Do we change the players or the system?

Discussion in 'New England Revolution' started by futbol2ot, Mar 16, 2014.

  1. futbol2ot

    futbol2ot Member

    May 15, 2001
    Massachusetts
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    The Armchair Analyst on the MLS website had an interesting take on the Revs' early-season woes.

    So the main question is should the Revs change the system to suit the players, or should they try to acquire players better suited to the system? Of course, these are things that should have been addressed during the offseason, but given the front office's track record, I can't say I'm surprised. But shoving square pegs into round holes clearly isn't working.
     
  2. huskydeac

    huskydeac Member+

    Mar 31, 2009
    I'm of the belief a coach should have a system and find the right pieces to fit that system. That's a bit more difficult in MLS with the smaller player pool teams are working from. I thought Heaps had found the system he wanted, which worked pretty well last season. Unfortunately we didn't improve on the personnel, instead actually dropping in starting talent. For me, that's the main problem. Changing formations during the season is not an easy thing to do.
     
  3. futbol2ot

    futbol2ot Member

    May 15, 2001
    Massachusetts
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    The really frustrating thing to me is that there seemed to be a general consensus that bolstering the CDM was a big area of need, and they did next to nothing to address it. If they had a strong presence there, like Shalrie Joseph circa 2005, I think that would free up the skillful attacking midfielders to focus more on linking up with Teal. I don't know what we do about it at this point. The second week of the season typically isn't the time to make personnel moves.
     
  4. A Casual Fan

    A Casual Fan Member+

    Mar 22, 2000
    Waiting longer always helps.

    Just look at prior years.
     
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  5. A Casual Fan

    A Casual Fan Member+

    Mar 22, 2000
    ...also meant to say --


    First change the FO and/or ownership.


    Then, only if still needed, start to worry about the players and/or the system (the deck chairs....). They are both a distant second to the first pair.
     
  6. RedRevs

    RedRevs Member

    Aug 24, 2005
    Cambridge
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I'm not ready to say the system doesn't work, although it is predicated on a strong back line comfortable playing high up the pitch and complete passes at a high percentage.

    I'm also not ready to say the system doesn't work because Rowe and Nguyen haven't played together yet this season and their replacements haven't had enough time to bed into the team (Kobayashi) or aren't suited to play a role that requires such technical ability (Dorman).
     
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  7. Soccer Doc

    Soccer Doc Member+

    Nov 30, 2001
    Keene, NH
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    We might be in a better position to talk about Heaps "system" plan for this season and whats seems to not be working if we could get our projected starting eleven, healthy and on the field at one time. :rolleyes: Just saying.
     
  8. Feldspar

    Feldspar Member+

    Nov 19, 1998
    Boston, MA
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    A system is dependent on more than 11 guys, since it's utterly foreseeable that health issues will arise. Just saying.
     
  9. RevsLiverpool

    RevsLiverpool Member+

    Nov 12, 2005
    Boston
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Perfectly said. Problem is, it will take Heaps at least a month or 6 weeks of square-peg-round-hole'ing it before he catches on what is obvious today. How long did he start Bengtson as the lone striker last year? The revs are slow learners and slow to react.
     
  10. NFLPatriot

    NFLPatriot Member+

    Jun 25, 2002
    Foxboro, MA
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    2005 called. They want their 14-man roster back...
     
  11. revsrock

    revsrock Member+

    Jul 24, 1999
    Boston Ma
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States

    2 games in and the injury excuse is here!
     
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  12. patfan1

    patfan1 Moderator
    Staff Member

    Aug 19, 1999
    Nashua, NH
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    What? No one could have ever seen this coming! This is just shocking ... unfortunately we don't have any cap space or roster space available.
     
  13. metoo

    metoo Member+

    Jun 17, 2002
    Massachusetts
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    #13 metoo, Mar 17, 2014
    Last edited: Mar 17, 2014
    Don't be so negative, at least he's shown that he will eventually pick up on the obvious, which is certainly better someone who completely misses it forever - glass half full. Plus, don't points awarded for games in the first 2 months of the season only count half, so that teams have time to gel, and the games don't really start to matter until May? Everything will be fine and dandy, you'll see.
     
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  14. ToMhIlL

    ToMhIlL Member+

    Feb 18, 1999
    Boxborough, MA
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    C'mon, Heaps is a smart guy, he went to Dook, remember? Just ask Coach K how smart he is...
     
  15. RevsLiverpool

    RevsLiverpool Member+

    Nov 12, 2005
    Boston
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    It reminds me of my high school's varsity coach who only played 14 kids all year then wondered why they were burnt out in the playoffs. Oh wait, that coach is now the revs' U-18 head coach...I guess he found the perfect organization to join.
     
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  16. rkupp

    rkupp Member+

    Jan 3, 2001
    In both games, the offense created enough quality chances to win the game. Poor finishing and poor defending (in game 1) are the reasons we didn't get results.

    Attacking-wise, they should keep doing what they are doing - and put the ball in the net when they get the chance.

    And, having Nguyen and Rowe in the lineup together would be helpful.
     
  17. Crooked

    Crooked Member+

    May 1, 2005
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    In the first game we really only started creating chances once the score was 3-0, so I don't think we can take much from that game.

    As for the game in Philly, we created one decent chance IMO. Diego should have put it away, but I don't think we were ever really close to scoring again after that.
     
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  18. SamSam

    SamSam Member

    Feb 26, 2009
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    IMO it seems like the Revs attack is more creative and uses a lot more skill and teamwork than other MLS teams I've watched so far, so its probably going to take a while for them to get everything together and get some goals. So far, they've usually screwed up the final touch in their attacking sequence so it seems like they're very close to getting things together on the attack.
     
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  19. Sachem07

    Sachem07 Member

    Mar 28, 2009
    Quincy
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Funny, I haven't seen teamwork or skill from them so far this season. Maybe we're watching different things.
     
  20. Crooked

    Crooked Member+

    May 1, 2005
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Agreed. This whole notion that we play attractive, attacking soccer is a fallacy at this point and was for the majority of last season as well.
     
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  21. SamSam

    SamSam Member

    Feb 26, 2009
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Well Nguyen and Diego often go for the creative on the attack, and a lot of the movement off of these guys also looks unpredictable. Its certainly light years ahead of the 4-4-2 get it wide, whip in the cross, repeat as necessary of the past
     
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  22. futbol2ot

    futbol2ot Member

    May 15, 2001
    Massachusetts
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Valid points, but I do think playing a system that isn't suited to the personnel is partially to blame for the defensive breakdowns. It doesn't explain individual defensive blunders (Goncalves in Game 1), but a lack of presence at D-Mid sure makes team defense more difficult.

    I hope they're close to clicking on offense, because I don't think they'll be ale to rely on defense to grind out games.
     
  23. rkupp

    rkupp Member+

    Jan 3, 2001
    If it is/was a fallacy, it was a near universally held one.

    Of course attractive is in the eye of the beholder, but nearly every soccer media outlet previewing the Revs this season mentioned it.

    Diego's scoop pass to Rowe in game was a great example. That's not boring, conservative, conventional play.
     
  24. Crooked

    Crooked Member+

    May 1, 2005
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    There's a big difference between having creative players and implementing a creative system that enables them to flourish. We have a ton of creative, attacking talent; however, I don't think we play the right system or have the right coach to make all of the pieces fit together.
     
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  25. thebigfluff

    thebigfluff Member

    Jul 1, 2011
    Ipswich MA
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Anyone else notice how much of a better man AJ Soares is than Heaps? AJ comes over after the game, gives a decent applause and acknowledgment to us for sitting through that horrible horrible game and cheering anyway. Heaps calls him in from half field and tells him good job and turns his back without a nod or a look to the fort.

    DISGUSTING. Your player has more class than your whiny ass does. What the hell makes him better than lets say.... Paul Mariner, our next head coach? Dont come appreciate us, I dont care, at least suggest that your team shoot the damn ball. Something about this shitty system is kicking all forward momentum into a backpass and wait for the other team to take the ball away.

    Get this clown out of here. Great player, BAD COACH. We are QUICKLY becoming more laughable than ever.

    4 games? Do we even have 4 legitimate shots on goal? Its pathetic.
     
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