Revs News 10/23: MLS Cup Playoff Preview

[Mattymags811]

Firepower aplenty in 1st-round clash

by Frank Dell'Apa Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/sports/soccer/articles/2007/10/23/firepower_aplenty_in_1st_round_clash/

[ToMhIlL]

I don't know if this is the exact print article that appeared in today's paper, but I would have thought that the focus of the article should be about our local team. Instead, this reads like something that wouild appear in a national publication or MLS net. Sure, us wonks will watch the other series, but the "average Revs fan" probably wouldn't know that we could host the EC final if Chcago wins and we get past the Mutts. Do they really care to read through the previews of the other matchups to get to the bit about the Revs?

[RedRevs]

This will definitely be a turf battle, both games to be played on artificial surfaces lined and stained for NFL games. The synthetic stuff discourages attempts to play flowing soccer, so these are expected to be an aesthetically unpleasing encounters.

huh? is this a proven fact that I don't know about? I thought the turf suited our direct, short-passing, style where we work the ball up the pitch with crisp play...that doesn't spell aesthetically unpleasing to me!


and, wtf!, i didn't even bother reading the other playoff previews, it was quite silly, a season in review about the Revs specifically could have worked.

[Prazan]

huh? is this a proven fact that I don't know about? I thought the turf suited our direct, short-passing, style where we work the ball up the pitch with crisp play...that doesn't spell aesthetically unpleasing to me!


That wasn't even the strangest part of a strange article.

" Angel (19 goals, 24 games) gives the Red Bulls a strong weapon for what is expected to be a lot of direct play in this series."

RBNY doesn't play very direct. The tactics are based around attacking through the wings (primarily with Richards, but with help from attacking fullbacks such as Van Den Burgh and Freeman) and then getting the ball into the middle for Angel and Altidore. And that is especially true when facing a team like the Revs that play a 3-5-2, which is vulnerable to attacks from the wing. I certainly don't "expect" that our offense will be based around punting long balls up to Angel in the series. I wonder why Dell'Apa does.

[RedRevs]

he's retarded, he usually just makes stuff up, this is another example.

[Mick7184]

I dont understand this trend I see with writers picking Red Bull in this series because of Angel, the Revs handled Angel this year pretty competently in my opinion. The Revs are a high scoring team, and NY's defense sucks. I think it will be a high scoring 2 legs, but even if Angel comes up with 2 goals in this thing, you dont think the Revs are going to be able to do the same thing on NY's defense?

[brduvel]

I'm not sure that I have read/heard any sources that give the Revs the advantage in this series. Fine by me, going in as the favorites has not really worked out all that well in the last few years.

[John Lewis]

http://www.soccer-new-england.com/OPINION-New-Season-Starts-for-Revs.html

[John Lewis]

Aw, screw it:
http://www.soccer-new-england.com/Latest-Soccer-News.html

[Rodan]

he's retarded, he usually just makes stuff up, this is another example.
Alright, I'll say it: as a NE Revolution columnist, and as an American soccer scribe in general, FDA stinks:mad:.

I doubt he would ever sully his oh-so-discerning futbal sensibilities in such a crude forum as this - but if he did, it wouldn't make me want to change my post.

[dtrave]

I don't know if this is the exact print article that appeared in today's paper, but I would have thought that the focus of the article should be about our local team. Instead, this reads like something that wouild appear in a national publication or MLS net. Sure, us wonks will watch the other series, but the "average Revs fan" probably wouldn't know that we could host the EC final if Chcago wins and we get past the Mutts. Do they really care to read through the previews of the other matchups to get to the bit about the Revs?

I enjoyed the article, and especially that the Globe gave this amount of ink to general MLS coverage. And thanks to the article, maybe there will be some "average Revs fans" that will now know that we could host the EC final if Chicago wins and we get past RBNY. I would expect another article later in the week, possibly on game day, that would focus on the Revs and their specific playoff series. When it comes to MLS coverage in mainstream media, more is always better, IMO. As Oscar Wilde said: "The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about".

[Chowda]

Wow. Lil FDA bashing going on. Personally, I enjoy his consistent print coverage. This isn't news, but with all the crap playoff previews coming out, mine almost approaches the "serious" level:

The Playoffs: Who I'm Rooting For (http://bluebloodedjourno.blogspot.com/)
Blue Blooded Journo

[Rodan]

When it comes to MLS coverage in mainstream media, more is always better, IMO. As Oscar Wilde said: "The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about".
Well, in this article in particular, the Revolution - that would be the home team - is pointedly not talked about.

You are certainly entitled to your opinion, but I find this sort of approach towards FDA's psuedo-jornalism like the subtly saying "we're lucky to be getting anything at all from the press, so let's take be thankful to FDA for the pittance we get..."

I just can't go for that.

[EdTheRed]

I can't believe none of you Revs fans picked up on this particular gem of a fact-checking oversight:

The last time D.C. won the Supporters Shield (MLS' best regular-season record) it was humbled by the Fire, 4-0, in the second game of the series.

Ummm...no. The last time D.C. won the "Supporters" [sic] Shield, it was beaten by the Revs, 1-0, in the Eastern Conference Championship. I mean, that was last year, and this guy covers the Revs. Not exactly ancient history involving some random teams.

[Argyle]

Alright, I'll say it: as a NE Revolution columnist, and as an American soccer scribe in general, FDA stinks:mad:.

I doubt he would ever sully his oh-so-discerning futbal sensibilities in such a crude forum as this - but if he did, it wouldn't make me want to change my post.

He's better than the alternative, which is nobody. Maybe it's a small thing, but he's the only person regularly covering the Revs for a general interest publication.

[Beez]

I don't know if this is the exact print article that appeared in today's paper, but I would have thought that the focus of the article should be about our local team. Instead, this reads like something that wouild appear in a national publication or MLS net. Sure, us wonks will watch the other series, but the "average Revs fan" probably wouldn't know that we could host the EC final if Chcago wins and we get past the Mutts. Do they really care to read through the previews of the other matchups to get to the bit about the Revs?

You've never read the Globe sports pages before, eh, Tom? The concept of running league playoff previews is rather well established for the "big four" sports. The fact that the Globe's doing likewise for MLS should be good news. And it's not like Frank's not going to focus on the Revs-Red Bull series for the next FOUR days before the match. But some people aren't happy unless they're griping, so...

[John Lewis]

We soccer people have to shed our persecution complex. We averaged shy of 17k people for 15 home games (give or take). We're getting the coverage we justify, no more, no less.

I mean, I'm really sorry the world isn't more interested in my hobbies too, but what can you do?

[Rodan]

We soccer people have to shed our persecution complex. We averaged shy of 17k people for 15 home games (give or take). We're getting the coverage we justify, no more, no less.

I mean, I'm really sorry the world isn't more interested in my hobbies too, but what can you do?
No persecution, I just don't think he does his job exceptionally well. It's not the quantity of the coverage, it's the quality.

And when my hobby starts drawing 17K a game for 15 games -pretty impressive numbers IMO - I expect a little better.

[Chowda]

We soccer people have to shed our persecution complex. We averaged shy of 17k people for 15 home games (give or take). We're getting the coverage we justify, no more, no less.


Can I see the formula you used to figure out our level of "deserved" coverage? I think you forgot to carry the 4.

[John Lewis]

I don't do the math, but I can guarantee the accountants at the Globe do.

You know, I wish it was more. I really do.