The New England Revolution has always been that professional team in Massachusetts that lurks in the shadows of the others. While some may say that the team’s irrelevance is a consequence of soccer having no future in the United States, I respectfully disagree. Have you seen videos of other teams in the MLS and their insanely passionate fans? Well, if you haven't, I strongly suggest that you do. Soccer has a bright future in America; there's no doubt about it.
While the New England Revolution understandably have fewer fans than other teams in the MLS (they have historically been bad, Foxborough isn’t the right place for a stadium, Boston fans are already busy enough with other, more successful sports teams, etc.), maybe it's time to start giving the young MLS side some more attention--within 3 years, the Revs will be legitimate contenders to capture the MLS Cup.
One of the key steps towards waking up the dormant New England Revolution side was the appointment of new manager Brad Friedel in November of 2017. While this is the former USMNT goalkeeper’s first professional coaching stint, hiring a man with the playing experience and knowledge of Brad Friedel was ingenious on behalf of Revs General Manager Mike Burns.
Friedel, a USMNT legend pictured above, is as experienced as they get; he has over 450 Premier League appearances with teams such as Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa, and he’s also been on 3 United States World Cup squads. Since the day of his appointment, Friedel has repeatedly stated that his Revs team would see a new look in 2018, and it’s done just that--this past offseason, 11 Revs players were kicked to the curb while 11 others were given a new home for the 2018 season. Along with a new formation and a new style of play, the Revs are revamped and ready to make some noise.
These 11 acquisitions include academy product Isaac Angking, a Providence native who has been in New England’s youth academy for four years, Cristian Penilla, a pacy Ecuadorian winger, Wilfried Zahibo, a holding midfielder who was once receiving interest from top sides in Europe, and fullback Gabriel Somi, an arrival from Swedish club Östersunds FK.
After a rigorous preseason both on the training pitch and in the classroom, the Revolution have made a strong entrance in their 2018 campaign. Under Friedel, the Revolution play a strict 4-2-3-1 and put emphasis on moving the ball quickly and counter-attacking--a much more entertaining style of soccer, I must say, than that of former manager Jay Heaps.
Currently, the Revolution sit in fourth place in the Eastern Conference and sixth overall in the 23-team MLS with 14 points. For a group of new players under a new system and coaching staff, the young side can do nothing but improve from here. Teal Bunbury, a 28-year-old Canadian striker, leads the Revolution in goals with 4, and new acquisitions Cristian Penilla and Wilfried Zahibo lead in assists with 3 each.
I predict that after two straight seasons without a playoff appearance, the Revs will make it to the MLS Cup quarterfinals this year, which wouldn’t be too shabby for Friedel’s first year in charge. If the young Revs team matures well, develops as a unit, and is able to sign a few more key players (preferably veterans) in the ensuing offseason, look for the Revs to be serious, that’s right, serious, contenders for the MLS Cup within the next 3 years.
The Revolution may not be the team that no one cares about in Massachusetts, but I say that it’s about damn time. New England next plays on May 5th at 1 PM against the Montreal Impact at Saputo Stadium.
Written by Blaise Siefer, Concord MA
(Stats via transfrmarkt and MLSsoccer.com)
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