Revs off-season Part II

Yeah, under my scenario, the Revs would probably have to venture into the brave, new world of having two DPs at the same time.

How so? Assuming they sign someone to replace Agudelo, they could still play Sene, Imbongo, Davies, and/or Goncalves at forward.

Maybe they're a little short on attacking midfielders who can give guys like Rowe, Fagundez, and Nguyen a rest... but they've also got two first round picks.

 

Bilello tweeted a sneak peek at the new kit: a sleeve

 

http://www.boston.com/sports/soccer..._to_sign_charlie_davies_esmael_goncalves.html
Nothing on the Revs site

 

Injury galore

 

Jones is a fit with this group. He provides the protection and defensive abilities that Caldwell can't, which frees him up to do more of the possession work. Jones can also pass well enough to link defense and attack. He doesn't sell shirts or tickets though, so finding a contract that he's worth may be difficult here (as in the United States, not just New England). He'll end up somewhere that doesn't need help selling tickets.

 

For me the concern is that he likes to get forward too much to play the role that is being described for him in this tread. If he doesn't self-conscious cramping Bradley's style, it seems a stretch to think he'd limit himself to dirty work for the sake of Caldwell, Nguyen, Rowe and Fagundez.

 

I think the difference is that Caldwell isn't getting forward that much and wouldn't be, even if freed from a defensive-mid position. He would stay back when Jones made his runs forward and his game wouldn't be hurt by that.

 

Yeah, agree with this. I think when the game is getting physical and the Revs are getting pushed around, he'd be where he needed to be.

 

That's fair. But against the SKCs of MLS, they could play Sene wide right. And the Agudelo replacement would HAVE to have some size. And maybe you draft a kid like Marlon Hairston or Pedro Ribeiro.

 

Plus if he's flying forward, at some point he's going to be taking out Aurlien Collin...not to be specific, but you get my point.

 

Exactly. That's what made Dorman effective against certain teams, especially Columbus. Jones could provide what Dorman did, while also providing better overall footballing skills that I think Dorman lacked.
I think Jones can confidently move forward somewhat often because JG is a rock in the back. It would be incredible to get more offensive contribution from our d-mids.

 

I'm torn on the idea of Jermaine Jones on the Revs - there would be a lot of positives and negatives from my perspective.

Positives

• The obvious and biggest positive is Jones would instantly transform the Revolution's style of play from top-to-bottom. He would add another level of toughness to their play (along with JoGo), and allow Caldwell more space to operate, providing the two box-to-box midfielder setup that is prevalent and effective in MLS right now.
• The rest of the young Revolution team gets the opportunity to learn from a longtime Bundesliga veteran with experience in both the German and American national team systems. Fagundez is on record saying he learned a lot from Goncalves and he doesn't even play the same position, so this isn't an ephemeral positive.
• Jones will probably be playing a major role in Brazil - he's a World Cup starter for the US, not a supersub like Feilhaber was, and that has some cachet. It wouldn't necessarily move attendance but it might at least raise the profile of the Revs somewhat (this is likely wishful thinking).

Negatives

• Jones is 32 already, and given the physicality of his position and the league in general, teams will be lucky to get 3 season of solid production from him (and that's probably optimistic). It's a "go for it now" move, and whether you think the Revs could "go for it now" with Jones is up for debate.
• Jones essentially averages a card per game, to the point you could make a drinking game out of "Jermaine Jones picked up a yellow" mentions in an American Exports article. Even in MLS, you could picture him practically lapping Aurelien Collin in the discipline standings, and he's a lock to get suspended a couple times during the season. It's by far the most frustrating part of his play.
• The salary demands - although in MLS this is rapidly mattering less and less (for teams that aren't the Revs).
• This is more of a personal negative, but to me Jones is a hard guy to root for, given past off-field comments and behavior, plus his generally reckless play. I have a tough enough time supporting him in a US jersey, and in a Revs jersey it would be even tougher for me.

 

Yup. And while JJ can get a bit lost out there, Caldwell is positionally sound and someone I think would work well with him.

 

Jones is apparently moving to Eintracht Frankfurt. Just rumors right now, but it appears legitimate. I expect the move to be announced soon. He was apparently in town getting a medical.

 

Pffffft.

Still need a player like him.

 

Just wanted to say on here i know its off topic but its only because he was a legend & we have his statue at Gillette Stadium. R.I.P Eusebio. He was here a few months ago for Portugal - Brazil friendly. With a heavy heart im extremely sad to see the Pantera Negra pass away. Portugals greatest player in eternal rest.

 

Parkhurst news:

http://www.noshortcorners.com/2014/01/goodie-patrol.html

 

I hope it takes a while and and he ends up here.

 

Only thing to worry about, which I harped upon earlier and since forgotten in my giddiness about a potential Parkhurst return, is the contract restrictions and how many senior contracts we can have. Parkhurst is a guy to make room for, I'd just be curious to see who goes to make room for him.

 

I'm wary of Soares lately. I was high on him in his rookie year but he's been mistake prone lately. The kind of mistakes that turn into goals for the opposition to boot. I think the back line is pretty strong but with a guy like Parky, it could be a wall which would be very tough to penetrate in MLS and also a veteran back line that can calmly play the attack out of the back. I see Tierney lacking in that regard and also Alston -through no fault of his own- is a potential liability because of his health issues.

 

I wonder how Parkhurst would do in the middle of the defense for a team without a lot of grit in the middle of the midfield? Or a team without a lot of grit period.

I believe that he has seen some time at both RB (primarily) and LB (very little). Is it possible that his best fit for the Revs is not in the middle of the defense?

Either way, it would be great to have him back and he would make the Revs a better team. He would provide starter quality, experience from MLS, abroad, and the USMNT, adds to depth, and adds the ability to cover a few positions.

I still think we need some veteran grit at DM. Any "Jermaine Jones lite" or Big Red type options out there that are realistic?