Revolution v. Toronto FC: Three thoughts

The New England Revolution grabbed a critical point on Saturday when they tied Toronto FC 1-1. Here are three thoughts from the game:

1. The Revs stole a point. Saturday’s game was a big one for the Revolution as they were hosting an Eastern Conference foe that was also looking to secure a playoff spot. Despite the high stakes, the Revs didn’t impress on either side of the ball. Although they only conceded one goal, the team was porous. Michael Mancienne continued his run of bad form and although Matt Turner made several important saves, he would’ve been sent off for a first half tackle if not for an offside call that appeared to be incorrect. Offensively the team was over-reliant on Bou and Carles Gil. In the end, Bou served as the Revs’ savior when he hit a low shot that mysteriously made its way past goalkeeper Quentin Westberg. It’s an important point for the Revs, though not one they necessarily deserved.
2. The Revs are searching for a replacement for Teal Bunbury. The Revolution have rotated through several options since Teal Bunbury suffered an early injury in last weekend’s game. Cristian Penilla was the first option, but struggled to play with his back to goal. Bou played some minutes as the No. 9 but he’s better when allowed to roam and play off of others. Agudelo was given the start on Saturday, but didn’t look particularly sharp, as seen in the early opportunity that he scuffed. Juan Fernando Caicedo has been the late sub in the last two games. The Colombian can occupy defenders with his big body and likes to combine with the Revolution’s attackers but also goes through long stretches where he’s invisible. In short, the Revs don’t have a natural replacement for the high-energy presence that is Bunbury.
3. Antonio Delamea needs to start. Mancienne has started four consecutive games and he hasn’t been good in any of them. The high-paid defender looks apathetic when on the field and covers little ground. Worse, he tends to make at least one big mistake per game, which sometimes leads to a goal. This week he was outpaced by a Toronto attacker, a moment that could’ve been pivotal if not for a key tactical from the recovering DeJuan Jones. Delamea made a late appearance in Saturday’s game, which is hopefully a sign that he’ll soon be ready to play a full 90 alongside Andrew Farrell.