The Revolution might be televised (if there is an MLS 2015 season). Barring a work stoppage, the start of 2015 Major League Soccer is right around the corner. Can’t remember back to October? No worries as the ‘plex has got you covered with previews of all 20 MLS teams.
Quick Numbers
2014 Record: 17-13-4, 55 points
Conference Standing: 2nd Place
League Standing: 5th Place
Finish: Lost to the Los Angeles Galaxy at MLS Cup 2014
Top Scorer: Lee Nguyen (18)
Top Play-Maker: Nguyen
Greatest Moment Last Season: The long painful process of rebuilding was finally complete when the club beat the New York Red Bulls and made it back to the MLS Cup for the first time since 2007.
Key Players: Jermaine Jones-His acquisition late last year galvanized the Revolution (2 goals, 10 appearances) and helped give them that veteran holding midfielder that the club lacked. Jones also worked really well with skipper Jose Goncalves on defense, forcing teams to go wide.
At 33, Jones really has not slowed down much and given that he will have had an off-season of rest he should have a strong 2015 campaign.
Lee Nguyen-Possibly one of the best attacking midfielders in all of Major League Soccer (18 goals, 5 assists) Nguyen seems to be entering his prime. Aside from his scoring touch, it his pace and ability to always find an open teammate that makes him such a dangerous player.
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The big question for Nguyen will be if he can replicate his 2014 form. His previous high for goals scored was 5 in 2012 and while no one should expect him to go back to that mark, he will be covered more tightly by defenses. The club does have scoring options outside of Nguyen. But since Nguyen orchestrates the attack his decision to shoot or pass will be critical to the team’s scoring success in 2015.
Juan Agudelo, Teal Bunbury, and Charlie Davies-Nguyen’s top three targets up front should benefit from his passes all season long. Revolution coach Jay Heaps liked to mix and match Bunbury (4 goals, 31 appearances) and Davies (3 goals, 18 appearances) in the starting eleven last year. Expect more of the same as the two have very similar attributes, although Davies is a bit faster.
Agudelo is the key for success for the New England Revolution in 2015. If he can shake off the rust from essentially sitting the fall 2014 season and regain his 2013 form (9 goals, 20 appearances with New England and Chivas USA) then he could give the Revolution an option inside that they desperately needed last year.
Key Departure:
A.J. Soares-One has to wonder if Soares would have left the Revolution had he learned that he would not be going to play in the Serie A. For those who were taking a nap on the Cape this off-season: Soares went on trial with Hellas Verona this off-season hoping to sign a contract with the Italian club. However, he was never able to come to terms with the team partially due to the club signing former MLS legend Rafa Marquez.
Although Soares could have come back to the Revolution (they retain his rights) he opted to sign with Norwegian side Viking. No matter where he signed, the Soares loss hurts a defense was just coming together at the end of the season. Without Soares, Heaps will likely shift Andrew Farrell to the center-back position. That leaves the right-back position wide open with Kevin Alston (16 starts in 2014) and Darrius Barnes (9 starts) fighting for the spot.
The Big Question For 2015: Can They Win The MLS Cup?
The New England Revolution have made the MLS Cup 5 times and each time the club has come up empty-handed. Although they are not nearly as infamous as the New York Red Bulls/Metrostars for their lack of success losing 5 times in the title match is a bit of a hard pill to swallow. Thankfully they can hang their tri-cornered hats on winning the 2007 Open Cup.
Given that they play in the weaker of the two Conferences, New England will have a very good chance at making the MLS Cup once again.