News: Revs 2020 Season

A hopeful sign - there's room for significant improvement at dmid, regardless of our issues filling in for Gil.

 

We're pretty much full up on DPs, but I wonder if we have the assets/cap space to be pursuing any AM help. Not a cheap/easy position to fill.

 

Part of the remainder of the season has been announced. Still no fans in the stands (wise decision). I like that they're taking it a bit at a time and assessing the COVID impact.

 

When a 3 month rest failed to improve the injury, surgery was inevitable. The guy is irreplaceable. At least within our constraints.

 

So what are the chances that they could do a drive-in viewing for home games in the parking lot, or for any of the away games on the field?

 

Even better, cars on the field for home games

 

Some of the words Bruce is using here sound very similar to words used by prior administrations, in regards to obtaining difference-making talent at a critical points in time.

It's one thing if the Revs were down a few garden-variety players. In that scenario, Polster alone would be a good/sufficient add, and all would be okay. But, this is Gil we're talking about. I think everyone's pretty clear about how intrinsic he is to the fortunes of this team.

I remain optimistic about Bruce's impact on this team, but I can't help feeling like I'm hearing sounds of the front office snapping handcuffs on to their own wrists.

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All three DP spots are already full, so you can't make a signing of that caliber right now. Even though Carles is injured, he still occupies a DP spot.

— Jeff Lemieux (@jeff_lemieux) August 12, 2020

Jeff's hinting that because there's no DP slots available, the team basically can't do anything. That's a narrow view of the methods and approaches available to the team, and Jeff is either overlooking those other approaches, or is choosing to be disingenuous.

 

I think Arena deserves our faith. Let's remember that there is a salary cap and a finite amount of funds available for player acquisition. We don't know what's available in either of those bins.

The team has not played well without Gil - there's no doubt about that. That's on Arena to fix - if he thinks there's a better answer on his roster than what he could get with whatever limited resources are left at this point in the season, then it's up to him to make that work.

I know we've heard similar talk in the past, but I think Arena has already proven that he's much, much different.

 

I think Arena is better suited than at least the last 2 managers regarding figuring out a way to make the most of other assets in replacing Gil. Still, I'm not encouraged, since there doesn't seem to be any real answer to missing the most creative player on the team.

 

Agreed with all.

I preface this post, yet again, with the comment that I remain bullish on The Bruce's influence on this team and roster.

>> But, that doesn't stop me from observing and thinking hard about things that don't fit in the "In Bruce We Trust" narrative​

So, it seems to me the Revs FO is at an inflection point right now -

1.) they ALREADY know that Gil is essentially gone for this season; his 3-5 month recovery will very likely go beyond season-end

https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2020...les-gil-undergoes-successful-achilles-surgery
​

2.) it is possible that he is already a risk to NOT return for future seasons -

2a.) his 2 yr contract ends after this season (reports say there are 2 1-yr options, but unclear whether it is club or player option - best guess is club, but if it is player - )

https://www.riazor.org/carles-gil-no-entrena-en-abegondo-y-fija-su-destino-en-la-mls/

https://www.thebentmusket.com/revol...ors-2019-report-revolution-to-sign-carles-gil
​

2b.) Gil reportedly already struggling, perhaps moreso than many other players, with separation from family etc. due to COVID -

https://www.boston.com/sports/new-england-revolution/2020/05/14/carles-gil-injury-covid-19

and you know he's watching the shitshow re:USA's epic mishandling of the pandemic, the staggering death rates, and its other broad societal impacts - I would assume that a desire to get away from the danger and incompetence would weigh ever more heavily on him as time progresses in any decisions re his future
​

3.) Gil has been non-committal on future plans in other earlier interviews -

https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2020...share_button&utm_campaign=social_share_button

4.) Global transfer windows are open NOW; the longer the Revs wait, the fewer groceries there are left on the shelves. i.e., If you have cash to spend, then shop early and get the fresh produce.

https://www.espn.com/soccer/blog-tr...premier-leagueserie-ala-ligabundesligaligue-1​

So --

a.) Either the Revs get creative to fix the void left by Gil - trade bodies (to as many teams as needed) to accumulate/collect TAM/GAM, for example, to buy a really legit talent NOW

or else​

b.) it seems that they are are simply not saying the quiet part out loud - "...let's take the hit, lay low, and just move on to next season."​

>> I'd really only say this relative to *** Gil *** being absent; not so for any other player on this team.

- With the heavy (and seemingly crippling) dependency that the other 10 on the field have on Gil, it's find a way to resolve that void or chalk up this season.​

I'm very interested to see how this plays out. How this all progresses will help get a better sense on a few things:

- how hungry Bruce really is for that next Big Win;
- whether there is still an organizational reluctance to commit resources continually/ ongoing/ as part of a constant roster improvement philosophy; and
- whether any such reluctance is supported, or opposed, by Bruce.​

 

And yet Miami has just signed another name player as a Targeted Allocation Money player, not a DP. Lots of things are possible if you try. Other teams do it, the Revs don't. We are playing well but need some help on attack. I hope Arena see that?

 

Ok, so if Polster locks up the number six spot, and all the other positions other than Gil stay the same, then who is available to play Gil’s roll?

Rowe has played that role

Caldwel played attacking midfielder in college

who else?

 

Attacking is not a word that describes Scott Caldwell's game, let alone creative. On the roster, the replacement pool is:

Kelly Rowe (not that creative, but he tries stuff)
Diego Fagundez (not that effective since 2018)
Damion Rivera (completely unproven)
Justin Rennicks (more of Bou than a Gil)
Issac Angking (more of a winger/8)
Firminho (what position does he actually play?)

Of them my preference is to try Rennicks or Rivera first, because Kellyn has earned starting next to Polster and I have 0 confidence in Diego.

 

It seems like if this were the Galaxy, they would acquire a DP in a week, and by next year, would have a way of buying down an existing DP contract. There's got to be some kind of solution - a loan perhaps? - for this year, or we're done.

 

The Cincinnati Enquirer is reporting that FC Cincinnati will trade two players today, including winger Kekuta Manneh.

The good folks on the Twitter.com machine seem to think that Manneh is headed to New England, although I haven't seen any mainstream news sources reporting that end of things.

 

I wonder if Manneh was brought in to fill Gil's role?

 

I see it as a Penilla or Bunbury role.

Heard it mentioned that replacing Penilla with Manneh next season would free up an international slot.

 

Our Gambian connection is back!