There have been a bunch of articles on MLSsoccer.com talking about the top GK's and maybe impacts to the USMNT. One name that has completely dropped off the radar is our own Cropper. I remember there being some article way back that I questioned where it was assumed he would just be called up to the Nats and Gold Cup. Unfortunately, you gotta play the games at the senior level and prove it. I was never sold on Shuttleworth and I still question Heaps abilities to judge. Jones came in, shielded Shuttleworth, and then the Revs thought Shuttlworth was their GK of the future and gave him a new contract. With no Jones, they couldn't wait to jettison him - again a poor decision about the abilities of a player. (Kind of like how Heaps suddenly decided in February that Tierney was not someone who was going to start at left back....after him playing there for the last 5 years, and now there is no backup plan) So, I am glad they went and got Cropper. But he is also not a significant upgrade in my opinion based on what I have seen so far this year. I am hoping he will not stagnate long term. We just waste so many years of this franchise with poorly timed roster decisions...
Still a very young keeper at 24. If he can keep improving he will probably get a whiff with the Nats. Having a good backline to help pad his stats would help too! If he only gets two caps like a Matt Reis or a Joe Cannon but plays as good as those two in MLS i'd be satisfied
https://www.mlssoccer.com/injuries Latest injury report says the following - but does not say OUT, QUESTIONABLE, PROBABLE: Does this mean they are still assessing? The formatting is so bad on this page it is hard to tell. M - Diego Fagundez (head injury) M - Kelyn Rowe (knee injury) M - Xavier Kouassi (undisclosed injury)
Good question. Interesting that Nguyen isn't on the list but apparently hurt himself during warmups in NYC.
So first let me say that Dielna looked good in last game, with exception of shaky backpass to Cropper. My overall impression is that he was composed, and a physical presence, moving a few guys off the ball as if he were swatting flies. A pleasant surprise - but at the same time, we have only a one-game sample at this point. But - in that sense, he looks about equivalent to what Onyewu currently brings to the table - physical, some composure. But like Angoua, Dielna is costing the Revs a LOT -- he is consuming TAM or DP level money. Meanwhile, Onyewu is approx $65K. And the Revs had him on-hand as a trialist. [Again, I use Onyewu only as an example, not as a specific "better answer". This is not a plea for the Revs to get Onyewu, at all.] Dielna seems to have a very odd relative cost/benefit, especially when contrasted with the other non-financial aspects that Onyewu has - a Nats presence, some name recognition, and some nearly cult like fans. I guess it just goes to show that it is hard to fathom what this team is trying to do - save money/minimize expense? Win? Avoid publicity? All of these? Some of these? Other objectives? Or worse, do they have no clear objectives nor strategy at all? It just gets more confusing as time goes on as to what the real "play" is for this team.
Rowe out 6-8 weeks. https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/08/23/new-englands-kelyn-rowe-miss-6-8-weeks-knee-sprain Tragedy for who has been POTY. Fork. Meet Done.
Happy MLS Roster Freeze Day, #NERevs fans. https://t.co/WazNsUk1az— A Casual Fan (@A_Casual_Fan) September 15, 2017
For those that still want to give Burns a chance ... one of the ways in MLS to add talent is the MLS Draft, as we all know very well. Our last two first round picks played a whopping 45 minutes for us the last two years. Combined.
Lets not forget our last Home Grown signing has played 38 minutes of first team action in 3 seasons! This team certainly can develop young talent!
A curiosity, nothing more: Revs Sr roster showing 21 players, one above the limit of 20. https://www.mlssoccer.com/rosters/2017/new-england-revolution Reasonable assumption is that Kelyn is on the official MLS "Disabled List", allowing the Revs to carry additional Sr roster player while he is out, according to language describing such an exception here: https://www.mlssoccer.com/league/official-rules/mls-roster-rules-and-regulations "A Club may have no more than twenty Players on its Senior Roster, subject to the Season-ending Injury Replacement, Disabled List, and loan exceptions." So just for fun, I tried to check the official MLS Disabled List..... However, there is no place I could find to look at the official "Disabled List". There is an article titled "Injury Report" on mlssoccer.com - https://www.mlssoccer.com/injuries ..described as "NOTE: This injury report is compiled on an ongoing basis by MLSsoccer.com editors based on club game notes, news reports, and original reporting." - so, it is clearly not aspiring to be THE official list of statuses - ...and therefore, it is not the official "Disabled List", as it includes other statuses such as short term injuries, personal absences, and absence due to formal "Season Ending Injury" status. But there is no designation on the Injury Report as to which players are officially on the formal "Disabled List". Anyone have a link to the actual "Disabled List"? Again, just a curiosity, nothing more.