REVS NEWS, 6/17: Revolution up to no good

Revolution up to no good
Lack of scoring remains concern
By Frank Dell’Apa, Globe Staff / June 17, 2011

"I’d love to tell you we’re almost done, but we’re not,’’ coach Steve Nicol said of recruiting prospects. “We’ve spoken to three players who we felt we would get something done with, but for all kinds of reasons, we haven’t. We’re still looking, we’re still trying as hard as we can to bring an extra front player in...’’

http://www.boston.com/sports/soccer/articles/2011/06/17/new_england_revolution_up_to_no_good/

more fish stories about the ones that got away

All that's missing is Mike Burns holding his hands as far apart as he can saying "it was this big!"

Uh-oh, I think I just gave Alan an idea...

I believe that the main problem is that NO quality player wants to play for this team, as it's currently administered. I can't say I blame them. The Rev are now the soccer equivalent of Traktir Irkutsk.

One thing the article tells us is that, no matter what anyone here might want, they're looking for a forward.

One general question, which would be worse: The Revs saying they're looking for a DP, saying nothing after that, then not signing one.

Or

The Revs saying they're looking for a DP, being pretty open about the process, then not signing one.

There can be kind of a damned if they do (talk) and damned if they don't (talk)
situation here.

You forgot the third scenario--the Revs never really intending to sign a DP at DP money, but using the search to try to get somebody on the cheap while temporarily placating their fans that they're moving heaven and earth and willing to spend bigger bucks.

Couldn't the real reason for all these near misses be the lowball contracts offered?

It is most equivocally THIS..!!

Well reports came out from "non revolution" sources that they were offering 7 figure contracts to a few guys.

If that's true, Kraft might actually be getting fed up with this management -- you know, because they can't get ANYTHING done.

OR

Kraft is a genius and hired Burns, knowing he is too incompetent to spend the 1+ million he's been authorized to spend.

What?

Sure, if you start from the assumption that anything Bilello, Burns and Nicol say is a lie.

While the possibility of a lowball contract isn't absurd, don't project onto the front office.

Maybe they didn't splash the cash at these guys, but maybe they're not worth what they, the player, think they are. I'd rather us avoid a old geezer cash grab with a "lowball" contract than have them here eating away funds.

*"7 figure contracts"

Do the seven figures include the numbers after the decimal point?

Seriously, I recall it being reported that they offered the Brazilian Alex, who was playing for Fenerbahce a deal of more than a million this off-season.

On another note, remember when Lekic was being courted? He was talking all enthusiastically about the "huge" stadium, modern training facilities, etc. I wonder what kinds of things the Revs can really use to "sell" to the player? Seems that all a prospective target would need to do is to talk to a few guys who are familiar with US soccer and MLS and they might reconsider.

You even got the shadows right...Never doubt your talent again. Wait..I never doubted it!!!

Obviously, the stadium shouldn't be that big a selling point. But I can see the training facilities as being a plus. I'm willing to bet they're better than what he's used to.
As far as lifestyle goes, kind of depends on the player, doesn't it?

Is there any question about it?

Yeah, sure. That sounds like the Steve Nicol we all know.

I don't know about Burns or Billello, but when Nicol meets with fans he's pretty much a straight shooter.

Once again, people want to come up with all kinds of conspiracies, when the truth is probably the most likely explanation (and just what they've said it is), i.e., it's a tough fit to find the right person for the right price who wants to come to MLS.

Well, if you eliminate lowball contract offers and a rep as a bad place to play, how do you explain why this franchise has such trouble signing a DP and others don't?

Sheer incompetence is a catch-all that may work for some, but I was trying to give them the benefit of the doubt--in a way.

It's not as if we don't clearly, desperately need attacking help.

The final piece of the puzzle is that we aren't looking in Latin America for forwards.

As far as the price point they're rumored to be working with, that's just insane and yet another reason Nicol/Burns must go.

Yes, but where was the decimal point positioned in said "7 figure contract"?

$10,000.00 = 7 figures

Hell, if you count the decimal point and dollar signs as "figures"...

$100.00 = 7 figures

You know this to be true? How?

No, none at all. That excuse was used in the pre-season. It's used up. Done, No good anymore. C'mon, you'd let them use this excuse across 4378856789 transfer windows. Their team sucks, they need help, go suceed at signing help and stop sucking at your job.

It sounds to me like he's straight shootin' his way right back to, "We failed again Rev fans."

It's hard for the REVS to find the right person at any position at any price.

Because, as the pollyannas are fond of saying, the Revs have been completely open about where they're pursuing a DP.

Can't have it both ways.

But the fact that we don't currently have a DP close to signing with the window so close, together with the negative noises Nicol is making, indeed sounds like we once again are in danger of missing the boat.

So for your sake, I'll go back to default: The Revs are the most incompetent team in MLS when it comes to evaluating and signing foreign talent. No conspiracy there, just facts. More busts and non-starters per capita in foreign acquistions than any team in the league over the past few years.

And now this.

I don't agree with this part. Toronto, Dallas, Houston...there have been plenty of teams just as poor in acquiring non-draft talent as we have. The difference between us and them is in the amount of risks other teams have taken and their openness with the press in regards to pursuits of players. They've also all signed a Designated Player.

We aren't good at acquiring talent overseas, but neither are most of the teams in this league.

Houston:
Lovel Palmer - Works
Jevaughn Watson - Jurys Out
Jermaine Taylor - Jurys Out
Koke - Bust
Luis Landin - Bust
Anthony Obodai - Bust

Dallas:
Fabian Castillo - Me Likey
Marvin Chavez - Me Likey
David Ferreira - Me Likey
Juan Toja - Me Likey
Milton Rodriguez - Works
Jair Benitez - Works
Jackson - Works
Andre Rocha - Iffy
Denilson - Bust
Duilio Davino - Bust

Toronto:
Pablo Vitti - Gone on to good things
Alen Stevanovic - Jurys Out
Javier Martina - Jurys Out
Mikael Yourassowsky - Jurys Out
Martin Saric - Iffy
Nick Soolsma - Iffy
Emmanuel Gomez - Iffy/Bust
Amadou Sanyang - Iffy/Bust
Mista - Bust
Maxim Usanov - Bust
Raivis Hscanovics - Bust

New England:
Marko Perovic - Me Likey
Emannuel Osei - Worked at the time
Kenny Mansally - Make your own opinion
Sainey Nyassi - Make your own opinion
Rajko Lekic - Jurys Out
Franco Coria - Jurys Out
Didier Domi - Jurys Out
Jose Abundis - pass
Stephane Assengue - Bust
Gabriel Badilla - Bust
Argenis Fernandez - Bust
Edgaras Jankauskas - Bust
Joseph Niouky - Bust
Roberto Linck - Bust
Ousmane Dabo - Appears to be a Bust

You decide.