Foreign Exchange: Three questions with Union Soccer Blog's Joe Tansey
The Philadelphia Union are coming to town; when this first appeared on the schedule, Austin FC wasn't quite as intertwined with its past as it is now. But we sought some intel on the current version of the squad ahead of Saturday night.
It's been a month of "we don't see you very often."
Following a trio of Leagues Cup matches at Q2 Stadium, Austin FC will welcome the Philadelphia Union on Saturday (8 pm CT) for a cross-conference matchup. This season, the Union have taken on special significance for Verde fans, as it was the launching pad (and longtime home) for current Austin FC head-coach-in-waiting Jim Curtin.
This season's been strange for the Union so far. Coming off a Supporters' Shield-winning year (and then a bizarre offseason in which sporting director Ernst Tanner offloaded a few key players), the Union started 2026 with six straight losses, then a single win, then another eight winless matches. During that time, Tanner was suspended by MLS following its "investigation into allegations of inappropriate and insensitive comments," and to start the midsummer break, the Union parted ways with head coach Bradley Carnell.
(Yes, like Austin FC, the Union dumped both a sporting director and head coach partway through 2026.)
Ahead of the match, we checked in with Joe Tansey of Union Soccer Blog, the first person we turn to when we have Union-specific questions (like, "What is Jim Curtin like as a coach?"). We had — as we customarily do in these situations — three.
To the questions!
Since parting ways with Bradley Carnell, the Union responded with four straight wins and then this most recent draw against Miami? How do you explain the resurgence?
Honestly, just not having Carnell around. The team was a shell of itself to start 2026 after the veteran players were sold and the club was essentially stripped of its identity. [Interim head coach] Ryan Richter focused on re-building the culture within the locker room when he was named interim boss and that's very clearly been on display since MLS play resumed.
We thought we weren't going to see Cavan Sullivan play on Saturday due to the late red card on Wednesday, but the league did the Union a solid and rescinded it. What has Cavan meant to the team as the season's progressed?
He's taken a huge step forward in every game since the World Cup break. He's the team's best chance creator, and while the goals haven't come yet, there have been signs in the last few games that his chemistry with his brother and Milan Iloski is strong and he'll finish a handful of them soon. Without him, the Union definitely would still be at or near the bottom of the table.
(Just my two cents: he shouldn't play Saturday, or at least shouldn't start. He's already a career high in minutes, has played a lot in a short span in August and the heat could just zap everything out of him in Austin)
While we wait for Jim Curtin to officially arrive, we do have Dean Costalas officially in as Austin FC's new Senior VP of Soccer Strategy. How integral was he to the Union while he was there, and what do you think he'll bring to Austin in this weird interim period we're in?
I know Dean more personally than I do for what he did on a day-to-day basis. Very nice guy. I'll think he will have success with Jim in 2027. Everyone that was there in front office roles during Jim's time as head coach really worked well together. I think it's important to have someone that Curtin trusts be involved in the roster building process.
Verde All Day is a reader-supported online publication covering Austin FC. Additional support is provided by Austin Telco Federal Credit Union. For more coverage, check out Emergency Podcast! (an Austin FC Podcast) wherever you get your podcasts.
After three straight losses in a difficult eight-day stretch of the season, Austin FC's on the brink of playoff elimination. But interim head coach Davy Arnaud is still committed to fight until Decision Day.
Austin FC got a goal just before halftime on its first shot of the game, but the visitors put in two goals after halftime to likely seal Verde's home-for-the-postseason fate.
Just over a month ago, we checked in with a Whitecaps expert about Austin's matchup with the West leaders. We do the same here now with the race for first place tighter than it was.
Verde's leading goalscorer in 2026 has committed to the club through the 2027-28 season. The veteran leader will turn 37 just before that season concludes.
It's been a month of "we don't see you very often."
Following a trio of Leagues Cup matches at Q2 Stadium, Austin FC will welcome the Philadelphia Union on Saturday (8 pm CT) for a cross-conference matchup. This season, the Union have taken on special significance for Verde fans, as it was the launching pad (and longtime home) for current Austin FC head-coach-in-waiting Jim Curtin.
This season's been strange for the Union so far. Coming off a Supporters' Shield-winning year (and then a bizarre offseason in which sporting director Ernst Tanner offloaded a few key players), the Union started 2026 with six straight losses, then a single win, then another eight winless matches. During that time, Tanner was suspended by MLS following its "investigation into allegations of inappropriate and insensitive comments," and to start the midsummer break, the Union parted ways with head coach Bradley Carnell.
(Yes, like Austin FC, the Union dumped both a sporting director and head coach partway through 2026.)
Ahead of the match, we checked in with Joe Tansey of Union Soccer Blog, the first person we turn to when we have Union-specific questions (like, "What is Jim Curtin like as a coach?"). We had — as we customarily do in these situations — three.
To the questions!
Since parting ways with Bradley Carnell, the Union responded with four straight wins and then this most recent draw against Miami? How do you explain the resurgence?
Honestly, just not having Carnell around. The team was a shell of itself to start 2026 after the veteran players were sold and the club was essentially stripped of its identity. [Interim head coach] Ryan Richter focused on re-building the culture within the locker room when he was named interim boss and that's very clearly been on display since MLS play resumed.
We thought we weren't going to see Cavan Sullivan play on Saturday due to the late red card on Wednesday, but the league did the Union a solid and rescinded it. What has Cavan meant to the team as the season's progressed?
He's taken a huge step forward in every game since the World Cup break. He's the team's best chance creator, and while the goals haven't come yet, there have been signs in the last few games that his chemistry with his brother and Milan Iloski is strong and he'll finish a handful of them soon. Without him, the Union definitely would still be at or near the bottom of the table.
(Just my two cents: he shouldn't play Saturday, or at least shouldn't start. He's already a career high in minutes, has played a lot in a short span in August and the heat could just zap everything out of him in Austin)
While we wait for Jim Curtin to officially arrive, we do have Dean Costalas officially in as Austin FC's new Senior VP of Soccer Strategy. How integral was he to the Union while he was there, and what do you think he'll bring to Austin in this weird interim period we're in?
I know Dean more personally than I do for what he did on a day-to-day basis. Very nice guy. I'll think he will have success with Jim in 2027. Everyone that was there in front office roles during Jim's time as head coach really worked well together. I think it's important to have someone that Curtin trusts be involved in the roster building process.
Verde All Day is a reader-supported online publication covering Austin FC. Additional support is provided by Austin Telco Federal Credit Union. For more coverage, check out Emergency Podcast! (an Austin FC Podcast) wherever you get your podcasts.
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