It's true. I remember when George Steinbrenner fired all the medical staff one year because the pitching staff had nagging injuries. I'm no yankee fan but would applaud some type of move to address these incessant, nagging, annual Rev health issues.
I'm desperately hoping that Caraglio finds the net tonight and the Revs pull off an upset.* *I hate that the Revs are playing a home game and it has to be termed an upset if we win.
I think we all have to give Caraglio time; he just is not in playing shape. In about 3-4 weeks he will be able to do things. I think he is going to do some hold up play, but if he gets a lucky bounce, maybe a goal. The potential is there.
If we fall to Houston and KC win tonight, then DC beats Chicago on Thursday, and we fall NY this weekend, the mathematical projection would suggest we'll need 47 points (total) to qualify for the playoffs. To achieve this, we will theoretically need 26 points in our remaining 8 games. 3.25 points per game. No problem
They have to play another forward up top next to Caraglio. Hell, I'd put Benny there as a withdrawn forward to take advantage of his shot and relieve him of defensive duties that only tire him out. No more of this 4-5-1 masquerading as a 4-3-3. Here's the litmus test--if Caraglio is having to turn and run at/beat multiple defenders off the dribble from 30-40 yards out, our offense isn't working, Mr. Nicol!
Just wanted to clarify that we won't be mathematically eliminated. Mathematical elimination from the playoffs will likely occur in mid September.
Playing with an additional forward, unfortunately, will surrender more possession to the other team IMO. I'd be fine with Feilhaber playing withdrawn forward, however. I see this all the time on the Rev forum, but I really have to respectfully disagree with the entire notion. We do play a 4-3-3. This issue isn't the formation, the issue is the ability of the players and lack of possession. When a team surrenders possession and doesn't press high (due to lack of team speed and organization), the wingers in a 4-3-3 have to come back on defense to defend against the opposing outside wing-backs. In short, our 4-3-3 looks like a flat 4-5-1 because we suck and can't hold possession, not because of tactics. Additionally, Feilhaber is the only player on this team capable of playing CM in a 4-3-3. Shalrie, Phelan, and McCarthy don't have the skill, speed, or defensive abilities to do so.
All I know is that the few times they did play a 4-4-2, they looked much better, looked like they were all on the same page and actually generated offense. Phelan and McCarthy are giveaway machines going forward
Yes. I think he's a decent sub - the kind of player who looks pretty good until you play him too much. I don't think he was ever intended to be a starter for long, but $h!+ happens, like having to use Barnes as an outside back for much of the first half of the season. I think so too. I don't think the 4-3-3 has ever really worked well and Nicol's been pretty pig-headed in sticking with it (and going back to it). I understand him thinking that he doesn't really have great wings to choose from, but the combined midfield 3 in this 4-3-3 is way too slow to threaten teams.
I agree with you. Revs don't have the personnel to play a 4-3-3. But they also don't have the personnel to play a standard 4-4-2 (with 2 interchangeable strikers). I'd rather them play a 4-4-1-1 (or 4-2-3-1) with Feilhaber at withdrawn forward or CAM and McCarthy and Joseph as CDM. The issue is that we don't have any wingers. I think Kinne would do decently on the wing, but Nicol refuses to give new guys a shot despite the regulars looking like a U14 team.
Our wingers suck but I don't think Kinne is the answer. Season for the most part is over and I'd like to see what he has but at this point if Nicol doesn't see enough in him to start him over Boggs, Nyassi and Guy I can't see any point
Referee: Michael KENNEDY MLS Career Stats: 137 games, 3.8 Y/g, 24 R Including Playoffs: 147 games, 3.9 Y/g, 26 R MLS 2011: 5 games, 3.8 Y/g, 1 R Assistant Referees: Kermit QUISENBERRY and Bill DITTMAR Fourth Official: Jose Carlos RIVERO All-time New England matches with Kennedy as referee: Code: 5/13/1998 D.C. United 3 - 2 New England Revolution YELLOW: NONE RED: NONE 8/8/1998 Columbus Crew 6 - 1 New England Revolution YELLOW: J-M. Moore, M. Clark, D. Nakhid RED: NONE 9/2/1998 MetroStars 0 - 2 New England Revolution YELLOW: E. Gorter, M. Motajo, J. Rooney, I. McKinley, A. Lalas RED: NONE 9/23/1998 Chicago Fire 3 - 2 New England Revolution YELLOW: C.J. Brown RED: NONE 4/3/1999 Kansas City Wizards 0 - 1 New England Revolution YELLOW: NONE RED: NONE 6/16/1999 Columbus Crew 1 - 1 New England Revolution YELLOW: B. Dunseth, I. McKinley RED: NONE 4/21/2001 D.C. United 2 - 1 New England Revolution YELLOW: J. Harkes, J. Torres, R. Pierce RED: NONE 3/23/2002 MetroStars 3 - 1 New England Revolution YELLOW: A. Williams, S. Forko, J. Heaps, S. Ralston, S. Jolley RED: NONE 6/1/2002 New England Revolution 0 - 2 San Jose Earthquakes YELLOW: J. Conrad, T. Dayak, J. Rooney, J. Heaps, E. Robinson RED: NONE 9/21/2002 New England Revolution 3 - 0 MetroStars YELLOW: M. Petke, J. Franchino RED: NONE 7/4/2003 Los Angeles Galaxy 2 - 2 New England Revolution YELLOW: J. Franchino, S. Joseph, M. Cienfuegos, S. Victorine, S. Elliott, J. Heaps, R. Pierce, T. Marshall, C. Llamosa RED: NONE 7/16/2003 New England Revolution 1 - 2 Dallas Burn YELLOW: J. Franchino, D. Kante, O. Pereja, D.J. Countess, E. Hendrickson, C. Llamosa, S. Morrow, S. Thomas RED: S. Thomas (2CT) 8/23/2003 Los Angeles Galaxy 2 - 1 New England Revolution YELLOW: C. Jones, J. Franchino, C. Llamosa, C. Albright, R. Pierce, C. Ruiz RED: NONE 5/15/2004 Columbus Crew 1 - 0 New England Revolution YELLOW: N. Akwari, C. Dempsey, S. Herdsman RED: NONE 6/19/2004 New England Revolution 1 - 3 Kansas City Wizards YELLOW: M. Leonard, A. Zotinca, D. Gutierrez RED: NONE 8/11/2004 Dallas Burn 0 - 3 New England Revolution YELLOW: C. Goodson RED: NONE 9/4/2004 New England Revolution 0 - 1 San Jose Earthquakes YELLOW: T. Dayak, M. Leonard RED: NONE 10/23/2004 New England Revolution 1 - 0 Columbus Crew YELLOW: J. Heaps, S. Joseph, E. Buddle, R. Fraser, A. John RED: NONE 5/14/2005 New England Revolution 1 - 0 D.C. United YELLOW: M. Petke, A. Dorman RED: NONE 7/4/2005 Los Angeles Galaxy 1 - 1 New England Revolution YELLOW: E. da Conceicao, S. Joseph, P. Nagamura RED: NONE 8/27/2005 New England Revolution 2 - 1 D.C. United YELLOW: B. Olsen, F. Erpen, D. Hernandez, A. Dorman, P. Noonan, J. Heaps RED: D. Kovalenko (SFP) 10/8/2005 Kansas City Wizards 2 - 2 New England Revolution YELLOW: A. Dorman, C. Edozien RED: NONE 7/22/2006 Houston Dynamo 1 - 1 New England Revolution YELLOW: B. Ching, A. Dorman, M. Parkhurst, W. Barrett, B. Davis, J. Heaps, R. Clark RED: W. Barrett (2CT) 9/23/2006 New England Revolution 1 - 1 Kansas City Wizards YELLOW: J. Franchino, N. Garcia RED: NONE 10/14/2006 New England Revolution 1 - 0 Columbus Crew YELLOW: R. Pierce, A. John, C. Dempsey, J. Ngwenya, J. Larentowicz RED: NONE 4/29/2007 FC Dallas 0 - 1 New England Revolution YELLOW: A. John, C. Ruiz, J. Riley, S. Ralston RED: NONE 6/30/2007 CD Chivas USA 2 - 0 New England Revolution YELLOW: P. Nagamura, L. Vaughn, W. Thompson, O. Perez, A. Zotinca RED: C. Suarez (VC) 7/28/2007 Real Salt Lake 1 - 2 New England Revolution YELLOW: E. Pope, A. Dorman RED: A. Williams (SFP) 10/13/2007 New England Revolution 2 - 3 Columbus Crew YELLOW: G. Barros Schelotto, W. Thompson, J. Riley, A. Moreno RED: NONE 3/29/2008 New England Revolution 3 - 0 Houston Dynamo YELLOW: R. Mulrooney RED: NONE 6/6/2008 New England Revolution 2 - 1 FC Dallas YELLOW: A. Rocha, J. Heaps, D. Moor, B. Rhine, K. Dube, D. Davino RED: NONE 8/23/2008 Toronto FC 1 - 1 New England Revolution YELLOW: NONE RED: NONE 9/20/2008 Colorado Rapids 1 - 1 New England Revolution YELLOW: C. Clark, C. Gibbs, M. Ballouchy RED: NONE 5/23/2009 Toronto FC 3 - 1 New England Revolution YELLOW: W. Thompson, S. Ralston, A. Guevara RED: NONE 7/25/2009 Houston Dynamo 0 - 1 New England Revolution YELLOW: J. Larentowicz, R. Clark, J. James RED: NONE 5/22/2010 Toronto FC 1 - 0 New England Revolution YELLOW: M. Saric, S. Joseph, C. Barrett, D. Gargan, M. Perovic RED: NONE 8/18/2010 Chicago Fire 2 - 1 New England Revolution YELLOW: P. Phelan, C. Gibbs, N. Castillo, W. Conde, M. Perovic, E. Osei, D. Barnes RED: NONE 10/21/2010 Red Bull New York 2 - 0 New England Revolution YELLOW: S. Joseph, J. Griffiths, K. Mansally, J. Hall, R. Marquez RED: NONE 7/20/2011 D.C. United 0 - 1 New England Revolution YELLOW: K. Mansally RED: NONE OVERALL RECORD: 14-17-8 1.282 PPG All-time Houston matches with Kennedy as referee: Code: 7/22/2006 Houston Dynamo 1 - 1 New England Revolution YELLOW: B. Ching, A. Dorman, M. Parkhurst, W. Barrett, B. Davis, J. Heaps, R. Clark RED: W. Barrett (2CT) 10/29/2006 Houston Dynamo 2 - 0 CD Chivas USA YELLOW: A. Serioux, J. Pablo Garcia, T. Regan, J. Francisco Palencia, L. Vaughn, R. Clark RED: J. Francisco Palencia (VC) 6/3/2007 Houston Dynamo 2 - 1 FC Dallas YELLOW: D. Wagenfuhr, P. Ricchetti, B. Rhine RED: P. Onstad (DGF) 3/29/2008 New England Revolution 3 - 0 Houston Dynamo YELLOW: R. Mulrooney RED: NONE 6/28/2009 Los Angeles Galaxy 1 - 0 Houston Dynamo YELLOW: M. Chabala, E. Buddle, M. Magee, B. Boswell, G. Cameron RED: NONE 7/25/2009 Houston Dynamo 0 - 1 New England Revolution YELLOW: J. James, J. Larentowicz, R. Clark RED: NONE 7/10/2010 Houston Dynamo 0 - 0 Columbus Crew YELLOW: A. Hainault, G. Padula RED: NONE 8/8/2010 Seattle Sounders FC 2 - 0 Houston Dynamo YELLOW: S. Nyassi, J. Riley, B. Nkufo, B. Mullan, M. Chabala, N. Sturgis RED: NONE 10/16/2010 San Jose Earthquakes 0 - 1 Houston Dynamo YELLOW: S. Cronin, J. Busch RED: NONE OVERALL RECORD: 3-4-2 1.222 PPG
wow, not chatter here? Half time thoughts: They keep giving Houston the ball like this, they will score and score often in the next half. Boggs need to go, sorry but he sucks. Bring in Schiller, at least he can trap the ball, has more speed and will pester the houston players. The forwards need to hold the ball more so Shalrie and Benny can get involved. So for the few times those two have had the ball on Houstons side a few good things happened.
Revs have to play the simple passing game they had in the first fifteen minutes or so. Their reversion to long ball dump-and-run has put far too much pressure on the shaky defense and forced a few great saves from Reis. Boggs has also been very poor.