By mid-year most MLS teams can write their starting eleven in pen instead of pencil. This isn’t the case for the New England Revolution who has used 16 unique lineups this season. While some of the shuffling has to do with injuries and other extenuating circumstances, competition has played a big role in the lineup decisions made by head coach Jay Heaps.
No position has been more hotly contested this year than that of the lone striker. After Jerry Bengtson failed to take ownership of the position, the Revs traded for Juan Agudelo. The 20 year-old made an immediate impact by helping the team accrue a 3-1-1 record while scoring three goals. A knee injury suffered during the DC United Open Cup game forced Agudelo off the field and reignited competition among the forwards.
“The competition there is great,” Heaps commented. “With Juan Agudelo being sidelined for a little bit and having guys like Chad (Barrett) and guys like (Dimitry) Imbongo fight for a spot, it’s great. Jerry (Bengtson) as well. Those guys stepped up to the plate and they do a nice job.”
Barrett, Imbongo and Bengtson have all had the opportunity to start as the lone striker and make the position their own. Barrett has been the biggest beneficiary of the Agudelo injury since he has received three starts (two as a forward, one as a midfielder). Bengtson (two starts) and Imbongo (one start) have also been given opportunities to fill the void. The rotation highlights that the competition is real.
“It’s tough (to have so much competition) but that’s where you want to be,” Barrett said. “In LA it was never easy to get playing time. In Chicago when I first got there it was never easy to get playing time. If you have that many good players and you guys are getting results then nobody really cares.”
Some might think that the competition could create a hostile atmosphere in the locker room. In actuality, the opposite is true since the players are constantly pushing each other to work harder and reach their potential.
Imbongo explained, “We do competition when we do shooting to goal. Saer win every time but I beat him just one time this year. I want to practice to try and beat Saer and Diego at the same time. It’s going to be hard but I think that I can do that.”
Heading into this weekend’s game against DC United, there are number of questions concerning the starting lineup. Beyond the question of who plays as the lone striker, Heaps will need to determine who will pair with Jose Goncalves and who will feature at left back. Stephen McCarthy and AJ Soares are both making serious bids to play center back while the left back could be Chris Tierney, Darrius Barnes or Kevin Alston.
Heaps is happy to make tough lineup decisions since he believes that competition is an important part of building a successful team.
The gaffer illuminated, “I’ve said that from the beginning; that I want to see these guys earn time.”
The players also view competition as a positive because it means that they must improve every day if they want to earn minutes.
Barrett commented, “I never want to be given something that I don’t earn. That’s always been my mentality.”
What to Look for Against DC United
1.This is a must win if the Revs want to talk playoffs. Statistically the Revolution would still be in the playoff hunt if they lost to DC United but realistically the path would become much more difficult. Heaps has yet to earn a victory against DC since becoming coach with an overall record of 0-3-1. 2013 has brought similar voodoo as 2012 since the Revs have already recorded a scoreless draw in league play and a loss in the Open Cup. This is problematic because every Eastern Conference team, save for New York (one tie) and Montreal (they haven’t played) have gotten full points from DC United. With the rest of the Revolution’s schedule being against Eastern Conference foes, every game is going to be important.
2.The game is going to get physical. The Revs last game was a gritty victory over the Columbus Crew where both teams struggled to hold possession and complete passes. The Revolution could be facing similar physicality when they travel to RFK Stadium since DC United has been using hard tackles as a way of disrupting plays. Learning to battle through tough conditions is important because some teams simply aren’t interested in playing the beautiful game the way it’s intended. The Revs need to learn how to win duels, make quicker passes and capitalize on free kicks. Furthermore, the team needs to avoid drawing the ire of the referee.
3.The Revs should take this game personally. Saturday’s game is another chapter in the long-lasting rivalry between the Revolution and DC United. Heaps will be looking to avenge the loss that knocked the Revs out of the Open Cup while securing his first ever win against Ben Olsen’s men. Victory would be even sweeter considering that DC United has recently announced plans to build a soccer specific stadium. The deal, if completed, would leave the Revolution as the only original MLS club without a soccer-first stadium. With playoffs being a distant pipedream, DC United will mostly be playing for pride, especially at home. Considering the amount of heartbreak DC has given the Revs in the past, Heaps and his players should be taking this game personally.
(image courtesy of Kari Heistad)
