New Coach, same old problems in New England
After naming Brad Friedel the new coach for the New England Revolution, the club still has failed to address the main problems plaguing the organization.
The New England Revolution finally made the appointment of their seventh head coach in franchise history official on Thursday. For Tottenham Hotspur and the United States Men’s National Team goalkeeping legend Brad Friedel will take over coaching duties for the Revs.
Friedel, unlike his predecessor, comes into Foxborough without any prior ties to the Revolution. This marks a change of heart for New England ownership, electing to search outside its community for a coach.
A fresh mind on the sideline brings some relief for the Revs. Friedel’s analytic approach and patience could foreshadow major positive changes for the Revs.
However, this decision ultimately solves nothing.
DEFENSIVE MINDED
Friedel is the second straight coach hired by the Revolution without any prior coaching experience. Much like Jay Heaps, Friedel will need to learn and adjust on the fly in what is becoming a highly competitive MLS.
Hiring Friedel fails to switch from the defensive-minded head coaching trend for the Revs. Ever since the MLS used run-up shootouts to settle ties, the Revs have hired coaches with a defensive mindset. Walter Zenga, Fernando Clavijo, Steve Nicol, Jay Heaps, Tom Soehn, and now Brad Friedel all played defensive positions before coaching.
Tactically, this immediately raises a red flag. The Revs have run the same systems and formation for years. With another defensive-minded coach at the helm, it doesn’t appear the Revs are ready to change up their scheme.
BURNS OUT
Though Heaps was a major contributor to the issues with the club, he was by no means the root of the problem. General Manager Mike Burns has had a less than positive influence on the Revs since his hiring, botching several signings and failing to address club needs.
Much of Brad Friedel’s success will depend upon the help he gets from the higher-ups like Burns. In the past, this has doomed coaches like Heaps and Nicol, setting up Friedel for failure.
If Burns and the Revs front office fail to meet the needs of their new head coach on the transfer market, then the coaching change itself was irrelevant. Though it was time for a change on the field, new faces in the front office are long overdue. As long as Burns is in charge, his unwillingness to help his coaches succeed will continue to plague the organization.
DEVELOPMENT ISSUES
Aside from the leadership problems, the Revs currently have no system in place for developing players. While the Revs academy has seen variable success, there are no reserve teams or USL affiliations for the Revs to allow its younger players to develop.
New England sent youngsters Brian Wright, Zach Herivaux, and Matt Turner on brief loan spells to USL teams last season. There wasn’t much of a chance for those players to develop in one or two games with unfamiliar teams.
The Revs need to implement some sort of development system to ensure its draft picks and academy players don’t stunt in their development. That responsibility should fall on Friedel, a person who understands the importance of developing young talent.
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POSITIVES
Bringing Friedel aboard isn’t completely a bust. For starters, his analytical approach and international experience are paramount for such a young club. His fresh presence on the sideline could have a lasting impact on the club in 2018 and beyond.
As a goalkeeper, Friedel sees the game from a different perspective. His knowledge will undoubtedly help Cody Cropper and Brad Knighton improve in goal, but can also put the defense in a proper position to succeed.
In the end, Friedel as a coach will probably be a huge improvement on the sidelines for the Revs. But until the front office decides to change things up and a development system is in place, the same problems will persist in New England.