New England Revolution: 2020 Preview – Playoff-Bound again?
By Matt Coles
Offseason Summary
Squad Retention
The New England Revolution will be looking at the likes of Argentina’s Gustavo Bou and American Teal Bunbury to provide the attacking threat, with help from Canadian prodigy Tajon Buchanan, part of the Generation Adidas programme.
Carles Gil will be aiming to repeat his success from 2019, where he was the club’s best player, while the side has also managed to keep hold of the South American duo of Cristian Penilla and Luis Caicedo, who can both chip in with goals.
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Between the sticks, Matt Turner and Brad Knighton will remain as the No.1 and No.2 for the Revolution in 2020, with a solid backline in front them, which will continue to include Brandon Bye and Slovenian centre-half Antonio Delamea Mlinar.
Transfers & SuperDraft Picks
The club saw eight players leave over the course of the off-season, including three forwards. Juan Fernando Caicedo’s loan period ended, and he returned to Independiente Medellin in his home nation of Colombia, while Juan Agudelo made the move to 2020 MLS rookies Inter Miami CF. Brian Wright also left the club, moving down a division to join Legion FC in the USL Championship.
Midfielder Zacahry Herivaux also moved down to the USLC, signing for San Antonio FC, while goalkeeper Cody Cropper made the move to Houston Dynamo on a free transfer.
New England also lost three defenders, two of whom were in their best XI from the 2019 campaign. Jalil Anibaba was taken by Nashville SC in the 2019 MLS Expansion Draft, while left-back Edgar Castillo was signed by Atlanta United on a free transfer. Samba Camara also left the club, moving back to Europe with Sivasspor in the Turkish Süper Lig.
The Revolution’s big-money signing ahead of the 2020 term is Polish forward Adam Buksa, bringing him in from Pogon Szczecin on a deal worth $5million. New England also brought in another experienced European in left-back Alexander Büttner, who had been without a club. The defender is mainly known for spells with Anderlecht, Vitesse Arnhem and two seasons with English giants Manchester United.
Along with the two big-name deals, the Revs also added American experience as well, bringing in Seth Sinovic from Sporting KC and Kelyn Rowe from Real Salt Lake, both on free transfers.
New England had three picks in the first two rounds of the 2020 MLS SuperDraft, acquiring all three picks from other clubs ahead of the event. They acquired the No.6 overall pick from Sporting Kansas City via a trade which took place in June 2018, and with it, they selected Virginia defender Henry Kessler.
With the 30th overall pick, which was acquired in a 2017 trade with Vancouver, they selected Cal defender Simon Lekressner, before picking High Point goalkeeper Keegan Meyer at #43 overall, after acquiring the spot after a trade with D.C. United.