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Inside the Union: Desperate Union should give Torres a shot

These are desperate times for the Union, whether the team manager believes it or not. The team has gone 0-3-2 in its last five games, and has scored one goal in that span - and that came in a 5-1 loss at New England.

The Union's Roger Torres. (Andrew Renneisen/Staff Photographer)
The Union's Roger Torres. (Andrew Renneisen/Staff Photographer)Read more

These are desperate times for the Union, whether the team manager believes it or not. The team has gone 0-3-2 in its last five games, and has scored one goal in that span - and that came in a 5-1 loss at New England.

Remarkably, the Union remain very much alive for one of the five Major League Soccer Eastern Conference playoff spots.

With five games remaining, the Union are tied for sixth place in the Eastern Conference with Chicago, both having 39 points. Both teams trail fifth-place New England by a point.

Columbus has 38 points with just four remaining games, but is also still in the hunt.

All season, getting creativity in the midfield has been a problem for the Union so we're advocating giving 22-year-old Roger Torres a chance.

You remember Torres.

He is an original member of the Union, somebody who can break down opponents and, more important, has the willingness to take on defenders, something the team lacks.

There is talk about his defensive deficiencies, but his ability to create could give this sagging offense a boost. Torres really hasn't gotten a shot, having made three appearances for a total of 37 minutes.

It appears this suggestion will be falling on deaf ears, however, as the Union visit Sporting Kansas City on Friday.

When team manager John Hackworth was asked if the 5-foot-5 Torres warranted a shot to play, Hackworth said yes, but then basically said no.

"How many minutes has he played?" Hackworth asked. "In reality I don't think we are in a desperate situation."

Really?

"If you start to reach for straws and play guys who haven't really represented your team at this point in the year, you are getting in desperate times," Hackworth said.

Hackworth was later asked if a team that has scored once in five games and is seeing the postseason slip away isn't in desperate times, then when does that time arrive?

"We scored one legitimate goal [in the last five games], but we have scored three goals for sure that the head of officials went on national TV and said should have been goals and created numerous chances, so it becomes desperate when you are not playing well, not creating chances," Hackworth said.

We respectfully disagree.

The scorebook says the Union have scored once. Regardless of lousy calls, and the Union are far from the only team that gets them, they have scored once.

We're not counting the other three or any others that aren't on the scoreboard.

Torres, for his part, has shown class in just putting his head down and not complaining. He isn't an unknown commodity. Two years ago he played 931 minutes for a Union team that earned its only playoff spot.

"It is kind of frustrating because you want to play, but you've just got to keep working hard and hope you get your chance," Torres said.

Torres is hugely popular with the fans, but that is not a reason to play him. This offense desperately needs creativity. The same argument could be made for inserting 34-year-old Kleberson, who since June 2 has played 10 minutes.

Staying the course hasn't worked recently for the Union. A player such as Torres might offer a genuine spark. It wouldn't necessarily be a desperation move to play Torres, just one that is long overdue.

@sjnard