So far, the preseason doesn't look too good. It's been a long time since we've beaten anyone and I'm thinking it will be a long time before we do. Season's coming up, our roster is still in flux. Taylor still isn't scoring when it counts. Sounds like we've starting from rock bottom ..... again. At least it makes the Revs Pick game easier to play.
I don't think it's time for panic yet. Preseason game scores don't mean much. Yesterdays match did mean something but was a stacked deck from the get-go. I'm reserving any judgement about our team till they have played the first few matches of the regular season. Any word of JMM?
There could be a lot of reasons for the Revs poor showings thus far but above all else we need to remember that last season's charge was built on grit, timely goals and endless defense. There has to be a prod in the collective butt to execute at such a level and pre-season ain't that time. Having said that, the one dimensionality of our offense is frightening. There is a lot to be done and without support from upstairs it won't happen (and I mean at Kraft, Inc. not heaven). JIM DOW
Not that it's a surprise about the result in Costa Rica, but this was a dead giveaway. Maybe a better title would be something like "LDA-Revs postgame." Anyway, this result isn't the end of the world, and I wouldn't push the panic button yet. We will lose again Wednesday, perhaps by a more respectable score (if you consider a 6-1 aggregate "respectable"), and then we can get ready for the MLS season. That ought to keep the "soccer smiles" and Kraft Jihad apologists like Rev-OKie happy. This was an opportunity for the Revs to test themselves against a quality team, despite what certain alleged experts on Central American footie seem to think. It wouldn't shock me to see LDA go all the way, or at least to the semis of this tournament. Maybe next year, or the year after that, or the year after that we might put the proper emphasis and give the team a fighting chance. Having said that, these tournaments will always be difficult for a team like the Revs. A few friendlies in Brazil against junior/reserve teams does not adequately prepare the team for the intensity of a game like this. But even still, you'd think that they'd have done a bit better if they'd timed the leg for right after the Brazil training, instead of coming back to Foxboro for a couple of weeks to train on an indoor carpet. MLS teams will always get the border line stuff against them, and it seems that the Revs got their share with the second goal and the non-offside goal that would have made it 1-1. Be that as it may, had they kept it reasonablly close, the idea of coming back like Columbus and LA did would not be out of the question. It's just a damn shame that management cares so little about the big picture. If LA and Columbus and San Jose can at least make the slightest effort, why can't we? We should have just let Dallas play in our place. Tom
bright spots? Is there any good news to take away from last night's spanking? Ralston seemed effective. Franchino and Kamler played together pretty well for a while. Joey continues to show increasing leadership and less chippiness. Wolde hasn't forgot what he was doing at the end of last season - digging hard for balls in midfield when the defense is struggling. It's a little harder to pin down any defensive bright spots because of the score obviously, and because when the ball was in the box, it was hard to tell the players apart. Brian
Re: bright spots? One observation is to realize that we had quality chances, and given some serious, competitive game situations, we'd finish on some of those 'ideal' chances we had. We're just getting Rev'd up!
Is there any good news to take away from last night's spanking? Sure. Franchino seems to be improving in terms of his leadership abilities, and also seems to be emerging as another threat on set-plays. Brown made some excellent saves. Wolde continues to work hard, and could really be effiective having someone like Moore or a strong attacking midfielder playing behind him, taking some of the pressure ff of both he and Twellman. Noonan showed some good form at times. The team effort just wasn't there for a match such as this, and was to be expected at this point in the season. While we won't likely be finding "success" in making it to the next round, hopefully the Revolution players can get some good experience against a quality opponent, while gaining a better sense of their tractical and personnel needs. The Magpie
Good Lord, are you guys New England sports fans or what? The season hasn't even started yet and some people are getting all worked up over a "meaningless" game. (I used quotes so as not to incur the wrath that Rev-Oke has to incur every time he states the truth about the game). Anyway, I did not see the game so I can not judge the Revs' current form. I think if they won the game, that would have said a lot. But a loss was to be expected for a team that has done little more than kick the ball around on a living room rug for a few weeks. The one concern I have is the status of Moore, because I think we're in a heap of trouble without him. Not that he's the savior of this team, but his presence in the lineup makes this team so much more dangerous.
I agree. This team was the same as they fielded for MLS Cup, except they didn't have Llamosa and they haven't really played a meanigful game in 5 months. Not to mention the refs were on their knees the whole match. As for the past scrimages, ALL THE TEAMS WERE IN MIDSEASON FORM!!! My god, shut the hell up and wait for the regular season. If the revs start off with a poor record, then its time to get worried. Its a CCC match against a mid season powerhouse team from Costa Rica without us having two of our key players that will help us this year (Moore and Llamosa).
You are such a peach of a person, aren't you? Do you really think this was appropriate? What about funny? I don't care if your point is 100% correct, you are nothing short of an ass for posting something like this during these times.
Breathe people, I'm sure nothing was meant by it. He wasn't, well, maybe he was, accusing somebody of having that kind of a point of view, but I'm guessing that was just a little Freudian slip there. I wouldn't read into it, and I wouldn't rip into him for a bad word choice. If he'd used the word conspiracy as opposed to jihad, would there be this kind of an uproar? I doubt it. Lay off. Prof
I don't think the radical Jihadists would appreciate the comparison either... Seriously, though, some of this seems to be getting a little personal lately. Maybe, the same way they have MLS rivalries forums, we could have some type of "feuding factions who root (can we still say root on this forum? I didn't intend any pun...) for the same team.
I really hate this kind of talk. This whole "times like these" attitude assumes there is a shared perspective and that dissent from the common view should be suspended. Let's let people think and speak what they will. FWIW, I'm still in a state of shock after listening to a caller to WEEI, referring to the "problem" of human shields, state that there is no such thing as an innocent Iraqi and that we should blast 'em all - and all Dale Arnold had to say was: "Thanks for your call"! I'm not shocked about the safe and secure caller's attitude, I'm shocked that the host felt no responsibility to rebuke such a barbaric attitude. But then, "in times like these"...
When it comes from the same person who ripped another poster for not taking the time to think about what he's posting, I felt no problem ripping him. Bad choice of words is an understatement.
I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt. (Naively, I bet...) I just know that when I'm pissed, there better be a soapbox nearby. And if there isn't, I'll just piss everyone else off to make them listen to me. Maybe it was his intent to get people to uproar, but I still think it was just a bad vocab choice, albeit one due to the fact that we are living "in times such as these"... Prof
I'll give you one chance to guess my persepctive on the war. And when have I ever said someone can't have any opinion on anything? There is no perspective to the fact that millions of people have just seen pictures or videos of American POWs with holes in the middle of their head. To equate the Krafts to anyone who would commit these acts is simply foolish and should absolutely be called out.
And to get back on topic, we currently sit in first place and in control of our own destiny for a shot at home field advantage throughout the playoffs (aside from LA). Until that changes, I'm not giving up on this season yet. Even with such a terrible owner
Dude: The Iraqis do NOT present themselves as Jihadis. You are deliberately confusing the issue to be provocative.
You got me. I'm making blind accusations. Obviously, the Jihadis that you refer to are ones like the terrorists which destroyed the Twin Towers. Does that make the comparison better? Here's a great book on terrorism and the Jihad: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0743234359/103-6271978-4793442?vi=glance I don't care what the Iraqis label themselves as. If you help fund the terrorists, you are, IMHO, a terrorist yourself. Sorry if I'm a bit sensitive to this, but I don't find this situation to be this stuff jokes are made of.