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The New England Revolution have found stability as they return 20 players from last year’s squad that finished third in the Eastern Conference. Among the returnees are MLS Defender of the Year Jose Goncalves, club MVP Diego Fagundez and Rookie of the Year nominee Andrew Farrell. The team supplemented their young core by trading for Brad Knighton, Teal Bunbury and Daigo Kobayashi and drafting Steve Neumann, Patrick Mullins and Alec Sundly.
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While the roster looks primed to replicate their 2013 run, there’s no doubt that Revolution fans are a fickle bunch. If you don’t believe me, take a look at the Revs’ hashtag (#NERevs) during a game. Over the course of 90 minutes, emotions will quickly shift from pure elation to utter disdain. With this in mind, I present the top reasons why the Revs could do well, or struggle, in 2014.
The Revs will win the Supporter’s Shield, US Open Cup and MLS Cup
1. The Revs return the key components from last year’s record-breaking backline. In 2013, the Revolution allowed 1.12 goals per game, good for third-best in the league, and recorded 14 shutouts, the most in team history. The returning corps of Chris Tierney, AJ Soares, Goncalves and Farrell will hope to match, or better, those numbers in 2014. They will be aided by a developing Donnie Smith, a healthy Kevin Alston and an adjusted O’Brian Woodbine. It’s often said that defense wins championships, which is good for the Revs because they have some of the best personnel in MLS.
2. Bunbury is gelling with his new team. The departure of Juan Agudelo left a large void for the Revs as the current FC Utrecht player helped make the offense dangerous and unpredictable. The success of Agudelo encouraged the Revolution to stay local in their search for a replacement and on Feb. 19 Bunbury was acquired from Sporting KC in exchange for allocation money and a first round pick in the 2015 SuperDraft. Bunbury has acclimated well since the trade, scoring two goals in 136 preseason minutes. The transition has been aided by many familiar faces, including Kelyn Rowe, a U-23 teammate, and Scott Caldwell, an Akron teammate. Hopes are high for Bunbury to have a healthy and productive 2014, especially since it’s a contract year.
3. Another year of experience for a team that tasted the playoffs. 2013 was a huge step forward for the Revs since it marked their first postseason appearance since 2009. Although the Revs were knocked out in the Eastern Conference Semifinals by Sporting KC, their two-game participation in the playoffs was a valuable experience. With an average age of 24.8, the Revs are one of the youngest teams in MLS and another year of experience will help certain players unlock their full potential. Fagundez, Rowe and Farrell all had standout years last season, and they still have more to offer. The taste of the playoffs will help motivate this young squad that’s eager for success.
The Revs will be worse than DC United was last year
1. The injury bug has already hit New England. After a number of injury-plagued seasons, the Revs went relatively unscathed in 2013. This preseason has brought some troubles, however, as many key players have been on sidelines at one point or another. According to the most recent report, Farrell (leg), Goncalves (quadriceps), Lee Nguyen (groin), Saer Sene (ankle) and Tierney (hamstring) are suffering ailments. The Revs will hope that the preseason injury concerns don’t carry into the regular season.
2. Matt Reis retired. Although he wasn’t between the goalposts during much of 2013, Reis was an important part of Revolution’s push for the playoffs. The legend looked to have turned back the clock by making seemingly impossible saves to keep his team in the game. Reis decided to call it a career this offseason after sustaining an injury during the second-leg of the Sporting KC game. Bobby Shuttleworth and Brad Knighton, who both played back-up to Reis during their careers, will now compete for the starting position. Both keepers have the ability to be starters in MLS, but neither has occupied the role on a full-time basis. The lack of a true number one goalie could inspire greatness, or it could cause issues.
3. The team has greater expectations and visibility. Not a lot of pundits put New England in the playoffs last year, but things are different this year. Heaps’ men are currently ranked seventh in MLSSoccer.com’s power rankings, while also garnering a lot of attention from ESPN, Soccer by Ives and other outlets. It will be interesting to see how the Revs will do under more media scrutiny. Furthermore, opponents will now have had a full year to scout and understand the players and tactics of the Revolution. The Revs have shed the title of underdog and must now embrace the title of contender. Will they be able to handle such a role?
Outlook
If you’re unsure about what to make of this Revolution squad, err on the side of optimism. Heaps has built a deep team where the players are constantly competing to make the starting 11. Although a roster without Reis and Agudelo might elicit feelings of panic, adequate replacements have arrived in the form of Knighton and Bunbury. Expectations are high for this team, and rightfully so.
(image courtesy of USA Today Sports)
