New England Revolution: Gustavo Bou goals are crucial to club
By Anthony Rotz
Gustavo Bou is crucial to the success of New England Revolution
If you’re looking for a sign of things to come, look no further than Gustavo Bou’s goals. Plucked from the River Plate reserves by Diego Simeone at 18, Gustavo Bou joined the Revolution from Liga MX side Club Tijuana for a club-record $7M with the potential to reach $16M with add-ons in July of 2019. With a higher transfer fee than a contemporary such as Seattle Sounders striker Raúl Ruidíaz, Bou was expected to provide a spark to a team desperate to win in the wake of the Bruce Arena hire.
After Bou’s signing, Arena was quoted by Frank Dell’Apa of The Boston Globe.
"“He gives us a real bit of quality in the attacking end of the field. He’s an attacking player. He’s not necessarily a 9 [center forward], not necessarily a 10 [midfield playmaker], but he’s an attacking player and he can help create goals, and we’re pleased to have him. He’s coming here with a great attitude and he can help us build a team that is better than the one we have.”"
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This has been evident in the attacker’s usage under Arena. New England has played him up top in a 4-4-2 and behind striker Adam Buska in a 4-2-3-1. Regardless of positioning, the 30-year old has found ways to score crucial goals.
While Bou hasn’t been as prolific a scorer as Ruidíaz, his contributions have played a massive role in the Revs resurgence. Using his movement and lethal free kicks, Bou has racked up 17 goals across 38 appearances.
Taking the Revolution from a team that missed the playoffs for three consecutive seasons to an appearance in the 2020 Eastern Conference Finals.
Each of those 17 goals has proved a dagger to the opposition as New England has yet to lose a game in which the well-traveled striker has scored. Whenever the former Tijuana-man scores, New England takes points.
Bou Worth The Bucks
Over the previous 38 matches before Bou’s arrival, the Revolution struggled to 10W-11D-17L. In the 38 matches since the Argentine’s arrival, Bruce Arena’s squad has improved to 15W-13D-10L, including back-to-back trips to the playoffs.
Most impressive is New England’s record when Bou finds the back of the net, 10W-6D-0L. The Rev refuse to lose when the versatile forward finds the back of the net. Scoring nine times in his first fifteen games and following that up with eight goals in 23 apps.
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Revolution supporters and Arena will be hoping for more, as 57% of matches New England has taken points from do involve a Bou goal. Is it Magic? Luck? Quantum physics? A glitch in the simulation? Only Bou Knows.