Not only will Sunday feature a pivotal match between the New England Revolution and the Philadelphia Union, it will also mark the third and final bobblehead night of 2013. Initiated in 2012, bobblehead night has been a favorite for Revolution fans, who have had the opportunity to take home pint-sized versions of Diego Fagundez, Matt Reis and Lee Nguyen. The satisfaction felt in the stands hasn’t always been equaled by those on the field since the Revs have historically struggled on bobblehead night.
The first bobblehead night, which took place on July 8th, was certainly a success. The Revs defeated the New York Red Bulls by a score line of 2-0 and some of the 14,373 fans got to bring home a Fagundez replica. The real Fagundez only had small role in the victory since he entered the game in the 89th minute for Kelyn Rowe.
The second bobblehead night was held on July 14th with the featured player once again starting on the bench. Shalrie Joseph, who had seen his playing time diminish in recent months, entered the game early when Stephen McCarthy was subbed off in the 6th minute with concussion-like symptoms. The Revs allowed the game-winning goal two minutes later when Luis Silva put Toronto FC ahead.
Reis had more success on his bobblehead night since he started and played 90 minutes on August 12th. The veteran netminder made two saves but was beaten by Sanna Nyassi in the 61st minute. The goal was all the Montreal Impact would need to collect full points.
Benny Feilhaber was immortalized on September 1st when he served as the final bobblehead of 2012. The midfielder started and played 90 minutes against the Philadelphia Union. Feilhaber went 30-for-39 with his passes but failed to record a shot on goal. The final score was 0-0.
The 2013 bobblehead campaign started the same way as 2012 had ended with the showcased player putting in a 90 minute shift and the Revs earning a draw. On May 11th, Nguyen helped the Revs to a 1-1 tie with the New York Red Bulls. The creative midfielder didn’t record a shot on goal but he did complete 79% of his passes.
Kevin Alston was celebrated at the June 8th game against DC United. This bobblehead night was unique because Alston had been placed on the inactive list two months earlier after being diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia. The former MLS All-Star raised money for charity by signing figurines while the Revs earned a scoreless draw.
The final bobblehead night of 2013 will take place on Sunday. While we don’t know what the final outcome will be, we do know that the highlighted player, Saer Sene, will be suspended for earning a red card against the Chicago Fire. With another player not starting on their bobblehead night, the question is, “is bobblehead night cursed?”
The Revs have accrued a record of 1-2-3 when passing out collectibles. Bobblehead nights haven’t traditional been high scoring affairs with both the home team and the visitors each scoring three goals in six outings. A showcased player has never earned a goal or an assist on his special night. Even more interesting, the bobblehead player is more likely to start on the bench than on the field.
So is there a curse? That depends on if you believe in such a thing. Regardless, the Revs will be looking for a solid performance as the push for a playoff position.
What to Look for Against the Philadelphia Union
1. The Revs have lineup decisions. Head coach Jay Heaps turned heads last week when he made six changes to the starting lineup, including the insertions of Reis, AJ Soares and Chad Barrett. Although the adjustments paid off, it has yet to be seen if they will stick. If Heaps wants to toy with his starting eleven, now is the time to do it. After all, consistency is needed to make a playoff run. Shuttleworth vs. Reis, McCarthy vs. Soares and Tierney vs. Alston are important battles to watch during the season’s final months. It will also be interesting to see if Agudelo returns to the flanks with Charlie Davies, Dimitry Imbongo or Chad Barrett occupying the role of lone striker.
2. Beware of the late goal. In their first game of 2013, the Union and Revs fought for 75 minutes before Jack McInerney scored the game-winner. Since then the Union have showed that they are capable of both scoring and allowing late goals. Philadelphia’s never-say-die attitude is driven by veteran Conor Casey, crafty midfielder Sebastien Le Toux and speedster Antoine Hoppenot. The Revs will need to stay sharp for 90 minutes if they want to keep the Union off the scoreboard. Similarly, the Revolution has their own attacking core that will look to capitalize on the Union’s late mental lapses. If expected starter Juan Agudelo can’t find the back of the net, Imbongo, Davies and Barrett could be great options off the bench.
3. The battle of young strikers. Agudelo, 20, and McInerney, 21, are in similar positions career-wise. Both players have become legitimate goal scorers in MLS but are unable to break through with the national team. Sunday’s game won’t ensure a ticket to Brazil for either player but it will be opportunity for viewers to compare the two youths. Agudelo made his triumphant return last week by scoring a wonder-goal to cap off an excellent performance. Meanwhile, McInerney hasn’t scored since June 1st but has become a Revs-killer with his four goals in seven appearances.
(Image courtesy of RevolutionSoccer.net)
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