For the past three seasons, Philadelphia Union have adhered quite strictly to a consistent philosophy focused on possession, organized pressure, and playing through central midfield. The execution has been variable at times, but with Borek Dockal, Ale Bedoya, and Haris Medunjanin in midfield, the appropriate defenders to play a high line in back, and options on the wing, things have looked consistent week to week this season.
And New England’s approach against the Union on Saturday points to the power of trusting a philosophy as a guide. Brad Friedel looked at the Union, looked at his team, and decided that the best way to secure points on the road was to go to tight man-marking in midfield, mimicking the approach that Chicago used in both of their visits to Talen Energy Stadium this season.