Revs Fall to Champs, 2-1

When I was little, I used to complain to my mom a lot about how something wasn’t fair.  Her stock response was, “Yeah, well… life isn’t fair.”

Neither is soccer.

Why Shalrie Joseph Should Not Be a Captain

Lost in the exuberance of a 3-1 home win over the Seattle Sounders that kept their flickering playoff hopes alive was the fact the New England Revolution were very fortunate their team captain wasn’t thrown out of the match for slapping Sounders defender Patrick Ianni on the neck.  Not that Ianni doesn’t deserve to be slapped in the neck – he’s pretty much a 6-foot-1, neon green penis wearing cleats – but if there’s one player on the Revolution that can’t slap him, it’s Shalrie Joseph.

Not only is he the team’s best player, but he’s also the captain – the one person whose lead that every other player on the team is supposed to follow.  There he was, in the team’s biggest game of the season, down by a goal in the 2nd half, losing his temper and striking a penis player on another team.  We’ve all seen referees pull out a red card for less.

It was the antithesis of what a true captain is supposed to be.  It was a selfish, “me first” act that had little regard for the potential impact on his team.

Then again, this isn’t the first time Shalrie has exhibited such an attitude.

Sobering Thought of the Day

Who was the last high impact foreign player to sign with the Revs from outside the league?  A friend suggests the only two players in club history that fit that description are Walter Zenga and Ariel Graziani.

The Revs are now in a position where they likely need to sign two such players in a row.

I Hate This Trade

Back when it looked like Jeff Larentowicz was headed for Europe, I was OK with the proposed trade that would send his rights to Colorado in exchange for Cory Gibbs, Preston Burpo and a bag of magic beans.  At least Steve Nicol could no longer view Wells Thompson as a legitimate option coming off the bench.

But now that he’s signed with the Rapids, I officially hate this trade.

They filled one hole by opening up another.  What’s the point?

Do the Revs Have Pats Envy?

Credit to BigSoccer.com poster "Alan"

Consider this to be unsolicited piece of advice #1 for the New England Revolution’s new Director of Marketing, whomever he or she may be.

Stop treating the franchise as if they’re the New England Patriots’ retarded younger siblings.

Example #3,583 of Kraft Sports Group trying to turn a soccer franchise into Patriots, Jr. surfaced on Wednesday when drawings of the Revolution’s 2010 uniforms surfaced on the internet.  And while Revs fans had long been warned that the team was considering incorporating some silver into the team’s new jerseys, I don’t think anyone was quite prepared for this.

Good.  God.  The only things missing are the oversized numbers on the front and back and the NFL logo.

If this had been the uniform design for the Colorado Rapids or the San Jose Earthquakes, it would have been fine.  But for a franchise struggling to create their own identity in a crowded sports landscape?  Ugh.

I’ve never really bought the argument that the Krafts don’t care about the Revs.  But I can’t shake the idea that as far as the soccer team in Foxboro goes, they simply don’t know what they’re doing.

Revs Defense Continues to Take Hits

Thought to be one of the strengths of the club at the conclusion of the 2009 season, the Revolution defense has already lost one player to retirement, and another to injury.  A third key member is a free agent, a fourth is due to return to Africa at the conclusion of his loan, and a key back up is now a member of the Philadelphia Union.

To recap:

• Jay Heaps retired.  Say what you will about him, but he was a key part of what was a pretty stingy defense last year.
• Emmanuel Osei’s loan agreement is up.  I liked him.  Prone to the types of mistakes that are likely to give Steve Nicol a coronary at some point in the future, but he was clearly up to the task most of the time.
• Jeff Larentowicz is a free agent.  He likely won’t be back.  Ivy League grads don’t play three years of soccer at $30,000/year unless they see a big time payoff.  This is Jeff’s time to cash in, and I doubt that will happen in MLS.
• The situation in goal is a mess.  Brad Knighton was picked up by Philadelphia in the Expansion Draft.  No problem, the Revs still have Matt Reis, right?  Err…  not so much.  You see, Reis just had shoulder surgery that should keep him sidelined for the next 4-to-6 months.  Before you run to the calendar, that means he’ll likely miss the start of the Regular Season.  The only healthy goalkeeper on the roster at the moment?  22-year old Bobby Shuttleworth, last seen playing Division I soccer with the University of Buffalo.  There’s talk that the Revs have talked to Philadelphia about reacquiring Knighton, but if I were Peter Nowak, it would not come cheaply.

Do the Revs now have a problem in defense?

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.

Just when you think you’ve got ‘em figured out…

I don’t think it’s any secret that I don’t believe the Revs are a particularly good MLS team, but I have to admit, I was starting to believe just a little bit.

In a short tournament, with a veteran goalkeeper, a stingy defense, and just enough offense… you know, it wouldn’t be the first time a team like that won (…I’m looking at you, Kansas City).

But when you give up four goals at home to a team that hadn’t scored in weeks, well it just kind of shocks you back to reality.

And spare me the complains about the officiating.  Did Shalrie actually make contact with his boot?  Did he miss him by inches?  Who knows?  I do know that he put himself in a bad position, and he needs to be smarter than that.

So now the Revs face a cross-country trip to face Chivas USA without Joseph.  Five of their final eight games are on the road, and their three remaining home games are against Seattle, Chicago and Columbus.

The playoffs are not a sure thing.