Peter Nowak doesn't want to talk about it, but Saturday's match at PPL Park won't be about any of the players wearing Philadelphia Union uniforms. The match against the Vancouver Whitecaps will be about Sebastien Le Toux and the team he used to play for.
The fans at PPL Park aren't likely to turn on their own team, but there is a good chance they will celebrate Le Toux's return with more enthusiasm than we've seen for any other MLS player by opposing fans.
Those cheers for Le Toux will turn to boos for Nowak if the Union can't put a halt to the three-match losing streak that has Philly sporting the worst record in the league. Chief among the Union's concerns is getting an offense going that has struggled to generate goals and chances. The team has managed just two goals in three games.
That goal drought has only served to magnify growing unhappiness among Union fans with the decision to trade Le Toux, who was easily Philadelphia's best and most productive attacking player during the team's first two seasons in MLS. While Le Toux has helped the Whitecaps to a 2-0-1 start to the season, the Union has yet to win a match.
Records aside, it should be noted that Vancouver's schedule has been relatively easy compared to the Union's, which has included a pair of road games. The Union should provide the Whitecaps with the toughest test they've faced to date, though the same could be said for the Union defense, which will have to contend with Vancouver's multi-pronged attack.
Throw in Le Toux's likely desire to show up the coach who traded him away, and Saturday's match should be an intense one with plenty of emotion. It is a safe bet Union fans will cheer for Le Toux when he is introduced, but it is going to be up to Philly's current players to give their fans something to cheer for.
Here is a look at this weekend's matchups and a look back at last week:
LAST WEEK'S RECORD (4-5), SEASON RECORD (15-11)
There was no bigger surprise last week than Chivas USA's victory at Real Salt Lake, but D.C. United's defense deserves some credit for keeping Vancouver scoreless at BC Place. The New England Revolution surprised some people with an impressive showing against Portland. Those matches put a dent in my record for the week, but key home wins for Seattle and New York helped salvage some pride.
THIS WEEK'S MATCHES
DC UNITED vs. FC DALLAS
DC showed some good defensive qualities in shutting down Vancouver last week, but the team's offense continues to struggle badly, managing just one goal in three matches. Dallas isn't exactly a pushover defensively, but the FCD back line has to be reeling a bit after surrendering a late game-winner to Sporting KC.
The real question for Dallas is whether or not the expected return of Brek Shea will provide a boost to the offense, which has been carried early in the season by Ricardo Villar. If Shea can rebound from the disappointment of the United States elimination from Olympic qualifying, the Dallas attack might have a chance to earn a road win. But that might be too much to ask.
Look for Dwayne De Rosario to spark a revival of the DC attack while the DC defense puts together a second straight solid week. DC United 2, FC Dallas 0.
TORONTO FC vs. COLUMBUS
If you watched TFC's impressive 1-1 draw against Mexican league leaders Santos Laguna on Wednesday, you'd think it would be difficult to pick against Toronto. Unfortunately for the Canadian side, carrying over CONCACAF Champions League success into MLS play hasn't been easy.
Columbus looked sharp in last week's win against Montreal, but will face a tougher test heading up north for one of the more underrated rivalries in MLS. The Crew offense showed some good signs against the Impact, but when you consider TFC was able to limit Santos Laguna to one goal, it's tough to think they can't contain the Columbus offense.
Toronto may be looking ahead a bit to its Champions League semifinal second leg next week, but should still have enough to hold off the Crew and post its first MLS win of the season. Toronto FC 1, Columbus 0.
NEW YORK vs. MONTREAL
Thierry Henry and Kenny Cooper looked downright unstoppable last week against Colorado and should find similar success this weekend against a Montreal side still sorting things out defensively.
The Impact offense still hasn't gotten going and will struggle to find chances if Wilman Conde continues to play like he did in his Red Bulls debut. Montreal's lack of a marquee forward will show yet again, though it should be noted Justin Braun did manage to score a hat trick against the Red Bulls a year ago.
Look for New York to keep rolling at home and for Montreal's expansion woes to continue. Red Bulls 2, Impact 0.
PHILADELPHIA vs. VANCOUVER
Sebastien Le Toux's return to PPL Park will garner plenty of headlines, but this matchup will be about much more than that as we see a tough Philly defense look to shut down a dangerous Vancouver offense coming off its worst performance of the season.
The Union might have some success slowing down the Whitecaps, but you can bet Le Toux will be supremely motivated to show up his former team and the coach who traded him away. Philadelphia will need Dan Califf back in the starting lineup to really have a chance of dealing with the Vancouver trio of Eric Hassli, Camilo and Le Toux.
The Whitecaps defense should face a tough test as well. Even though the Union haven't been lighting up the scoreboard, they are a better team than their record indicates and they will lean on newcomers Gabriel Gomez and Lionard Pajoy to fend off Vancouver and give the Union their first win of the season. Union 2, Whitecaps 1.
PORTLAND vs. REAL SALT LAKE
Both Western Conference clubs come in off disappointing 1-0 losses, which should make for a pretty intense encounter at Jeld-Wen Field. The Timbers are extremely tough to deal with at home, but RSL has the defense to deal with the Portland attack.
Kris Boyd and Jorge Perlaza won't have an easy time dealing with Jamison Olave and Nat Borchers, but Portland will be looking for Kalif Alhassan and Darlington Nagbe to really test RSL on the flanks. If they find success beating the Salt Lake fullbacks, the home side has a good chance of registering a home win.
The big question for RSL is whether their attack can take advantage of a Timbers side dealing with some major defensive injuries. Hanyer Mosquera is out after suffering a broken bone in his face and a concussion, leaving Portland woefully thin in the back.
Look for Fabian Espindola and Alvaro Saborio to find success as RSL scores a rare road win at Jeld-Wen Field. Real Salt Lake 2, Portland 1.
SEATTLE vs. SAN JOSE
On paper, this should be a very closely contested match, but the Sounders' home form makes them the clear-cut favorites in this Western Conference battle.
San Jose's Chris Wondolowski continues to score goals, and just might find some success against the Seattle defense, but it might not be enough to offset what the Sounders should be able to do against an improved, but not impenetrable, Earthquakes defense. David Estrada has gotten off to a fast start and has helped provide Fredy Montero with a perfect strike partnership early on.
Mauro Rosales is expected to be out for Seattle, but the Sounders still have the firepower to knock off the Earthquakes. Seattle 2, San Jose 1.
LOS ANGELES vs. NEW ENGLAND
The Galaxy are coming off a bye week, which the team sorely needed after a disappointing stretch to start the season. They face a Revs side coming off a confidence-building win against Portland.
Give LA the clear edge in this one. It is well-chronicled that East Coast teams don't do well when they have to travel cross-country, and throw in having to face a rested Galaxy side and you realize just how much is working against New England.
The Galaxy will flex their attack muscles and remind us why they began the year considered championship favorites. Los Angeles 3, New England 0.
COLORADO vs. CHICAGO
The Rapids struggled badly against New York without Jeff Larentowicz and Pablo Mastroeni. But with Larentowicz back from suspension, Colorado should rebound well against a Fire side still trying to figure things out.
Chicago showed some good signs in beating Philadelphia last week, but the Fire attack still isn't looking very dangerous after two matches. Traveling to Colorado won't be easy, especially when the normally tough Rapids defense will be looking to put last week's nightmare in New York behind them.
The Fire have a chance because of a stingy defense, but Omar Cummings and Jamie Castrillon should help generate enough chances to give the home team the win. Colorado 1, Chicago 0.
CHIVAS USA vs. SPORTING KANSAS CITY
The Goats shocked the entire league by going to Utah and knocking off Real Salt Lake, but things don't get any easier facing an unbeaten Sporting KC side playing some of the best soccer in the league.
Chivas is winless at home this year, having suffered a pair of shutout losses. And with their offense still not really clicking, it will be tough to see them breaking through against a tough KC defense.
If the Goats can replicate their outstanding defensive effort vs. RSL on Sunday against KC, they will have a chance. However, Sporting KC is just playing too well to see them lose yet. Sporting KC 2, Chivas USA 1.
