Rider Insider

Revs v. Hoops Preview

Despite what the front office and most of the media want you think, the Revs actually have a match this Friday against FC Dallas. Sure it starts at 6:30 pm and if you’re going straight from work you’ll likely miss more than a few minutes of action but we get to see the mighty Brazil right? Just make sure you save enough money for $40 parking and gas to idle in the parking lot for three hours after the match.

I, for one, will not be attending this match. I find the whole ordeal far too stressful and I would have to adjust my normal game day routine far too much for a team (Brazil) that I really don’t care about. I will be on my couch, with a beer (Coors Light perhaps) relaxing and enjoying what should be a competitive match.

Last time these two clubs met up it was in Frisco, TX and the Revs had reached rock bottom as far as injuries were concerned. They came out in a rare 4-4-2, Khano Smith netted a well-taken goal, and then the patchwork backline and Matt Reis buckled down and held on for the win.

I expect different things from this match with the Revs having almost their entire compliment of players (Taylor Twellman not withstanding) at their disposal. FC Dallas is also in a bit of a slump, only winning one of their last five matches.

I see this as a match where the Revs break out of their home field funk, they are only 2-2-1 in the cavernous Gillette Stadium but are a surprising 4-1-1 on the road. A home and away split like that is a true rarity in the MLS. The Revs will be in their more comfortable 3-5-2 and should be able to dictate the middle of the pitch thanks to Shalrie Joseph. Joseph’s last match against Dallas was one of his best of the season and I don’t see any one player on the Hoops roster that could cause the big man from Grenada any problems.

The only potential issue I see for the Revs is containing Kenny Cooper who will look to use his size and surprising agility to get the better of the Revs defense and the smaller Michael Parkhurst. The size advantage that Parkhurst gives away is always something that people point to as a cause for concern but in his stellar career I can’t think of one time where Parkhurst’s lack of size has hurt the Revs in any way.

BOLD PREDICTION: With Parkhurst shutting down Cooper and Joseph dictating the tempo I am confident in predicting a 2-0 victory for the Revs.

News and Notes

This past weekend, Steve Nicol and Paul Mariner were on hand for Honduras and Venezuela’s 1-1 draw and Panama’s 1-0 defeat over Guatemala at Lockhart Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale. According to a source, the scouting trip unearthed one defender that the Revs were very interested in signing. Unfortunately after a short pursuit of that player he was deemed too pricey for any further negotiations to continue. Georgie Welcome, the U-23 Honduran striker who has been linked to the Revs did not play for the senior team over the weekend.

It is quite clear that a defender has been a priority for Nicol as of late. Just a few days back from this scouting trip he pulled the trigger on a different deal to bring in defender Pat Phelan from Toronto. Before Phalen’s arrival, the first man off the bench, as far as defenders are concerned, was 19 year-old Amaechi Igwe. Igwe has played well in limited time this season but after him the waters are dangerously untested. With our strike force showing surprising depth and our midfield still the strength of our squad I have no problem with Nicol going out and trying to sure up the team. Adding a young untested in rookie Phelan is a good move for the future but if the ever present injury bug strikes again there is no one tested enough to step into the backline and aid in a playoff push that Revs fans have come to expect.

Saturday League News

My Saturday League side, Groton House FC, is in action this Saturday at 10 am in Franklin, Massachusetts at EMC Field. We’re looking to put together back to back wins for the first time this season and continue to distance ourselves from the relegation battle. This is a rebuilding year for us and a mid-table finish would be a fine accomplishment. Come on you Groton Housers! You can follow our progress in Division 2 all season long on bssl.com.