When is Adin Brown due back?

From today's Boston Herald:

From what I gather Brown probably could have played Saturday night, but Reis' performance of late earned him another start.

FWIW, that's the second quote I've seen from Nicol regarding the GK situation. The other was after the Metro game: [paraphrasing Nicol] "That's the danger with getting injured, someone can come in, play well, and steal your spot" [/paraphrasing Nicol]

I wonder if anyone actually thinks Brown is in any danger of losing his position? I'll admit Reis has been impressive, but I don't think Adin should be too concerned.

 

I believe Brown was pretty much 100% healthy and could've easily started Saturday. With the way Reis is playing, I think Brown should be worried about losing his starting spot. Brown's already expressed he's going to Europe as soon as he can, so maybe since Brown won't be with the Revs for the long term, Nicol is continuing to play Reis since he will most likely be the Revs starter once Brown leaves and since he is playing so well.

 

Yes Reis has been great in each of his starts this year, I hope to see him continue his success in the future but that is Adin's spot and he should have it back as soon as he is healthy.

 

Nicol's philosophy: Player gets injured, replacement plays well, and new player gets spot. Doesn't matter if player also playing well (three previous games before injury Adin was player of the game). The message is if you don't play hurt or hide your injury you're cooked. No wonder Adin has played in the past when he should have taken a game off. Message is it doesn't matter if you are responsible for two seasons taking team into finals, saving team with super exceptional games how many times? Would Nicol have ever come close to Coach of the Year without Adin's playing? That is old news, but true. He says I sit Adin to reward Reis who has done nothing wrong and deserves to play. What exactly has Adin done wrong and how exactly does he deserve not to play? Well he got hurt. oh! And, what is the criteria that gets Adin back on the field? A screw up or injury? And Adin’s trademark saves that can’t be made being made, Nicol doesn’t need them? Nicol's message is I’m going to figure out who deserves to play and I’m going to figure out who has done something wrong. Being loyal to the guy on the bench over the guy who earned the starting role many times over is his credo. Starters don’t lose their spots unless they are screwing up or not performing, that is the real truth everywhere else in sport. I don't know what Adin is thinking, but Nicol clearly does not care. Smart coaching? What about having a strategy that says, I’m putting the best players on the field and I’m taking responsibility when we aren’t winning? While we are at it and in the cellar maybe there ought to be some "healthy competition" for Nicol's job. Let’s bench Nicol and make his Assisstant Head Coach. After all, look at our bench. What is going on that so many players are coming up lame? What kind of practices and fitness work is he giving the players? Are they getting what they need? Obviously not! Nicol's idea of validating players at the expense of players who have produced the most for him wouldn't be my strategy. Let's face it Nicol is sitting Adin, he has another agenda and he wants company as he leads his team with a 1-4-3 record in the basement. Reis is a good guy and a great goalkeeper, he's playing well, he got a little lucky last DC game, but goalkeepers have to be lucky. Nobody seems to mind on this board that Adin’s not playing? Well, I do, but then I’m prejudiced for sure and I now feel better after writing this, but it won't last. My whole life I've seen coaches
screw with the wrong players. It is insanity.

 

Mindset, I'm sure your son will get his chance soon enough.

 

Thanks for the compliment! It's not about chance.

 

Wow, come up for air occasionally.

First of all, what's happening with the goalkeepers is not reflective of the overall team - in fact, you would have to say that Nicol has favored his starters over his reserves for the field players. Otherwise, why would Franchino still be in the lineup?

Secondly, I don't see Nicol being inconsistent with his goalkeepers. Fact is, not keeper can be in top form without regular, top-flight game competition (with the starting lineup). So, the guy on the bench will always be at a disadvantage, and it's pretty close to impossible to prove in practice that you are better than the guy who is starting, because gk performance is so subjective (i.e., who is better Keller, Friedel or Howard? It's all opinion). Once Brown is forced (by injury or whatever) to take a couple of games off, why not give Reis a steady string of games to get back to his peak? Brown surely got the same opportunity - for much longer stretches.

Thirdly, it's a loooooong season. So what if Reis gets 5-6 games now while he's playing well. By the end, if Brown is healthy for the most part he'll end up making 2/3 - 3/4 of the starts - and Reis will be in better form IF he should be needed down the stretch.

Fourth, Brown may be gone from MLS as soon as August. Doesn't it make sense for Nicol to find out what he's got in Reis - whether he can handle the load of being the #1? Prior to this string, he has never gotten more than a couple of games in a row.