Interesting information throughout. I did not know all of that. And, I don’t question Miller’s talent. What I was trying, and failing, to point out is that we seemed to be reducing our quality at left back down to pretty much one 16 year old. Other opinions may vary but I think we’d be critical of any other team that put all their hopes on a 16 year old without some quality backup. We’ve apparently (I’m not always sure) seen Buck regress prior to his injury. Couldn’t Miller do the same. And he could get injured or struggle with the number of games, or, or, or…. The over abundance of LWs aren’t likely to play left back well. I’m happy for DeJuan to go where he can play. Maybe that is noble of the Revs. But it isn’t as ruthless of a roster management as we see in many top teams. I’m also happy to see the youngster develop. Mostly, it just seems the Revs have thrown in the towel on another season. They do that way too often. On about 2/3 of their seasons if you ask me. But, thanks to an overly gracious playoff system, even that will be argued. Hey, our injured players may return after the League’s Cup and we may squeak into the playoffs. Back slaps all around.
Fair point, but DeJuan was making too much to be a back up (as was Kessler), and Will Sands has held his own subbing in for Miller the last few games. (Side note: before Friday's broadcast, I was unaware that NYC's James Sands and Will are twins). The Revs still have Spaulding as the 3rd string LB, and I think Lima could fill in there if needed.
Welcome, 𝑨𝒍𝒉𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒂𝒏 𝒀𝒖𝒔𝒖𝒇! 🇳🇬↬ https://t.co/HsL7IkAzHb pic.twitter.com/rbOigsLfGE— New England Revolution (@NERevolution) August 12, 2024
The Revs list Langoni as a forward. Even though we're pretty stocked at wing normally (when %75 aren't out with injury), I was wondering how they'd squeeze him into the mix without benching some other key player, like Borrero. OTOH, if he's a legitimate fit at forward (which Chancalay doesn't really seem to be), then I'm much more excited about him and the whole set of acquisitions. But, they addressed exactly that by bringing in Sands (and there's still Spaulding, who isn't what I want as a starting LB now, but is a reasonable bench option). Sounds like just what we need IMO. Porter calls him an athletic 2-way pivot who has a good vertical game. That's what's been missing from our defensive midfield. The fact that he quickly became a regular starter at Antwerp and then again with the Nigerian NT is pretty encouraging.
I'm very excited about this package of moves (and the in-season deals to get Arreaga and Ivacic). I feel like Porter has had a very good sense of where we needed to get better and has made solid signings (using youth slots very effectively) to address it. What's really discouraging OTOH, is that all this seems necessary because of all the bad deals, inaction, etc. from the off-season and then back in the Arena tenure. Maybe Onalfo has needed a head coach in place to help figure out what the roster has needed? Pretty lame, regardless.
Royal Antwerpen are a good team, winning the championship last year and consistently one of the better Belgian clubs. Tobias Alderweireld, who has been capped 100+ times and played for Belgium in the last World Cup, is one of their best known players.
My thrown in the towel comment literally meant what you said. If, by some stroke of bad luck, and this team has LOT’S of that, Miller gets injured [in practice] and is out for the rest of the season we are starting Sands the next 11 games. And Spaulding, who IMHO Porter was avoiding using, will be the backup. I feel as fine about that plan as the next person UNTIL Miller actually does get hurt. Throw in the towel and deal with it in the offseason. I don’t know Sands that well, maybe I’ll be pleasantly surprised, but I’d rather not be looking to Spaulding for tons of minutes.
With any luck, his paperwork will clear and we'll see Yusuf on the field for the second Montreal game (Sep 18th)...
The Revs have had any number of Ghanaians over the years, but I can't remember a single Nigerian -- surprising, because Nigeria is so much bigger. Am I overlooking someone?
Yusuf is an excellent signing. I didn’t expect the Revs to sign a player like him. He likes to lie deep in the midfield, keeps his passing simple and efficient and likes dropping back to act as an additional ball handler when his team progresses out of the back. I don’t see him as much of a two-way player so to say. He doesn’t add much composure in the final third but has the engine to cover that sort of ground and is improving his passing range since first moving to Europe. I posted on this thread when Baba Iddrisu was rumored to come but I see Yusuf as an upgrade with a much higher ceiling compared to Baba, who is a limited defensive midfielder. On my website dedicated to African soccer he was one of the first players I scouted. I’ll leave a link below if anybody wants to read more on his strengths and weaknesses. https://panafricafootball.com/alhassan-yusuf/
The main things with Yusuf: Averaged 2500 minutes per season over the last 5 seasons (no serious injury history) Started for a league champion in a good league, including in champions league Passes forward (not creative in the final 3rd but good at quick transition)
From what I've read so far, it seems he's more of a defensive midfielder and maybe he can be key for winning possessions in the transitional zone and in turn support our attacking players. For that, I think it's a real need for us.
Even if the moves are over, I'd be pretty pleased with this transfer window. And if we can bring in a solid depth piece at striker (a Teal Bunbury type), I'd give them an A+. I know this season hasn't given us much reason to be hopeful, but... if we get healthy and squeak into the playoffs, we could find ourselves with a lineup of Ivacic-Miller-Romney-Arreaga-Bye-Yusuf-Harkes-Langoni-Gil-Borrero-Vrioni. That's not a bad MLS lineup at all... And for next year, we're set up even better. We just need to stay healthy! (That's been the depressing part of Revs fandom the past 3 years. We've never gotten the fun of watching the pieces come together, because so many are always missing. It can't stay that way forever, can it...?)
I've seen enough of Spaulding to conclude that he'll never be a decent MLS player. He's USL level through and through.
When you look at all the back passes and intercepted passes from that position, a reasonable percentage played forward to our attackers should result in many more scoring chances. He’s made significant strides every season - I wouldn’t presume that’s his ceiling.
“We’re going to take it one at a time” | Extra week and new faces prep Revs for playoff push Nick Boonstra Tuesday, Aug 13, 2024, 03:45 PM revolutionsoccer.net Langoni still not here yet.
Onalfo and Porter with some quotes on the window in this Blazing Musket article. One part that's important for us...
The Revs elected to stick with the traditional 3 designated players after new DP rule introduction: https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/mls-clubs-declare-roster-construction-models-for-2024-season