Let’s look back at how some of those predictions panned out.
Prior to the 2020 Philadelphia Union season, Brotherly Game asked contributors and fans for their predictions for the upcoming season. Many were spot on, while some others were a little far off. With 2020 almost in the rearview mirror, let’s take a look back at some of the things that we thought were going to happen.
The Union will make another deep run at the U.S. Open Cup - The cancellation of the U.S. Open Cup in early 2020 was devastating early on for Union fans, as that was the team’s usual route to Concacaf Champions League, though the team was talented enough this year to take home the Supporters’ Shield after already securing CCL (thanks, Canada).
Mark McKenzie wins MLS Defender of the Year - This prediction wasn’t too far off the mark. McKenzie was a finalist for the DOY award but lost out to Nashville’s Walker Zimmerman.
Ray Gaddis scores his first MLS goal - Another season, and more disappointment for a season without a Ray Goal. He did record his 10th career assist and fire off five shots on the season but the goal wasn’t mean to be. One day, Union fans, one day.
The Union will make/win their first MLS Cup Final - The Union wasn’t quite able to hit this marker, falling 0-2 to the New England Revolution in a first-round upset. The deep playoff run has continued to elude Philadelphia.
Jose Andres Martinez or Matej Oravec will lead the team in assists - Martinez wasn’t able to hit this mark, only notching two for the whole season, while Kacper Przybylko led the team with six. Oravec, who didn’t step on the field once during the season, had nothing but zeros on his stat sheet.
Kacper Przybylko will lead the team in goals - This one was so close. Przybylko finished second in goals, just behind Sergio Santos seven to eight.
Andre Blake returns to form and earns MLS Goalkeeper of the Year - Blake did have a good comeback season, and both won the GOY and was a finalist for the Landon Donovan MVP Award.
Union Twitter will rage midway through the first game - Admittedly, we didn’t go back and check, but it definitely happened.
Ray Gaddis will get plenty of minutes but be quiet on offense - This prediction panned out. Gaddis finished the season with 1,001 minutes and only one assist (and of course, zero goals).
The Union will have another home playoff victory - No comment.
The new stadium name (Subaru Park) will have no impact on the team’s dominance at home - Actually, the new name had a positive impact. The Union only dropped one game at home this season, making “The Soob” an absolute stronghold.
There will be better attendance and more sellouts this season than last season - You have to laugh, right? This has to be at least somewhat funny.
The center back tandem will change multiple times - The Union rotated their back two a few times throughout the season, with Jakob Glesnes, Jack Elliott, and Mark McKenzie all seeing solid minutes.
Kacper Przyblyko and Sergio Santos will combine for at least fifteen goals - This was on the money. As mentioned earlier, Przybylko netted seven while Santos got himself on the score sheet eight times.
