Poor New England! So Far From Boston, So Close to the Kraft Family: The Revolution 2019

Senator Donut

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The Revs also announced along with next season's academy roster that they are launching a residency program. I don't see any players on the list from outside New England, but presumably some of the CT, Western MA and NH kids are availing themselves of the opportunity. If the Revs want to get serious about their academy, they are really going to have to expand their reach beyond New England because youth talent is quite limited here. There are still broad swathes of the country that aren't part of an MLS club's "territory" — and the rumors that "homegrown territories" will be limited/eliminated have continued to proliferate.

https://www.revolutionsoccer.net/post/2019/08/30/revolution-announce-academy-roster-residency-program-ahead-2019-20-season
This is long overdue. With the academy in Foxboro, it’s too difficult to even get kids from the Boston area. Imagine Miles Robinson living and attending school in Arlington and then fighting traffic every afternoon to get to Foxboro. Is it a surprise he stayed local to play for the Bolts in USL2? And despite NCAA soccer’s deserved poor reputation, at least they give their students room and board.

As you mentioned, the youth talent is limited here, so it’s disaster when a talent like Robinson shuns your academy.
 
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Titans Bastard

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Huge early goal for the Revs against Orlando on the road. They have a tough schedule over the last five games (@ORL, vs RSL, @POR, vs NYC, @ATL) so they really need this one.

Montreal is losing early at home to Cincinnati, which would be a very helpful result if it holds.
 

Titans Bastard

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3-1 at halftime after a great chip by Penilla and a nice finish by Bou for the third.
 

Titans Bastard

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...and they blow it, 3-3 final.

The Revs have a three point cushion with a game in hand over Montreal and Chicago, but the last four games will be very tough.
 

tmracht

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This is going to be the epitome of squeaky bum time.

Remaining Games:

Home vs RSL
At Portland
Home vs NYCFC
At Atlanta

Getting to 46 points locks with a realistic chance 45 points does. So 5 points from those 4 matches isn't impossible but that game at Atlanta could be massive hopefully NYCFC has 1st seed virtually locked up by then but thats far from easy.
 

MetSox1

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This is going to be the epitome of squeaky bum time.

Remaining Games:

Home vs RSL
At Portland
Home vs NYCFC
At Atlanta

Getting to 46 points locks with a realistic chance 45 points does. So 5 points from those 4 matches isn't impossible but that game at Atlanta could be massive hopefully NYCFC has 1st seed virtually locked up by then but thats far from easy.
As a Union fan, this sort of analysis drives me up the wall.

There's a soccer team in Philadelphia. And if the final game of the season, featuring the first and second place teams in the East, doesn't have meaning towards who gets the bye, it certainly will have meaning as to who gets the 2 seed vs the 3 seed between Philly and Atlanta. That seed matters, so no matter what, I'd expect Atl to be playing for something in the finale.

But maybe beat NYC for us, will ya?
 

tmracht

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As a Union fan, this sort of analysis drives me up the wall.

There's a soccer team in Philadelphia. And if the final game of the season, featuring the first and second place teams in the East, doesn't have meaning towards who gets the bye, it certainly will have meaning as to who gets the 2 seed vs the 3 seed between Philly and Atlanta. That seed matters, so no matter what, I'd expect Atl to be playing for something in the finale.

But maybe beat NYC for us, will ya?
Ahhh my wording was horrible, I meant NYCFC had 1st locked up by game 33, not Atlanta needing NYCFC to clinch for game 34. My apologies thats why I said didn't think it would be easy since it would take Philly and Atlanta dropping points quickly.
 

Monbo Jumbo

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the other Athens
Revs fans et al.

My gf gave me 2 tix to Revs @ Atl on Oct 6 for my b-day. Now she has to be out of town caring for her sister, post-surgery. The offer is open for one person to join me for this game - Seats are about 8 rows off the field, level with the top of the box. Shoot me a PM if you want to go. The Benz soccer experience is wild, just like Europe (in the stands, not on the field, natch)
 

steeplechase3k

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It's a mid week which makes away travel even more difficult, but is anyone here coming to Portland on Wednesday? I'd like to meet up for a beer if so!
 

scottyno

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What a finish! Revs steal a point with 2 goals in the final 10 minutes including a penalty on a terrible decision by portland in the final seconds in stoppage time (right call, stupid jersey tug), magic number now 3 with 2 to play for everyone
 

scottyno

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Bunbury with a great goal and Bou chips the keeper for insurance and it's on to the playoffs. Thank God Bruce got the Krafts to open up the pocketbook for once, what a spectacular mid-season signing.
 

Titans Bastard

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Bunbury with a great goal and Bou chips the keeper for insurance and it's on to the playoffs. Thank God Bruce got the Krafts to open up the pocketbook for once, what a spectacular mid-season signing.
I realize you're talking about Bou, but you could say the same thing about Arena himself as a midseason signing. This team isn't the best collection of talent in the league, but it ain't the worst, and wasn't even before Bou. Coming back from the hole the team found itself in by May is a big accomplishment.

Playoffs are a welcome sight after some bleak years. I don't expect the team to go far, but you never know. Still, fingers crossed for this winter. The first offseason transfer window managed by someone other than Mike Burns in how many years?
 
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The Gray Eagle

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No one around here would ever acknowledge it, but Arena is basically the Bill Belichick of American soccer.
 

InstaFace

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No one around here would ever acknowledge it, but Arena is basically the Bill Belichick of American soccer.
I mean, I know what you're getting at, but his failure in the Hex really tarnishes that for me. Yes, he led the greatest USMNT edition we've ever had, and he might be the best college coach of all time (I mean, 4 straight national titles? jesus christ), but he didn't just-barely-fail to clear the bar, his squad meaningfully underperformed despite having, at worst, the second-best collection of talent. He had 8 games, only 2 of which were against CRC/MEX, and went 3W-3D-2L. The away draws at Panama and Honduras were just as bad as the home loss to Costa Rica; change any of those and that final shitshow at T&T doesn't matter.

Belichick's 1995 wasn't his fault and everyone knew it; Arena's fate in 2017 was entirely under his own power.

Arena is a great coach and has a great legacy, but it's no insult to say that he's no Bill Belichick.
 

The Gray Eagle

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They were already 0-2 when he took over, he was not there to prepare them or build the team before qualification, but he still got them back into contention. They failed at the end in the last game of course, but that sort of thing happens to every coach, especially in a single game situation, like the unstoppable 2007 Patriots losing to Eli Manning's (edit:) 10-6 team.

Arena's first run with the US men's team was great and he took us to a level that has never been matched. If he had got us in the World Cup last time, it would have been another amazing accomplishment, but he fell just short.

You also left out his 5 MLS Cup titles.
 

Titans Bastard

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How do you all rate New England's chances of winning this game (or advancing on penalties)?
 

Senator Donut

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How do you all rate New England's chances of winning this game (or advancing on penalties)?
Atlanta is definitely the favorite, but I give the Revs a good shot, more so with Robinson out. One of the most stunning aspects of the Arena turnaround is their consistent ability to earn draws on the road. They’ve only lost three matches total under Arena; one was at home against the best team in league in history, another was played 80 minutes with 10 men, and unfortunately the other was against Atlanta on just as game ago decision day. I like their chances to play 120 minutes and force a draw and I would really like their chances with Matt Turner in penalties of it came to that.
 

Titans Bastard

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The Gray Eagle

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MLS clubs all seem to choose names that pointlessly copy European teams. If they re-brand to a new team name, they will probably choose one of these:

Foxboro Wednesday
Boston & Hove Albion
Real Masshole
Massachusetts Mönchengladbach
Foxboro Saint-Germain
New England City
Atletico Foxboro
Bayern Boston
Norfolk County Rovers
Massachusetts Wanderers
Foxborough Athletic
Boston Town FC
Inter Boston
Route 1 United
Massachusetts Hotspur
Big Dig Rangers
Mass-ton Villa
 

thehitcat

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I'm lol'ing here at work (and getting the weird looks) over Foxboro Wednesday and Massachusetts Hotspur especially though they're all great.

Too add one of my wife's own Queen’s Paaahk Rangiz
 
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Senator Donut

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Hopefully, the rebranding will be something simple like "Revolution SC" but in a league of Sportings, Dynamos, and Reals, I've fully prepared for the worst.

Boston Town FC
David Tepper actually trademarked "Charlotte Town FC" as a possible name for club #30. Charlotte is obviously a city and a "Charlottetown" exists elsewhere in North America.
 

SocrManiac

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They’re still all somehow better than WooSox.

They should move to Boston and try to bridge the Italian and Irish heritages (since those two groups love each other). Inter Shamrock or AC Rovers.
 

Titans Bastard

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They should move to Boston and try to bridge the Italian and Irish heritages (since those two groups love each other). Inter Shamrock or AC Rovers.
Obviously, they should find a compromise between these two names and call the team "Shamrock Rovers".
 

luckiestman

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MLS clubs all seem to choose names that pointlessly copy European teams. If they re-brand to a new team name, they will probably choose one of these:

Foxboro Wednesday
Boston & Hove Albion
Real Masshole
Massachusetts Mönchengladbach
Foxboro Saint-Germain
New England City
Atletico Foxboro
Bayern Boston
Norfolk County Rovers
Massachusetts Wanderers
Foxborough Athletic
Boston Town FC
Inter Boston
Route 1 United
Massachusetts Hotspur
Big Dig Rangers
Mass-ton Villa
Really nice work. Maybe Seattle can rebrand to Huge Ventis
 

tmracht

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Well Bruce was at the UVA game this weekend and leaked that the Revs were close to a defender and a DP Forward. With Anibaba selected in the rule 5 expansion draft and Castillo jettisoned into all the open space he left, there is definitely an opening for another defender. Some other transactions, after getting Buttner in the fold they also re-upped Mancienne, Jones and Bye. They also got back the king of the kayak celly Kelyn Rowe.

DP Forward
Bou - Gil

Could be a nice triumvirate in attack.
 

Kliq

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I actually like the name New England Revolution aka The Revs. The shoehorning of Real, United, Inter, Sporting, etc. into other names is annoying and trying to hard to conform to what people believe are European standards. I think they definitely keep New England in the name no matter what they do, it is important part of the brand.

Foxboro Wednesday would be spectacular though.
 

saintnick912

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Well Bruce was at the UVA game this weekend and leaked that the Revs were close to a defender and a DP Forward. With Anibaba selected in the rule 5 expansion draft and Castillo jettisoned into all the open space he left, there is definitely an opening for another defender. Some other transactions, after getting Buttner in the fold they also re-upped Mancienne, Jones and Bye. They also got back the king of the kayak celly Kelyn Rowe.

DP Forward
Bou - Gil

Could be a nice triumvirate in attack.
Seeing that the DP Forward is likely to be Polish Striker Adam Buksa. Paywalled article and not a sure thing yet but what I'm seeing is "in the US for a physical" so it's pretty likely.

https://theathletic.com/1464674/2019/12/16/sources-new-england-revolution-to-sign-polish-striker-adam-buksa-as-designated-player/
 

Senator Donut

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Seeing that the DP Forward is likely to be Polish Striker Adam Buksa. Paywalled article and not a sure thing yet but what I'm seeing is "in the US for a physical" so it's pretty likely.

https://theathletic.com/1464674/2019/12/16/sources-new-england-revolution-to-sign-polish-striker-adam-buksa-as-designated-player/
His former club has already announced his departure, so it's essentially a sure thing. He's already been selected twice for the Polish senior team at age 23, but hasn't been capped yet. He's reportedly the club's second largest signing behind Bou in the low-to-mid seven figures.
 

Senator Donut

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Wow, Seth Sinovic is back in New England. He just signed as a free agent after being bizarrely waived by Mike Burns after a promising 2010 rookie season. At one point I thought Sinovic was one of the best left backs in MLS, but he's a bench player at this point.
 

steeplechase3k

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New England will be in Portland for a Preseason tournament (along with Minnesota and Vancouver) from February 16-22.

https://www.timbers.com/post/2019/12/20/timbers-host-preseason-tournament-february-16-22-presented-old-trapper-beef-jerky
Sunday, Feb. 16
New England Revolution vs. Minnesota United FC; 2:30 p.m. (Pacific)
Portland Timbers vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC; 5 p.m. (Pacific)

Wednesday, Feb. 19
New England Revolution vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC; 5 p.m. (Pacific)
Portland Timbers vs. Minnesota United FC; 7:30 p.m. (Pacific)

Saturday, Feb. 22
Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Minnesota United FC; 2:30 p.m. (Pacific)
Portland Timbers vs. New England Revolution; 5 p.m. (Pacific)


February isn't exactly the most wonderful time of year weatherwise in Portland, but if anyone plans to travel here let me know. I'll help direct you on things to do and buy you a beer on the 22nd (I won't make the earlier matches).
 

Titans Bastard

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So, a few now-stale updates:

The Adam Buksa transfer went through. It sounds like the plan is to use him up top, which will allow Bou to take up some variant of a second striker role, with Gil deeper in midfield.

The Revs also signed Samba Camara, a 27 year old French CB. He's been a regular starter for Le Havre in Ligue 2, which places him squarely in the "we'll see" bucket. The roster is clearly heading in the right direction, but the CBs still feel a bit like a collection of so-so players without a true standout leader.
 

Titans Bastard

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The draft! It's not very exciting, but there are always a few useful players in there. The Revs had a relatively high pick (#6) and used on 6'4" center back Henry Kessler. He's a junior from UVA (Arena-town!) and might be good or terrible.

Does Farrell play RB or CB next year? We have Camara, Delamea, Mancienne, and Kessler at CB and only Bye at RB right now. Hopefully Camara is good because a Delamea-Mancienne partnership would be underwhelming if Farrell goes to RB.
 

Senator Donut

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I assume that DeJuan Jones will be an option primarily at right back this year. He played left back out of necessity last season, but Arena has acquired two natural left sided players this winter. Jones played on the right wing in college.
 

tmracht

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I was listening to the Rev Recap podcast this morning and the Guest on it said this was the best off-season for the Revs since the 2002 MLS1.0 era allocation draft off-season when they got Llamosa and Ralston and Diallo. I was struggling to find a better off-season at least from the "On Paper" side. They got a proposed starting LB, ST, arguably the best CB prospect in the "Super Draft" will he see minutes who knows but at least they have depth if Mancienne and Delamea can't stay out of the tub.

You could do worse with a lineup such that features an attack of Buksa, Bou and Gil. I'm not MLS cup or bust with this team, but they have 29! players on the roster heading into preaseason (they had 23 in 2016 whyyyy). But at least they have ways to get the bottom of the roster minutes at the USL level. This is definitely a chance for the Revs to make a case they belong in MLS 3.0.