2018 Season Preview: New England Revolution

The New England Revolution, under new management, will look to improve defensively this year and clinch its first playoff berth since 2015.

The New England Revolution won just one road game all of last season, finishing out of playoff contention for the second straight season. After manager Jay Heaps was fired in mid-September, the Revs were in disarray. The offseason has been met with a slew of roster moves, injuries, and even a camp hold-out. But it seems the Revs are determined to put 2017 in the past and move on under new head coach Brad Friedel.

Recap of 2017

Can a new coach at the helm guide the Revs back to the playoffs for the first time since 2015?

Record: 13-15-6 (45 points)

Finishing Position: 7th place, Eastern Conference; 15th place, MLS Supporters’ Shield

Postseason: N/A

Despite finishing out of playoff contention, the Revs set a franchise record for most home victories in a season, going 12-2-3 at Gillette Stadium. It was on the road, however, where the Revs faltered, finishing just 1-13-3 away — the only win coming on the last day of the season.

There were numerous chances to win on the road: leading 3-0 at Seattle in a draw, or taking a 1-0 lead early in Dallas and New Jersey only to fall by a one-goal margin late. Early red cards ruined the Revs’ chances in Orlando, Atlanta, and Kansas City and complacency plagued New England in Colorado, D.C., and the Bronx.

Scoring wasn’t the issue for New England last season but defending. The Revolution’s 53 goals were tied for seventh-most in the league, while its 61 goals against was third-worst in MLS and the highest in the Eastern Conference.

Transfers OUT:

• ST Kei Kamara (trade)
• CDM Gershon Koffie (loan end)
• CDM Daigo Kobayashi (option declined)
• CM Donnie Smith (option declined)
• CDM  Xavier Kouassi (option declined)
• CB Benjamin Angoua (option declined)
• CB Josh Smith (option declined)
• FB Je-Vaughn Watson (option declined)
• FB London Woodberry (option declined)

The biggest shock was seeing the Revs decline the option on young center back Josh Smith. After getting the nod over Ben Angoua early in the year, Smith’s performance in a road draw at Portland was one of the highlights of the year for New England. However, a back injury hindered Smith late in the year. Other major losses include leading scorer Kei Kamara, designated player Xavier Kouassi, and defensive midfielder and fan favorite Gershon Koffie.

Transfers IN:

• FW Cristian Penilla (Loan, Pachuca)
• FW Brandon Bye (SuperDraft pick)
• MF Isaac Angking (HGP, Revs Academy)
• CDM Wilfried Zahibo (Transfer, Gimnastic)
• FB Gabriel Somi (Transfer, Ostersunds FK)
• CB Jalil Anibaba (Free Transfer)
• FB Mark Segbers (SuperDraft pick)
• CB Nicolas Samayoa (SuperDraft pick)

The biggest acquisition came in the form of defensive midfielder Wilfried Zahibo. The former Valencia prospect was once one of the top young commodities in Spain, but the lights of La Mestalla may have been a bit too bright. However, his arrival in MLS gives him a chance to restart his career.

New left-back Gabriel Somi is also a highly-touted new addition. His speed and two-way talent is something very rare in MLS. Somi was being courted by many top clubs in Sweden and Scotland, but a conversation with Brad Friedel persuaded Somi to head stateside.

There’s still a possibility some names are added to this list of incoming transfers before the season, as Friedel has hinted at some signings being completed with camp winding down.

Projected Starting XI for opening weekend:

One big emphasis for Brad Friedel’s new team is to play fast. Freidel has played several different formations in preseason. One formation that could work well for this team at full health is 4-3-3. Other possible formations include the 4-2-3-1 or perhaps even a 3-5-2. But for now, let’s keep it simple and look at the first one.

Another emphasis for Friedel was to be at least two-deep at each position, in which he has succeeded. At the back, Claude Dielna and Antonio Delamea will occupy the middle. The duo will not only anchor the team defensively but will also fill a leadership role. Both Dielna and Delamea are smart, physical defenders who aren’t afraid to get involved in the play. The full-backs, Gabriel Somi and Andrew Farrell, should act more like wing-backs in Friedel’s squad. Somi and Farrell are extremely athletic and fast, both with the ability to swing in crosses.

The midfield will consist of Wilfried Zahibo acting as CDM and Diego Fagundez and Kelyn Rowe as the other two attacking midfielders. Where’s Lee Nguyen, you ask? As soon as he is fit enough, he will fill Kelyn Rowe’s spot on the left and Rowe could move just about anywhere on the field. It’s a good problem to have if you’re New England and one that hadn’t materialized under Jay Heaps.

Up front, Juan Agudelo will certainly be the starting striker with Krisztian Nemeth as the right-wing. On the left, both Teal Bunbury and Cristian Penilla have made their case to fill the starting role. Bunbury will likely begin the year as a starter, with Penilla first off the bench. However, that situation could change quickly the way Penilla has inserted himself into the squad.

2018 Prediction

I should probably have learned my lesson by now, but against all odds, I’m setting the expectations high for this New England team. A new, motivated coach with a squad willing to accept his message is something that has been missing in New England for the past three seasons.

Next: Ranking the top ten stadiums in MLS

Despite a pair of consecutive down years, New England has finished seventh the past two seasons, each time in the mix for the playoffs until the final weeks. There’s no reason why the Revs can’t contend for one of the final playoff spots in the East this season. However, until New England wins a road game on American soil — a streak dating back to October 2015 — there is reason to doubt what this team is capable of accomplishing.

Predicted Finishing Position: 5th in Eastern Conference