Rev news, 8/15

[ProseLtd]

Vazquez caught in numbers game (http://www2.bostonherald.com/sport/soccer/revs08152003.htm) by Gus Martins, Boston Herald

Serna deal quickly burns Revs (http://www2.bostonherald.com/sport/soccer/rnot08152003.htm) Revolution Notebook/by Gus Martins

[Soccer Doc]

That's right Gus, the "Sky Has Fallen" !

Hey Gus: Right now the team and the fans need something positive to get their juices flowing and all you could do was write
negative conjectures and second guess those who had to make choices in real time with you using your all knowing retrospectascope to take pot shots. Didn't you Mother ever tell you that if you didn't have something positive to say it's best to say nothing at all???

George

[NFLPatriot]

Personally, I didn't see any pot shots. He simply pointed out that the Revs signed Vasquez when they didn't think they could get Cancela, and now that they have both, Vasquez is redundant. No shame in playing it safe there. I'm sure Vasquez will be traded/released in the offseason, giving us an SI slot for a veteran defender next year.

Sounds like the Revs tried to get a player (defender?) from LA for Serna, but LA wouldn't bite. Given the timing, the Gals had the the leverage, so we had to settle for the picks.

The line Adin Brown has recovered from his two concussions. is very comforting. Hopefully he'll be in net Saturday.

[NFLPatriot]

Brown's goal: Tending to chores (http://www.boston.com/sports/soccer/articles/2003/08/15/browns_goal_tending_to_chores) by Frank Dell'Apa, Boston Globe

Sounds like Brown is ready, but SN hasn't decided who to go with yet. My guess is Brown plays Saturday.

[Rodan]

Originally posted by Soccer Doc
That's right Gus, the "Sky Has Fallen" !

Hey Gus: Right now the team and the fans need something positive to get their juices flowing and all you could do was write
negative conjectures and second guess those who had to make choices in real time with you using your all knowing retrospectascope to take pot shots. Didn't you Mother ever tell you that if you didn't have something positive to say it's best to say nothing at all???

George

Just my opinion, but:

A) Gus is not taking pot shots. Just making a reasoned analysis. The only real second-guessing he does involves not taking Vazquez to NY.

B) He's right.

When you work within the limitations of a squalid 18 man roster, have two "starters" who are consistantly injured (Pierce and JMM), can count on little help from the bench, and have lost one of your key players from last year (Hernandez) to the MFL, a situation like this is going to hurt.

[Tony Biscaia]

With One-Third to Go A Game of Tiny Increments (http://revsnet.matchnight.com/rnindex.cfm?page=ARTICLE&show=155) by Jim Dow

[Soccer Doc]

Jim Dow wrote:
"Without those lapses we could have nine more points, for a total of 31 to lead the east and be second in the league. Other than those purple periods, the Revs have played effectively, scoring beautiful goals, pushing the pace and often being the far better side."

Well said Jim. This is a good side with a 3% chink in it's mental toughness. Interestingly SN is saying much the same thing, ie, that this is a very good side that is playing below their potential for brief periods. Unfortunately they have again set themselves a very difficult task and face an up hill battle. Who knows, maybe thats what they need to get their juices really hot. I do believe that this squad when it's playing up to it's ability can beat any team in the league. Fortunately, the "second season for the Cup" is very forgiving. I do think we can stay ahead of the Crew and catch DCU without too much trouble

[BigFrank]

Originally posted by NFLPatriot
I'm sure Vasquez will be traded/released in the offseason, giving us an SI slot for a veteran defender next year.

Another New England soccer tradition:

1. Fail to fill your foreign player slots before the season starts.
2. Sign a useless foreign player during the season.
3. Write off the mistake by saying you'll have a slot open for the following season.


Having an open slot is one thing.

Doing something positive with it is something else.

[ToMhIlL]

Line of the day:

"Pure professional liability, no curses, conspiracies, or newt heads buried under the center circle by a disgruntled groundsman hoping to cause Bill Belicheck's testicles to implode."

Nice job, Jim!

Tom

[NFLPatriot]

Originally posted by BigFrank
Having an open slot is one thing.

Doing something positive with it is something else.

True, but SI slots are crapshoots, and not just here.

The Revs DID do something positive, they got Cancela, who looks like he could be a contributor here for a few years.

With another offseason to scout, Nicol should be able to come up with another good find for next year.

[Soccer Doc]

Don't forget that the Revs will have an Allocation from the sale of Hernandez. An Allocation and an open SI slot will be a real plus when they go scouting. With the problems many leagues are having paying players there are quality options out there that should fit within the MLS Cap structure if you can uncover them. So far SN has shown a good nose for talent.

[Kanu]

Originally posted by Soccer Doc
Don't forget that the Revs will have an Allocation from the sale of Hernandez. An Allocation and an open SI slot will be a real plus when they go scouting.

Will there really be an allocation for Hernandez? What is an allocation worth these days? I fear not a lot.

The Revolution actually have a scouting department now?
That is good news, if it is true.


With the problems many leagues are having paying players there are quality options out there that should fit within the MLS Cap structure if you can uncover them. So far SN has shown a good nose for talent.

Without a contract extension and a real possibility of not making the playoffs, there is no guarantee that Mr. Nicol will be back next year making any decisions.

Cancela looks to be a good player. Vasquez is a waste and they should have known he was too slow before he was signed. Kante has regressed to the point of being a liability.

At present, they are only one for three in foreign players. Two for three if Kante can ever rediscover his form from last year.

[Chip]

Originally posted by Kanu
Without a contract extension and a real possibility of not making the playoffs, there is no guarantee that Mr. Nicol will be back next year making any decisions.

Steve will be back next year. Mark my words. And we won't regret it. You heard it hear first.

:)

[ProfZodiac]

Speaking of "the sky is falling," give Vazquez a chance. He's played in four games, and he's got two assists, I believe. Maybe we can try him in a different position. D-Mid, as I pointed out in another thread. Up forward with Twellman. Get him and Cancela on the field at the same time and see what happens. We could be dealing with an extremely dangerous triangle of Cancela feeding Vazquez and Twellman.

On defense, however, I still want to see Shalrie play sweeper.

[mpruitt]

i'll give people credit. there were a few of you who said that they didn't see where Vasquez was going to fit with the team when her first got here and I thought you were all dopes so kudos to you. I quess I was wrong.

[Popero]

With no JMM, I say what the hell, let's see el Gallego up front.

[soccertim]

Originally posted by maxim-1
i'll give people credit. there were a few of you who said that they didn't see where Vasquez was going to fit with the team when her first got here and I thought you were all dopes so kudos to you. I quess I was wrong.

If we hadn't signed Cancela, I think we'd be seeing a lot of Vazquez, and probably with mixed reviews. I'm a lot happier hearing complaints about Vazquez sitting on the end of the bench than I would be if DH left, we passed on Vazquez, and the Cancela deal didn't pan out...

[Jim Dow]

Vazquez was an insurance purchase, a hedge against the good chance (at the time) that Cancela wouldn't come. From the perspective of hindsight it might seem to be a waste but given the incredibly involved world of international transfers bringing him in was as sound a move as buying a theft policy if you have a red Porsche.

Also, who is to say that Pepe is going to maintain good health in the chopfest that passes for midfield marking in MLS?

Given that Hernandez was going, and that WAS a given, then this scenario isn't unfathomable.

JIM DOW