Thursday, September 15, 2016

Hello Darkness My Old Friend


We absolutely should have seen this coming. The New England Revolution are FOR SURE NOT a team that can win the big game. The US Open Cup Final was the most recent chance to win the club's first trophy since 2008, when they won the now-defunct North American SuperLiga. The first trophy came in 2007 when the Revs won the Open Cup. Other than those two triumphs, they've never won a meaningful Final or Cup (sorry about that, Desert Diamond Cup). MLS Cup runner-up in 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2014. This season obviously has not gone as many expected and/or wanted. A lot of Revs fans shared the sentiment that winning the USOC could salvage the season and make it hurt a little bit less when the inevitable playoff exit/miss comes rearing its ugly head. 

It started out so promising to, thats what kills. Lineup was solid, and the formation was unchanged. Coming off two straight wins that were dominant and inspired hope. Juan Aguadelo has been in the form of his career as of late, and he showed no signs of slowing just under 6 minutes in...


A fantastic effort. The pass in from Koffie, the PHENOMENAL turn by Juan and the finish. Things were looking up.



When your team rips your guts out (pls ignore the fact that's a Dallas fan, its a good reaction gif, thx)

And then Max Urutti happened.


Great goal. I mean, just... great goal. The control and strike out of the air is pure class. It would help if the defense could maybe stick to him and not let him get so open, but thats just semantics I suppose.


Should probably take the goal back because of this Mr. Referee, just saying.


More poor marking gives Matt Hedges a way-too-easy goal.



Penalty on JoGo. The broadcast was iffy on this one. Shaky call but in the end could see wither side. There was a fistful of jersey that the linesman caught, just unlucky he was in good enough position to see and had no one blocking his view.

And the conversion...


Brad get an armpit on it but can't keep it out. Would like to see him make that save, obviously, but even more so given the contact he got on the ball.



So close... Best left foot in MLS, that Chris Tierney.

Urutti...

What in the fuck is that defending? ATROCIOUS! Leaving Brad out to dry. How does a single man just split two defenders like that? He's not Cristiano Ronaldo, he's Max fucking Urutti. Someone mark him for the love of God.

Juan with no quit in him...

Lucky pass that somehow finds its way all the way across the box and Juan finishes that chance off. Great movement form him right off the bat there. Was in open space, read the play well and moved to where he thought the ball would end up, and he was correct.

And that was all she wrote. 4-2 loss to FC Dallas in the 2016 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

I'm very interested in where the team goes from here, namely int he goalkeeper department. Bobby has been dropped recently in favor of Brad in net and Cody Cropper on the bench. Does Heaps roll Cropper out in the next few games, or does he wait until they make (or miss) the playoffs? Young goalkeeper, on the national team radar, European experience, and given the #1 jersey? You can't just sit him the entire season. The problem is that they're on the road for the next two games, at Montreal and Columbus. They aren't exactly slouch teams. Then after that its at home against Kansas City, another team with some firepower. Away game at Chicago follows and then the season wraps up with a home game versus Montreal. So really no good spot. Either facing a tough team on the road, or you only give him like one or two games to play. There is a scenario that I really don't want myself to buy into: start Cropper the rest of the way and he takes it all the way. Undefeated and winning the Cup.

Man of the Match
Swagudelo baby. Only man worthy in my eyes. He's been on fire and needs to continue to be if theres any hope of playoffs for this squad. 

As I said before, next game is Saturday the 17th (tomorrow) at Montreal, 730 PM kickoff. Might have some shakeup with injuries to Watson and Koffie. Buckle up.

PS: I've convinced myself of that Cropper scenario. MLS Champs babayyy.
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