Revolution getting creative - The Boston Globe
I have been talking a lot about depth this season, and how nice it is to have it. Looks like we may be testing that depth a bit more than anticipated this summer.
Kenny Mansally and Kheli Dube are slated to start again this weekend against Columbus, with Taylor Twellman out for another few weeks while he is nursing his ankle.
After that however, it gets a bit more shallow in the available forwards' end of the pool.
Mansally has been called up for National Team duty with The Gambia...no word on Sainey Nyassi yet. That leaves Dube, Adam Cristman, and rookies Spencer Wadsworth, and Joe Germanese as potential backups.
Mansally, despite his low goal production this spring, has been Nicol's number one choice at striker since the beginning of the season while Twellman recovered from Surgery. The pair were set to be a lethal tandem at the front, pushing 2nd year Cristman to the substitute's bench as the backup.
Cristman has since moved even further down in the pecking order with the emergence of Dube. Last week, it was Dube that got the start in Twellman's absence. Cristman only saw limited minutes against San Jose at the end of the game.
Last year, Cristman was the first choice as a replacement, filling in for both Noonan and Twellman while they split time on the injured list. This year it is a different story for Cristman. Even when Twellman was so obviously injured in his first match of the season, Cristman stayed on the bench, leaving Twellman on the field, noticeably hobbling. Apparently Nicol thought an injured Twellman was better than a rested Cristman.
Well, Cristman will have his chance again, as Mansally will be out till the end of June, and Twellman returning mid month. He would do well to make the most of it, or he may end up playing somewhere else.
Two new signings make for interesting developments up front
New England Revolution
With the additions of Joe Germanese and Brandon Manzonelli, the Revolution are adding more and more depth at positions where they don't really need it.
The midfield is already full with new additions Castro and Nyassi, relegating last years starters Thompson and Smith to the bench.
The forwards are also looking solid with Kheli Dube and Adam Cristman backing up Twellman and Kenny Mansally.
With the additions of Joe Germanese and Brandon Manzonelli, the Revolution are adding more and more depth at positions where they don't really need it.
The midfield is already full with new additions Castro and Nyassi, relegating last years starters Thompson and Smith to the bench.
The forwards are also looking solid with Kheli Dube and Adam Cristman backing up Twellman and Kenny Mansally.
Thoughts on a convincing home win
Just watched the game again on DVR.... and I have to say despite Wells Thompson's improved defense, Sainey Nyassi better get the start on Saturday. It was hard to see him on the flanks from where I was sitting in the stands, but watching him on TV I am reminded of how good he is. He is so explosive, and his energy seems to feed Mansally as well. With Twellman possibly coming back, we'll have to see who partners with him up front.
My thoughts on starting line up...I'd like to see a four man back line against Columbus. They will be able to exploit our midfield a lot easier than Chivas or San Jose did, mainly because they are better. But the smart money is on Nicol playing a 3-5-2.
---------------------------Reis
------Albright------------Parky--------------Heaps
-----------------Big Red ---------- Shalrie
Nyassi ------------------ Ralston ------------ Castro
-----------Twellman (Dube)--- Mansally
My four man configuration would be pull Larentowicz for Igwe, put him in left back and partner Heaps with Parkhurst in the center.
Also - my man of the match would be a tie between Shalrie and Ralston. Both were everywhere they needed to be and played both sides of the ball very well.
Ryan Johnson for San Jose (formerly of Boston) came on in the second half and also impressed - our defense did a good job limiting his chances, but he is a big strong kid and did well to get open a couple of times.
My thoughts on starting line up...I'd like to see a four man back line against Columbus. They will be able to exploit our midfield a lot easier than Chivas or San Jose did, mainly because they are better. But the smart money is on Nicol playing a 3-5-2.
---------------------------Reis
------Albright------------Parky--------------Heaps
-----------------Big Red ---------- Shalrie
Nyassi ------------------ Ralston ------------ Castro
-----------Twellman (Dube)--- Mansally
My four man configuration would be pull Larentowicz for Igwe, put him in left back and partner Heaps with Parkhurst in the center.
Also - my man of the match would be a tie between Shalrie and Ralston. Both were everywhere they needed to be and played both sides of the ball very well.
Ryan Johnson for San Jose (formerly of Boston) came on in the second half and also impressed - our defense did a good job limiting his chances, but he is a big strong kid and did well to get open a couple of times.
Crashing back down to Earth ...
or also called REALITY BITES
After long last, our season has finally started, and already I have experienced the thrill of victory and the agony of the FEET.
I am of course talking about the loss to the hated Chicago Fire. After a thrilling victory in our season opener against Houston, in which the Revs did everything right... last night the Revs managed to completely do everything wrong. They completly fell apart as they were dismantled by the Fire 4-0 (with all goals being scored in the first 40 minutes).
What a totally pathetic and pitiful performance by the Revs, and exceptionally poor defending by Parkhurst and Albright, and even more exceptionally poor judgement by Steve Nicol. After the red card to Larentowicz (a bit extreme, don't you think?) Nicol should have immediately gone to a 4-4-1. And while I agree Khano Smith was the man to come off, Chase Hilgenbrinck should have come on for Smith, and move Castro out left and Mansally into the middle with Joseph. Gary Flood was not the right choice to come on. He was AWFUL the first half and never touched the ball. He did improve after Hilgenbrinck came on - but at the expense of Kenny Mansally, thereby limiting our offense.
After Hilgenbrinck came on, the Revs settled down and made some good runs down the wing courtesy of Nyassi. But Chicago is one of those teams that had effectively exploited the 3-5-2 last year... and after the first goal it should have been apparent that they were going to do it again... The onslaught could have been avoided early if Nicol had moved Larentowicz back to partner with Parkhurst after the first goal as a fourth defender, and he probably would not have been ejected because he would have been playing a bit further back.
lord I have a headache.
And why weren't they wearing their lucky white shirts?
After long last, our season has finally started, and already I have experienced the thrill of victory and the agony of the FEET.
I am of course talking about the loss to the hated Chicago Fire. After a thrilling victory in our season opener against Houston, in which the Revs did everything right... last night the Revs managed to completely do everything wrong. They completly fell apart as they were dismantled by the Fire 4-0 (with all goals being scored in the first 40 minutes).
What a totally pathetic and pitiful performance by the Revs, and exceptionally poor defending by Parkhurst and Albright, and even more exceptionally poor judgement by Steve Nicol. After the red card to Larentowicz (a bit extreme, don't you think?) Nicol should have immediately gone to a 4-4-1. And while I agree Khano Smith was the man to come off, Chase Hilgenbrinck should have come on for Smith, and move Castro out left and Mansally into the middle with Joseph. Gary Flood was not the right choice to come on. He was AWFUL the first half and never touched the ball. He did improve after Hilgenbrinck came on - but at the expense of Kenny Mansally, thereby limiting our offense.
After Hilgenbrinck came on, the Revs settled down and made some good runs down the wing courtesy of Nyassi. But Chicago is one of those teams that had effectively exploited the 3-5-2 last year... and after the first goal it should have been apparent that they were going to do it again... The onslaught could have been avoided early if Nicol had moved Larentowicz back to partner with Parkhurst after the first goal as a fourth defender, and he probably would not have been ejected because he would have been playing a bit further back.
lord I have a headache.
And why weren't they wearing their lucky white shirts?
Revolution Draft Wrap Up
So with the 5 picks in the MLS super draft, the Revolution selected 2 defenders, and three midfielders (ALL FROM DUKE). Plus they aquired veteran defender Chris Albright from the LA Galaxy in exchange for allocation money (which just makes the Galaxy stronger in my opinion)....
But the point is Steve Nicol and the Revs are obviously focused on strengthening the defense and the midfield. It became clear last season that the Revs lacked an effective attacking central midfielder. Despite the somewhat limited success of moving Ralston in the middle, it was merely a stop gap measure until the end of the season until Nicol and crew could find a replacement for the exiting Andy Dorman. Also with burgeoning interest in Parkhurst and Avery John, and the Revolution's tendency to give up late goals, the defense needed some bolstering as well.
The Revs added two 6 footers to their relatively small defensive core yesterday, Rob Valentino - a stand out from San Francisco, and Matthew Britner, a canadian born defender from Brown.
The three midfielders from Duke (Videira , Germanse, and Spenser Wadsworth) will certainly not all make the squad, but will provide some depth at attacking midfielder and also challenge the current squad to work hard for their positions.
Overall the draft was lacking in strong forwards (only one taken in the first round), but very deep in defense and midfield. I was not surprised that the Revs did not take another keeper, but with the recent injury problems to Twellman and only Cristman in reserve at the moment, I was surprised they didn't make a move for a forward. Perhaps they are hoping that prep star Jose Angulo will be ready for the big time.
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