Revolution head north of the border in search of an “elusive road win” in Toronto June 20, 2017, 5:17PM EDT Jeff Lemieux
I know it's not fashionable to give Heaps credit for anything, but he does seem to have recognized that always making Diego the first sub off was killing the team from minute 75 on. I feel that over the stretch of 3-4 weeks since he stopped doing that and instead has let him go 90, Diego has responded to become the most potent element in our attack. It's time to take the next step of that progression and recognize that Lee is no longer an automatic starter. I don't know the health/availability issues of Kouassi and other midfielders this week, and maybe away to the East's leading team is not the time for a change like that (or maybe it is?), but it's time to insert Caldwell back into the starting line-up to give us more "piano movers" and let Fagundez be the "piano player." ...and please anyone but Tierney at LB. Hell, go 3-5-2 to match Toronto.
I'm not giving up on Lee however, he is not really a forward. I think the real problem is that stupid Heaps is using him wrong. A good coach looks at what he has available and comes up with a system based on that. Heaps comes up with the system then tries to make it work. How's that working? We are still out of the playoffs right now (could be the second year) with no apparent sign that will change. Lee is not 23 anymore BUT he still could play a critical role in a different system. Dempsey doesn't run around like a kid but still contributes and there is no reason Lee couldn't do the same. Besides that, what DP are we going to sign that could be as good? We know the Revs won't spend any money so that hope is just a pipe dream. I'd rather move Kamara for a DP if anybody
3-5-2 could work. It'd likely be a very clogged game. Crowded center of the field, sparse wings. Diego, as a #10, and Nguyen, as a forward, could both drift to the wings to find space. Agudelo-Nguyen Rowe-Fagundez-Bunbury Koffie-Caldwell Angoua-Delamea-Farrell or Agudelo-Kamara Fagundez-Nguyen-Rowe Koffie-Caldwell Angoua-Delamea-Farrell I prefer the first lineup. The lineup with Bunbury would bring better defense to that wingback spot, and allow Diego to play that #10 role instead of Lee. And could sub Bunbury off at 70' for Tierney to play left wingback - he probably has the wheels to do that for 20 minutes at least. But I don't think Tierney should start at that role.
Anything that includes Bunbury at this point is a no-go from my perspective. Let him play in the USOC.
Bunbury's been totally ineffective as a forward or wing. But as a wingback? His defense has always been good for a winger.
You could say the same thing about Kamara as with Nguyen. Both are good players and would be much more effective if the coach could grasp the bolded part above. And that's a good point about Bunbury as well. Who knows, he might be effective as a back. Certainly worth a shot, since he's not effective anywhere else. Imagine if we had a guy who could take the proverbial sow's ear (Bunbury) and make it into a silk purse? Instead, we have a guy whose silk purses (Kamara and Nguyen) are playing like sow's ears. I said in another thread how it's great that the Revs have enough ambition to publicly talk about signing significant new players in the upcoming window, but I have the nagging suspicion that even if we did, Heaps would find a way to mis-use those guys so they are half as effective as they could be.
Intriguing. Ala Frankie Hejduk - could be very intriguing. Do you have a way to get Heaps to try this? Can you pull some strings?
Me? If there were any strings I could pull, they would have been pulled a long time ago Toronto played Montreal inteh Canadian Championship last night (1:1 in leg 1). I don't know what their lineup was, but given that it's a pretty big deal, a berth in the CCL, I'm thinking they would have played as close to a first team as possible. Maybe we'll see some reserves or knackered starters on only 2 days rest. Maybe this will be like the RSL game where they threw in the towel to concentrate on a more important game later in the week! I'll take a break in whatever way we can get it.
TOR played Irwin instead of Bono, and 3 other starters were different from the last league match (6/17 vs DCU), but the 10 field players and 3 subs were the same 13 players in both matches.
Agree completely. If I remember correctly, the Revs "surge" at the end of last season only occurred after Bunbury was out injured, forcing Heaps to come up with a different alternative.
I don't disagree at all, but I feel that the team is still built around Lee as the attacking engine. I don't think it is fair to Lee, any more than it was fair to Dempsey to expect him to produce a miracle every time one was needed. I think Lee, like Rowe, like DF, would function much better alongside a real DP attacking mid. As for Kamara, he seems to have pulled his givashit muscle.
Make a big deal of beating a depleted Toronto team couple weeks ago, versus playing them when they are more full strength (even if a little gassed) will be a better gauge. Is anyone else feeling cringe worthy with some of Mariner's comments? Sometimes he is right on and objective, but those other times he makes me puke in my mouth.
TFC line up for Wed vs Mtl was ------------------Irwin ----Zavaleta---Moor---Mavinga Beitashour-----------------Edwards ---Osorio---Bradley---Delgado ---------Altidore----Hamilton Altidore played 90mins so highly doubt he starts tonight. Bradley is suspended for this game. Giovinco and Vasquez subbed in and played about 30mins on Wed.
With a real DP attacking mid on the field, there wouldn't be room for all 3 of Nguyen, Rowe and Fagundez, unless Rowe's a fullback or #8.
Busy stretch for Bono, first he has a home game against the revs Friday, then he is fronting U2 at Gillette on Sunday! (Couldn't resist)
I for one would like to see the "Teal at left back" experiment for at least a few games. Just to see what is there... @ToMhIlL , Here are some of my past comments in case they help when you pull the strings.
I have long supported the idea of trying Teal at right back. Left back is fine with me as well. Recently I have begun to wonder why we have seen Rowe getting a look at left back, but never Teal? I wonder if Heaps has approached Teal on the idea of playing back and Teal declined or if it simply has not come up? What if Teal had given it a shot a few years ago and it had worked out?
Preview: Revs aim to bounce back from rare home loss as they head north of the border June 22, 2017, 9:24AM EDT Jeff Lemieux
I feel like we have a bit of revisionist history going on here with Lee. When we played him where he played (very well with JJ around) and was considered an MVP candidate at one point....over the last season or two, he was very ineffective. He was getting bounced off the ball, was turning it over in tough spots and was becoming ineffective. Jay moved Aguedelo back into that spot and moved Lee up front and Juan was much more effective in a) not losing the ball, b) making a pass to someone on the Revs team and c) defend at least a little bit. Lee's days of pulling all the strings are over in MLS (IMHO). He is a good but not great player -- he tends to be more effective where he has more space. That is not a Jay issue that is a Lee issue. The problem is that we don't really have a playmaker on the team. The league has gotten MUCH better over the last 5 years and besides the blip of JJ on the Revs, the Revs have not kept up. Lee is never going to develop into or become a difference maker in MLS. He had his year and it is past, teams have figured him out. Once again for emphasis -- he's a good player. Jay may have his limitations, but the players have them as well. Editted --- as I confused Montreal and Toronto --- I am sure that Toronto wants to avenge their loss to us.
Cant wait to see if Heaps rolls out some new master plan or if he does the same old, same old. I hope we show up to play tonight.... everybody show up