The summer is heating up and here come the Revs. If you are so inclined, there are potential future Revs playing in the USSF Developmental Academy playoffs in Texas. The Revs were one of seven MLS clubs to qualify both U-18 and U-16 teams to this tournament. Also, Euro 2012 is nearing it’s completion, the US Open Cup’s next set of games are the semi-final round, and MLS conference jockeying only gets more serious from here on out. New England’s Sainey Nyassi has been activated, so he will be available this weekend after spending the start of the season on the disabled list. That wasn’t the only roster move this week as the Revs also waived center back John Lozano and declined team options for the rest of the season to keep Bjorn Runstrom and Jeremiah White. Good luck to all of those gentlemen. These moves all seem aimed at bringing in new additions. Whether through the Allocation process; could Carlos Bocanegra wear red, white, and blue for both club and country; signing a new player within the salary cap, or even splashing out on the club’s third ever Designated Player, it looks like the New England Revolution will have some new players in the mix. Oh yeah, and we play Seattle Saturday night in Gillette Stadium.
The offseason upheaval of parting ways with the longest serving and most successful coach in Revs history, hiring a former player and changing titles & responsibilities for a few Front Office personnel introduced a new saying to the Revs and their fans. The phrase might even be a new ethos for the club: We “don’t want this organization outworked or outsmarted by anyone.” The recent and perhaps ongoing roster moves suggest that our club is trying to work smartly. In the meantime, the Revs have to continue their attacking soccer. This weekend’s game provides an interesting opportunity. A potentially tired and definitely less than full-strength squad is winless in their last 7 MLS games.
Though the Revolution are winless in our last two MLS games, we are also unbeaten in three. We beat Chicago to open June and then drew with Columbus and Toronto. Seattle last won on May 9th against FC Dallas, and since then have only drawn or lost in MLS whether at home or on the road. To be fair and accurate, the Sounders are going to be in the semi-finals of the US Open Cup after a string of victories in that competition and look to add another of these tournament championships to their trophy case this year. That has involved winning games as recently as Tuesday in San Fansisco over league topping San Jose. Those wins should temper any thoughts that this is a team in some sort of Toronto-FC-like spiral. After earning a red card in Seattle’s first ever MLS loss to Portland, Freddy Montero will not play aginst New England. Also out injured are a bunch of goalies, and David Estrada among others. Estrada was the MLS newcomer who scored a handful of important goals early this season. After games Sunday and Tuesday the Sounders are traveling across the continent to take on New England. How are we likely to match up with this version of the Seattle Sounders?
I spoke with Hank on The Midnight Ride Podcast this week about who we might see line up for Seattle. Montero’s red card might mean that Levesque’s mustache replaces Montero at striker next to Eddie Johnson. Or perhaps, Zakuani makes his first team return, he has recently played reserve team matches, for the first time since his leg was broken last year. That speed might prove a challenge for the Revs defense. With Kevin Alston out due to a hamstring injury, Flo Lechner is likely to start at right back. Flo Lech looked great against Toronto, whipping in crosses, but he’ll need all the speed and positioning he can muster if the Sounders put out a lineup based on speed. Mauro Rosales and Osvaldo Alsonso in the center of the pitch concern me more than their strikers against AJ Soares and Stephen McCarthy. I don’t think that AJ will make similar mistakes two weeks in a row. Shalrie Joseph and Clyde Simms are both healthy for the first time in weeks. Their style of play could shut down the creativity of Seattle’s Rosales, but I’m not sure we want two defensive midfielders in the center of the park.
I mentioned it in my conversation with Hank and I emphasized this point again on The Rebel Alliance Podcast: Benny Fielhaber’s play in recent weeks as a center attacking midfielder has been a revelation. Benny has not shown us any of the frustration that seems to shake him off his game, instead his determination might have been the key to salvaging that draw against Toronto last week. I want Benny to start again in the middle of the formation. I really don’t know what Jay Heaps will do with Shalrie and Clyde, but I think Benny’s contributions could be more important than who lines up alongside Saer Sene at striker for New England. I think that we will continue with a 4-4-2 formation and that Brettschneider will be the second forward, but that would mean that either Joseph or Simms does not start. On #TRAP I suggested to Josh that one possible solution, and Hank brought this up, too, could be to switch to a 4-5-1. It will be interesting to see what the coaches decide. I do feel that the shut-outs against Chicago and Columbus and the determination of the comeback in Toronto could come together for a great performance from our Revs.
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Now that the summer heat is here, all of us will be grilling more often. Whether you are hanging out in the backyard or tailgating ahead of an MLS match, go and check out www.asphaltkitchen.com for grilling ideas. Go to a soccer match and be loud! C’mon you Revs!
(image courtesy of revolutionsoccer.net)
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