Reality Check on the “Rebuild”

You know how some people have justified the giant pile of pig feces that passed for the 2010 Revolution as a “rebuilding year”?  I’d like to give those people a reality check.

The league’s official web site is publishing a countdown of the 24 best players in MLS age 24 or younger.  They’re down to their Top 10, and the only Revolution player to check in is Kevin Alston at #21.  Here’s 11-24:

24.  Dax McCarty, M, FC Dallas
23.  Roger Torres, M, Philadelphia
22.  Jack McInerney, F, Philadelphia
21.  Kevin Alston, D, New England
20.  Will Johnson, M, Real Salt Lake
19.  Juninho, M, Los Angeles
18.  Chris Pontius, F, DC United
17.  Teal Bunbury, F, Kansas City
16.  Tony Tchani, M, New York
15.  Robbie Rogers, M, Columbus
14.  Bill Hamid, GK, DC United
13.  Tristan Bowen, M, Kansas City
12.  Ryan Smith, M, Kansas City
11.  Ike Opara, D, San Jose

Jankauskas Waived

From the Revolution web site:

The New England Revolution released forward Edgaras Jankauskas today.

Jankauskas, 35, signed with the Revolution on July 1, 2009, and made 14 regular-season appearances in one-and-a-half injury-marred seasons. The former Lithuanian international scored two goals and added one assist, both in 2009. In 2010,

Jankauskas made four substitute appearances, playing 147 minutes.

The official story also included that picture.  Funny, that’s the same face I made when I learned that he was making $240,000 this year.

That works out to a tidy $1633 per minute played this season.

Happy the Revs are fixing their mistakes, but God, who didn’t see this coming from a mile away?

It’s Official: Revs Eliminated from Playoffs

The league has put us out of our misery:

For the first time since 2001, the New England Revolution will not be part of the MLS Cup Playoffs as this past weekend’s 2-2 draw with the Columbus Crew officially eliminated the Revs from postseason contention. With that, the Revolution’s streak of eight consecutive playoff appearances has come to an end.

It was originally reported on Saturday night that the point the Revs gained against Columbus kept them mathematically alive, because that’s the information which had been relayed to us by the league earlier in the week. Basically we were given all of the scenarios which could end the Revolution’s playoff hopes, and the only scenario in which the Revs could be eliminated was with a loss to the Crew – hence, we all assumed the draw kept us alive.

However, after a closer look at the numbers, it came to light on Sunday that the Revs may well have been eliminated despite picking up the draw. The league officially confirmed the news this morning.

That was nice of them, wasn’t it?

On the bright side, this should signal a very serious effort by the front office to stop putting band-aids on gaping flesh wounds, right?

Right?

Would you take Taylor Twellman back?

Pure hypothetical with zero inside information… let’s say Taylor Twellman comes back to the Revs and says he’ll play the next two seasons for $150,000/year.  Would you take that deal if you’re the Revs?  What if it’s $100,000?  Or is it just time for the organization to move on, no matter how much he’s willing to play for?

On the plus side, if he ever does regain even 80% of his prior form, he’s well worth the money.  On the down side, there’s a decent chance you’ll just be throwing away $150,000/year.

Personally, I think about $135,000/year is what I’d feel comfortable bringing him back at.

Are We Witnessing the End of the Steve Nicol Era?

I mean, the way the Revs have played this year, you have to start wondering, right?  And the way the Revs have played in their last eight league matches is just embarrassing.  In fact, were it not for a 12-minute meltdown by the Seattle Sounders, the Revs would be 0-6-2 in that stretch with a goal differential of -11.

And the schedule is not doing the Revs any favors.  Two of their last four matches are on the road where they have shown little ability to earn points.  Their two home matches are against Real Salt Lake and a Kansas City Wizards team that figures to be fighting for their playoff lives.

I hate to say it, but we could seriously be looking at a team that finishes the year at 7-18-5 and having won just one of their last 11 matches.  Should that happen, would Steve Nicol be in trouble?  Would Kraft Sports make a move?

Service Interrupted Is Better Than No Service At All: plus an Interview with Ilija Stolica

A VIEW FROM THE FORT by Jim Dow

At a certain point in a Revolution training last week Steve Nicol put his three healthy strikers through a drill where he lined up ten balls at the far side of the box and pumped in crosses of every kind, one after the other, without stopping.

Each player had to stand by a small cone, set roughly six yards out from the center of the goal and strike the ball as it was driven towards them at a variety of speeds, altitudes and trajectories. Once the first contact was made the player had to immediately backpedal to the cone while watching for the next cross, line drive or rolling ball and then drive forward to shoot, head or otherwise deflect the ball on goal, again backing furiously when done. Forward, strike, backward, forward, strike and so on until all ten balls had been played.

So, I see we’re playing Dallas this week

The Revs have one win on the road this year.  The Burn Hoops have one loss at home this year.  The Revs have won just one of their last seven league matches.  Dallas has lost just twice in their last 942 games, or something like that.

Predictions?  Mr. Lang has one:

FORAM TREZ E PODIA TER SIDO MAIS

By Walter Silva

A jogar desta maneira é impossivél ganhar qualquer jogo, muito menos contra equipa que tem talento e jogadores de melhor qualidade .

E foi com alguma sorte que o Revolution sai de Denver com uma derrota de trez a zero, porque só nos primeiros 30 minutos o Rapids podia ter chegado a uma goleada histórica, não fosse a pouca eficáçia dos avançados da equipa da casa. Na primeira metade foi a pouca eficáçia dos avançados do Rapids, na segunda metade foi o veterano guarda redes Matt Reis que fez um punhado de exçelentes defesas evitando uma pessada derrota da sua equipa.

FORA DE CASA É UM DESASTRE

By Walter Silva

Esta equipa do Revolution fora de portas é mesmo um desastre, depois de uma boa exibição e uma vitória na semana passada frente a uma boa equipa, nada fazia prever esta derrota.

Frente a uma equipa á prior a mais fraca, não se esperava um resultado destes, está bem que alguns dos titulares não puderam alinhar nesta partida, tal como um dos melhores jogadores desta equipa do Revolution, Marko Perovic.

Hey, weren’t the Revs supposed to play last night?

I usually watch every game, but I must have forgotten to last night.  Not on the DVR, either.   Hmmm… that’s odd.

If I don’t remember it, then it must not have happened, right?

Did you hear me?  It never happened.