Revolution Roster Updates: Simms In, Lekic Out
by Corey E. Major on Dec 23, 2011 10:28 PM EST
in Revolution News
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The holidays are upon us and I'm beginning to think that I won't be getting anything from my Revs Christmas wishlist this year. While other teams are signing international players and brand new soccer stadiums are being built, Revs fans are settling for some stocking stuffers this year--and I guess a little coal, too.
Today the Revolution announced that they have signed defensive midfielder Clyde Simms to a new, undisclosed deal. Simms, who spent the last seven years with DC United, was selected by the Revs in the second stage of the re-entry draft earlier this month. The Revolution's other two re-entry draft selections, Danleigh Borman and Nate Jaqua, have yet to agree to terms with the club.
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Agree about Lekic
He frustrated me at times but I liked him much more when paired with Caraglio. I’m disappointed with the owners, again..as I’m sure every Revs fan is. Like you said, other teams are building new stadiums and adding international players..and we have only added a bench player and most likely gotten rid of 3 players who would have helped us from being the worst team for another year.
Here’s to hoping January brings in some great signings.
by Lawn Wranglers on Dec 24, 2011 10:45 AM EST reply actions
What is the vision?
I know that we should not judge Billelo/Burns/Heaps team until the team takes the field in March but it is very to see how any decision so far has made the team better (Joseph as DP kept the team at the same level).
So I am scratching my head wondering what the big picture will be.
I know that a soccer specific stadium will never happen. I know that no marquee name will never want to play here. So I hope we get second level signees who can play (A la Zerka who we cut).
If not, we can always become red bull supporters and follow them at distance …..
I dunno about the Red Bulls..
but Montreal looks mighty appetizing these days.. just saying..
by Corey E. Major on Dec 25, 2011 1:31 AM EST up reply actions
Zerka and Lekic are salary issues
I mean, I liked both those guys and I think they make the team better. But no matter how you slice it, I DO NOT want Lekic back here at $275k again. Not even a little bit. That’s around $45,800 per goal. And although Zerka was a better value, he was only able to go the full 90 once, and for $212,000 I want a guy who can go the distance.
I hope that Lekic is just jumping the gun with his tweeting (he did it via interview all through his signing saga) but if we couldn’t get him for a reasonable price, I’m less upset about this than I expected to be. I’ll only truly be happy if we find a replacement, though…
Founder and Editor of The Bent Musket on SBNation.
Twitter: @Stoehrst or @TheBentMusket
by Steve Stoehr on Dec 27, 2011 11:33 AM EST up reply actions
I like Henry
Thierry Henry always had a special place in my heart which is why I would look toward the Red Bulls.
LEt’s see what the Impact can do before we commit ….
:)
Quick thought on how Simms should be used
The 5 man midfield suggested in the article is the best thing to do with him, but if Heaps plays a 352, I will love it as a DC United fan (incidentally, I’m really pleased that Heaps is your coach, because I think he’ll do an awful job at everything bar motivation; I predict that the Revs will be intense and focused, but also tactically naive and lacking in discipline). As the piece says, there simply isn’t enough defensive talent to get away with a back three, especially since MLS clubs figured out how to beat even a top-end 352 (2007 DCU being a prime example).
What I’m getting at is that I expect the Revs to find their best team is some kind of 451. Simms will be Shalrie Joseph’s “assistant” in the midfield, doing the bulk of the running so that Joseph can use his skill as a passer on offense and also use his positional sense and anticipation to force opponents to do what he wants when New England doesn’t have the ball.
Barring some other signings for the Revs, I think this will force Heaps to use a 4231 formation, with Joseph and Simms in the holding roles. It’ll be a somewhat fluid central midfield, with Feilhaber not averse to dropping deep and Joseph obviously effective when he moves forward.
If Joseph ends up in a full-time attacking role – not keeping Lekic or Caraglio might force that to be the case – then Simms would probably play in front of McCarthy but behind Feilhaber. He’ll still be almost entirely defensive (Simms is a good player, but he’ll never be comfortable on the ball or skilled enough in passing to create much), but he’ll function more as a forward destroyer than McCarthy, who is less mobile and thus would have to sit deeper.
In either case, I don’t see the Revs acquiring enough offensive talent in the offseason to keep Simms on the bench. I expect Heaps to be somewhat pragmatic in his selections, and Simms will be one of the 10 best field players available to him.
Writer on SBN's DC United blog Black and Red United | @ChestRockwell14 | KEEP UNITED IN DC
Great points
If things stay as they are now, I agree that Simms will be one of the best 10 available players. It will be hard to keep him on the bench. I’m not sure how much of an attacking role Shalrie will or should take on, but I could see Feilhaber stepping up and being more of a CF.
Honestly, I think the 4-2-3-1 could make sense. It’s probably not a terrible idea. I think to execute that, however, we need the wingers on either side of Feilhaber to provide the necessary service. We’d also need a natural LB who can play box to box and need Kevin Alston to.. well.. play better.
With all that in mind, reaching a deal with Zerka would, in my opinion, be a good move to sure up the LM position. At least for now. And then the big priorities from there would need to be spending some cash on an experienced CB partner for Soares and a truly talented LB. We’d also need a striker, since that is basically one big question mark at this point. The SuperDraft should help give us some options.
..okay so there’s lots to do. Baby steps for Heaps and co. I’m sure any day now they are going to be like SURPRISE!!! WE SIGNED FIVE PLAYERS FROM SOUTH AMERICA!!!
by Corey E. Major on Dec 27, 2011 4:14 PM EST up reply actions
FIVE!
AND WE’VE NEVER HEARD OF ANY OF THEM!
Founder and Editor of The Bent Musket on SBNation.
Twitter: @Stoehrst or @TheBentMusket
by Steve Stoehr on Dec 28, 2011 10:24 AM EST up reply actions
That would make great sense
If it weren’t for the fact that there’s no way in hell the Revs are going to be able to assemble the necessary offensive talent to pull off a 4-5-1/4-2-3-1. You need wingers who can not only cross but have the necessary soccer brain and technical ability to cut inside and score. You need an attacking midfielder who is good at bombing forward, making trailing runs, and scoring; Benny and Shalrie are both good creators but aren’t necessarily great goalscoring mids. And you need a center forward who can hold the ball up AND score…we can’t find a forward who even deserves the title “forward.”
I still think it’s going to be a long season.
Founder and Editor of The Bent Musket on SBNation.
Twitter: @Stoehrst or @TheBentMusket
by Steve Stoehr on Dec 28, 2011 10:33 AM EST up reply actions
I never said it was going to work
I think Heaps will be forced into choosing a 4231, but if you’re ever being forced into a formation, things aren’t off to a good start.
Writer on SBN's DC United blog Black and Red United | @ChestRockwell14 | KEEP UNITED IN DC
by ChestRockwell on Dec 28, 2011 2:59 PM EST up reply actions
Jumping the gun a little?
Honestly, how can we discuss strategy when the roster is way far from being completed?
Excluding the keeping, who do you have who can play? 3 defenders (Soares, Coria/Barnes, Alston), 3 Midfielders (Joseph, Feilharber, Tierney) and 0 strikers (Diego cannot go 90 and all season unless you want him in the hospital. Sorry).
We need to wait until some replacement signing are done before we can discuss strategy.
By the way, if you include the Boggs and Schilawski on the world as players you can play, I would advise you to move away from the eggnog bowl.
Right now, with the players we have, we cannot compete. Until they sign or resign some players, we cannot aim for more that 19th out of 19th.
Let’s get real here.
Well at least not is all bad in Foxboro. The Pats will be #1 seed and are headed to the Superbowl!
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