Saturday, May 21, 2016

Hello Darkness My Old Friend: Revs Take The L At Home Against Dallas 4-2



After a nice win that saw this team look like they were ready to start the season fresh and string together some good results, we are right back at square one. Bottle job after bottle job after bottle job. I went from a really good mood full of positivity to an immovable scowl on my face. Lets get this over with.

-Lineup Notes: Tierney back to left back, Rowe and Agudelo start at the wings, Kei up top, Nguyen gets the armband. Biggest surprise is Samba (I guess he isn't going by Sambinha anymore?) getting the start at center back next to Farrell. JoGo still not in the 18, and rather than move Watson there again Heaps rolled out Samba after a few minutes last match. Barnes and Woodberry the only defenders left and on the bench, and both fullbacks. Serious firepower on the bench as well, with Diego, Femi and Teal.

-I was salivating to see the damage Tierney could do with Kei Kamara as a target.

-3rd minute: Bobby gets a yellow card and called for a penalty.

Thought Barrios had stepped on Bobby and rolled his knee rather than Bobby going through him, and I still think that may be the case. Bobby didn't intentionally go at his knees, he went to play the ball on the ground as it came down, but when Barrios touched it over him they got a little tangled up, he clipped part of Bobby's leg with his left leg which then got caught in the turf a little and twisted. Wasn't sure it was a penalty initially, but I have no complaints about the call either. I can see the argument for either side. Dallas converted the penalty.

-A good/frustrating flurry for the Revs around the 17th/18th minute as Lee hit the crossbar for what PBP man Brad Feldman called a league leader tying 3rd time. Kei and Juan got caught in a jumble in front of the net soon after but nothing was happening. Still seems like they can't get over the proverbial hump.

-Kei Kamara jumps very high.

-Like I wrote above, the ball just sticks to Lee Nguyen. He has some serious control, and it showed early.

-Nervy moment as Koffie bent his knee really awkwardly and was down for a few moments clutching the leg. He was fine eventually, but it looked like the worst fears had come to life.

-24th minute: Juanny Futbol!!!!!!

Nice set piece, the service from Lee was spot-on and Juan's header had fantastic pace on it. Great answer, and its nice to have Tierney back. Having two free-kick specialists using different feet is much more dangerous  and gives you so many more options with plays based on the direction you want the ball going or spinning.

-26th minute: CAN YOU FEEL THE WINDS OF MOMENTUM SHIFTING!!!!!

 Good call from the ref, who was correct on the Dallas call as well. Lee cool as ice slots it home and the Revs answered back in convincing fashion.

-Unfortunately Gershon Koffie could not continue. He went back down and was replaced by Diego right after the second goal. He seemed pretty calm while on the ground, and Feldman later said it was a right knee sprain. Not good, but at least it isn't a tear of anything. Really wouldn't want to lose him for the whole season. Feldman made another interesting note when Diego came on instead of Kobayashi. He said that showed Heaps going for the jugular and bringing on more firepower. Daigo is definitely more of a closer you bring in at the end of games to shore up the midfield.

-37th minute: it was fun while it lasted. Dallas ties it up via Atiba Harris' header that beats Bobby near post.

Bobby gets a hand on it but cant keep it out. Sums Bobby Shuttleworth up.

-Iffy 1st half for Samba. MLS debut could have started better. He was good except for when he had the ball at his feet. Control wasn't there, and it may just be needing time to climate to the turf in the stadium.

-The Lee to Kei goal is so class I can taste it. Much like the Revs season, it's right there until the last possible moments when something goes awry. Gonna be so awesome when it finally happens though.

-Fabian Castillo almost went absolute HAMMERTIME on the Revs 10 minutes into the second half. Made such a nice run that was cleared out of harms way in the box. I can see why Dallas fans are always slobbering over him.

-Didn't like how we gave up a lot of corners. 8 before the 60th minute isn't great, I'll be honest.

-Tierney on a short leash coming off an injury means he was replaced by Daigo in the 67th. Kelyn goes to fullback and Japanese Santi Cazorla fills in next to Scotty.

-70th Minute: What I said about Samba? Yeah he didn't get much better during halftime. Absolutely whiffs on a clearance and lets Castillo walk in and put one past Bobby
I have made the executive decision that he is Sambinha still. I will decide when he's ready to graduate to Samba.

-75th: FEMI TIME! ENERGIZER BUNNY ALL UP IN YOUR GRILLMIX!


He's the Femergizer Bunny. Boom. Print it.

-Right before the end Dallas scored again to put it away. Akindele. I dont know, just roll it.

That was really it for the game action. I was a Bobby Shuttleworth defender early this season. No more. He's bad. I understand he can't stop them all, but the set piece header probably should have been saved. Interior defense had two holes tonight, Bobby and Sambinha. Dallas exploited them. Much like that Lee to Kei goal, we were really good up until the brink of it and then absolutely peed down our legs. This team is so frustrating.

Speaking of Kei, I think he caught the Revolution anti-scoring bug. Some chances the past two games he really should have buried but it just went in the cards. I love the hustle he showed all game and especially at the end when the game was decided. Everyone needs to follow his lead. Jump on his back fellas.

Man of the Match
Underrated choice, but I'm giving it to da big guy...
Wait, wrong big guy...


2 Fast 2 Farrell needs more appreciation. He was playing with his third defensive partner since the LA game, and one making his MLS debut against the second place team in the entire league. He had some real nice slide tackles and showed good instincts as the elder statesman (at age 24) of the central defense. He needs JoGo healthy to get the cohesiveness back, but good work from him tonight that the score won't necessarily reflect.

We have Seattle at home next Saturday night, 730 PM. Tentative plans are to officially kick off #TAILGATESZN and ease into a possible Copa America game before really hitting the ground running with the Revs starting in July. Five possible games starting July 6 to get lit. Gotta get the bad juju out of the building, maybe bury the ball from tonight and get the grills roaring next weekend. We will rectify this and get the ship back on course.
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