The calendar hasn’t even hit January yet but the Revolution have already added four players, declined the options on three and traded one. Last year at this time, the Revolution had added midfielder Clyde Simms, re-signed two veterans who would see their playing time decline during the 2012 season and released ten, including the team’s number two and four scorers.
Revs fans should be encouraged by this activity as their team has taken a passive approach to player acquisitions in the past. During the Nicol-era, there was a heavy emphasis on using the SuperDraft, adding older players that were in the twilight of their career and signing obscure foreign players, some of which had never been scouted first-hand. Since the appointment of head coach Jay Heaps and a reshuffling of the front office, the Revolution have used several avenues to build their roster, including the SuperDraft, the Re-entry draft, trades within Major League Soccer and trials with foreign players. Constantly searching for a way to improve the team has become a trademark of the Heaps-era.
That isn’t to say that Heaps and company haven’t made mistakes. The signing of forward Jose Moreno, touted by President Bryan Biello as the team’s “#9,” turned out to be one of the biggest messes in franchise history when the Columbian initially refused to report to the team. His compatriot, defender John Lozano, can also be labeled as a bust since he was beaten out for a starting position by midfielder-turned-defender Stephen McCarthy. In both instances, however, the Revolution remedied the mistakes by cutting the players and their large salaries midseason. This is a welcomed change as Revs fans spent countless months waiting for the potential return of forward Taylor Twellman, the promise of Pat Phalen and the scoring touch of forward Rajko Lekic. Seeing players come and go can be difficult to watch and understand but it is a sign that that front office is trying to get better.
A Greater Emphasis on Depth
The Los Angeles Galaxy highlighted the fact that MLS championship teams require more than eleven players. Poor performances, international call-ups or injuries can require a coach to reanalyze his starting eleven so a deep and comparable bench is important. In the past, the Revolution relied heavily on eleven players with the rest of the roster being comprised of unknowns, like Otto Loewy, Roberto Linck and Sam Brill, that would later join second division teams after being cut. Heaps and company have worked hard to upgrade their bench. Perennial bench players like Zak Boggs, Kenny Mansally and Khano Smith have been replaced by potential starters like Kelyn Rowe, Diego Fagundez and Juan Toja.
Early in the off-season, the Revolution showed that they are committed to building a solid all-around team with the acquisitions of Andy Dorman and Kalifa Cisse, both midfielders. Dorman is a veteran presence that will serve as a mentor while also challenging for a starting position. Meanwhile, Cisse’s vision and defensive movement should relegate Clyde Simms to the bench (unless Heaps chooses to play with two defensive midfielders).
If signed, the re-entry draft pickups of forward Chad Barrett and defender Hunter Freeman will further bolster the Revs’ roster. Barrett has played in 192 MLS games while scoring 42 goals. While these numbers do not describe a consistent goal scorer, they do paint a picture of a player that has talent. Freeman has earned the title of “journeyman” after playing for seven different teams since 2003. A more important statistic, however, could be the fact that Freeman has earned a spot in the starting eleven in each of the teams that he has played for. While neither player should be penciled into the starting lineup, both players will have an important role on the team during busy stretches.
Not only should these moves help the Revolution accumulate more wins during the regular season, they should also make the team a legitimate competitor in the US Open Cup. In 2012, a 3-0 advantage over the Harrisburg City Islanders turned into a 3-3 tie over the course of ten minutes. The Revolution went crashing out of the country’s oldest soccer tournament after losing 4-3 on penalties. On that day, the Revs depended on Lozano, Moreno, Alec Purdie, Mike Roach, Jermiah White, and Blake Brettschneider, all of which are no longer with the team. The skill and experience found in depth players like Dorman, Simms, Barrett and Freeman will the Revolution in their quest to add another championship to the cabinet.
It’s Officially Heaps’ Team
In 2012, Heaps’ Revolution finished with a record of 9-17-8 (35 points). While this record only bettered the team’s 2011 record by 4 wins and 7 points, there was no question that Heaps would return at the helm. When Heaps was selected as New England’s head coach, sixth in club history, he was applauded for having a new and positive vision for the team that would focus hard work, skillful play and desire to get better. Players that believed in Heaps’ vision, like McCarthy, were rewarded while players that questioned the coach, like Joseph and Feilhaber, were relegated to the bench before eventually being traded.
While Heaps may get a pass for 10-game winless drought and missing the playoffs for the third straight year, he will not be so fortunate in 2013. Fans have watched closely as Heaps has created his ideal team by changing the team philosophy, signing players and trading away fan favorites. While some fans have questioned the moves of the commentator-turned-coach, many fans have waited patiently under the mantra of “In Heaps we Trust.” Trust will not be enough in 2013 as fans will demand that their team be a part of the playoffs.
In order to do this, Heaps will need to sure up the backline. While New England can advertise that 15 of their 17 losses were only decided by one goal, it is also important to note that only five teams in Major League Soccer allowed more goals than the Revolution’s 29. To help remedy this issue, Heaps will need to bring in a veteran presence to add to a backline whose average age was 24. Cisse could be an important part of bringing defensive stability to the Revs. Cisse’s tenaciously and passing ability means that he will be a huge advantage on both sides of the ball.
Up top, Heaps will need big years from both Jerry Bengtson and Saer Sene. Sene did his part in 2012 by leading the team with 11 goals before it was announced on September 1 that the star forward would miss the remainder of the season with a torn ACL. Bengston, however, never found his scoring touch with the Revolution as he ended the year with 2 goals. A full preseason should help Bengston become in tune with his teammates which will hopefully lead to the Honduran player finding the scoring touch he has with the national team.
(image courtesy of streakingthelawn.com)
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