Philadelphia Union’s Reset Starts With Union II

The Philadelphia Union finally admitted that something is wrong. Following a disastrous first half of the MLS season, the club parted ways with Bradley Carnell and promoted former academy director Jon Scheer to the role of Sporting Director. Staff departures, inconsistent performance, and visible frustration across the organization all point to something deeper than a poor run of form.

For the first time in years, the Union’s developmental pipeline, once considered one of the best in Major League Soccer, appears disconnected from the first team. Nowhere is that disconnect more visible than with Union II.

A Development Model Facing New Realities

For years, Philadelphia built its identity around academy development, producing local talent, giving young players opportunities, and trusting the system. This led the Union to become one of the best talent-producing clubs in North America. 

The reality is, MLS NEXT Pro is changing, and it's no longer simply an academy extension. Clubs are increasingly choosing to recruit externally rather than relying solely on homegrown pathways. Teams are bringing in young professionals from overseas, experienced college players, and high-upside prospects from smaller markets.

New York Red Bulls II is a prime example. Their roster is filled with players recruited from outside their academy system, including multiple young players from Panama. Other MLS NEXT Pro clubs are doing the same: supplementing academy talent rather than depending entirely on it.

Philadelphia, meanwhile, still leans heavily on its own academy pipeline. There is nothing inherently wrong with that philosophy, and in fact, it is part of what made the Union successful. That said, relying almost exclusively on internal development assumes that every generation will produce MLS-level talent at the same rate, which is unrealistic. A perfect development system does not exist. Not every academy prospect becomes an MLS player, which is why other clubs are beginning to close the talent gap by expanding their global recruitment networks.

Too Young, Too Soon?

Philadelphia consistently fields extremely young lineups, often giving major minutes to 16 and 17-year-olds. Other MLS NEXT Pro clubs are more willing to rely on 21 or 22-year-old college players who are physically mature and better prepared for the demands of professional soccer. That matters a lot because MLS NEXT Pro is still a professional league. Physicality, speed, and tactical discipline all influence results. Young players can struggle when asked to bridge a too-large gap too quickly.

Stas Korzeniowski is the clearest example of the opposite side of that equation. He may not be the most technically gifted player on the roster, but he looks the most prepared to contribute at a higher professional level. He has already gained first-team experience and understands the pace and physicality required in MLS environments. Ironically, he is also one of the oldest players on Union II’s roster.

That imbalance creates a difficult developmental environment. Younger players are being asked to carry responsibilities they may not yet be ready for, while older players capable of taking the next step remain stuck at a level beneath them.

The Tactical Disconnect

The next layer beyond age may be stylistic choices made by the club's higher-ups. Under Ernst Tanner’s watch with Jim Curtin, then Bradley Carnell, the Union built their identity around aggressive pressing, verticality, compact defending, and physical intensity. The system demands constant running, duels, transitions, and direct play. That identity helped establish the Union as one of the most difficult teams in MLS to play against, but it also creates problems when transitioning younger, technical players into the first team. Many academy prospects simply do not naturally play that way, and you can take Malik Jakupovic as an example. He is not a physically dominant striker who thrives sprinting in behind defenders or flexing his muscles against center backs. His strengths are closer to the box: quick finishing, combination play, and sharp touches in tight areas. The current system asks him to become something else entirely, which is exactly where the disconnect emerges.

The Union appears to want Red Bulls-style developmental success, where elite teenagers can seamlessly transition into the first team and immediately contribute. Unfortunately for the talented, younger players, those transitions only work when the first-team system matches the player profiles being developed underneath it. Julian Hall is succeeding in New York because the structure around him suits his strengths. He currently has nine goals and three assists in fifteen matches as an 18-year-old forward. The system is aligned to his profile.

Philadelphia’s system often asks younger players to survive physically before they can express themselves technically. For players with developing bodies, that gap can become overwhelming.

The underlying numbers paint an even clearer picture of the current issues facing Union II.

Among all 30 MLS NEXT Pro clubs, Union II currently ranks:

• 28th in average possession (44.9%)

• 29th in shots on target per match (3.7)

• 30th in big chances created (12)

• 30th in accurate passes per match (256.3)

• 30th in touches inside the opposition box (179)

Those numbers reinforce the broader organizational questions surrounding the developmental pathway. If Union II exists to prepare players for the first team, then there must be an environment that allows young players to regularly get touches in advanced areas, combine in possession, and solve problems with the ball. Right now, the stats suggest many of those opportunities simply are not occurring often enough.

Why Jon Scheer Matters

This is where Jon Scheer’s promotion becomes significant. As academy director, Scheer understands the player pool better than anyone in the organization. He understands how these younger players naturally play before they enter the professional system. This could lead to a philosophical adjustment. Not a complete abandonment of the Union identity, but a bridge between the academy and the first team. Philadelphia does not need to become a possession-heavy side overnight, but there must be greater tactical flexibility and continuity across all levels of the organization. Union II and the first team currently feel like three separate environments rather than a connected pathway. That hurts development.

Imagine a world where Jack McGlynn still fits into what Philadelphia is trying to build. 

The Next Evolution of the Union

The Union’s next head coach will define whether this reset succeeds. The ideal candidate is not someone who abandons Ernst Tanner’s pressing identity, compactness, and verticality, which make Philadelphia competitive. The goal is to find a manager capable of blending the styles, while slowing the game enough to maximize younger technical talent.

Players like Milan Illoski and Cavan Sullivan have the technical quality to shape games, but there are moments when the current structure asks them to play faster than their physical profiles allow. 

If Philadelphia can create more controlled attacking phases, those players may flourish far more naturally. The same applies in the long term to players like Malik Jakupovic, who should be operating around the penalty area rather than being isolated far from the goal in transition-heavy sequences.

Senior Recruitment Must Change Too

Getting the academy and Union II on the same wavelength as the first team is not an excuse to ignore first-team recruitment. Ownership appears to recognize that the roster became too young too quickly. Experience matters, especially during difficult stretches, which is why the Union needs more players in the 27-to-29-year-old range. These players can stabilize performances, set standards, and guide younger talent. Not stars, but grounded professionals.

The club has the infrastructure, academy talent, and strong soccer culture in MLS, but right now, the organization feels fragmented. The next phase for Philadelphia is not about abandoning the developmental model that made them successful, but modernizing it. In today’s MLS landscape, development alone is no longer enough without alignment.