In this week's episode, the curse of the second microphone crept into the playback, but the content is all good as Hank, Sean and Brian discuss the game against San Jose, the 5 man midfield, Pat Phelan as Center Back, and the state of the New England Revolution roster.
Showing posts with label MLS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MLS. Show all posts
Episode 14 - The Midnight Ride Returns
Hank, Sean and Brian return to the airwaves despite annoying technical difficulties and audio issues. This week's discussion includes a recap of last week's game vs LA, and a quick look at this week's game against DC. Also, who will be the left back and more importantly, why do the Revs now have 5 left sided midfielders?
WWND - What Will Nicol do?
Looking ahead to the 2010 MLS SuperDraft this Thursday in Philadelphia, one would think that the Revs would go for a top notch striker in the first round, right?
After watching the New England Revolution over the last two seasons, it has become increasingly obvious to even the casual fan that the team needs help up front. And with your top two goal scorers from 2008 starting 2009 on the injured list, you would think that the Revolution would have added some support to the forward line during the off season last year. Well they didn't and they were forced to move Shalrie Joseph into a more attacking role, a move which paid off in terms of goals scored (he led the team with 9) but the midfield suffered as a result.
So you would think that the Revs, learning from the experience of last season, that they need to pick up a goal scorer in the draft, right? Once bitten,twice shy?
Nope. Here's why.
As discussed in depth and ad nauseum on the latest episode of The Midnight Ride Podcast, the Revolution have big gaping holes on the roster, and not just at forward. At Goalkeeper, they have lost Brad Knighton in the expansion draft to the Philadelphia Union, and Matt Reis has undergone rotator cuff surgery. In the back line they have lost a key defenseman in veteran Jay Heaps who has decided to retire. Another cause for concern will be the absence of regular starting midfielders Jeff Larentowicz, who is probably going to leave the team as his contract is up, and Steve Ralston, who is recovering from an ACL injury. Twellman's injury status is still questionable -and when you consider the lack of goals scored by the forwards (10 goals total - not including Twellman's 100th and 101st- a contibution of less than 33% of the team's total), and the likelihood that forward Edgaras Jankauskas is not returning to the team, you have to wonder where the goals are going to come from (the Revs scored only 33 goals last year - second to last in the league).
And while the last point is probably the most critical toward the team's success, it is also the chief reason why the Revolution should NOT draft a forward/striker in the first round this Thursday.
The chief reason is this: The Revs need instant offense. New England can not afford to wait for a goal scorer to develop the way that other teams with deeper forward lines can. And while there is undeniable talent available in the draft at the forward position, history has shown that Forwards taken in the draft have not paid instant dividends and in some cases have not paid off at all.
If you look at last years draft, there were three forwards taken in the first round. Zakuani (4 goals) was taken first by Seattle, a team that had depth at the forward position with Montero and Jaqua. Marosevic (0 goals) was taken by Dallas who started the season with Cooper and Cunningham. O'Brian White (2 Goals) taken by Toronto FC who although they struggled to score goals, on paper they were very deep at Forward. So from the top three picks at the forward position, a grand total of 6 goals over the course of the season.
The prior drafts were not much better. Patrick Nyarko, who appears to be coming into his own with the Chicago Fire, has still only scored 5 goals in his career - 4 of them in his second year. The two forwards picked in first round in 2007 draft are not even in the league. The only forward from the draft that has found success in the league is outlier Robbie Findley, who as a second round pick has 26 goals in three seasons.
So the point I am making in a rather round about way is the best way for the Revs to get offense is to look outside the draft; either by trade, or by free agent acquisition. If they were to pick up someone like Ryan Johnson (11 goals with San Jose), they would be providing Kheli Dube or Twellman (if he's healthy) with a formidable striking partner up front. The Revolution still have a designated player spot available to them as well, which they could use to attract a big name, perhaps from South America or Central America, which could also help fill the seats.
And most importantly, by looking outside the draft for help at forward, The Revs could then focus on other areas of the team where the draft has proven successful for them: Namely, Defense (See Barnes, Alston) and Midfield (Dempsey, Dorman).
After watching the New England Revolution over the last two seasons, it has become increasingly obvious to even the casual fan that the team needs help up front. And with your top two goal scorers from 2008 starting 2009 on the injured list, you would think that the Revolution would have added some support to the forward line during the off season last year. Well they didn't and they were forced to move Shalrie Joseph into a more attacking role, a move which paid off in terms of goals scored (he led the team with 9) but the midfield suffered as a result.
So you would think that the Revs, learning from the experience of last season, that they need to pick up a goal scorer in the draft, right? Once bitten,twice shy?
Nope. Here's why.
As discussed in depth and ad nauseum on the latest episode of The Midnight Ride Podcast, the Revolution have big gaping holes on the roster, and not just at forward. At Goalkeeper, they have lost Brad Knighton in the expansion draft to the Philadelphia Union, and Matt Reis has undergone rotator cuff surgery. In the back line they have lost a key defenseman in veteran Jay Heaps who has decided to retire. Another cause for concern will be the absence of regular starting midfielders Jeff Larentowicz, who is probably going to leave the team as his contract is up, and Steve Ralston, who is recovering from an ACL injury. Twellman's injury status is still questionable -and when you consider the lack of goals scored by the forwards (10 goals total - not including Twellman's 100th and 101st- a contibution of less than 33% of the team's total), and the likelihood that forward Edgaras Jankauskas is not returning to the team, you have to wonder where the goals are going to come from (the Revs scored only 33 goals last year - second to last in the league).
And while the last point is probably the most critical toward the team's success, it is also the chief reason why the Revolution should NOT draft a forward/striker in the first round this Thursday.
The chief reason is this: The Revs need instant offense. New England can not afford to wait for a goal scorer to develop the way that other teams with deeper forward lines can. And while there is undeniable talent available in the draft at the forward position, history has shown that Forwards taken in the draft have not paid instant dividends and in some cases have not paid off at all.
If you look at last years draft, there were three forwards taken in the first round. Zakuani (4 goals) was taken first by Seattle, a team that had depth at the forward position with Montero and Jaqua. Marosevic (0 goals) was taken by Dallas who started the season with Cooper and Cunningham. O'Brian White (2 Goals) taken by Toronto FC who although they struggled to score goals, on paper they were very deep at Forward. So from the top three picks at the forward position, a grand total of 6 goals over the course of the season.
The prior drafts were not much better. Patrick Nyarko, who appears to be coming into his own with the Chicago Fire, has still only scored 5 goals in his career - 4 of them in his second year. The two forwards picked in first round in 2007 draft are not even in the league. The only forward from the draft that has found success in the league is outlier Robbie Findley, who as a second round pick has 26 goals in three seasons.
So the point I am making in a rather round about way is the best way for the Revs to get offense is to look outside the draft; either by trade, or by free agent acquisition. If they were to pick up someone like Ryan Johnson (11 goals with San Jose), they would be providing Kheli Dube or Twellman (if he's healthy) with a formidable striking partner up front. The Revolution still have a designated player spot available to them as well, which they could use to attract a big name, perhaps from South America or Central America, which could also help fill the seats.
And most importantly, by looking outside the draft for help at forward, The Revs could then focus on other areas of the team where the draft has proven successful for them: Namely, Defense (See Barnes, Alston) and Midfield (Dempsey, Dorman).
Midnight Ride - Revolution Recap Ep. 2
Hank Alexandre (Midnight Ride) and Sean Donahue (Revolution Recap) combine forces once again to bring to you hard core cutting edge insight to the New England Revolution.
This week Hank and Sean go off on the debacle that was last week's game and why Wells Thompson is still starting over Mauricio Castro, plus we take a look at the rest of the games for the Revolution as well as the rest of the league as we break down various playoff scenarios.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD!
Hank: revsmidnightride [at] gmail.com or follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/midnightrevs
Sean: revoulutionrecap [at] gmail.com or http://www.facebook.com/pages/Revolution-Recap/
This week Hank and Sean go off on the debacle that was last week's game and why Wells Thompson is still starting over Mauricio Castro, plus we take a look at the rest of the games for the Revolution as well as the rest of the league as we break down various playoff scenarios.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD!
Hank: revsmidnightride [at] gmail.com or follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/midnightrevs
Sean: revoulutionrecap [at] gmail.com or http://www.facebook.com/pages/Revolution-Recap/
Time for a new Ride....
Hank Alexandre of the Midnight Ride and Sean Donahue of Revolution Recap collaborate in a return to the airwaves. If you missed the live broadcast on USTREAM, download this podcast - sure to be a collectors item.
The Midnight Ride is collaborating with Revolution Recap and is finally back on the interwebs. Thanks to Sean Donahue of Revolution Recap for carrying the show as I worked through my technical issues. Let us know what you think of the new format as Sean and I work out the kinks and come up with a name for this burgeoning disaster.
Hope you enjoy the show.
Hank revsmidnightride [at] gmail.com or follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/midnightrevs
Sean revoulutionrecap [at] gmail.com
The Midnight Ride is collaborating with Revolution Recap and is finally back on the interwebs. Thanks to Sean Donahue of Revolution Recap for carrying the show as I worked through my technical issues. Let us know what you think of the new format as Sean and I work out the kinks and come up with a name for this burgeoning disaster.
Hope you enjoy the show.
Hank revsmidnightride [at] gmail.com or follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/midnightrevs
Sean revoulutionrecap [at] gmail.com
SuperLiga or Open Cup? What's your preference?
Personally - even though I was proud of the way the team battled back in the 2008 tournament to tie the game and win it in PK - I have always thought SuperLiga was a sham. When the first teams were announced back in 2007 and LA was included over New England (New England was second in the east, and LA was second from bottom in the west) it was clear to me that it was all a way to sell more David Beckham Shirts.
What gets me is SUM is willing to sponsor this bogus tournament and yet wont put any money into the Open Cup. Nowadays, most MLS teams these days use as an excuse to get their bench players some game time, but this tournament used to have a lot of appeal (especially when the Revs won it in 2007).
With the reduced roster size MLS teams are struggling to field players for these events along with league play - and if you add the Champions League also in the mix - you just get a ton of fixture congestion that most MLS sides can't keep up with as was the case with the Revs last year.
So which tournament means more to YOU and why? Let me know and I'll read your responses on my podcast.
What gets me is SUM is willing to sponsor this bogus tournament and yet wont put any money into the Open Cup. Nowadays, most MLS teams these days use as an excuse to get their bench players some game time, but this tournament used to have a lot of appeal (especially when the Revs won it in 2007).
With the reduced roster size MLS teams are struggling to field players for these events along with league play - and if you add the Champions League also in the mix - you just get a ton of fixture congestion that most MLS sides can't keep up with as was the case with the Revs last year.
So which tournament means more to YOU and why? Let me know and I'll read your responses on my podcast.
Questioning Steve Nicol's Tactics
I have never been one to criticize the coach, but I have to wonder what Steve Nicol was trying to accomplish last night - and why he continues to play Shalrie as Striker - yes I know Shalrie scored a goal.... but that was practically a set piece (in fact it was the rebound from the set piece corner kick that led to the goal) and Shalrie always runs forward and scores most of his goals of the cross into the box - so you can't tell me that Shalrie as striker is working. Yes - It WAS a good idea when Ralston was still OUT - but now he's healthy and playing - so why continue?
Also with the lack of width on the pitch - Mansally and Nyassi were basically handcuffed from the get go. My preferred lineup would have been play a midfield of Tierney - Shalrie - Larentowicz - Thomson and clog up the middle. Play Dube or Mansally up top with Ralston and leave Shalrie in the midfield.
But After Osei went out with the red card, Nicol could have brought back Shalrie to the midfield and played Mansally up top with Ralston, and instead of using Dube - put on Tierney, Thompson, or even Videira, to keep the play clogged up the middle.
Instead he put on Dube for Phelan - when the game was already lost. A last gasp effort to manage some offense? Too little too late.
The game was not lost with the red card fellas... Nicol could have restructured the lineup to play for the draw.
Also with the lack of width on the pitch - Mansally and Nyassi were basically handcuffed from the get go. My preferred lineup would have been play a midfield of Tierney - Shalrie - Larentowicz - Thomson and clog up the middle. Play Dube or Mansally up top with Ralston and leave Shalrie in the midfield.
But After Osei went out with the red card, Nicol could have brought back Shalrie to the midfield and played Mansally up top with Ralston, and instead of using Dube - put on Tierney, Thompson, or even Videira, to keep the play clogged up the middle.
Instead he put on Dube for Phelan - when the game was already lost. A last gasp effort to manage some offense? Too little too late.
The game was not lost with the red card fellas... Nicol could have restructured the lineup to play for the draw.
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