P/I/P Match 16: Revs vs VAN, Sat 6/15/24 7:30p [R]

Chancaly out for this game?

 

On the Revs Recap podcast after the Redbulls game they said the swelling hasn't come down enough to run and MRI on Chancalay, which typically is associated with serious injuries. So I fear we may be losing him for a good chunk of time.

On the same podcast, game preview posted yesterday - some random stats -

Vancouver has the highest time per defensive action in the league - meaning they sit back and cede possession. They also have the highest (or one of the highest) rates of crosses into the box in the league.

 

Anybody else have Apple die on them, five minutes into the game?

 

I am so happy with the first half results. We have scored 3 goals, compared to 12 goals in the first 15 games. Excellent

 

I have to say, preseason felt extra-long this year.

 

Finally! So that's what it's like to comprehensively outplay an opponent. I'd genuinely forgotten.

So many players looked like the old, better versions of themselves. And to see wave after wave of successful attacking play - above and beyond the 3 points, it was just so fun. The nifty interchanges, the creativity, the counterattacks...it was all just so good.

Harkes is my pick for MOTM. He looked like Iniesta out there, stepping up to combine with attackers and providing creativity from the midfield. It was exactly what this team's been needing. If Buck's injury isn't too serious, mssrs Polster and Kaye might be out of a job for a while.... Yes, we were missing some defensive bite in the middle - but screw it, I'll take the fluidity of the Buck/Harkes duo any day. It was so nice just to be reminded that, in a functioning team, quick interplay between the CMs is a common occurrence.

I also think we've found our first choice CB pairing. Arreaga and Romney were, again, both fantastic.

Which makes me reflect on Porter's role in all of this. On one hand, this could be seen as the game that vindicates him. They looked great, and he deserves some credit. On the other hand, lots of the complaints from fans a month ago related to the benching of Romney and the insistence on the Kaye-Polster pairing. And so we may just be seeing the fruits of changes that a less stubborn coach would have made a long time ago.

But hey - there's actually hope for this season now, I'd say. (Is that a good thing? Maybe not for all of our nerves...)

 

This is the game I have been hoping for from Vrioni. Hopefully he can continue this.

 

Having Esmir on the field is such a benefit. He combines with Vrioni in a way that no other Rev has managed to do. The Harkes/Buck combo also controlled the transition to attack in a way that Polster/Kaye cannot, which allowed Carles to play higher up and not have to continually drop deep to retrieve the ball. This let Carles have better interactions with Vrioni too.

 

Three wins in a row. The best performance of the year. Four points back of a playoff spot with games in hand.

Clearly, the team is not in a position to take anyone or any match for granted, as for all intents and purposes we're already playing playoff games thanks to the hole that's been dug. But there are seven games left before the Leagues Cup break. This is a massive stretch coming up over the next few weeks, not unlike the summer stretch of games where we needed results back in 2019 to dig out of the end of the Friedel era. Every result matters at this point.

 

In the first 15 games, I would estimate we back passed 10 times for each forward pass. Last night it seemed like maybe 5 back for each 2 forward, that is what kept the rhythm of the offense moving. (and the inevitable scoring)

 

Have to give Porter credit - Arreaga was a huge pick up. His ability to move the ball forward to transition to attack makes a huge difference and he pairs very well with Romney.

Harkes and Buck certainly made a difference in terms of the attack. Buck had a few giveaways, but his goal was sublime. You’re not getting that out of Polster or Kaye, that’s for sure.

I have a feeling though going on the road versus a real good team next week we’re gonna be back to those other two.

on the positive side, though the team is getting better. A well-deserved three points was great to see.

 

As far as their goals go, I thought Ivacic could have done more on the first one. It looked to me like he got caught flat footed as he got beat to the near post, which you'd have thought he had covered. Not sure what happened on the 2nd goal. But in between he made some solid stops.

By the way, I'm a fan of their right back, Javain Brown. He's aggressive, and he can hit a cross - unlike our outside backs.