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The Whitecaps head to the city where it's always sunny to face the resurgent Philadelphia Union. They currently lead the east, and will prove to be a strong test for Vancouver. We got in touch with John Rossi from Brotherly Love to get his take on the Union's season so far.
After finishing second to last in the East the previous season, the Union have shot to the top of the standings in 2016. What has been the main catalyst for this amazing turnaround?
In Earnie Stewart, the club has a competent leader for the first time in franchise history. Together with Head Coach Jim Curtin and Technical Director Chris Albright, the newly hired sporting director made more than two dozen roster moves during the offseason. The Technical Triumvirate haven't made any clear missteps thus far, which is an accomplishment given the club's terrible record in the transfer market (see: Adu, Freddy; M'Bolhi, Rais). There really isn't one newcomer that stands far above the rest, but that's a testament to Stewart's transfer policy, not an indictment of it. He's focused on building a deep roster instead of one that relies on a few stars, and that depth has been key to the Union's success this season.
Who would you say has been the Union's MVP so far this season, and why?