Revs played well on Saturday. Will Heaps stay with Tierney as captain and thus starter, and keep the same starting lineup? Revs have some confidence and still looking for their first road win. A draw does not really help them - especially since on Saturday they have to go to Kansas City(who have a full week rest) who are also undefeated at home. Yikes! And then there is Atlanta - Mama Mia'. 45k all in Red/Black that looked awesome, super electric and loud, and supporting a team that was flying and destroyed Dallas. But they are one less day rest. And it is pouring for the next 2 days in Atlanta, and then supposed to be sunny on Wed - means all those fans can't wait to get outside. Expect hostile environment. And Parkurst and Larentowicz who we can say left (rumored not the best terms) as they both played out their contract, and Parkhurst did not want to come back to the Revs. Man, I cannot wait for Wednesday.
Atlanta started a 6 game home streak by thrashing Dallas. They have the Revs, Orlando, LA, Montreal and Philly. All teams floundering below them in the standings. They go away to the Revs and then home against the Loons. 6 pts out of 3rd place right now. This team could very well be a 3 seed by the end of the season.
With the Rapids win in Houston, the Revs are now the only team in MLS without a road win. They are also last in Away PPG, although they are 4th best in Home PPG. If the Revs win all 7 remaining games, they will finish with 56 pts. TOR already has 59.
The Revs will lose by a closer score than Dallas did, play better than Dallas did, but not good enough for points. Feldman will declare a moral victory and say they deserved something out of the game. Terms like "unlucky" and "so close" will once again be thrown around, and despite having played 28 games in which they had every opportunity to prove otherwise, the Revs will remain a mediocre 14th in a 22-team league. The regular season is not a cup competition--"luck" has precious little to do with the yawning gap in quality between the Revs and the top teams in MLS. The annual will they/won't they dance with the red line is what we're left with, instead of an ACTUAL pursuit of a championship.
Maybe Orlando? After the Montreal win, Brad was crowing about how great the Revs home record was this year. Only 2 losses, I think. That's all well and good, but if their away record was at the average of the rest of the league, they would be well into the playoff picture. But when they can't beat a terrible DC United team, they blow games they should have won (like at Seattle, when they were up 3-0 at the 72nd minute), and haven't won an away game on US soil in years--like some CONCACAF minnow--they don't even deserve to be mentioned in the same sentence as the word "playoffs."
Revs need to bunker for this one and grab a goal on the break. The more boring the game is, the better for us. Kamara needs to start on the bench, as he doesn't work hard enough on defense. We need both Kouassi and Koffie on the field. Left back will be a problem: it was nice to have Tierney back the past couple games, but he clearly doesn't look as good as he did in recent seasons, especially going forward. But if we start Watson, there's a good chance he'll get exposed for lack of speed and get sent off (again). Donnie Smith has the speed to keep up with Atlanta but won't start (and I still can't figure out why, as he's looked pretty good in all his appearances that I've seen). Hopefully Cropper will be inspired in his hometown return and have a monster game. We'll need it. Agudelo-Bunbury Nguyen Caldwell-Kouassi Koffie Tierney-Dielna-Delamea-Angoua Cropper
I moved to Atlanta just weeks before MLS granted the city an expansion franchise in 2014. I have been waiting for this one game for 3 1/2 years. If last weekend was 45,000 in Red & Black, tomorrow night will be 44,999 wearing red & black and one guy in the 4th row behind the east goal (section 103) proudly wearing blue.
Looks like two more Revs fans: a trip, but I gotta go south anyway… Hey @NERevolution @RevsPrez , any chance of hooking up an evacuated family with tix :) #NERevs #Irma pic.twitter.com/nFy1i48xXW— Matty Jollie (@MattyJollie) September 12, 2017 Can't get you tix for Bobby Dodd but should be able to get you to Mercedes Benz (game is at new building)! How many you need?— Brian Bilello (@RevsPrez) September 12, 2017 Hah. Totally forgot they opened this weekend. Just two please. I’ll find another family member to come down with me.— Matty Jollie (@MattyJollie) September 12, 2017
I wanna see this: ...............................Cropper Farrell.......Angoua..........Delamea.........Deilna ...................Kouassi ...................................Koffie Agudelo.....................Nyguen............Nemeth ........................Kamara
Maybe this is when we see a back 3 or back 5: ---------------Agudelo-----------Bunbury------------ --------------------------Nguyen------------------------ ------------------Koffie----Kouassi-------------------- Tierney------------------------------------------Farrell --------------Dielna-Delamea-Angoua------------- -----------------------Cropper--------------------------
No sugar-coating it. The season is decided tonight. Preview: Revs kick off critical two-game road trip on Wednesday night in Atlanta September 11, 2017, 5:15PM EDT Jeff Lemieux The Kickoff: "This is one we really need" September 11, 2017, 4:43PM EDT
I do not expect much change - knowing Heaps, he will play the same 11 that played against Montreal. https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/09/13/why-new-englands-visit-atlanta-their-biggest-game-year I wasn't paying too much attention to what else Atlanta was doing AFTER the Revs, but this article highlighted an interesting twist that may play into the Revs favor: ...are expecting nearly 70,000 on Saturday against Orlando.... a chance they could look past the Revs,
Promising start to Atlanta United's jam-packed home stretch at MB Stadium September 11, 2017, 1:39PM EDT Payson Schwin MLSsoccer.com
Well I was hopeful till I saw the lineup.....and were down after 1:27 Friggin Heaps sits Caldwell over the disaster from Jamaica and they race down HIS side and score. No more breaks Heaps, you have to go 2 yellow cards and a goal against in 7 minutes Brilliant
hes a card waiting for a whistle.... and Caldwell sits.... at least he would be in the game And the disaster from Jamica now has a hand ball and they convert the PL 2-0 When will Heaps learn not to trust that guy? I should say, who ever replaces Heaps should ship Watson out.
Heaps deserves a raise. Still nothing surprising...This game just summed up the revs season in 30 minutes.