Where Thompson tarries, Guevarra makes marry

On the upside this was one of the better and more exciting soccer games the New England Revolution have played of late, the downside of course is that they lost 3-1 to Toronto.

The Revs started the first half strongly with shots from Steve Ralston and in the 12th minute Shalrie Joseph scores on a beautiful header shot off a nice crisp cross into the box by Chris Tierney. The following minute was the only time the Revs were winning this match as a poorly marked Amando Guevara rockets in a goal at around 13:02.

The Revs miss a couple of scoring opportunities in the remainder of the half most notably when Joseph has the ball in the box one on one with the keeper and took one too many touches. Lucky for the Revs so did Toronto.

After the half Dwayne De Rosario scores in the 68th minute after Emmanuel Osei and Jay Heaps run into each other while trying to mark Danny Dichio. Guevara decides to destroy any ounce of hope of a late comeback for the Revs by hammering in his second goal off a free kick that bounced of the notorious Toronto turf past Matt Reis into the goal.

So the Revs are now in a distant 4th in their division and have not won a game since their home opener but I am still hopeful for the season. Moving Tierney into the midfield has been a positive change and will allow for more scoring opportunities, as will the eventual return of Twellman. The Rev's defense has been shaky on communication and marking but it has also been switched up nearly every game. I think the current line-up of Alston, Barnes, Osei and Heaps has shown the most promise and will work they just need to learn how to work together. Something I'm hoping will be done by next Saturday.

Now a few words for Mr. Wells Thompson who is not my most favorite Revs player at the moment. In one of my stupider jobs it was once stated that any criticism should be sandwiched between two compliments to make it more likely to be accepted by the person being critiqued.

Your crosses have improved, Thompson you caused both of Guevara's goals to be scored one by your inattentive marking and one because you commit stupid and needless fouls right outside the box, um you look good in dark blue?


Till Saturday!

When a tie is way better then kissing your sister.

Blake here:

Before last Saturday’s game with Chicago, I was dreading another RSL-like blowout. The Revs played some of their worst games last year against Chicago and were beaten 3-0 on more then one occasion, one of which I had the misfortune to see in person. So with the Revs starting yet another lineup and playing in Chicago, I had my doubts. The lone Chicago goal was a bit of a fluke after a corner kick into the box ended up dropping at the feet of Conde who blasted it home. Sharlie Joseph after 2 consecutive poor games was playing well in the striker role. Still going into the second half I was wondering how the Revs were going to score.

Well the Revs answered the question shortly into the second half after a nice bit of possession led to a Larentowicz shot from just outside the penalty area. Not a great shot, but it ended up at the feet of Joseph and he blasted it home for the goal. All that was left was for Reis to make the game saving diving stop of a McBride header and the Revs escaped Chicago with a point – something that didn’t happen last year.

It was an interesting lineup with Nichols going with a back four that had Alston back on the right side and Heaps on his customary left side with Tierney playing in front of him as left side midfielder. The latest entrant to the Revs lineup was Emmanuel Osei who had a very good game, aside from a few nervous making moments dribbling around in the box (something I am sure Coach Nichols will speak to him about). Overall Osei played calmly and colloborated well with Barnes. Ralston came in for Dube late in the game which was good to see, in his first two minutes he immediately set up two scoring opportunities. It was interesting to see Nyassi not in the lineup, but he has not been playing well lately.

So what will be the lineup for the Rapids? Tough to say. If Ralston is fully recovered, I think he starts. The back line (assuming no new injury nicks) will likely be the same. That leaves the midfield and forward positions. Is this the game we see Twellman? Does Nyassi make it back into the lineup? Did Tierney play well enough as Left-mid to get another run-out (I say yes)? At any rate I think it is likely that we will see yet another different starting lineup, the seventh in eight games. I will be in section 106 cheering them on.

Well at Least it Wasn't 6-0

Blake here:

It was a grey and dreary game which was appropriate for the grey and dreary weather. The Revs started yet another lineup with Steve Nichols going with his preferred 3-5-2 formation. Given the torching of Chris Tierney by Real Salt Lake in the last game, I can understand why. Igwe moved over to Tierny’s spot with Heaps managing the right back position and Barnes in the middle. The game started fairly slowly like the slow drizzle that was falling on us while we watched the game from our seats in section 106. Around the 25^th minute, Stuart Holden of Houston unleashed a long shot that I was so sure Reis would save, I turned away. When I looked back the ball was in the net. What the heck happened? On the replay it looked like Reis simply let the ball go through his hands. The blunder seemed to deflate the Revs and when Reis “saved” a gently rolling header later in the first half there was a derisive cheer from the home fans. The only scoring opportunity the Rev had was on a nice free kick from Larentowicz into box that Sharlie simply mistimed his jump on and the chance was squandered.

Around 13 minutes into the second half, Ching scored a header of a corner kick and that was pretty much the game. A bright note for the Revs was the debut of the Cameroonian striker Stephane Assengue 20 minutes into the second half. He almost converted a half chance with a wicked volley and was certainly more of a force then either Dube or Mansally. Also, it was good to see Twellman at least make the substitutes bench. The sooner he can get back on the pitch, the sooner the Revs attack will perhaps show some life. After 2 straight defeats in which the Revs generated few scoring opportunities, it is clear that neither Mansally nor Dube can fill that goals scorers role. And it is even more clear how much Ralston is missed when he isn’t on the pitch.

Here’s hoping for more offense the next time.

Always Look at the Bright Side of Life

5 positive things that happened in the Revs-RSL Game 4/26

1. Videira had his first start of the season and in the second half was the only player on the Revs side that looked like a professional soccer player, his passing was good as was his ball control.

2. Heaps won almost every challenge in the air.

3. Larentowicz had a crackerjack of a shot from distance in the 2nd half.

4. If Movsisyan didn’t have a tendancy to wait tll he was on the goal line to take a shot revs would have been down by 10 easily.

5. OK 5 positive things about the game may have been stretching it so enjoy this video instead.

Slaughter in Salt Lake

Blake here:

Apologies to our myriad fans for the lateness of this post on the Real Salt Lake fiasco (the two of you know who you are). As a longtime Rev fan this last result was difficult to take. After a fairly desultory first half that ended as a 0-0 tie with the only real scoring chances turned in by Real Salt Lake, the second half turned into a debacle. The second half actually started pretty brightly for the Revs with Nyassi whipping in a cross that Mansally just missed. However, it went downhill quickly after that. First Olave was completely unmarked and powered a header into the goal off a great corner from Morales. Shortly thereafter on another corner, Mathis scored off a great volley that Revs announcer called before it happed. Mathis was standing at the top of the box towards the far side of the goal waving his hand with no one within 10 feet of him. Sure enough the cross comes in and he blasts a beautiful volley that Knighton had no shot at. The scored stayed at 2-0 until the 70^th minute when it appeared that the Revs started to tire. In the next 20 minutes RSL scored four more goals, the first by Movsisyan off a great splitting pass by Mathis.

This was without a doubt the worst half of football I have ever seen the Rev’s play. It rivals the abomination that the Revs turned in against Joe Public last year in the CONCACAF Champions league. At least I didn’t pay to see this one as I was watching from my couch rather than sitting in the stands in a slow drizzle. I don’t know whether it was the altitude, the early travel schedule or yet another starting lineup, but the Revs never showed any fight in this one. I will be sitting in the stands on Sunday hoping they bounce back...