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.
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.
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.
...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.
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).
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. Just saying.
A system is dependent on more than 11 guys, since it's utterly foreseeable that health issues will arise. Just saying.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Funny, I haven't seen teamwork or skill from them so far this season. Maybe we're watching different things.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.