Union training camp opened today at the bubble over on the Penn campus.

They train inside for a week then peace out to Florida, where they can actually get out on the grass and run around on a natural surface. They’ll do exhibition games and whatnot. It’s very similar to Phillies Spring Training.

Here’s the preseason roster, courtesy of the folks down there this afternoon:

Thoughts:

• Yomi Scintu is the only “mystery trialist” on the list. He’s a young forward from the German FOURTH division. I hope he’s a Bethlehem Steel target, because otherwise there’s no justification for bringing in a fourth division player to compete for an MLS roster spot. I’ll update if Jim Curtin talks about him.
• Aurelien Collin is an experienced, veteran center back. You’re going to need depth for when Mark McKenzie leaves for the U20 World Cup in the summer, so he doubles as a mentor and 4th CB behind your young core.
• Carlos Miguel Coronel was in the Red Bull Salzburg system, where Union Sporting Director Ernst Tanner came from. I’m personally not a fan of bringing foreign goalkeepers into MLS, since we usually do a very good job of producing our own domestic talent at this position.
• Brenden Aaronson has some chops. I’m interested to see how he performs in the midfield this preseason and how his skill set overlaps or doesn’t with fellow homegrown Anthony Fontana.
• Sergio Santos is really the only name on the list that excites me. The Union paid $500,000 to get him from Audax Italiano in the Chilean first division. He’s 24 years old, a left footed forward who can play up top or as a winger.
• David Accam needs to have a strong rebound year. Apparently he was off to the side today, still working to recover from the sports hernia that hampered him last year.
• I would not have brought back Ray Gaddis and Fabinho, but the Union need fullback depth and will also be losing Matt Real to international duty.
• Olivier Mbaizo should be the opening day starter at right fullback. I did not agree with the Keegan Rosenberry trade.

That’s about it. Tanner alluded to more signings soon, and they usually will come in late January and early February.

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