News, 2006-08-27

[rkane1226]

http://www.boston.com/sports/soccer/articles/2006/08/27/knock_is_failed_opportunities/


http://sports.bostonherald.com/soccer/view.bg?articleid=154664

[rkane1226]

``You have to keep going, keep doing what you believe in," Nicol said. ``If you believe in what you are doing, and as long as you are doing things right and doing them 100 percent, you will get rewards. You cannot stop believing in what you are doing and doing things properly.

So, based on that, today's lineup will be defensively conservative because he believes in what he is doing. With the people that are out, I'm curious how he is going to do that but I'm sure he'll find a way. Maby AJ at LB and Riley at Left Mid? Jeff L in the Middle. Now, how does he go conservative up top next to Twellman? May DH is better and SN can go with a 3-6-1 with Twellman alone up top.

. . . Nicol said the Revolution are seeking to sign a player, probably from outside the league. ``We have a spot open, but in all honesty, anyone we would want from within the league, we would not be able to get," he said . . .
Hey, he noticed they have a spot open! This quote has a strong taint of bullshit. How many days left in the window? And he still hasn't figured out anything more specific than, "probably from outside the league?"

[Tony Biscaia]

You and your arcane comments re:SN... :D


This should be a wet and wild one:

http://www.weather.com/weather/hourbyhour/USMA0146?from=36hr_topnav_undeclared

My midfield guess is Ralston on left, Dorman on right, with TT and Sims up top.

[eric_appleby]

If there is a way to keep Cancela on the bench, Nicol will find it.

[Tony Biscaia]

Mad Moves (http://www.revolutionsoccer.net/news/index.cfm?ac=latestnewsdetail&pid=20731&pcid=115)
By Brad Feldman

Game Preview: Columbus Crew at New England (http://www.revolutionsoccer.net/games/index.cfm?ac=gamereportdetail&pid=20730&pcid=115)

Crew In New Territory As They Prepare For Revs Test (http://scn.matchnight.com/scn-entry.cfm?page=ARTICLE&article=19748)
by Walter Wheeler

A Revs loss and a KC win would leave the Revs in 5th, 2 points out of last place. If they're not motivated today....

[Jon Martin]

"Nicol said the Revolution are seeking to sign a player, probably from outside the league. `We have a spot open, but in all honesty, anyone we would want from within the league, we would not be able to get,' he said . . . Columbus broke a 13-game winless streak (0-7-6) with a 1-0 victory over the New York Red Bulls last Saturday. Former Cape Cod Crusaders forward Joseph Ngwenya provided the goal in the 82d minute."

The reference to Ngwenya follows idiot wind's point so closely that it makes me wonder if he isn't mining BS. Not that I wouldn't, if I had his job. ;)

[JMMUSA8]

"Nicol said the Revolution are seeking to sign a player, probably from outside the league. `We have a spot open, but in all honesty, anyone we would want from within the league, we would not be able to get,' he said . . . Columbus broke a 13-game winless streak (0-7-6) with a 1-0 victory over the New York Red Bulls last Saturday. Former Cape Cod Crusaders forward Joseph Ngwenya provided the goal in the 82d minute."

The reference to Ngwenya follows idiot wind's point so closely that it makes me wonder if he isn't mining BS. Not that I wouldn't, if I had his job. ;)
I'm not surprised about the comment about trading within the league. You are not going to get a pivital player because every team is in contention. Trading inside the league makes no sense because its equal trading, you don't get a bargain. Trading will always be a last resort in MLS until there are more teams and get rid of the single entity.

[260599]

Revolution look to discover form against Columbus (http://www.soccernewengland.com/articles/view_article.php?id=1572)
By Andrew Hush, Soccer New England

Revs Notebook – Nicol still looking (http://www.soccernewengland.com/articles/view_article.php?id=1573)
By Andrew Hush, Soccer New England

[a517dogg]

So we all know that the Revs never get PK calls... but check out the stoppage time non-call for Houston in the Houston-Chivas game. Would have given them a tie on the road.

[BrianLBI]

If there is a way to keep Cancela on the bench, Nicol will find it.

Maybe. I want him in the game, just not as a forward!

[The Perfesser]

I'm not surprised about the comment about trading within the league. You are not going to get a pivital player because every team is in contention. Trading inside the league makes no sense because its equal trading, you don't get a bargain. Trading will always be a last resort in MLS until there are more teams and get rid of the single entity.

So how does Jafet Soto make it to RSL while Stevie is twiddling his thumbs?

============

COAST RICAN NATIONAL TEAM MEMBER JAFET SOTO SIGNED: Real Salt Lake is pleased to announce that Jafet Soto, a Costa Rica National Team Midfielder, has been added to the senior roster and will join the team for training starting tomorrow. Soto has played the last three seasons for Club Sport Herediano and was named "Player of the Year" for the league in 2004-05. Prior to joining Herediano, Soto Played eight years in the Mexico 1st Division with Puebla, Pachuca and Morelia. Soto has been staple for the Cota Rica National team with 63 caps and 10 career goals. He has been a member of the Costa Rican U-17's, U-20's, U-23's and played for Costa Rica in both the 2002 and 2006 World Cup's.

=============

Inquiring minds....

[Soccer Doc]

So how does Jafet Soto make it to RSL while Stevie is twiddling his thumbs?
Inquiring minds....

You may recall, the Revs signed a National Team player from a foreign team last year that had scored against the USMNT in the Gold Cup and we all know just how well Phillips did in MLS. :(

Will Soto work out for them? Who knows! But my guess is an Vagas odds maker, based on the history of other SI signings around the League would put the odds of his becoming an impact player between 4:1--6:1.

At the risk of sounding like an apologist for SN---the man has gone out and signed SI's who had good track records before coming to MLS and has found them all to be not superior to what he already has on the roster. Maybe the man has just gotten smarter and is not going to settle for signing a "Maybe he will work out" and is not going to sign a player unless it's "highly probable he will work out". Without a scouting staff and with the MLS pay structure finding ---and signing---that kind of player isn't easy.

[Dan B]

... At the risk of sounding like an apologist for SN ...You?!? We would never accuse you of being that! :rolleyes:

[The Perfesser]

You may recall, the Revs signed a National Team player from a foreign team last year that had scored against the USMNT in the Gold Cup and we all know just how well Phillips did in MLS. :(

Doc, the guy never had a chance. :(

Look, I've never gone to a team workout, so maybe those on this board who have (Jim, Tony, etc.) can provide much greater clarity here.

What I do know is that the guy literally lit up the CONCACAF Gold Cup and was a tremendous threat on the outside and up top -- with speed (what a concept!) -- whenever he got the ball.

Yet for the Revs he played in 4 games for a total of 34 minutes and then was dumped. :eek:

Unless the guy was an axe murderer or threatened the Revs players, coaching staff or management, I think I would have taken a little longer than 4 games and 34 minutes (that's just over 8 minutes a game, in case we are counting) to decide whether a national team player in CONCACAF was expendable or not.

I would love to hear SN's extended analysis about why Phillips was dumped.

[Rodan]

I'm not surprised about the comment about trading within the league. You are not going to get a pivital player because every team is in contention. Trading inside the league makes no sense because its equal trading, you don't get a bargain. Trading will always be a last resort in MLS until there are more teams and get rid of the single entity.
Can't say I really agree with this one. Every time I watch Dallas or Houston play, I'm struck by how many players they've managed to get from within the league. And if I recall correctly, players like Peguero, Cornell Glenn, and Ngwenya were all available this year.

If you put the central axioms of the Revs acquisition process right now, they form a nearly irrefutable argument for inactivity:

1. Never bring in players in the offseason because you won't know what players you'll need when the season starts.

2. Don't bring players in midseason because they won't be available until too late and will take too long to integrate into the existing lineup.

3. Don't bring in players from the outside unless there is proof-positive they are better than the players in your existing lineup. In other words, they have to be available, cheap, and obvious starter-level MLS players.

4. Don't consider a trade for players inside the league unless another team is willing to give you a starter for a benchplayer on your own team.

These are very high (unrealistic?) expectations that make the prospect of bringing in different types of players seem unlikely.