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MLS will soon break for the World Cup, but that doesn't mean there's nothing to talk about in terms of the New England Revolution. The team will be looking to rebound from their 2-0 loss to the Montreal Impact when they take the field on Sunday to face the New York Red Bulls. They will also begin U.S. Open Cup play soon, traveling to Richmond, VA to face the Kickers. And let's not forget that their franchise player recently graduated high school.
With so much to think about, I present a random collection of questions that have passed through my mind during the last week.
Is there such a thing as a "trap game" with Jay Heaps at the helm? Looking back on post-game interviews, Heaps has consistency downplayed major results and refused to look too far into the future. The coach has taken a "one game at a time" approach to the season, never underestimating an opponent. Surely Heaps has long-term plans, but I don't believe he looks past an opponent. The Revolution have had bad games, but I wouldn't call them trap games.
What if the Revolution loaned fringe players to the Rochester Rhinos to play in their US Open Cup game against DC United? I'm thinking that players like Shalrie Joseph, O'Brian Woodbine or Dimitry Imbongo could help the Rhinos beat DC. This would set-up a fifth round showdown between the Revs and their USL-Pro affiliate. The loaned players would be cup-tied to the Rhinos, but I would hope that Revs would recall the loanees. This may be a devious way of trying to earn a cup, but I wouldn't mind it.
What if Diego Fagundez was offered the "Julian Green Proposal?" Green hasn't shown much at the international or club level, which has led to speculation that Jurgen Klinsmann gave the German-American a roster spot with an eye on the future. Fagundez, also 19 years old, has been sensational recently. The high school graduate led the Revs in goals last year with 13, and was named as a Player of the Month nominee for last month after finishing with four goals and three assists. The future is bright for Fagundez and Uruguay could have locked him up by offering a ticket to Brazil. But would he have taken it?
Was the decision to play on turf instead of grass the smartest coaching choice Jay Heaps could have made ahead of their game against the New York Red Bulls? Although the Revs recently upgraded their playing surface, the mere mention of turf downgrades star forward Thierry Henry and defensive stalwart Jamison Olave to questionable. Furthermore, the Revolution players know the intricacies of playing at Gillette Stadium. If you don't believe me, look at Chris Tierney's looping pass from the May 24th game against DC United. The Revs will surely be working hard on the practice field and in the video room, but the smartest coaching decision might have already have been made.
Is the positional battle between Kelyn Rowe and Daigo Kobayashi too close to call? I like Rowe. His ability to shot from deep and make threatening runs through the midfield makes him a game-changer. I like Kobayashi. He keeps possession well with his short passes, but he can also hit the slicing ball that leads to a goal. In my mind, Kobayashi deserves the starting spot with Rowe coming off the bench.