Revs-Bulls post-game

[Jon Martin]

Twellman - underpaid?

Dempsey - awake?

How many Rev breakaways? How many finished?

And that's Steve Nicol's fault how?

Discuss.

[Chowda]

The brightside to the game, besides the three points, is that we were creating actual scoring chances tonight. It was different than the 10-20 odd half chances we seemed to have for the past ten games or so.

BTW, this game put us some difference between us and RBNY. C-Bus tied. We should seriously think about throwing the KC game. Playing Chicago or DC in the playoffs seems like a toss-up right now. I'd rather play DC because more of us would go to the away leg and the games would have more possitive soccer. Just my two cents.

[a517dogg]

Noonan looked really sharp, much better than earlier in the season, and he took his goal very nicely. Such a shame he had to come out, hopefully he'll be healthy for if not DC, then @NYRB. Thought Larentowicz had a good game - makes me even more happy that I will soon have his jersey (w00t Magpie).

Khano Smith can't finish a sentence right now. His passing looked atrocious too. Hopefully that's just him being out of it?

Twellman's playing to his salary level. Though I thought he worked hard the 90 minutes, knocked down a couple good balls for Dempsey running through from midfield.

Dorman had a very good game when he was in the middle, but when Larentowicz came in and pushed him to the side he became annonymous. Had a better 2nd half.

I think Twellman and Dempsey need to get some Zen meditation or something. Every single shot they miss just ratchets up their frustration level and makes it more likely they'll miss the next one.

Edit: Also I have to say, give some credit to that NYRB keeper. He kept out a couple screamers by Twellman and Dempsey. If good ol' fatty had been in goal instead it might have been 3 or 4-0.

[JMMUSA8]

With any goalscorer, once the first goes in the rest will be a lot easier. I'm sure Noonan would have added one more if he played a full 90. The weight lifted off his shoulders tonight was huge.

The best part about Twellman is that he'll keep working and working. I recalled him messing up in the box and then tracked back 40 yards and won the ball right back. He's getting quality chances but he's also creating quality chances. One good bounce and he's back to the player who should be making over a mil a year.

[petezuke17]

I'm sorry that I don't share the optimism, but the Revs didn't exactly "create" a ton of scoring chances. The majority came either early before Noonan's injury or in the final 30 minutes when NY was pushing well forward looking for an equalizer and allowing the Revs room to counter and run at their defense.

The subsitution of Larentowicz is terrible and just shows that the Revs will always put defense first under Nichol. Bring on Brown for Noonan and keep the same formation because we were playing a 3-4-3 to open and it spread NY's back four out with attacking players creating width. Yet instead Nichol opts to bring on Larentowicz and push Dorman to Attacking mid, which is not his best position, and play a 3-5-2 becasue we have a one goal lead. Just thank god NY didn't score because we can not break down a team when they sit back. This was completely evident by the terrible display (which was truthfully terrible for both teams) that was the last 30 minutes of the first half and the opening minutes of the second half.

And, I'm sorry, Twellman didn't play up to his salary - he continues to squander chances that any top caliber striker should put away with ease and it is a trend that has perpetuated itself for at least the last month. His work rate was better tonight and he looked dangerous, but missing the net from 8 yards out with no defensive pressure is unforgivable.

Dempsey continues to look dangerous when the Revs can counter and he has space to run at players (and isn't tackeled football style), but this season those chances have been few and far in between.

Despite all of that, three points is three points and they were badly needed.

[wolfp10]

Until Twellman can learn how to finish, he doesn't deserve a raise.

Since his comments about his salary, how many goals has he scored?

[dncm]

Missing Noonan has been a big part of some of the Revs struggles.

Also, love the Riders, one of my 3 year olds was copying the clap-clap-clap and then raise your hands chant all night....as were what looked like the entire Andover youth soccer association sitting in front of us....Stuff is slowly catching on in the stadium, IMO. Great job

Also, went home and watched the taped version this morning. No Greg Lalas(wonder why?) - it was Joe Cummings instead. He was clearly very rough this being his first time and all. But just one thing to point out. On Noonan's injury, Avery played a long ball, and Brad says "Noonan pulls up and the ball goes over his head". The camera is on Noonan and he makes the signal for a substiution as he is clearly limping. And Joe Cumming says "Noonan acknowledges that was a good ball from Avery John". And Brad says "Noonan is saying, keep passign them to me". Ugh.

I know I am being extremely picky, but it's those little nuances(something Adrian would have picked up on right away), that just bug me. I know the broadcasters are looking at stat sheets and doing other stuff in the booth so they glance away from the monitors every now and then. But that one was pretty obvious. I know, I know - I am being a prick. Oh well.

Other than that, Revs got 3 points at home, but should have scored more goals. I thought Dempsey and Ralston both had a strong game, and the save by Reis on what looked initially like an innocent header was huge.

Chicago wins though, so we are still stuck in third, and Kansas City wins and they are right behind us.

[express13]

Yeah - frustrating to listen to those guys in the booth. Worst I have heard in a while...

[BrianLBI]

This game looked better. Lots of players attacking the goal, and less stationary play in the attacking half than we've seen recently.

I thought Khano did ok. It looks like the price of admission with him is a number of boneheaded touches, but he sure kept Wynne occupied.

I thought Twellman had a sure goal, but Conway made a nice save. He's pluggin away, maybe he'll break through against DC.

Clint playing a bit more directly, with less fiddlin' around. That's a good thing!

[Chowda]

A little on our opponents last night:

NY looked a lot better than when they visited us in July (which isn't saying much).

Guevara is such a better player when he is the focus of the offense. If we ever lose Joseph to europe and can't get a suitable international, trading an allocation for him may be an option. I know he's a AM and Joseph is a DM, but they both like to control the ball in the midfield.

Wynne should stick to the backline until he learns how to do one of the following: kick, dribble, pass, cross, or kick. He shuts down players when he marks them. When he pushes forward, he can't mark forwards. A few of our runs came from the left side in the second half. We never do that. Most were due to Wynne being caught in the offensive end.

Unless we beat DC twice, RBNY is the only eastern conference team that we beat head-to-head this year.

[pwykes]

The best part about Twellman is that he'll keep working and working. I recalled him messing up in the box and then tracked back 40 yards and won the ball right back.

This may be true but he also seems to be giving up far too easily on balls in or near the box - balls that in the past he would make an effort to get to and sometimes convert into goals. Where I was sitting (up behind the fort), there were many comments about Twellman's lack of hustle in the goal area.

[wolfp10]

For those interestd, here is a video I took yesterday of us burning a Red Bull shirt.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltLlIoHnBaM

[jrkumor]

My photos from the tailgate, ignore the one of Dorman that is for my niece.

Rev-RedBull Tailgate (http://www1.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=55947285/a=16062738_16062738/t_=16062738)

Comments from the sideline:

BA got off the bench and yelled only twice, Harkes did all the rest. Both times it was to yell at Brian Hall. At the end of the game he was yelling that Brian Hall was an idiot.

[Tony Biscaia]

Can't see them.

[Soc4Us]

Fun night.

I don't think this was a turning point for the Revs, but I'll take the three points.

Revs played the counter game, especially in the second half, but pretty much once they got the goal. They frequently had five on the back line. Ralston did a nice job playing back, but then making some good counter runs. Even Khano marked his man all over the field! I would have preferred they had kept attacking, but they were effective.

An effect of getting five players on the backline, was that Sharlie was relied upon to cover a large amount of space in the midfield. I thought he got better as the game went on.

An interesting battle during the match was between Sharlie and Guevera. I was impressed with how hard Guevera worked at times at putting pressure on the Revs when the Revs had the ball. He was more effective than I'd like against Shalrie when Shalrie had the ball, but Guevera couldn't shake Shalrie when Sharlie ahd the ball. A real good matchup.

I thought Dempsey had a good game. He had a couple of well placed shots that the goalie did a good job on and the Revs didn't get lucky on the rebound. He also did a bit of applying defensive pressure on the ball. I did not think TnT applied much pressure until the last ten minutes or so. He looks very frustrated now.

Feel bad for Noonan.

Good that the team could win 1-0 and avoid letting in a goal from a Revs miscue, but in some ways, I think this match showed the Revs just are not clicking this year.

[Tea Men Tom]

I thought the Revs played very well, save for the finishing, and the talent difference between the 2 squads we saw on the pitch was very evident.

Shalrie Joseph controlled the midfield, even from the DM position and TT and Dempsey were dangerous enough to keep the Bulls from pushing more people forward.

I think Shalrie is one of the 5 best players in MLS. He's just terrific. NY grinded as best they could -- you can see the influence of The Bruce already, but they're going to need more talent. The Revs shouldn't even be close to them in the standings right now -- so hopefully they're realized that the regular season has officially begun.

Final score should have been 3-0 or maybe 3-1. Reiss was excellent.

[ngower]

They passed well, they shot, they kept their shape in the back. I liked the attacking play and I hope they can do it again against D.C. and hopefully this is the turning point of the season. I'm too tired to go into it, so I'm just keeping it short.

[REV IT UP]

hopefully this is the turning point of the season
Please take back that statment. It seems that every time we think that "this is the turning point" we perform horrably the next match. I wont go thinking that this team has turned around until they get 9 points in a row.

RRRREV IT UP

[ngower]

Please take back that statment. It seems that every time we think that "this is the turning point" we perform horrably the next match. I wont go thinking that this team has turned around until they get 9 points in a row.

RRRREV IT UP

*TAKES IT BACK!!!*

We play DC next, so odds are we'll lose. I looked at the standing and if we can get two wins in our next three games, I think we may be able to get a playoff spot, or at least eliminate Columbus from the picture for good.

[Kenp]

I also doubt this game is a turning point, but the pattern, win-lose-win-lose is a heck of a lot better than tie-tie-lose-tie.

Re: the announcers reporting the obvious, 100% wrong, boy is that a pet peeve for me, too!

As long as US announcers feel they have to blather... oops, educate the ignorant American audiences on the "fine points of the game", at least get it right! For heavens sake,
LOOK. AT. THE. MONITORS. THEN. THINK.
before you open your mouths.

(I know, this isn't going to happen, but one can dream...)

Still, these guys have a way to go before they're in Tommy Smyth's league of inane comments.