Did we have ANY real scoring chances today? This team needs a brain. Too much crowding around the ball to win possession so there is nowhere to go but long once we win it. Twellman appears to be less than ideal as a target forward. Did JMM play today? Where are the Ralston's of yesteryear? Heaps shouldn't go forward with his skills. I was wrong about Joseph, he looks for real. Do we really want Franchino, Pierce, and Heaps as the primary service to Twellman? Hernandez's value (the ability to intelligently slow play) has been underestimated. Once behind we are screwed...same as it ever was.
Joseph was the best player on the field today. He constantly broke up attacks, won 50/50 balls, and gave service to our attackers when he could. But he didn't have enough help. When and if the rest of the team are playing as well as he did today, the Revs will be the best team in MLS.
The thing that scares me is that we seem to be geting out hustled in our own house - how is that possible? If someone convinced these guys they are good enough not to give 100% they are dreaming. I thought Rusty looked OK, but boy did Carlos seem rusty on a few occasions. We saw today why Taylor was not with the Nats, he still needs some some work. I think he'll be fine, but there were more bad (especially first) touches than there should have been. Joseph certainly looked better than his last minutes at the Razor (I did not see the away match.) The original comments about Hernandez slowing play down were right on. However, he's a great player when we are winning, to keep control of the match, but his default is square or back, not forward. When down a goal (or two) this drives me crazy. Here's hoping SN finds that offense-minded midfielder he's looking for. Our attacks down the middle seemed to end before they started. JMM hustled, but did little else really. I was just as entertained - if not more - by the Breakers, and I never expected to think that. Bob
Although I didn't see all of the match, what I did see was a little borring. Do the Revs have the cap-space to sign an attacking-midfielder? They have three solid defensive-midfielder types. But they lack a true play-maker.
I hate to keep harping on this, but the lack of an offensive central midfielder will be the death of the Revs. The 2 Defensive Midfielder system is as ineffective as a "bullpen-by-comittee". Yes they got to the Cup last season, but they did it with a losing record. The Revs need a 10 or at least a 9.5! Roger
Joseph made some good passes, is a good target, and played some defense but I don't think he's the answer for the Rev's attacking mid problem. He doesn't make good attacking runs and doesn't seem to know what an a-mid needs to do.