The Revs had a horrible 2011. The club management and roster of players had more setbacks than progress last year and finished second-to-last in the league thanks to a tie-breaker with Vancouver, who ended the season with the same number of points and a last place finish. So, Happy 2012!
Since the end of last season the Revs have restructured the front office, parted ways with the most successful coach in club history and hired a former player with no head-coaching experience. In addition to those off-the-field moves the Revs have re-signed locker room and field leaders Matt Reis and Shalrie Joseph and entered negotiations to lower the cost of their some of our international players.
On January 12th, 2012, Major League Soccer will hold it’s SuperDraft. Clubs will pick from a pool of young American and some international players most of whom were recently playing for NCAA college soccer programs. Some of these players will make an impact during MLS games, most will earn playing time in MLS Reserve League matches in 2012. Our club’s poor performance on the field has yielded us the opportunity to pick early with the 3rd overall pick and the 22nd overall pick (3rd pick of the second round). After these two rounds there will later be a Supplemental Draft and, though I am not sure of the details, I suspect the players picked in this draft will play for cheaper contracts or non-guaranteed contracts.
Our new front office, Brian Bilello, President, Mike Burns, General Manager, and our head coach, Jay Heaps, have all said that as an organization the New England Revolution will not be outsmarted or outworked. I love that sentiment. They recently added an experienced assistant coach, strength and conditioning coach, and equipment manager. The club is still looking to add a second assistant coach. Mike Burns has discussed with the club website “multiple imminent signings,” (the Revolution have since signed 2 Colombians, John Lozano and Fernando Cardenas) while Jay Heaps has revealed that any trades within the league will likely take place in and around the upcoming drafts. So, to recap, the Revs plan to renegotiate with veterans from last year’s squad and those guys picked up in the Re-Entry process; make international signings; explore trades during draft time, and likely select players in the SuperDraft or Supplemental Draft.
What positions are the Revs looking to fill? Let’s start with those positions where the Revs have talent. Shalrie Joseph and Benny Feilhaber will likely start in center midfield. Diego Fagundez will continue his development with some starts, some substitute minutes, and lots of talk about his future potential. Matt Reis and Bobby Shuttlesworth are our starting and back-up goal keepers, respectively. AJ Soares will look to build on a solid rookie campaign as center back and both Kevin Alston on the right side and Darius Barnes who could play at center back or continue last season’s left back experiment, anchor the defense. Coach Heaps has also mentioned changing Sainey Nyassi’s role which suggests that the young Gambian could return to the right wing. Provided that contract negotiations result in his signing, Heaps has also suggested that Danliegh Borman, a South African who played for Toronto FC last year, could slot into left back. Clyde Simms, a defensive midfielder, has agreed to a contract while Nate Jaqua, a striker, is still in contract negotiations.
So, at the defensive end of the field the Revs need to add depth, but might already have our starters penciled into the lineup. On offense the Revs need depth and perhaps even starters. If the international signings were complete then we might have a clearer sense of what types of players the Revs would consider in the draft. SoccerbyIves describes this draft class as full of creative midfielders – I don’t think we need a player like that, though someone who can beat a defender on the dribble and send in a threatening cross would be welcome.
Aside from Reis, Soares, Joseph, and Feilhaber, I would prefer to see every other position won by a guy who fights off competition in practice. The Revs have to improve goals scored and goals allowed in 2012, we are talking more abbout braod improvement than tactical details. The upcoming draft will add a few details to the roster as we approach pre-season. Pre-season trips in Arizona and training Foxboro will offer glimpses of trialists and formations. All of this is just speculation until we hear the final whistle on some actual games. I cannot wait to see who lines up in our first regular season game, March 10 in San Jose.
(image courtesy of revolutionsoccer.net)
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