according to Hackworth. Brazilian compatriothas recovered from a thigh injury suffered in June and has made the bench for the last few games without making an appearance.leads the league in assists (12), and beforecooled off he topped the goalscoring charts with 10. Yet Jack Mac’s movement and workrate opens up space for, who netted his eighth and ninth goals of the season last weekend in a 2-0 defeat of D.C. United.andare improving steadily, and despite a few foulups, keeperhas kept his spot.McInerney hasn’t scored since June 1, and thoughandhave sparked the team off the bench the Union obviously needs McInerney sharp and causing problems. Communication glitches between MacMath and his defenders occasionally crop up. Veteran keeperwaits in the wings.Half of Philly’s 10 remaining games are against its Eastern Conference playoff rivals: Sporting Kansas City, New York and Montreal. It’s not a viable candidate to win the conference but failing to make the playoffs would be a terrible disappointment.39 Sporting KC 11-7-6 36/2438 New York 11-8-5 36/3135 Montreal 10-7-5 34/3433 Houston 9-7-6 26/22-----------------------------31 Chicago 9-9-4 29/3230 New England 8-8-6 27/2026 Columbus 7-11-5 27/3020 Toronto FC 4-11-8 21/3113 D.C. United 3-17-4 13/41August 17: @New YorkAugust 25: @New EnglandAugust 31: MontrealSeptember 8: @San JoseSeptember 14: HoustonSeptember 27: @Sporting KCOctober 5: Toronto FCOctober 12: @D.C. UnitedOctober 19: @MontrealOctober 26: Sporting KC