It was a season of ups and downs, maybe more of the latter than the former. A rollercoaster of emotions spanning back even before the opening match. I would go as far as to say the turbulence of the 2016 season began in 2015. On October 28, 2015, we witnessed the explosion of Jermaine Jones (If you need a refresher). That incident coupled with Jones' contract demands spelled the end of his time in New England, and he was traded to Colorado on March 4, 2016. So right off the bat the Revs were without their captain and no-nonsense field general since the summer of 2014.
In early February, the Revs signed Xavier Kouassi from FC Sion, possibly a sign early on the Jones would not be back. But then, a week later, Kouassi tore his ACL and was deemed out for the year. And so, it was back to the drawing board. Just after this, Gershon Koffie was brought in from the Vancouver Whitecaps via trade to be the new midfield destroyer.
The season started with hope, and rightfully so. It was a group that had remained largely intact from the playoff exit a few months prior, as well as the MLS Cup Finals run the year before that. There was a plethora of talent, especially looking at the attacking options. Players who, not on New England's roster, could be starting for many of the other squads in the league.
What followed was a bit of a shock. Winless until game #5, and then winless again for another seven matches. Twelve in and they had two wins, three losses and seven draws. A mixed bag in the summer months was followed by the Revolution closing the season in good form, winning five of their final seven league matches.
Mixed in to those results are two major moves. May 12 saw enigmatic striker Kei Kamara traded to New England from Columbus after an incident on the field involving a penalty kick. This of course added to the attack in terms of talent, but also added another body to a group struggling to find consistent minutes. The casualty came in the form of Charlie Davies, a New England native who had been with the Revs since 2013. Davies hadn't played since April 27. He had reportedly picked up a groin injury at that time, and we all thought his absence was because of said injury and subsequent setbacks in recovery. As it turns out, he had been diagnosed with cancer in the spring and had been going through treatment. He announced on July 30 it was in remission. Five days later he was traded to the Philadelphia Union, a move that was right for all parties involved.
This season also saw a run to the final of the US Open Cup, and we learned once again that the Revolution are a team eternally cursed to the position of "Finalists". In a game many saw as one that could redeem the whole season, the Revs were putout to pasture by FC Dallas. The 4-2 scoreline doesn't do justice to just how dominant Dallas was in that one. And so it was back to trying to qualify for the playoffs.
Ultimately its would come down to the final two games of the season. They would need help any way you sliced it. Two wins would make it a hell of a lot easier. They lost to Eastern Conference cellar occupants Chicago Fire, and with that the playoff hopes were dashed. A win in the season finale over Montreal Impact leveled them in points with Philly for the last spot in the postseason, but the goal differential tie-breaker did them in. And so, the final MLS Eastern Conference standings...
That final game of the year is sort of like a reverse Sour Patch Kid: first its sweet, and then its sour. The 3-0 win is a positive, and then you realize how the boys should have, could have, played like that year-long. It makes you want to pull your hair out. How does a team with so much talent miss the playoffs? In the end, it was a slow start, an inability you find identity until the last possible moment, and, for lack of a better phrase, putrid defense. These talking points, among others, are best discussed on their own.
The What If's
It was a season full of these. As a user on Reddit points out, "If Toronto hadn't been a shitfest. If Houston's 2nd goal was ruled offside, if we got the penalty in our home opener against DC, if PRO had decided that the reds they were handing out at the beginning of the season weren't reds before the 9th game of the season". How would this season look if we won a game or two that we drew? Or if we only gave up 2 goals instead of 4?
Draws
Speaking of draws, winning one or two of them early on would have made all the difference in the world. I mean to tie SEVEN OF TWELVE is absurd. Even the fact that they drew 2-2 with Orlando City TWICE, and just 13 DAYS apart is mind boggling. Is that the lack of the clutch gene? I'll let you draw your own conclusions on that one, folks.
Identity
Jay Heaps touched on it in his press conference after the finale. The Revs waited too long to find an identity. It didn't help that they had players in and out with injuries, along with the movement of big time players like Kamara and Davies coming in and leaving, respectively. Injuries happen in sports, that;s a given. But the Revs injuries felt a little different this year. There were so many early on we wondered how Heaps would fill a lineup. In one game Donnie Smith had to play through a muscle strain because three substitutions had already been made. Davies was out for extended time due to cancer. Kelyn Rowe had a spell in the hospital with small intestine issues leading up to a 2-0 loss late in the season to Columbus, a game that, had he played in, could have been a difference maker in when this season-ending post was published. The lack of consistent identity is detrimental to any team, and we saw that play out with the Rev this year.
Defense
They were awful. Horrible. Disgusting. Putrid. Every other synonym to convey that sentiment. They STUNK. This is mainly aimed at the central defense, because Chris Tierney and Andrew Farrell (when he played outside) were for the most part their usual selves. Jose Gonclaves, London Woodberry and Darrius Barnes were bad. Je-vaughn Watson did a good job when filling in, but he's not a natural center back, and was also injured a bit this season. The -10 goal differential was 2nd-worst in the entire league, behind Chicago's -16. The offense scored 41 goals, about 1.21 goals per game. To give up 51 is unacceptable. The defense isn't the only factor. Bobby Shuttleworth regressed this year. He was eventually replaced by Brad Knighton, who was worlds better.
Woodwork
The Revs hit the post or crossbar 25 times this season. Twenty. Five. That's 25 possible goals. More than enough to make a difference in this season. Nothing to say here other than, well, shit. Better luck next time. Or not, because we are the Revs.
Time to answer a few questions...
Heaps In, or Heaps Out?
The question that has been asked all year by Revs fans. It reminds me of the schism in the Arsenal fanbase. "Arsene Knows Best" vs. "Wenger Out Brigade". I'm not trying to compare Arsenal and the Revs, or Heaps and Wenger, but the feeling is similar. A lot of people want Heaps gone, and with some validity. That bit on waiting too long to find identity? That's on Heaps. He stuck with the failing 4-2-3-1 formation for FAR too long before finally switching it up to a 4-4-2 Diamond and experimenting with a three-man backline in the finale. He stuck with Bobby for too long when he was clearly out of form. It seemed like he just couldn't get the players up for games. There was almost a lack of fire and desire from Heaps' bunch, something I never thought I'd see from such a fiery guy. In the end, though, I keep Heaps for bit longer, albeit with the shortest leash imaginable. A stretch even remotely like the one we saw earlier this season and he's out. Even 0-2-1 to start a season and I kick him to the curb. He needs to start as strong as possible to open the 2017 campaign.
What About The Front Office?
I keep them to, with one exception. Mike Burns, the general manager, needs to go. The Reddit rumor is that AJ Soares, the Revs best defender from the 2014 season, was working out in Orlando over the summer. When asked if he would return to New England, he apparently said not if Mike Burns was still with the club. The biggest indictment on Burns is the fact he didn't replace Soares after 2014. He's had two offseasons now, and nothing to show for it other than a defense that gets older and gets worse. Get Burns out, and get someone in who'll address the defense.
Was Kei Kamara A Success?
It's not as black and white as I'd like. He scored seven goals for the Revs, tied for the best on the team, in 21 games. He was supposed to come with baggage, but form the outside looking in I saw none. He moved the needle a little bit, not as much as the Jones signing in 2014, but enough to draw eyes to the team. He added skill to the team, and a new dynamic with the aerial ability. We never really saw that ability come to fruition here for whatever reason; maybe they were forcing it too much early on and got discouraged. His 79 career goals ranks him second among active MLS players.
Did we expect more goals from him? In short, yeah, we did. But I think he adds more than what shows up on stat sheets. His mere presence on a field changes how a defense can play us. They have to always take him into account, and pairing with the likes of Juan Agudelo and Diego Fagundez especially up top made all of them more dangerous. I wouldn't call him a responding success this season, but he was hardly a bust. Final Grade: B-/C+
Was Lee Nguyen A One Hit Wonder?
Well, yes and no. I don't think he'll ever re-create that 2014 season, in which he notched 18 goals and five assists while being a finalist for MLS MVP. But he hasn't been bad since then either. Last year teams focused on stopping him, and he still scored seven goals while setting up 10. This year he nearly mirrored that production, equaling his assists and putting home one fewer goal. He's been much more of a playmaker than a scorer the past two years, which is what he is at his core. He's not meant to be a goal scorer, but rather someone pulling the strings. He's still very good, but maybe in ways not outrightly noticeable.
Looking to the offseason...
Areas of Need
Defense, defense, defense. DEFENSE. We need to find one or two good central defenders. I don;t care how it comes. Trade within the league, the draft, an international signing. Any way you can find help, you do it. One name I've seen floated out there is Branislav Ivanovic from Chelsea FC. He's not one of Antonio Conte's favorites, and could be on his way out soon. He's 32 and would cost a pretty penny, but has proven talent that could make a world of difference. Not to mention he comes with a bit of piss and vinegar this team could use, especially along the back line. He's played right back mostly, but has experience int he middle, and could be shifted there seeing as he's not getting younger. Whatever way you slice it, we need defense.
Who's Back, and Who's Not?
This is especially relevant given the fact there will be an expansion draft coming up. They can protect 11, with Designated Player's auto-protected, and players on Homegrown deals are exempt. The Revs can only lose one player in the Expansion Draft. I'll analyze this more when the draft gets closer.
It's easier to talk about who won't be back versus who will be back. I will mention that Xavier Kouassi should be ready to go for training camp as he started with light work at the end of the season. I wouldn't be surprised to see Teal Bunbury gone, either in the draft or via a different move to make money for a defender. He looks to be expendable now, especially if we're sticking to a 4-4-2 Diamond. There's always the chance Heaps goes back to the 4-2-3-1 and plays both Kouassi and Caldwell, but that would be foolish given how we looked in the new formation. Bobby Shuttleworth should be gone. He was bad this year and had his job taken by Brad Knighton. Now with Cody Cropper in the mix, Bobby's time is up. Any of our central defenders could be gone, really. Woodberry has some potential, so I can see why they would want to keep him. They were just so bad this year.
Kei's 32 and signed an extension through 2018 with Columbus before being traded to New England. I know people are all for trading him away, but he paired well with Juan up top, and with Lee Nguyen, Rowe and Fagundez under them. I want to see what he can do next season with this squad.
Gershon Koffie may leave in order to pursue options in Europe. The midfield has some depth,a dn losing him wouldn't be the end of the world. Obviously I'd like to keep him, but we could get by without Koffie.
This section will be easier to talk about as the offseason progresses, obviously.
Cropper vs. Knighton
Expanding own this narrative, Cody Cropper needs to be protected in the Expansion Draft. He looked solid in his debut during the finale. He's a US National Team prospect. He was given the #1 jersey when he signed, and I want him to go earn it. Knighton took the starting spot and never looked back this year. There's a competition to be had here. Knighton was very good this season, but Cropper has the potential to be better. He could be the long-term keeper for this team, and a top-tier one at that. Let these two duke it out in preseason.
Onto the awards...
MVP
Juan Agudelo made a late push, but Kelyn Rowe was the MVP of this team all year. He really started to show this when Heaps made the formation change, and the 24-year-old was played more centrally than in years past. It was a noticeable difference when he was in the game. When he was not, the Revs looked lost out there. He scored five and assisted seven, but the stats don't tell the whole story. He was a creator, the engine behind the Revs attack. Rowe was near the top of his game this season, and things might have been even worse without him there. He was also signed to a contract extension this year, meaning more to come from him.
Goal of the Year
All the way back to game #1 for this Diego beauty.
Celebration of the Year
Work work work work work work
WTF: @NERevolution striker Kei Kamara gets booked for twerking. 😂pic.twitter.com/0q1yWRDCKw— SPORF (@Sporf) October 24, 2016
Comeback Player of the YearKamara gets a yellow card for twerking. Which has to be an MLS first. pic.twitter.com/dyh58tZbD7— Total MLS (@TotalMLS) October 23, 2016
Not back from an injury, but back to the Juan we knew he could be.
Superstition of the Year
Revs went undefeated when Lee wore the headband this season. Not saying, but not not saying either. Stay woke.
The team awards announced on the final day of the season: MVP-Kelyn Rowe, Defender of the Year-Chris Tierney (led all MLS defenders in chances created [48] and combined crosses and corners [198], while he tied for first in big chances created [six]), Players' Player of the Year-Brad Knighton, Humanitarian of the Year-Kelyn Rowe (3rd consecutive year), Golden Boot-Juan Agudelo (7 goals tied with Kei Kamara, won on assists tie-breaker, five to two), Academy Player of the Year-Justin Rennicks (2nd consecutive year).
That just about does it for me. It has been quite the time covering this team this season. The few times I got out to a game were great as well. #TAILGATESZN countdown is already starting for next season, and it should be a great one. I'll post on the Revs whenever there's a big update, player moves, the Expansion Draft, etc. And I'll hopefully see you in the preseason. The two months of the regular season next year might get a little less coverage since I'll be in London and unable to watch games live, or at least at a decent hour. I'll try my best though.
Without further ado, cue the music one last time. Go Revs.
