On April 20th, I joined the members of the Rebellion and the Midnight Riders to venture down to Red Bull Arena. The trip, my first as a Revolution fan, was filled with lively discussion, memorable chants and, of course, a copious amount of beer. The optimism felt as we marched towards the stadium was quickly dashed when Dax McCarthy scored a 4th minute goal. Although an own-goal would bring things level a few minutes later, the Revs would be thoroughly dominated en route to a 4-1 result. After the game, Jay Heaps promised things would get better.
I wanted to believe Heaps when he muttered those words but the skepticism that comes with being a Revs fan dominated my thoughts. Could this player-turned-broadcaster-turned-coach really make this team into a playoff contender?
With the season now over, I can happily say that Heaps has fulfilled his promise. The second year coach has brought an exciting brand of soccer to New England by acquiring skillful players, increasing the overall depth and providing the youth with a chance to develop.
After the 4-1 thumping, Heaps instituting his now trademark 4-1-4-1 formation and the immediate outcome was promising as the Revs got goals from Lee Nguyen and Diego Fagundez to defeat the Philadelphia Union 2-0. The formation created a more fluid attack by granting midfielders the room to roam.
Still, Heaps and company knew that the team was missing a purebred forward since Dimitry Imbongo was developing and Jerry Bengtson was diminishing. On May 7th, the Revolution acquired Juan Agudelo in a move that would greatly increase the aptitude of the team. The chemistry between Agudelo, Fagundez and Nguyen was captivating and made many grateful of the trade even if the US international would soon head to Europe.
The Revs went on to provide fans with truly spectacular moments, including the 2-0 victory over the Houston Dynamo at BBVA Stadium, the 5-0 rout over defending champions the LA Galaxy and the six-game unbeaten streak at the end of the season.
Individual players had exceptional years as well. Rowe’s hot streak helped put him on the USMNT radar, Fagundez matured into a more complete player and Agudelo’s backheel goal will rival Taylor Twellman’s bicycle kick as the most impressive scored in Revolution colors.
This isn’t to say that the 2013 season was totally pleasant for Revolution fans. The tie against Chivas USA, the struggles against DC United and the loss to Toronto FC were lowlights. Furthermore, most games featured a dreadful first half before action picked up in second. Regardless, Heaps refused to let losses accumulate and only loss by two or more goals on three occasions (two of which were marred by red cards).
So, thanks Jay Heaps for fulfilling your promise and making 2013 an memorable year. While you do deserve a moment of celebration, remember there’s still work to be done (I have no doubt in my mind that you know this). Find an Agudelo replacement, re-sign Jose Goncalves and prepare for a more consistent and successful 2014.
(image courtesy of Kari Heistad)
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