August 24th, 2009
The Revs met Real Salt Lake last evening at Gillette after just returning from an important win in Seattle on Thursday. The Thursday game was carried on ESPN and was played in front of easily the best home field crowd in MSL. The win on Thursday began a return to play for the Revs after an eleven day break. After the break and before Thursday’s game, the Revs where out of the playoffs as far as the table was concerned, but had three games-in-hand on most of those atop of the leader board. So, Thursdays game was the first game to see if any of these games-in-hand would amount to anything. Wins counts, draws get you a point and a loss leaves you right where you are in the table. A game-in-hand doesn’t count for anything. The Revs would have to admit at least to themselves that a draw out of Seattle, the league’s feel good team, in front of an ESPN audience, 3000 miles from home, would have been acceptable. But, screw the feel good story, the Revs had none of it and fought for a 1-0 result. Very nice win to get in those circumstances. Had to feel good. Now, they did one good thing. It didn’t mean they are the team to beat. Thursdays win might have giving you a peek at the playoff cookie jar, but what happens next? Like in most sports, the character of the team will be tested and judged by what happens after a big win or loss for that matter. Did we deserve it? Was it just our night? Do we belong in a championship chase? Anyone can have the stars align on occasion. That doesn’t mean the team is necessarily playing good soccer. That brings us to Sunday’s game. A sound 3-1 spanking of RSL. Perfect. Doubling down on 11 and drawing a face card. Sweetening the deal is that Ralston got some rest along with the Gambian dragsters, though Mansally came in late. Not that after 11 days more rest is needed. But, take it anyways. In further good news, Castro is back on the scene. He laid in some of the nicest curves I’ve seen around the Revs in a while. He’s been hurt most of the year and Mansally seems to have a pretty good grip on the left side but hold on a second. I like the service that Castro brings to the game. If he’s going to be healthy it will be hard to keep him out of the line up. So, who goes? Different discussion. For today its all good. Extra healthy bodies is something all teams would want. Sharie Joseph looks himself after the break to add to the coom-ba-ya’s. Now the Revs go through a stretch were they will make up the games-in-hand. The competition is a little soft over the next bit as well- Kansas then San Jose. This is the new challenge. They have passed the difficult road game win, the post big win composure game win and now they have to stay focused and win against the bottom half of the league. If they are capable of beating the beatable, they will be very much in the playoff picture.
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July 13th, 2009
The US wrapped up first round play in the Gold Cup this past weekend splitting with Haiti (2-2). Not a blowout, non even a win, but more than the US needed to advance to the second round. The first half was a bit of a push with the scrappy Haitians carrying long sections. The US still looked the more dangerous at points, but the Haitian kept them at bay. In the second half the US had the better of the play but lacked the commitment to the game to push it over the edge in their own favor. In fact, it took extra time to get to the draw. Not terribly unexpected given the almost certainty of advancement, regardless of the result. So, in a game of this non-pressure, I like to take time and see who shows up anyways. The one player who has stood out to me during this game and the whole Gold Cup tournament is Stuart Holden. I wish we could get this kid in New England. He plays quick at all time. He was the one constant I noticed in the games that I have seen. This past weekend he figured in both of the US goals, one of which was a beautiful bomb off his own foot with time running down. There has been some noise for him to get some action with the world cup “A” squad and I would like to add my voice to that noise. He seems to be able to avoid the mental mind trap that Clint Dempsey, Freddie Adu and Marcus Beasley fall into when competing on the national team- I need to impress everyone. While Dempsey and cohorts are trying to show off their dribbling skills, Stuart is barreling down the line adding pressure and being threatening. Less flash and more function. I am becoming a big fan of this kid and hope to see him with the team next year in South Africa.
DR
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June 9th, 2009
This past weekend the New England Revolution put a 4-0 beat down on the lowly New York Red Bulls. A team that should start a goal down just for having a stupid name. Red Bulls? It’s a stupid caffeine drink. It’s bad for your health to boot. The stupid name handicap was not needed though. The Revs, or any other team this year, had no trouble with the eastern conference bottom dwellers. The win was not the significant issue, it was the play of Taylor Twellman in his second appearance since an injury sidelined him most of the year. The appearance of Twellman should be a welcome sight, but it highlights a nagging reality to anyone who watched the games. Without Twellman the team is average. And, anyone who follows the Revs knows that Taylor is hurt just as often as he’s on the pitch. This leaves the team in a precarious spot. Stevie Nicol’s answer’s to the absence of Twellman is to move Sharie up to the frontline and put Phalen in the mid-field. This setup has produced results, but come playoff time I don’t see this line-up feeding the bear. This weekends game was a microcosm of the hopes and fear of all Revs fans. In the first half, without Twellman, the Revs played the Red Bulls pretty much straight up. They got the advantage at the half 1-0 but it was by no means out of reach at that point for the Bulls. In the second half, Twellman subs, Sharie goes back to the mid-field and Phalen grabs some pine. This line-up dominated New York from the first roll of the ball in the second half to the final whistle. Awesome? Sure, its the Revs we love. The two Gambian terrors having track meets along the sidelines, stretching the D; Twellman and Ralston threatening the middle and Sharie policing and delivering balls to the forwards, so what’s the problem? Taylor is often hurt. Hurt more then healthy. That is the problem. And once Twellman’s out, Sharie has to move up and we lose not one weapon but two. Sharie is a capable forward, but not a natural. So, the trade becomes one great striker and one great mid-fielder for one decent striker and a decent mid-fielder with Phalen being the addition. My hope would be that another decent striker could be found. I know that’s a little ridiculous to say. Everyone wants a decent striker. My point is that, Sharie should be in the mid-field with or without Twellman. I would rather have him there and then try and work someone into what would be Twellman’s spot. I’m not questioning the coaches. I’m sure Stevie Nicols is getting the most out of what he’s got. I just want someone on the bench to take up the slack. The way it is, the coaches are saying that our mid-fielders can play forward better then our forwards can. Someone has to be able to take Twellman’s spot and leave Sharie to play back. Bench players, I’m looking at one of you.
DR
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February 10th, 2009
Ah, at last. The much awaited first posting of New England Sports Reporter. This addition is of me yaking about the sports shows that I don’t like. Comes with a comedy bit too! This is a blog-bargain if there ever was one. Saver the insight.
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