Last season's injury bug is still biting the Union in 2016.
According to Union manager Jim Curtin on Tuesday, the team will likely be without captain Maurice Edu when the season begins on March 6 against FC Dallas as he continues his recovery from offseason sports hernia surgery.
"Maurice is still not training with the team," Curtin said. "The goal is always the next important game, but as a head coach and organization, we have to prepare for the possibility that he will not be playing in the first game. We were hoping that Maurice will be part of it and still are hopeful, but at the same time we have to move forward."
Edu's slow recovery seems to come as a surprise to the Union, and for good reason. The defensive midfielder missed the final three games of the 2015 season to begin recovery on what is typically a three- to four-month injury. Edu is currently pushing toward his sixth month on the shelf.
"I'm hoping to get him on the field in training with the group to get going a bit in the next day or two," Curtin said. "But again, we'll be smart with how we'll handle it, we'll listen to the medical staff and listen to whichever plan they think is best. We have to have the next-man-up mentality."
That next man up for the opener could be one of two players: Brian Carroll or Vincent Nogueira. Beginning in 2016, the Union moved Edu from center back, which he played last year, to his more natural defensive midfield role. But with Edu likely out of the picture for FC Dallas, Curtin has a choice to make.
Carroll has 344 MLS games played as the No. 6, while Nogueira, who is typically more of a box-to-box facilitator, would be relatively new to the position in how it's set up with the Union.
"Vincent has played as a six, at (his former club, Ligue 1's) Sochaux, it's a position he's familiar with," Curtin said. "He's capable of doing it and we've seen it in a couple games. He's a guy who can do that job. He's a good connecting midfielder that's pretty versatile. There's a lot of possibilities."
Amobi Okugo on the market
Eyes opened wide on Tuesday when Sporting Kansas City waived defensive midfielder and Union original Amobi Okugo after only three games with the club. But despite 117 games with the Union and the club's need for defensive midfield depth, Curtin dashed even the thought of bringing Okugo back into Union blue.
"Amobi is a great player and we respect him a great deal," Curtin said. "He served our club very well, but at this time, our roster, the way it is, he's not a player we're going to target."
Okugo, 24, was traded to Orlando City FC prior to the 2015 season. He lasted just 15 games there before being shipped to Kansas City.
Union standing by forwards
One hot-button theme of the Union's offseason has been their rumored quest for a forward of designated player stature. And it makes sense. As it stands, the club features only C.J. Sapong and rookie Fabian Herbers as true strikers, with Sebastien Le Toux and Chris Pontius adding emergency depth.
And if you ask Curtin, he's just fine with that.
"I'm a big believer in C.J.," the coach said. "It does need to be said that Fabian has been very strong in preseason and earned a real trust and belief from the coaching staff. He scores goals a lot in training and makes the most of all his minutes in the scrimmages. I'm happy with both of them."
Fixing defense with depth
The Union allowed the fifth-most goals against (55) in all of MLS last season, rocketing their defensive line up the list of priority changes for 2016.
"We have to cut down on the goals against," Curtin said. "Teams that are in the playoffs [are] not conceding 55 goals, that's for certain."
One way the Union attacked that fix was to add quality depth at every position, which had led to some surprises this preseason. As it stands, left back Taylor Washington is pushing Fabinho, right back Keegan Rosenberry is behind Ray Gaddis and Ken Tribbett, and Anderson Conceicão and Joshua Yaro are fighting for the final center back spot.
"Rosenberry pushing Ray Gaddis is a real positive," Curtin said. "Washington pushing Fabinho is better. We're stronger in the back for sure, but we have to do it on the field now because talk is cheap and everything looks good on paper."
While Rosenberry has opened eyes with his high-quality play, it's Tribbett who could be the big surprise out of camp. The 23-year-old trialist was signed to a first-team contract on Tuesday and is considered the front-runner to start at center back next to Richie Marquez in the opener.
"He showed that he belongs at that stage and he's come in very fit and with a very good mentality," Curtin said of Tribbett. "He's shown a very good composure on the ball, ability to pass out of the back with both feet, very good timing in the air and he's excelled in preseason. It's still early but we're very pleased with where he's at. We're excited."
