THE BASICS: Philadelphia Union

Eastern Conference

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Through their first five years in MLS, the Union have yet to establish much of a foundation for success, shuttling through players and coaches while failing to win a playoff game. But with Philadelphia native and former MLS All-Star defender Jim Curtin at the helm for his first full season, the Union are striving to be a hard-nosed club that wins from the back and builds for the future from its ever-expanding youth academy.

Rivals

The Union only have to travel a couple of hours to the north and a couple of hours to the south to face their biggest rivals, the New York Red Bulls and D.C. United. Curtin, who grew up a diehard Philly sports fan, loves to say how much his town hates New York, which should make NYCFC another natural rival. But the Union's most memorable — and nastiest — games over the years have come against D.C.

2014 Recap

Despite coming into the year with lofty expectations following a few big offseason acquisitions, the Union won just three of their first 16 games, leading to the midseason firing of John Hackworth. Curtin, who was promoted from his role as an assistant to replace him, guided the club back into playoff contention and to the US Open Cup final. But the Union dropped an extra-time heartbreaker to Seattle in the title game to miss out on the franchise's first trophy, before then dropping out of the playoff race following a couple of brutal late-game collapses.

TRANSACTIONS IN: F C.J. Sapong (trade from SKC)

F Dzenan Catic (SuperDraft)

F Conor Casey (re-signed)

M Fred (re-signed)

D Steven Vitoria (loan from Benfica)

F Fernando Aristeguieta (loan from FC Nantes)

GK John McCarthy (free) TRANSACTIONS OUT: M Corben Bone (option declined)

F Brian Brown (option declined)

F Cristhian Hernandez (option declined)

M Amobi Okugo (traded to Orlando City)

F Pedro Ribeiro (Expansion Draft to Orlando City)

GK Zac MacMath (loaned to Colorado)

M Leo Fernandes (loaned to New York Cosmos)

D Carlos Valdes (loaned to Nacional)

F Aaron Wheeler (waived)

2015 Prospectus

Although the end of the 2014 season left a bitter taste in everyone's mouth, the Union technical staff didn't overhaul the roster much in the offseason. Sure, they acquired Benfica defender Steven Vitoria to replace the disgruntled Carlos Valdes (who Philly loaned out for the third time) and added C.J. Sapong from Sporting Kansas City and Fernando Aristeguieta from France's FC Nantes to help with the scoring punch. But for the Union to make the playoffs for just the second time in club history, they'll need to count on a nucleus of returners — and get improvements from youngsters like left back Ray Gaddis, center back Ethan White and winger Andrew Wenger, as well as big second seasons from the midfield core of Maurice Edu, Vincent Nogueira and Cristian Maidana.

CLUB SOURCE: "I expect more of the same style from them; they've kept important players there. There's a good understanding within the group now. They brought good players last year and they're going to help even more this year."

CLUB SOURCE: "Maybe it's their time, I don't know. Usually with the law of averages you tend to do well, but I tend to think they won't do well."

PROJECTED LINEUP: 4-3-3 Mbolhi; Williams, White, Vitoria, Gaddis; Edu, Nogueira, Maidana; Le Toux, Aristeguieta, Wenger Complete roster [philadelphiaunion.com]

FANTASY SOCCER SLEEPER PICKS: Andrew Wenger

Fernando Aristeguieta

Fabinho Lots to like up top, between Wenger ($7.5m), who could be the league's next breakout star as a hybrid winger/forward, and Fernando Aristeguieta ($7.5), a preseason darling with loads of talent. Between Le Toux ($9m) and Maidana ($8.5m), the Argentine offers more potential while the Frenchman is remarkably consistent and productive. On the back line, uncertainty. Probably best to hold off.

Armchair Analyst's Best Case Scenario

I'm a big fan of continuity, so in this case I've got to tip my hat to a Union team that brought back most of its core from 2014. The fact that said core played below expectations and found new and delightfully frustrating ways to drop points just about every week is maybe less of a positive, but I'm willing to work around it.

Let's put it this way: I look at a central midfield of Edu, Nogueira and Maidana and think "that team can use the ball." I look at Wenger and Le Toux on the flanks, and think "that team can create chances." I look at the forwards, defense and goalkeeper... and still have a bunch of questions.

It's a cruel joke that Philly still have a question mark in net, but it is what it is. I'm certain the midfield will be very good, but it's the guys surrounding them that will define the Union's season. If they rise to the occasion, that means a top two seed in the East. If not, they'll spend another November watching soccer instead of playing it.