After starting the season 7-1-1, Seattle has come back down to earth big time going 0-4-3 since their last win on May 9th, being out-scored 13-6 in the span. Their last seven games L-T-L-T-L-T-L ... which sets this up for a tie. Another game that the Revs really need to take three points here. Seattle plays tonight in San Jose in the Open Cup quarterfinals, which should help us a bit I suppose. Seattle is only 2-2-3 on the road this year (wait, what's it like to win two roads games ... in one year!?!?!) and will be without Monteiro who got red carded against Portland. Will be interesting to see the Revs injury report and see where Alston stands, along with SJ and Moreno. I still wouldn't be surprised to see Alston's play against Toronto be punished by the disciplinary committee, so we'll see how that plays out.
Even if KA is available, and not suspended for his conduct in the last match, I'd still rather give Lechner the nod. The distribution he brought from the back was something that I don't see at all from Alston. Hopefully the Revs look at their 2nd half come-back as a positive, and look to build on that from the opening whistle. Soccer is a 90+ minute game, as proven by TFC in the 3rd minute, and by the Revs in the 94th. No Monteiro and a midweek game, if we don't win this game, something is really, really wrong. I might have to start a new thread about this, but when are we going to start shopping/scouting/having someone fall in our laps to replace Reis? He's only getting older, and I've noticed him getting victimized a lot more than in the past, lately.
NE Injury Report - June 26, 2012PROBABLE: Shalrie Joseph (R adductor strain)OUT: Kevin Alston (L Hamstring Tightness), Zak Boggs (DL - R ankle sprain), Jose Moreno (L ankle sprain), Tim Murray (L Knee Menisectomy), Bjorn Runstrom (R knee inflammation), Jeremiah White (R ankle sprain)
Fagundez is a forward, Cardenas is considered a forward by the Revs even though he isn't one. Runstrom might get his job saved by the injury report considering he's probably on the team's "cut ASAP to get cap space" list. Ditto Boggs, who's suffering from world history's most severe and slow healing ankle sprain. I also read Nyassi can't be activated until someone is cut, and while he's an insanely frustrating player, he might be a big help at this point in the season. Cutting Lozano would probably be the smart move, as you'd get that cap space, activate Nyassi and you already have Barnes and Lechner as backup CBs. My question - how is Joseph able to heal faster than the rest of the team despite being in his 30s? Outside of early 2010, he's been remarkably durable.
I don't think that is the case. I count 28 players on the roster, including the two (Boggs and Nyassi) who are on the DL and don't take up roster spots. So they shouldn't have to cut anyone to activate either one or both.
Feilhaber made team of the week. For all the criticism he gets for not living up to his potential in these parts, other fans of the league seem enthused with his performances. I guarantee he makes the All-star team.
Apparently the Seattle game had a couple of melees last night, including this one (go to the mark on the time line, late in the game). Seattle started Weber, Scott, Ianni, Gonzalez, Rose, Fernandez, Carrasco, Levesque, Evans, Cato and Ochoa. All but Ochoa played at least 80.
Yes. His lack of speed and any defensive errors he might make will be easily offset by his beautiful, dare I say Tierney-esq, crossing ability. I could watch him cross the ball all day long. When KA gets it in the corner, the play is basically dead. I've been complaining about this for a while. I believe the idea is for Bobby to inherit the throne - I don't agree. Someone mentioned Dominic Cervi being cut by Celtic - I say we grab him. His wages can't be that high. I don't have faith in Bobby. One thing I would really like to see (and I'd like other people's opinions on this) is a lot more selfish play from Benny and Rowe. Even thought I am completely contradicting what I said at the beginning of the season, I would now much rather see the two of them take the ball and dribble forward on the attack - rather than passing out to the wings. At the end of the past two games both of them have been able to make great runs in the crowded areas around the opposition's net, typically resulting in chances. Why won't we play this ground game quick passing that Heaps talked about, and let these two players hold the ball for longer periods? It seems far more effective than passing it out wide for a cross. I'd like to see a focus on the style of offensive play displayed against Toronto late on, and less reliance on the wing play of the defenders. Cardenas, Rowe, and Benny all have the ability to dribble, hold the ball, and make quick passes. If I was Heaps I would force them to do more of this.
not at this rate http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2012/06/27/all-star-wondolowski-beckham-lead-five-days-left
If Benny makes the all star team with his paltry 1g, 1a in nearly 1k minutes, it really wouldn't be fair to the many better players around the league currently ahead of him that actually deserve it. He's played well in stretches, especially in June, but not well enough to be an all star when considering his entire body of work this season. Unless, of course, we throw stats out the window and rely on more qualitative, gut-driven "feelings" when judging all stars.
Interesting that all of our 'all star' quality new members appear to be on the outside looking in on that list of voting. We can talk about the team getting better, but the real question continues to be are we improving versus the quality of play in MLS? Will be at the game this weekend, will be interesting to see the result and the effort. Us fresh and Seattle, traveling across country after a midweek game.
Imagine the flack he would get from the Boston media if they cared about this team? He must have sprained that ankle to within an inch of his life. He is clearly either not doing his Spalding Rehabilitation Hospital tip-of-the-day exercises, or Nick Downing needs to focus more on ankle exercises. Can't this issue be solved by moving someone else to the DL? PEDs. Aka Mary-Jane.
Wait ... what? Since I'm assuming you're mentioning Fortress Foxboro (and I have no idea if you're kidding or not) ... yes, we've got a good record at home this year. This was also the only time this year we've played at TFC. So we have a 0-0-1 record there this year, which isn't horrible. Now if you want to bring up over the course of time how we've never won at TFC, that's a different argument. Because if you want to compare apples to apples, I can then point out that we were a pathetic 4-7-6 last year at home, mediocre 7-5-3 the previous year, a mediocre 7-4-4 the previous, etc.
Fortress Foxboro referred to this year - because the Revs website keeps making mention of it. My mockery of the term stemmed from the fact that compared to other 'fortresses' around the league, I.E. Rio Tinto, Gillette - atmosphere wise - is a joke despite the club's good record. Yes. I am talking about the Revs long term record at BMO. You are correct, I was not successfully comparing apples to apples - but I really didn't expect anyone to read into my post at all. (I just wanted to use the term 'fortress foxboro'
Great point about prior home records at Gillette. What's interesting is the Eastern Conference trend this season is to be really strong at home but mediocre to crappy away. Even East-leading DC has a sub-.500 record away from RFK. Sort of puts "Fortress Gillette" in context when literally 80% of the East also has a Fortress-like home record.
The Revs home PPG is tied for 6th in the Eastern Conference, with Montreal (only CBus, Philly and TFC below them). The Revs home PPG equals the best PPG of any of the teams in the WC. Weird.
I'm sitting here trying to make sense of this... could it have anything to do with travel? Isn't it harder for West Coast teams to come to the East Coast and play due to the time change? Maybe that accounts for some of it.
That's a good question, and I don't know. If you think about it just from the Revs perspective, we're 4-1-2 at home this year. We're 3-0 against against WC opponents (bring on Seattle!) and we're 1-1-2 against the EC.
Ah-hah! Now if we could just find stats on the record of Eastern teams out West, and Western teams coming east! (I'm not saying go and find them, please feel free to focus on your job ... or whatever you are currently not focusing on)
Not to completely take this off thread, but here you go ... there's a thread on the MLS N&A boards about East vs West. This is as of this past weekend.