Revolution Bye Week: Three Takeaways

The New England Revolution didn’t have a game this past weekend but that doesn’t mean I don’t have thoughts. So, let’s get to it.

1. It's not devastating that the Revs didn’t make a move during the transfer window. Listen, it’s not pleasant to see your competition add players like Didier Drogba and Giovani Dos Santos. Even lesser-known names like Gaston Sauro and Daneil Cyrus have the potential to do well in MLS. That said, it shouldn’t be all doom and gloom because the Revs didn’t make an acquisition. After all, the team already has a wealth of talent, especially on the attacking end. With Diego Fagundez, Kelyn Rowe, Teal Bunbury, and Juan Agudelo jostling to break into the first XI, most teams around the league would love to have the players at Heaps’ disposal. Instead of trying to introduce a new star, the final ten games on the docket should be spent rediscovering the chemistry and form that got the Revs to the MLS Cup Final last year.

2. The Revs need to add a defender. This may sound hypocritical after the last thought, but the Revs simply have to find defensive depth. This problem has been lingering since A.J. Soares’ off-season departure and any stumbles will likely be attributed to the organization's inability to put the issue to bed. Though the transfer window is closed, there’s still time to add someone. In fact, rumored targets Will Packwood, Alexander Madlung, and Zak Whitbread are all free agents and remain on the table. Any of these options, or perhaps someone else, would be suitable. The Revs just need someone to compete for a starting spot or fill-in during a time of need.

3. Here comes the home stretch. Remember that thin red line on the standings chart? It’s time to start watching it closely again. The Revs currently sit in fifth place but a lot can change during the season’s final months. Saturday marks the last time that the Revolution will face a Western Conference foe, meaning the final nine games will be classic "six-pointers." Another interesting aspect of the remaining slate is that seven of the games are against teams that are currently behind the Revs in the standings. Let’s not forget that several teams have games in hand over the Revs. You might want to bookmark the standings chart as things will surely change on a weekly basis.