Where is the panic button?

[BigFrank]

DC wins; Chicago, C-Bus and the Metros earn a point -- the Revos are now in 8th place overall, one point ahead of C-Bus for the final MLS Cup playoff berth.

The Revos have one win in their last 11 matches and the best road team in the league headed to the 'Boro this weekend.

Time to press the panic button?

Do you dare to watch during injury time?

Or will 2002 be revisited, and Nicol will catch lightening in a bottle once again?

If the Revos don't turn it around, and soon, there will be no playoffs in Foxboro this season.


Eastern Conference
Team GP W L T Pts
Chicago 18 8 4 6 30
Metros 19 8 5 6 30
DC Utd 19 7 6 6 27
NE Revos19 5 7 7 22
C-Bus 19 5 8 6 21

Western Conference
Team GP W L T Pts
San Jose 19 10 3 6 36
KC Wiz 19 7 5 7 28
Colorado 19 7 9 3 24
LA Galx 18 5 6 7 22
Dallas 19 3 12 4 13

Overall Standings
Team GP W L T Pts
San Jose 19 10 3 6 36
Chicago 18 8 4 6 30
Metros 19 8 5 6 30
KC Wiz 19 7 5 7 28
DC Utd 19 7 6 6 27
Colorado 19 7 9 3 24
LA Galx 18 5 6 7 22
NE Revos19 5 7 7 22
C-Bus 19 5 8 6 21
Dallas 19 3 12 4 13

[JMMUSA8]

just a reminder, if they stay above columbus, or anybody in the East for that matter, then they are in the playoffs.

[The Magpie]

Well, Chicago's sitting in pretty good position at the top of the East with 30 points, also enjoying a game-in-hand over all but Los Angeles league-wide.

That being said, the Revolution don't exactly have much going in their favor down the stretch-run:

* Revolution play the league-leading Earthquakes twice, starting with this weekend's match...

* Revolution play a pretty strong Metrostars club three times...

* We play United and Colorado, both clubs riding a wave of momentum, each going 6-3-1 in their last ten games... that being said, we also face Chicago and Los Angeles, also playing well of late with both going 5-2-3 in their last ten games, Damani Ralph really showing some talent for Chicago, and with Diego Serna seeming to have some impact in Los Angeles.

Truth be told, the only two games we have left where the Revs should feel relatively comfortable are against Columbus and Dallas. That being said, Dallas has two wins in their last ten games...

... the Revolution has, one. Now that puts a pretty fine point on it, but still paints a broad stroke: the Revolution can and should be able to beat any of these teams.

Panic button? Hell, Revolution fans have worn the paint off it after so much use over the past few years. We're either going to turn things around or continue on our slide.

We start Saturday, and much to Twellman's chagrin, against the best defense in the league in San Jose.

Hopefully our defense can hold it together.

[MouseyTongue]

Originally posted by The Magpie
Panic button? Hell, Revolution fans have worn the paint off it after so much use over the past few years. We're either going to turn things around or continue on our slide.


Ah, the zen of Revs fandom! Nothing like the soothing effect of tautological argument (we will do well or we will not do well) to calm the panic in New England. Magpie is right, this is simply the natural state of affairs here in these parts. Let's all just concentrate on accepting our lot and enjoying the ride. To that end I offer the following koan on which to meditate:

What is the sound of one team playing after 80 minutes?

[The Magpie]

"What is the sound of one team playing after 80 minutes?"

How about a doppler effect sound of a series of rapid foot-steps in the vicinity of the Revs defense?

The Magpie

[Argyle]

I've been thinking...

A few weeks ago, there was an article in the Boston Globe which argued that having a positive attitude was a key factor in a team's success. This applied to both players and fans.

The article of course focused on the Red Sox and Yankees, pointing out that Red Sox fans pretty much assume that in August the team will fall apart. Yankees fans (and players) assume that August is the month when the pull away from those collapsing Red Sox.

The article goes into more detail of course, but it's lead me to this conclusion:

Enough of this negative New England attitude. Sure San Jose is good, but this is MLS. No one is that much better than anyone else.

Taylor Twellman doesn't have to worry about SJ's defense, they have to worry about stopping him.

Our defense doesn't have to fret about Landon Donovan, he has to get past Pierce, Franchino, Llamosa, Adin Brown and company.

So let's stop thinking like Red Sox fans.

The Revs doesn't have to play San Jose.

San Jose has to play the Revolution.

On the Revs field.

Before the Revs fans.

Lets think like winners.

[Fiero20]

Originally posted by Argyle
I've been thinking...

A few weeks ago, there was an article in the Boston Globe which argued that having a positive attitude was a key factor in a team's success. This applied to both players and fans.

The article of course focused on the Red Sox and Yankees, pointing out that Red Sox fans pretty much assume that in August the team will fall apart. Yankees fans (and players) assume that August is the month when the pull away from those collapsing Red Sox.

The article goes into more detail of course, but it's lead me to this conclusion:

Enough of this negative New England attitude. Sure San Jose is good, but this is MLS. No one is that much better than anyone else.

Taylor Twellman doesn't have to worry about SJ's defense, they have to worry about stopping him.

Our defense doesn't have to fret about Landon Donovan, he has to get past Pierce, Franchino, Llamosa, Adin Brown and company.

So let's stop thinking like Red Sox fans.

The Revs doesn't have to play San Jose.

San Jose has to play the Revolution.

On the Revs field.

Before the Revs fans.

Lets think like winners.

finally, someone that i can agree with...

err...i mean, someone that can finally agree with me

;)

[BigFrank]

Originally posted by Fiero20
finally, someone that i can agree with...

err...i mean, someone that can finally agree with me

;)

A very exclusive club.

Even Soccer Doc is starting to fret, which means the Sky really is falling on the Revos.

[Soccer Doc]

Originally posted by BigFrank

Even Soccer Doc is starting to fret, which means the Sky really is falling on the Revos.

Nawww! After 8 years of this I have learned to hold onto the little things and to not worry about the standings. More importantly, to just enjoy the game for it's own sake and not fret that the Revs have yet to develop a winning tradition. I've learned that my serenity is inversely proportional to my expectations. As a Rev fan I've learned to keep my expectations low. (Amen, Brothers and Sisters!)

And --the Premiership starts tomorrow (HUGE SMILE)

George

[NFLPatriot]

Just as there are those who fret because the Sox are 3 games behind the Yankees, others rejoice that they are 1 game ahead of the A's for the wild card.

In the same respect, we may be 14 points behind the Quakes, but we are still 1 point ahead of the Crew for the last playoff spot, which is better than where we were one year ago today.

[rkupp]

Other than the DC win, all the Wednesday results were good for the Revs.

Yes, they have to play good teams most of the way - but there are only 2 bad teams, so if you want to move up, you have to play the teams in front of you.

The success the Revs have will depend on how THEY play, not WHO they play. When they are playing their game, they can beat anyone.

[Kanu]

Originally posted by rkupp
Other than the DC win, all the Wednesday results were good for the Revs.

I would disagree that the results were good for the Revs. I would agree that it could have been worse.

DC earned three points. Chicago, New York and Columbus earned one point.
New England earned no points. They didn't play, but the others were playing games in hand.

The four other teams in the division added points when the Revs did not.
I do not see how that can good senario for the Revs.

A win over San Jose this weekend would be good for the Revs.

[jmsullivan]

Originally posted by Argyle
A few weeks ago, there was an article in the Boston Globe which argued that having a positive attitude was a key factor in a team's success. This applied to both players and fans.

I got your positive attitude right here. :mad:

http://www.silverdog.com/bponline/old/crotch.jpeg

[Chip]

Originally posted by jmsullivan
I got your positive attitude right here. :mad:


Hey, how bad can it be ... at least there's no relegation!

;)

[Beast_Ed]

Good post. Makes me think this will be the year the Rev's finish with the league leading most goals forward, most goals against and yet, while finishing last in MLS, they still clinch a huge win in the US Open Cup final.

Beast_Ed

[BigFrank]

If it wasn't time to press the panic button before, how about now?

The Revos current streak is as poor as anything during the Rongen or Zenga respective reigns of Error and Terror!
In some ways it is even worse because this team has so much more talent than those sad sacks.

ESPN2 never showed a definite replay to prove if Ruiz was offside or not on the winning goal. But overall the Revos didn't deserve anything out of this game.

Now Twellman is hurt.
Columbus is beating Dallas.
The Revos may find themselves in ninth place when they wake up tomorrow morning.
The remaining schedule doesn't cut them too many breaks.

"Cancela. He Da Man!"
Well, he is a good player, but they haven't won a league match since he got here.
Fabbro, Brown? Please!

A season that began with so much promise is going from bad to worse with no end in sight.

REVOS RESULTS SINCE MAY 24
KC 2, @ NE 2 (OT) TIE
NE 1, @ COL 4 LOSS
NE 1, @ DC 1 (OT) TIE
COL 2, @ NE 3 WIN
NE 2, @ LA 2 (OT) TIE
MET 3, @ NE 3 (OT) TIE
DAL 2, @ NE 1 LOSS
NE 1, @ CHI 3 LOSS
NE 1, @ CLB 1 (OT) TIE
DC 4, @ NE 2 LOSS
NE 0, @ DC 1 LOSS
SJ 1, @ NE 1 (OT) TIE
NE 1, @ LA 2 (OT) LOSS

Since May 24
1 Win - 6 Losses - 6 Ties
9 Points out of a possible 39

Since Last Win
0 Wins - 5 Losses - 4 Ties
4 Points out of a possible 27


REMAINING SCHEDULE

Saturday, August 30th
Chicago at New England

Sunday, September 7th
New England at San Jose

Saturday, September 13th
New England at MetroStars

Thursday, September 18th
Colorado at New England

Sunday, September 28th
Columbus at New England

Saturday, October 4th
New England at Dallas

Saturday, October 11th
D.C. United at New England

Saturday, October 18th
New England at MetroStars

Saturday, October 25th
MetroStars at New England

[The Magpie]

"But overall the Revos didn't deserve anything out of this game..."

Uh, yes they did Frank, but thanks for playing. Next time you may win the toaster oven.

The Revolution played quite well in the first half and had better opportunities and play than Los Angeles, any lay fan could have seen that. They did a good job of using the width of the field, the maintained possession, and had their chances... Lord knows Fabbro's going to be running his effort through his head for some time.

Adin Brown made some dynamite saves.

Where did the Revs lose this game?

Well, I'll tell ya.

Open ***************ing memo to Jay Heaps, and I've been saying this every stinking time: you have a nasty habit of pushing too far forward into midfield, only to be hung out to dry on the counter because you can't:

a. play your position correctly...
b. know your relative position to your teammates...

and,

c. see the play developing as a whole - you can't read the *&%$ing play.

What happens on the first goal?

Heaps is caught up-field when the rest of the defense is positioned correctly. Heaps has to haul ass back to try and contain his man. He's forced into a reactive mode and the little cheat beats him with a good shot.

Open memo to Heaps - GET A #$%@!$% CLUE AND PLAY YOUR POSITION!!!!!!

Panic button?

Hell yeah.

The Magpie

[NFLPatriot]

To quote Woody from "Toy Story", "Now is the perfect time to panic!"

We've gone winless in 9 matches! Even Dallas hasn't gone more than 6 this season. We keep finding new ways to lose.

And now Twellman is out indefinitely.

Last season they finished strong because Kante showed up and challenged the rest of the defenders for their starting jobs. Unless Kante has some magic potion he drinks on Labor Day, there is no panacea for the defense this season.

We are in serious trouble. If they stay where they are now (5th in the East) it's gonna be YACC (yet another coaching change).

As for Fabbro, Wolde wouldn't have tripped over the ball. He would have shot wide....

[soccertim]

Originally posted by NFLPatriot
As for Fabbro, Wolde wouldn't have tripped over the ball. He would have shot wide....

Can't agree with you there. If Wolde beat the goalie, and was staring at an open net, he would definitely manage to sky the ball over the crossbar...

[Feldspar]

Originally posted by soccertim
Can't agree with you there. If Wolde beat the goalie, and was staring at an open net, he would definitely manage to sky the ball over the crossbar...

Of course, Wolde wouldn't have beaten the keeper anyway - he'd have kicked it straight into Hartman's arms....