Revolution Update: June 22, 2010 Revolution returns to MLS action against the Chicago Fire on Sunday night at Gillette Stadium
Hard to muster up much excitement about this match. Ralston is two weeks into his 4-6 week layoff, so we can't expect too much to improve from an attacking standpoint. I expect Reis to start. Perhaps Barnes is getting healthier and Alston shakes off the last remnants of his hamstring problems. [LINEUP-4-4-2] Dube,Jankauskas, Perovic,Joseph,Phelan,Nyassi, Sinovic,Gibbs,Osei,Alston, Reis [/LINEUP-4-4-2]
The best addition to the lineup is having Reis back. Can Jankasaurus stay on the field 60+ minutes? If he can't put in an hour a game when he's healthy for the duration of the year, that signing is an abject failure.
Its going to be a little hard to come back to the Revs after the US game, especially because it fills me with a sense of dread.
I was at the first one. I've seen them all on TV (well, obviously besides the friendlies) but I will confess to being "meh" about going to Gillette this year. Very frustrated by the "same old, same old" gobbledygook from the FO. Does the Supporter's Summit count? That was more entertaining than almost any match this year!
Because I am in a good mood today: Revs 0 - 2 Chicago - and - At least one Revs player ends up out for a month or two with an injury, too.
I'm predicting, not advocating. I've learned not to bet against Phelan when it comes to Steve Nicol's lineups.
NE Revolution Injury List - June 25, 2010 PROBABLE: Kevin Alston (lower back strain), Mike Videira (L ankle sprain) QUESTIONABLE: Pat Phelan (head) OUT: Darrius Barnes (R foot sprain), Preston Burpo (R leg fracture), Edgaras Jankauskas (L adductor strain), Steve Ralston (L elbow dislocation), Khano Smith (R ankle sprain), Taylor Twellman (concussion)
Taken in or out of context that has at least two or three valid interpretations. There might be a violation of ADA in this admission.
Serious, of all the things wrong with this team- the training staff flies under the radar. Look, every team has injuries but doesn't it seem to you like ours go on longer and happen more often?
Crazy thought: why not start Griffiths in Niouky's spot? See if he's got it in the middle, partnering Joseph. With Niouky out this is a good time to throw him in the fire (bad pun) and see how he does. Shitcago is garbage this year, I've been wrong to-date about DLC being a good coaching acquisition. Perfect chance for Griffiths to get on the field, establish himself, and maybe eventually take Niouky's spot in the lineup. If nothing else it hopefully puts pressure on the guy to not play better. Good point. The culpability has to fall somewhere: acquiring ridiculously injury prone players (FO), inability to keep players healthy (training staff) or some combination. It can't all be chalked up to bad luck from the soccer gods.
Couldn't agree more, with the cap space he is taking up he must be one of the worse re-signings this year. I thought last year he showed he could play but was injured a lot then, did the F.O. not expect the same again this year?
what really makes this signing worse is that they knew he was injury prone but still signed him to a healthly 240k contract. Had they signed him to a lesser contract it might not be as bad. Who am I kidding,,,,this was terrible
[LINEUP-4-4-2] Dube,Killer, Perovic,Joseph,Tierney,Nyassi, Sinovic,Gibbs,Osei,Alston, Reis [/LINEUP-4-4-2][/QUOTE] If Phelan gets the green light he starts, otherwise I see this line-up for tomorrow night. 2-0 Fire
[/QUOTE] I thinks that's a good lineup and likely the best considering whose available. How the team plays in this game will say a lot about this rosters ability to make a run. If the are high energy showing crisp passing and reasonable chance creation there is a chance they may be able to salvage the season. If they play as poorly as they did over the last 5-6 games the best thing we have to look forward to is a high draft pick.
For a team with some real issues with BASICS - things that can only really get fixed with some training camp time, not really during the weekly cycle of training and match prep in season, the real question I'm looking to answer tonight is this: How well did Nicol use the extended break to straighten out the team? To the extent skill is still coachable at this level, I don't expect miracles. But getting everyone on the same page - yes. Improving on the low level of tactical sophistication of the players - yes. If those don't show, the Revs will have pissed away 2 valuable weeks for nothing.
A tanker carrying jet fuel rolled over on I-95 south in Foxboro around 9:30 a.m. Might be worth keeping in mind when you make your travel plans. Here's a link.