The Revs have their first weeknight home game of the season on Wednesday against Colorado (4-4, 12 points). The Revs are 2=5 on the season, with a paltry 5 goals scored. Three of those were in just one game, so the Revs have scored just 2 goals in the other 6 games combined. Ouch. The Revs also have just one clean sheet in seven matches. The Rapids will be coming in fresh off a 4-0 shellacking at home over Chivas.
Both teams play a possession game, but Pareja uses the better formation to accompany that style, a 4-3-3. If they outpossess the crap out of us on our own turf, maybe that'll give Heaps the idea to try that formation that I know at least a few of us would like to see. I could totally see Sene playing as an attacking winger on the left who could roam more centrally when Benny drifts out towards the left.
The only thing that will catch my attention is Shalrie in for McCarthy, Benny where Shalrie played. That change would completely change this team's shortcomings and would show us what this squad can do. No other changes needed IMO.
Colorado played more of a 4-4-2 vs. Chivas, with Cascio and Cummings up top. Actually, it looked more like a 4-1-3-2, too narrow for a true diamond, to counter CUSA's tactic of overpopulating the midfield: -------Cascio-------Cummings------ ----Castrillon----Rivero (Hill)----Mullan------ ---------------Big Red----------------- Zapata----Moor----Wynne-----Kimura ---------------Pickens---------------- Incredibly, they had Casey and Hill (two goals) come off the bench. And they have another strong Colombian midfielder (Henao) waiting in the wings. Zapata is a great left back for them, we should be jealous. He shut down Miller Bolanos cold. Cascio was very impressive. Our best hope is that Pareja rotates the roster or puts out a more conservative formation. They're gonna be flying after that result.
If so, then Heaps is not capable of learning well from experience. The word is that he is a pretty intelligent guy, so let' see if his personality allows reasonable room for that intelligence to shine on the soccer field. From what we saw of his playing days, it is not obvious that this will be the case.
I wonder if we are in the same boat that Clavijo was with Harkes. Harkes getting past his prime would not play where he was then suited...and Harkes was captain so Clavijo was more reluctant to take him off even when he was killing our team. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
The Shalrie thing was the one element I was worried about with the Heaps hiring - as friends and playing contemporaries during would Jay make the tough decision on Sharlie's role with the team, a decision many could have predicted when Shalrie's play was clearly declining throughout 2011? He was a traffic cone in the midfield during the NY game and may be the slowest player speed-wise in MLS now. CB is the only spot where he fits since that spot relies more on proper positioning, soccer smarts and physicality than pure athleticism/coordination. I like Jay but I would have had more trust in Ralston or an outsider to re-assign Shalrie when it mattered.
I'd like to see some fresh faces in this one without completely losing fluidity. --------------Moreno----------------- --Cardenas-----Nguyen------Guy------ ---------Simms-----Benny------------- Tierney---Soares--McCarthy/Joseph-Alston Cardenas seems to be itching to prove himself after not seeing any minutes recently. Benny has played better in a deeper playmaking role which he seems to prefer as well. Nguyen played mostly central or right side in Vietnam, let's see if he's more comfortable there and can develop something with Moreno around the box. I can't decide on Shalrie or McCarthy. Pros and cons with both.
Considering this is Game 2 of 3 in 8 days, this (or Saturday) wouldn't be a bad chance to check out some of the depth on this team, since you won't start the same group all three games.
Ditto to that. There are plenty of players who could use a rest, I suspect. Besides, a new combination of players might reveal some pleasant surprises.
Remember, BigSoccer is going down for upgrades tonight, and might not be back up tomorrow till who knows when ... so we'll have to see if this'll be up by game time.
attendance Predicting a very sparsely attended game - wouldn't be surprised if announced is ~6000 and actual is 947.
Yup. I feel for the guy. It looks frustrating. His feet just can't move as fast as his brain thinks. At best, he's one of our 3 worst players on the field right now. If you're looking at upgrading certain positions this summer, Shalrie might be one of those guys (along with Tierney) that you look to upgrade.
Sene is rapidly becoming my favorite Rev. He seems to pop up everywhere, and while sometimes he tries to be too clever, he manages to create chance after chance. If only we could do something about his hair.
We're winning? We're winning! Cardenas has earned a starting spot, imo. Poor Alston, there was a close-up when he emptied his stomach.
Whoa, this new board is nuts Good win though, especially liked Sene's goal. Wish more went out to see it!
Nice win. Shalrie had a poor game - would get caught high up the field and Colorado would play around him, or he couldn't transition from defense to offense quickly enough to get involved in the attack. I think the only way he should be starting is at center-back, but McCarthy is looking pretty good there. I would have liked to see Diego come on for Cardenas. They are similar players - fast & tricky, small. I got to think that the reason Diego isn't getting on the field is he must not be defensively good enough for Heaps.