2013 Revolution Roster

Now that we've got Farrell, biggest question for me is what the midfield is going to look like, formation wise, and secondarily what we're going to do at GK.

Two rumors in the offseason have been: we're looking for a #10, and we're shopping Toja.

If the former is true, and we accept the eventual pairing of Sene-Bengtson up top, and Nguyen is starting on the left, then Cisse is probably in the Beckerman role, Simms drops to the bench, and we look something like RSL with a narrow diamond midfield. Only we trade Toja out for a speed threat on the other side.

The big unanswered question is what we'll do until Sene comes back. Stay with two up top? Drop Diego into a withdrawn role and play an empty bucket midfield? The acquisition or non-acquisition of a true #10 (like Portland's Valeri, for instance) is going to determine a lot this season in terms of how we play.

As for GK, I think we've seen some mistakes across the league--the carousel of GKs at RBNY is not what we want, bringing in a creaky old-timer is not what we want because we're trying to build a core, not make a one-year sprint for a title. I just don't think Shuttleworth is good enough. Dan Kennedy could give us five solid years, at least. Whoever we acquire, we need to be thinking of a 4-5 year "core"--so no 21-year-old projects or 39-year-old rentals. I think it's crucial we make the switchout at GK this year and part ways with Reis, so that starting next year (Heaps's 3rd), the team is more or less "set".

 

I don't think this team is being built to be that rigid in formation. They have a number of players who are fairly flexible in all areas of attacking midfield. Rowe, Toja and Nguyen can all play centrally or wide on either side as attacking mids. Caldwell probably, too. Sene can play as a striker partner, a deeper forward, or even drift out wide. Diego could probably play any of the positions in a 3 man front line depending on whom he is surrounded by. Dorman, Simms and Cisse (maybe even McCarthy) are all fairly versatile central players, Simms maybe being the least versatile of the bunch. Smith and Guy are possibly decent wide options.

I think there will be a lot of flexibility in system defending on who is available. I think style of play, and tactical implementation, will be much more important to the success of the team, than how they lineup on the field. They don't seem to have much in the way of players who can get up and down the line and whip in crosses. They seem to be building for a far more fluid buildup and possession retention style. So I think we will probably see things come down to matchups much of the time. The 4 players between Bengston and Cisse could be a large variety of diffierent styles, for different situations. Against teams that are strong centrally, they may look to play Dorman and Simms in to disrupt passing and mitigate losses in the middle. Against 4-4-2 teams they may play with 3 attacking midfielders to draw the opponents outside mids inside and deep into their own end. They may go straight up 4-4-2 with a bucket or diamond to play against teams that are weak in central defense..

They clearly have a lot of options, and I doubt they will be very rigid in formation. Otherwise, they wouldn't be selecting the types of players they seem to favor.

 

I don't know--to me, if the Revs do in fact get Julio dos Santos (below) or someone like him as their #10, it changes everything and he isn't a situational player, but someone we build the midfield around:

http://mlstransfers.blogspot.com/2013/01/revolution-tracking-south-american.html

RSL very clearly plays a fixed formation, and if one player is missing, they plug in another. Seattle got burned by trying to change its formation at LA in the playoffs and Sigi admitted as much.

 

I completely agree that if they get a true 10 playmaker, then they will likely play a more fixed formation. The trouble is, as currently constituted, they probably couldn't and shouldn't.

RSL plugs peripheral players in and out, but when Morales is out, he switches to 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 all the time. The key for them is having Morales to stabilize the creativity centrally.

Seattle, under Schmidt, also changed their formation at the very end of the season. It wasn't as though they had been playing all year with a fluid system. Anytime you change tactics late in a season you are inviting trouble.

Of course, ideally, the Revs would have a set spine to their team. from the center backs through the middle and even up to the striker. The problem is that they have a lot of players who, at this point, seem very similar in quality, and no one that is a hands down true creator in the middle of the field. Who knows, maybe they sign someone, or maybe Rowe or Toja can fit the bill. I don't think either of them are really suited for that role week in and week out, which is why I think they will take it more situationally.

 

Re: leaving two off budget slots open, I wonder if the deal with Rochester might force their hand to fill these last two slots.

 

Posted Tuesday:

Hunter Freeman ‏@huntfree
For those of you who have asked me what my situation is with NE, MLS, etc…all I can say is that I hope to know more this week #staytuned

 

Seems like a riveting follow.

 

Could always use more rivets!

 

Can't Toja be our #10?

 

I think he can be, but he has yet to be fit and healthy since joining the team. That's a concern.

 

I think Toja could be a decent CAM. I personally think he is better when he drifts wide, but considering the type of players they may flank him with, that might not be a bad thing. If they happen to go with a 4-2-3-1 formation with Nguyen-Toja-Rowe, all three of them can interchange. Which provides a lot of flexibility, and disruption for defenses. My only concern is that none of them are great at truly creating something for other players while they are under pressure. Maybe collectively they can do it.

As I've said before, I think this team is going to be quite flexible. Autogolazzo pointed out how it could be a bad thing, and I think he could be right. But I also think it could be good if they can keep themselves organized.

 

Is it possible that if they sign Freeman, that Farrell plays DM, especially to start the year?

-------------Bengston---------------
Nguyen-------Toja------------Rowe
-----------Cisse--Farrell------------
Alston-Soares-Goncalves-Freeman

I guess that all depends on how ready Farrell is. Idk, I'm bored lol

 

That's a logical lineup from what we've got, but look how slow that team is in attack.

Players that may be available include Miller Bolanos from CUSA and Dom Oduro from Chicago (in Rowe's spot).

This team still needs speed and Nyassi isn't quality enough to be a starter.

 

How come with this team it always seems to be, "Speed, skill, durability - pick two"?

 

maybe something like this?
-------------Bengston---------------
Nguyen-------Toja------------Rowe
-----------Cisse--Dorman------------
Alston-Farrell-Goncalves-Freeman

 

@jeff_lemieux

Please welcome the newest member of the #NERevs, F Matt Horth (@mhorth18) from the NASL's @ATLSilverbacks

 

Speed is overrated

 

Because this is MLS and those are the limitations of every player. That's why they are in this league and not a better one.

 

Suddenly we've got a lot of young forward candidates.

 

Wouldn't say a lot. One more than yesterday. Horth could be another Brett Schneider or another Felix Brilliant given Gordon College is around the same level. Right now he is a warm body that plays forward on the cheap. We needed depth up top and got one but we need more.

 

Absofrickenlutely..!

Otherwise, Jamaica would be World Champs! =)

 

You don't like Soares? I'm feeling a bit conflicted about the guy myself.