Revs playing their fourth home game of the year (1-0-2) and 9th game in total (1-2-5, 8 points), trying to get only their second win of the season. The Revs only win came on April 1st at home against RBNY (1-0 win). Revs are currently out of the playoffs averaging just 1 PPG (tied for 3rd worst in the East). Revs winless streak is now at 5 after a 3-0 loss to DC over the weekend. This is part of our first three games in 8 nights of the season, so I can't wait to hear about players being tired after the final game of this set! PTFC is 2-3-2 on the season (7 points) but winless on the road (0-2-1), and outscored 7-3. Portland is tied for third worst in PPG in the West. New England Revolution v Portland Timbers Gillette Stadium (7:30pm ET) REF: ISMAIL ELFATH AR1: Craig Lowry AR2: Claudiu Badea 4TH: Geoff Gamble
I'm looking forward to seeing how we stack up against the defending champs. I'm not optimistic, despite the Timbers' slow start.
Tierney Out, Bunbury Questionable on #NERevs Injury List https://t.co/YbaUrYoeYm #MLS— Brian O'Connell (@BrianOConnell21) April 26, 2016
“There are guys champing at the bit and hoping that this is their opportunity. Hopefully they don’t let go.” https://t.co/8oxkiwjB9I #NERevs— Jeff Lemieux (@jeff_lemieux) April 26, 2016
Bunbury has been a questionable choice as a forward for some time now, I don't get why the team thinks this might be considered news to us.
Apparently Neumann is also unavailable, I thought there was a chance he might be in the squad tonight.
It still astounds me that "the people that know so much more than us fans" chose to get rid of Mullins but keep Neumann.
Assuming our standard predictable 4-2-3-1 lineup, I'm hoping to see Davies Diego-Nguyen-Rowe Caldwell-Koffie Smith-JoGo-Farrell-Woodbury Shuttleworth All the pregame chatter has talked about Watson filling in for Tierney, but if Donnie Smith isn't on the field, we will have zero width on the left side and Nguyen will not have any room to work with. Smith is the only person with a left foot left on the roster. At forward we have 3 forwards (Agudelo, Davies, Bunbury) with fitness problems and one rookie who's never started a game. So maybe we see Femi start?
Re: Smith - one legit question is whether he as what it takes to defend this opponent. They may be performing below expectations, but they're potent.
He has the speed to stay with Asprilla and/or Melano. Honestly you have to ask, if he doesn't start tonight, why is he on the roster? He is our only other left back.
I might not go that far, but you are right. If he does not see the field when the team has three games in eight days and the only other guy on the team with a left foot is hurt, then why is he on the roster?
Finally Davies is starting again. Tierney is out, Smith comes it. Biggest surprise today is Kobayashi starting over Caldwell!!! Davies Fagundez, Nguyen,Rowe Koffie, Kobayashi, Smith, JoGo, Farrell, Watson, Bobby
Honestly, it's not that surprising. Caldwell has been subbed out recently and picked up a card last game. I don't know why but Heaps seems to not rate him (probably because he actually has talent).
This this and this. I don't know how Heaps makes his decisions but if Smith doesn't start tonight send him to Rochester or cut him.
I do wonder if Caldwell might be carrying a bit of a knock, and they don't want him going 90. Plus, they do have 3 games in a week, it's not all that surprising if they rotate the squad a bit in the next 2 games.
Feldman just said, statistically speaking since the start of 2014, the revs earned 1.8 ppg when Davies starts as the number 9, 1.1 ppg with Bunbury starting. Pretty damning evidence Heaps is either unaware or willfully ignoring the stat. And of course, Davies got a knock and is coming off after 30 minutes. Agudelo now on.
Halftime, scoreless. Revs have 57% of possession, 5 shots, but no shots on goal. It's the same problems they have Every. Single. Game. Defense does fine, midfield wins the ball but the final ball isn't there. With Davies hurt and the likes of Kobayashi and Rowe moving the ball to the attack, there's an even smaller chance there will be any rev goals tonight. It will have to come from an unusual source - JoGo or maybe get a penalty because the revs can't score from the run of play. FWIW, I already like Donnie Smith better than Chris Tierney. I hope he gets more starts.
A draw was just, I thought. The Revs may have been on the front foot through more of the match, but if you don't have a goalscorer, you're simply not going to score. (Unless an opposing player helps....) Still on course for a 34-point season! Woo!
The post game show actually just noted that if the season ended now, we have just squeaked into the playoffs. All is well!