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The New England Revolution have added three additional players to their preseason camp, adding three trialists who have been on MLS rosters before.
With unsigned draft picks Napo Matsoso (2nd Rd pick from Kentucky) and Joshua Smith (4th Rd pick from Univ. of San Francisco), it brings the unofficial roster for the Revs up to 27 players.
Midfielder Emmanuel Appiah was drafted by the Colorado Rapids in the first round of the 2016 draft before being waived midseason and getting picked up by Sporting Kansas City. Appiah spent time on loan at both clubs USL affiliates (Charlotte Independence/Swope Park Rangers) totaling eight combined games in the USL last season.
Our friends from The Blue Testament describe Appiah as a box-to-box midfielder who can be exciting on the ball but can turn the ball over in the midfield. There wasn’t really a spot for him at SKC hence the loan spell with Swope Park, but if Appiah makes the roster, he and 2nd round draft pick Napo Matsoso could be fine additions to a team that I think can use a box-to-box player or two as I described Napo on draft day.
@flakita_63 @NERevsRumor If he can go box-to-box in the middle between Lee and Kouassi it's certainly a role the Revs could use.
— Jake Catanese (@JCatanese43) January 13, 2017
Otis Earle is primarily a left back and another first round draft pick to FC Dallas in 2015. Otis never played in an MLS game for Dallas in 2015 but did play in the US Open Cup as well as for Arizona United (now Rising Pheonix FC) in the USL on loan. There is no club listed for Earle for the 2016 season.
Otis’ father Robbie Earle is a current analyst for NBCSN and a legendary player for Port Vale and Wimbledon over in England as well as for the Jamaica National team. Otis holds a green card and would not take up an international roster spot if signed.
Lastly, Tyler Turner is a former Orlando City homegrown who has seven MLS games and also a full season with OCB in the USL level last year. Primarily a right back, Turner is also a bit of a local with the Milford, CT native playing his club soccer with BSC CT Academy from 2010-13.
While the Revs do have a lot of options at fullback, they don’t have a lot of true fullbacks on the depth chart. The left side seems to be locked down by Chris Tierney and Donnie Smith, but the right side is a bit murky. Andrew Farrell will likely be the starter, but London Woodberry, Je-Vaughn Watson and even Kelyn Rowe had minutes there last season. Turner notched four goals with OCB in the USL last year and could provide a bit of an attacking spark off the bench from the right back spot if needed.
New England will also shore up the middle of their backline with two centerbacks to be announced later this week. The club currently has only 22 roster spots filled, including the two imminent defenders, leaving at least six roster spots open on the back end of the roster.