2013 Revolution Roster

I don't understand this at all. He seems like just about the last person on the squad I'd put back there. On the other hand, I suppose he's not very useful anywhere else, and he is, somewhat surprisingly, still on the roster, so...

 

Totally selfish post - I need a new jersey now that Feilhaber is gone, is there any chance they cut Dorman in the preseason? He'd be my first choice - after that it's a tossup between Soares and Caldwell.

 

He always manages to get chances, which he, of course, mostly misses. But that kind of proves that he isn't useless - he's just a low-percentage guy.

And, he is a handful for a defender, because he is like a bull charging towards goal. And, that's going to force defenses to respond to him - and, hopefully, open up chances for guys like Bengston, who are exceptional at pouncing on rebounds, deflections, loose balls.

 

I think he is useless in the system that Heaps supposedly wants to play. Almost all of his chances come on through balls, especially in counter. I've rarely, if ever, seen Barrett contribute to a goal scoring opportunity in a long sustained build up. Like I said, in certain situations he can be useful, but for a team attempting to build a a more fluid style, Barrett just doesn't fit in.

I also don't think he would pair well with Bengston, as Bengston needs someone around him to create. Barrett also needs someone around him to create, or a big guy to knock the ball onto him. The two don't pair well imo. The modern game, even in MLS, doesn't really allow for two strikers up top who need other players around them to create all their chances.

 

I'm 100% certain Barrett was a Heaps choice - he seems to be enamored with Chicago Fire players he had to defend against. Jaqua last year, Barrett this year.

 

that's a stretch

 

thanks for this.
why is Ryan Guy off budget?

 

Nguyen.

 

Wouldn't be surprised. Heaps definitely has a say in choosing the groceries, Blooter (in theory) makes it happen.

 

How long is Nguyen signed for?

 

This team still needs help in the middle of the field

 

I'm okay with Cisse as the starter and Simms as the backup in the defending/central mid role. The big question is whether Dorman is sufficient cover for Toja, and if not, is Rowe ready to step into that spot.

 

Burns weighs in today.

We’d still like to add an attacking player and we’d still like another player or two to the defense. We’re looking at this year as Jerry (Bengtson) possibly missing a lot of games due to World Cup Qualifying. Saer’s (Sene) coming off of injury. So, another area we felt we were thin in last year was outside backs, so we’re still looking in those areas. If you look at our current roster right now, having 22 players under contract, we’re probably further along now than we were last year at this time.

 

I assume he means they want to add a non draft attacking player and defender? Why not give Fagundez a chance as a starter? He needs opportunities to play so having Sene / Bengtson out will give him more minutes. Imbongo brings nothing so they really should sign a proven goalscorer not named Barret.

As far as being light at outside back, I hear there's this kid Polak who's pretty good. How 'bout we play him once or twice?

I love this from Burns "we’re probably further along now than we were last year at this time." Great, you have marginally improved your ability to do your job. Why don't you celebrate by hugging the post.

 

Ok Mike, sign us a DP forward and another CB. Toss in a LB for good measure.

 

As currently constituted, this roster does not have the personal to run a 2 man, or even 3 man midfield. I'll even go with the assumption that Cisse is an MLS caliber defensive midfielder. None of us are sure if he will slot in, but I will go with that assumption for the sake of argument.

Looking at the rest of the pieces, how do they fit? If the Revs run a 2 man midfield in a 4-4-2 or something similar, they do not have the #8 to play in front of Cisse. Toja, Dorman, Rowe, Nguyen, Caldwell, even Simms...none of those guys are b2b #8's. If the Revs try to fit that square peg into the round hole, then we will be lambasting those players the same way we did Benny all 2012.

The 3 man midfield is a bit more up in the air, as it is possible that they find a cohesive pair above Cisse, or even that all of them can rotate in and out to get the job done. That is a possibility, and far more likely to work than a 2 man midfield. However, they still lack the true central player. I suppose Dorman or Simms could sit a bit deeper behind a player like Toja or Rowe, but I honestly don't think either of them are quick enough on the ball to handle that sort of pressure in midfield. Both players are tidy on the ball when they are asked to not lose it, but to push the play forward, and transition back-to-front, we've seem the limitations of Simms, and I am not sure if Dorman can handle that. So, then you are left with possibly putting more creative minded players in that central #8 role. If you were to pair a Toja and say Rowe in the middle, you may have a much more cohesive passing game in the attacking third, and even transitioning from the midfield third into the attacking third. But think of the game happening around midfield. I'm really not confident that a combination of Toja/Rowe/Nguyen/Caldwell above Cisse gives them enough both physically and technically to transition the ball forward. All of those players are good facing goal and creating plays. I don't think any of them are good at transitioning the ball or even playing the ball laterally to stretch the field.

I'm worried that the biggest issue the Revs faced last year, is still going unresolved. Hopefully some of those guys prove me wrong, but right now, I'm very skeptical due to the way they've all played in the past.

 

That's a thorough and probably good analysis. (I say probably because I don't know enough to say.) But I do believe Cisse has some of the qualities we desperately need. He does seem like a special player. I'm also hoping Toja gets more comfortable in the system. He seems special too, to me.

 

I do like Cisse, and like I said above, that entire analysis was based on the assumption that he will fit in. It is the player above him that I worry about. Toja is not a #8.

 

I see Simms and Cisse as the base of a five man midfield with Dorman as their back-up. I'm with you that I'm not sure that is good enough or the players we could pick to play in front of them would be best utilized but my biggest concern with this roster is at full back. Heaps seems to love to play with attacking fullbacks providing width for a very narrow midfield. Right now we haven't improved over last season in this regard at all. If Hunter Freeman is added it is an improvement over Tierney but he is not the type of player to provide true width either.

 

I'm surprised we haven't had more talk of McCarthy at DM, instead of Simms. Simms is pretty solid defensively, but his distribution is nothing to speak of. McCarthy has at least okay defensive skills, he's big, and I think he does more with the ball when he gets it. If there's at least a semi-consensus here that McCarthy shouldn't be at center back, why not push him forward a notch?