What next for Nicol, Revs?

Another season, another unsatisfactory conclusion.

A few days removed from what was an exceptionally painful ending (Jesus, anyone but him…) many Revolution fans are taking time to step back and look at the bigger picture.  And I’d have to think that most don’t really like what they’re looking at.

2009 was the 3rd consecutive year in which the club earned fewer points and had a worse goal differential than the previous season.  It’s difficult to draw any other conclusion then the organization is moving in the wrong direction.  And it’s time for that to stop before the situation gets any worse.

It’s beyond time for the Revolution to make sweeping changes to their organization, both on and off the field.  Players, trainers, coaches, executives, peanut vendors – they should all be evaluated, and none of them should be assured of returning in 2010.  Because as a Revolution fan from Day One, it’s becoming increasingly more difficult to get excited about a club that seems to be stagnating on the playing field and at the gate.

NÃO FOI UM RESULTADO JUSTO

By Walter Silva

Não foi um resultado justo, não senhor, estes jovens jogadores do Revolution mereçiam mais e melhor, fizeram tudo para poderam estar nas meias finais, mas encontraram uma equipa que teve a sorte do jogo, e teve no árbitro do jogo um exçelente colaborador.

Quem le as minhas crónicas aos jogos do Revolution sabe muito bem que não é meu costume arranjar desculpas para as derrotas da equipa de Foxboro, já foram quatro as finais que o Revolution perdeu, mas nunca falei de árbitros, mas este foi mau demais para ser verdade.

VITÓRIA SOFRIDA, MAS JUSTA

By Walter Silva

Foi sofrida mas justa esta vitória do Revolution, frente a uma equipa que o Revolution já não vençia á sete jogos, mas só depois de sofrer o golo é que a equipa de Foxboro acordou.

Começou melhor a equipa do Chicago Fire que logo nos primeiros minutos criou várias oportunidades de golo, aos 5 minutos a cruzamento de Pappa, McBride de cabeça rematou ao lado da baliza.

Could A Departure De-Briefing Lead To A Fruitful Future? Plus An Interview With Mark Watson

A VIEW FROM THE FORT

By Jim Dow

This past Sunday the world of world football was chock full of classicos and derbies (River-Boca, America-Guadalajara, Liverpool-ManU and Arsenal-West Ham, just to name what was on TV locally), the self-proclaimed globally meaningful NFL Patriots and Bucs were wallowing at Wembley and the New England Revolution faced off in a do-or-die match to determine their playoff fate that culminated in a gutsy, grafting, hard won 1-0 victory that propelled them forward, albeit limping as has generally been the case in 2009. All this after a Saturday series of events that defied every bit of received wisdom as to both quality and odds.

MAS QUE “GRANDE” GOLO

By Walter Silva

Era um jogo do tudo ou nada para a equipa comandada por Steve Nicol, ou pontuavam ou a época terminava para o Revolution, e foi com um “golaço” de Jeff Larentowicz que o Revolution garantio um lugar nesta edição dos playoffs 2009.

Ainda á poucos dias tinha dito que esta equipa quanto menos se espereva faziam alguma supresa, e foi o que aconteçeu, vençer em casa da melhor equipa do MLS não é para qualquer equipa.

Mariner Appears Set to Join Plymouth

According to numerous media reports, Revolution assistant Paul Mariner is set to return to England as Plymouth Argyle’s new Technical Director.

More details to follow.

E JÁ LÁ VÃO TREZ

By Walter Silva

E já são trez jogos sem ganhar, desta feita frente ao mais sério candidato a vençer este campeonato do MLS. Ficaria acause com um lugar garantido se tive-se vençido esta partida, mas a jogar como o fizeram sábado á noite vai ser mesmo muito difiçil garantirem um lugar nesta edição dos playoffs 2009.

E não vai ser nada façil, ora vejamos, no próximo sábado o Revolution vai reçeber a vizita do Chicago Fire, uma equipa que o Revolution já leva 7 partidas sem vençer, e no último jogo da temporada vai até Columbus para defrontar a equipa local.

Of Compensation, Or Lack Thereof: Plus An Interview with Edgaras Jankauskas

A VIEW FROM THE FORT By Jim Dow

The last few days have offered up a fascinating comparison in the world of world football when TV38 showed last Saturday’s stirring contest between the New England Revolution and Colorado Rapids followed by Monday’s ESPN broadcast of Manchester City’s millionaires paying a visit to Birmingham’s Aston Villa. Certainly there was much to play for in either case, whether as an early season tussle for a place in Europe or a close to the wire clash between two clubs fighting for an MLS playoff spot.

Report: Mariner Headed Back to England

A bit of a shocker for a slow Thursday evening:

Former England striker Paul Mariner is being lined up for a return to first club Plymouth as assistant manager.

Mariner, 56, has been in talks with the new Home Park board and his appointment is set to be rubber-stamped next week.

It will be his first management post in England after 20 years in the USA, where he is assistant to ex-Liverpool and Scotland defender Steve Nicol at MLS club New England Revolution.

No word as to whether Mariner would be leaving immediately, or if he’d see this season out in Foxboro.

Define “Surprise” for Me

"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."

Goal.com: Revolution Will Surprise Most by Missing Playoffs

Seriously, who would be surprised if the Revs missed the playoffs?  Not even Goal.com’s readers would be surprised.