The Revs and I continue our road trips this week. I am traveling around visiting family which is one reason why I haven’t been posting recaps. Another reason is that most of my hope for this New England Revolution season has evaporated. Attempting to describe how we were dismantled each week hasn’t inspired short term enthusiasm. Last week’s collapse against Seattle was simply the most recent example of our club’s inability to compete for wins. History suggests that this week’s visit to Salt Lake City won’t be dreamy.
Last season, Rio Tinto Stadium was the setting of a Revolution nightmare 5-0 loss This season the Revolution cannot seem to gel as a team, play a complete 90 minutes… Let’s see, how many other clichéd ways are there to say that we have been crap? So, my short term enthusiasm wallows in a scummy puddle with Toronto and Vancouver at the bottom of the league – at least we won’t be relegated! There must be light peeking over the distant horizon, right? We have talent in the center of the field in Shalrie and Benny. The youth and potential of Mansally, Nyassi, and AJ Soares suggest they are ready to contribute now and in the future. With all of that in mind AND the ever-promised Designated Player, and even-more-seemingly-mythical stadium plans, Revs triumphs have to be just around the next corner, right?
The new England Revolution will play in Utah on the day we celebrate our nation’s independence, July 4th. This might be for the best as the team attempts to salvage both points on the filed and goodwill in the supporters’ section before playing at home again. While New England has only put together two wins in this disappointing 2011 season for RSL the story has been different. This season, Real Salt Lake has had to recover from disappointment in the CONCACAF Champions League final and the loss of Javier Morales, their play maker. Despite those set backs Real will be heavily favored over New England. Currently sitting in fourth in the Western Conference, Real would be tied for first place in the East with 26 points. Salt Lake has reason to hope with games in hand on all of the teams ahead of them in the standings.
Real welcomed back their striker Saborio from Gold Cup duty with Costa Rica last week and he put in two goals against Toronto, though is listed as probable. Espindola is listed as questionable, but I doubt both he and Saborio will be out. Alvarez, Paolo Jr., and Wingert are all listed as doubtful. While the Revs have been stingy with goals allowed don’t forget that Real fielded a team without many starters at New England earlier I the season and left with a 2-0 win. Given the record that the Revs are dragging around these days this game might seem like an opportunity to rest the banged up. Any typical starters might start the game on the bench and come in if we given the trouble, like take a lead deep into the second half.
The Revs’ left back Domi, winger Tierney, and rookie defensive midfielder McCarthy will all likely miss the match, though Dabo could be available. I would guess that none will start. Benny Feilhaber returned last week in Seattle and combined with Nyassi for the first goal of the game. Nyassi and Mansally’s returns to the field have coincided with sparks of opportunities. For all the smoke of talented stretches of play from New England, though, this team has yet to catch fire and produce a win in quite some time. If that changed this week a win in Sandy, Utah would certainly offer hope for the remaining challenges ahead.
Image courtesy of New England Revolution
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