The season is long for Major League Soccer but it’s important for teams to collect points early if they want to make the playoffs. With only five total points, the New England Revolution (1-3-2) realizes that there is a great deal of pressure to start winning. The Revs hope to get momentum back on their side when they face the Philadelphia Union (3-2-2) on Saturday, April 27th in a game that Chris Tierney called a “must win.”
Defender Jose Goncalves echoed those sentiments when he said, “I think we must put the pressure on our side. We know that we have enough game to try to get better, to get points. Now we must step a step higher and ask ourselves for the three points.”
In order to defeat the Union, the Revs will need to replicate the good moments from past games while learning from the mistakes. Last week’s 4-1 loss against the New York Red Bulls brought many positives and negatives to the forefront.
Andy Dorman looked back at the game by saying, “Last week was a disappointed result in New York. I think there are positives to be taken from the game but obviously in the end we made a couple mistakes and got hit on the break.”
The Revolution’s offense looked impressive last weekend by keeping the ball moving and challenging the net on several occasions. While the finishing still leaves a lot to be desired, it should be noted that the Revs held the majority of possession, which was only their second time doing so this year, while also putting three dangerous shots on net, which is tied for second most in a single game for 2013. Still, there is room for improvement as a Revolution player hasn’t scored since the first game of the season.
Heaps recognizes this and noted, “We still have to be better in the attack. I thought the second half (against the Red Bulls) was a little bit more of what we want to do where we keep the team under pressure, we keep possession and try to create more chances for each other.”
On the defensive side, the team struggled against the Red Bulls by allowing an unprecedented four goals. The Revs will hope to return to their stingy ways but this may be difficult considering that AJ Soares won’t be available for selection since he is trying to recover from a hamstring injury.
Heaps explained, “That was one area where we were able to get some cohesion and now that’s a little bit disrupted. (There is an) opportunity for a player to step up. We have a few choices: Stephen McCarthy, Darrius Barnes and we can even try (Andrew) Farrell and play with a difficult guy out wide.”
Regardless of who steps on the field on Saturday, it’s clear that a team effort will be needed if the Revs want to earn three points against a good opponent. The pressure is on for team to build chemistry, communicate effective and put together a solid performance.
Goncalves commented, “Of course, we must be very focused for this home game because we have had two home games and just one point. I think it’s not enough if we want to play higher in the league and it starts at home.”
Three Things to look for Against the Union
1. Shakeups should happen soon. Heaps has shown that he isn’t afraid to make controversial lineup decisions if he thinks that it will be best for the team. Big names like Benny Feilhaber and Shalrie Joseph all went through periods where poor form put them on the bench. While benching someone isn’t always the answer, a player shouldn’t simply get the start because of his name. Juan Toja and Lee Nguyen are two players that need start putting together better performances if they want to be important cogs for the team. Toja was given a lot of freedom in the beginning of the season as a second forward but failed to produce numbers which earned him a spot on the sideline last weekend. Nguyen could receive similar treatment soon since last year’s MVP has looked timid while contributing no goals and no assists. With a wealth of midfield options, including Ryan Guy, Diego Fagundez, and, yes, Sainey Nyassi, the big names will have to contribute if they want to remain starters.
2. Heaps should give the Dorman-Cisse partnership another chance. Losing by multiple goals for the third time since Heaps became head coach could create panic in the locker room. While changes could be coming, Dorman and Cisse should be given another chance to patrol the middle of the park. Both players were impressive against the Red Bulls with Dorman completing 86% of his passes and Cisse completing 95%. That having been said, their performances were far from perfect. Dorman disappeared for large periods as evident by only having 32 attempted passes. Meanwhile, Cisse made many hard tackles that could have earned him a red card. With more time and discipline, however, the Dorman-Cisse partnership could blossom and help the team maintain possession and create opportunities.
3. Beware of Jack McInerney. In six games against the Revs, McInerney has scored four goals, including a game-winning effort on March 16, 2013. The 20 year-old currently leads the league with six goals and has an uncanny ability to find space and finish his chances. McInerney will be aided by experienced players like Conor Casey and Sebastien Le Toux who will all look to take advantage of a new defensive setup. With so many potent scorers on the field, Goncalves will be needed to keep the defense organized and focused.
(image courtesy of revolutionsoccer.net)
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