On Saturday, April 27th, New England Revolution players let out a collective sigh of relief as they defeated the Philadelphia Union 2-0 in a match that ended their scoring drought at 480 minutes and their winless streak at five games. The team will hope that the victory becomes a momentum builder as they look to forget the past and start a winning streak of their own. To get a better understanding of the role of streaks in soccer, I talked to former Revolution player and current Real Salt Lake scout Andy Williams.
The Effect of Going Winless
Before retiring in 2011, Williams experienced plenty of ups and downs during his 14 years in Major League Soccer. The Jamaican international finished his career with a MLS Cup, Supporters’ Shield and US Open Cup but also saw his share of winless streaks and scoring droughts.
Williams experienced one of worst runs of his career when he joined the Revs in 2001. Going into the season, the squad looked competitive with talented players like forward Wolde Harris, playmaker Cate and goalkeeper Jeff Causey. All expectations vanished, however, when the Revolution lost the first six games of the season. A major factor in the run of poor form was having five-out-of-six games away from home.
Williams explained, “If you look at those games then it’s usually other team’s home opener and that’s when those teams are super pumped to play in front of their home crowd. It’s always difficult playing on the road in MLS and when you look at everybody’s track record it’s not that great being on the road.”
The most frustrating thing about a winless streak is looking back at what could have been. For the 2001 Revs, only one game was decided by more than one goal which means that the final outcome hinged on a single moment.
“I know that there were two (games) that we should have won or could have won,” Williams said. “We gave up simple stuff and we weren’t playing to the best of our ability at that time. If one or two lucky bounces would have gone our way then I think we would have broken that streak a little bit earlier.”
Having a poor streak is difficult for a team, especially when the squad is full of talent and potential. While there is no good time for a winless period, beginning the season in this fashion creates a negative atmosphere that is hard to overcome.
Looking back at 2001, Williams commented, “It’s pretty tough, especially in the locker room. You know that your job is on the line and it’s not a good streak. You know that possible coaching changes could be made or you could be traded. The longer that streak went on, a lot of guys and a lot of players got nervous.”
During tough stretches, whether it be 2001 or 2013, it’s important for players to stay positive and lean on the support of teammates, coaches and loved ones. Staying upbeat and having a positive attitude is necessary when a team is looking to break a streak and move forward.
Williams advised, “Hopefully you have a good coach or a great teammate that you can lean on or confide in or that can say the right stuff during that difficult time. Another thing that helped was having good family members to help you through those bad nights coming back from the stadium.”
The Effect of a Drought
While the 2013 Revolution’s early season struggles were comparable to 2001, it should be noted that the two teams faced different problems. The 2001 team had defensive worries while the 2013 team has had issues finding the back of the net. Williams empathized with the team’s scoring woes as he has seen the effects first-hand.
Williams explained, “It’s a lot tougher on the forwards because that’s their job so they take it more personal or to heart. They put the pressure on themselves to get that goal.”
As the pressure builds so does the anxiety and players start to depend on luck or mistakes as a way of finding a goal.
“If you’re on a bad streak then you don’t really care how it goes in,” Williams said. “Whether it’s a lucky bounce or it goes off the back of your head, as long as it goes in then you feel the pressure come off. You’ll do anything to get that first goal.”
While forwards might take the drought the hardest, it’s important to remember that soccer is a team sport. Williams believes that players must stay united and share responsibility during hard times. Organization and focus will eventually be rewarded with goals and success.
Williams quipped, “If you have a good team then hopefully you have a midfield that can chip in and score a couple of goals. It’s difficult if your team isn’t scoring but if you’re playing good defense then I think you’ll get that one or two opportunities to score.”
And that’s really all it takes sometimes: a single opportunity.
Turning Things Around
Once a streak it broken, a sense of elation comes over the team as pressure lessens and momentum is gained. A win changes the mood within the locker room and the perceptions around the league. During this time, it’s important to capitalize on success and prove that that victory was not a fluke.
Williams explained, “Once you get that first win, the pressure kind of comes off and you see that it’s possible. You get that little bit of confidence and hopefully it will carry on to other games as the season progresses. You continue to gain that momentum.”
One way to build a positive streak is through consistency. After a successful lineup is discovered, little should be done to alter the chemistry and confidence of the squad.
“Consistency has kind of been proven to be the best formula,” Williams argued. “Knowing who’s going to be beside you on the field all the time, you kind of get used to that person and get used to their tendencies. It makes it easier to do your job.”
For the 2013 Revs, this will be difficult because they are now entering one of their busiest stretches of the season with three games in ten days. New England will travel to Portland on Thursday, May 2nd before playing two home games on Wednesday, May 8th and Saturday, May 11th. This tough stretch will put a lot of focus on head coach Jay Heaps who will have to consider injuries, player form and more when making his lineups.
When asked if a coach should change his lineup during a busy stretch Williams answered, “I think it depends on players. It depends on what time of season (the stretch) is in. If you have a deep squad, I wouldn’t suggest putting in a brand new eleven, but probably one or two new players to keep the players fresh.”
Perhaps the biggest challenge that the Revolution will face over the next two weeks is Thursday’s trip to Portland. The Timbers have proven to be a feisty team that loves to attack. More than that, the Revs will have to battle the atmosphere and travel if they want to start a winning streak.
Williams commented, “You’re used to playing at a certain time on the East Coast and when you come over here its three hours later than your normal game. It’s kind of difficult. Your whole body isn’t used to being up that early or up that late or whatever it is.”
Despite the upcoming challenges, there is no doubt the Revs will work hard to try to get positive results. Going through a scoring slump and a winless streak will only make the team more determined and concentrated.
As Williams explained, “After going on a losing streak, when you get on that winning streak you don’t want to give it up.”
(image courtesy of Getty Images)
