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After a frustrating international break for USMNT fans, the Philadelphia Union are back this weekend to host Charlotte FC in a bit of a one-off before going back on a break. They’ll face a tough opponent missing some firepower with Tai Baribo, Mikael Uhre and Quinn Sullivan all unavailable but one thing we’ve learned this season is that rotation hasn’t been a problem for Bradley Carnell and his squad.

In the email today:

1. 🎒 After Rest, A Reset

When asked to reflect on the month of May, Philadelphia Union head coach Bradley Carnell said he remembered the beginning and the end but that the middle was a little blurry.

It’s probably been that way for a lot of Union fans following along but the results of that hectic month are very clear: the Union own the league’s best record and are in the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open Cup all thanks to a 9-game unbeaten month.

Carnell did also point out that there aren’t any prizes for where they are at halfway through the season so now it’s about resetting and looking forward.

“There's no prizes for halfway through the season,” Carnell said yesterday. “There's no silverware, hardware anywhere, and I can't buy a loaf of bread at the bakery with 17 games done. So we have to perform. And really, you know the business end now is the next 17 games, and it starts now on Saturday.”

In his first season at the helm in Chester, Carnell has embraced an optimistic forward focused approach in his press conferences, pushing the conversation to the future rather than overanalyze - or occasionally overreact as fans tend to do - to what has transpired. The consistency of messaging from the head coach has mirrored the consistency and the confidence that has shown itself on the field week after week.

“I think right now that we're enjoying the first 17, or enjoyed the first 17, it's about now resetting and cleaning the sort of flip chart,” Carnell said. “It's back clean. There's nothing on it, and we have to reset and refocus and go again.”

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2. ⛑️ Tai Baribo and Mikael Uhre to Miss Charlotte FC Match

Leading goal scorer Tai Baribo and strike partner Mikael Uhre will be out at least for Saturday’s match against Charlotte FC, thinning a Philadelphia Union attack that is already out Quinn Sullivan on international duty.

Head coach Bradley Carnell told media on Thursday that neither player – who have combined for 20 goal contributions – will be available for selection.

“The next two weeks, I’m not even thinking about them,” Carnell said. “If they start progressing within the next two weeks and then spend another 10 days getting ready, I’m not sure of those timelines.”

Baribo, who leads the league with 13 goals, is still in Israel. Uhre has been training to the side with the team in Chester.

Bruno Damiani will lead the line on Saturday with Chris Donovan the likely candidate to slot in as the second striker. Carnell did note that he could switch the 4-2-2-2 formation to more of a 4-2-3-1 with Damiani the lone striker. With Quinn away with the USMNT, whether there are 2 or 3 tens will mean opportunity for players to step up. Cavan Sullivan and Ben Bender are two likely candidates.

“I do feel we have created some depth in and around there,” Carnell said. “And I also think that, yeah, based on the Atlas game, it shows guys are coming along in a real good way with Union II. So thinking Eddie Davis, Markus Anderson, Ben Bender, there’s been a few guys that have put their hands up and in a real meaningful way to be an option for us going forward here.”

3. 👀 Social Post of the Day: MLS Return/USMNT

4. 💧 Water Cooler: First Half Surprise

5. 🔗 Link Roundup

• There’s been a lot of players to track on international duty this break. Owen Boyle rounds it up in his latest DOOPing Overseas.

• West Chester United added another USLPA Majors title to their trophy cabinet - and their APSL Delaware River Conference regular season and postseason titles - and will be going for as many as three trophies this weekend at Ukies.

• Local youth club HVAA Soccer won four state cup finals and has three teams in the Eastern Presidents Cup that is kicking off in Conshohocken today.

• Evan Konigsberg attended a Delaware FC USL2 match that ended in a dramatic 1-1 draw with Reading United.

• The Ukrainian Nationals Liberty overcame a two-goal deficit to beat Penn Fusion on the road in WPSL action Wednesday.

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