The Bent Musket - Revolution 2-1 Earthquakes 2014: Full Match StreamFor the Fort, By the Forthttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/31882/bentmusket-fave.jpg2014-04-01T13:39:35-04:00http://www.thebentmusket.com/rss/stream/53250832014-04-01T13:39:35-04:002014-04-01T13:39:35-04:00Davies and Bunbury the Attack of the Future?
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<p>Charlie Davies was crucial to the Revs' winning effort on Saturday night. Jay Heaps clearly agrees, and sees synergy between Davies and Teal Bunbury when they're on the pitch together.</p> <p>Saturday night's <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thebentmusket.com/">New England Revolution</a> victory over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.centerlinesoccer.com/">San Jose Earthquakes</a> was clearly important for a number of reasons: the Revs finally scored a goal, they finally picked up their first win of the season, they managed to do that on the West Coast, etc. It was also <span>Charlie Davies</span>' first appearance of the 2014 regular season, and his impact after coming on during the 62nd minute cannot be understated.</p>
<p>After a long period of inactivity that had fans questioning whether or not he had anything left in the tank, Davies came out and put everyone on notice that he's still got what it takes to play in MLS. He may not have set the world on fire, but he certainly made it look as though any <a href="http://www.thebentmusket.com/2014/3/27/5553290/revolution-transfers-2014-charlie-davies-loan-rochester-rhinos-pros-cons" target="_blank">notions of loaning him to Rochester</a> were...premature, at best. Chuck D completed ten of twelve passes, and it was his quickly-taken free kick that almost immediately led to Lee Nguyen's winning goal. </p>
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<a href="http://www.thebentmusket.com/2014/3/29/5561042/revolution-vs-earthquakes-2014-jose-goncalves-diego-fagundez-chris-wondolowski">
<h2>Revs 2-1 Quakes StoryStream</h2>
<img src="http://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/30931909/20140329_lbm_ax5_325.0_standard_783.0.jpg"></a> <span>News and Analysis of the Revs' win in San Jose</span>
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<p>Then there was this postgame quote from <span>Jay Heaps</span>:</p>
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<p>"I think Charlie [Davies] and Teal [Bunbury] have good chemistry. They are pretty close. For them to be on the field together, it showed that they both have ideas. Confidence wise, both of them have really been chomping at the bit to get goals and I think they will get them as they go."</p>
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<p>The recent attacking troubles experienced by the Revs certainly have spawned a fair amount of formation and lineup debate, and Saturday's match might just have shown us the way to improvement. No one can doubt that Davies' impact immediately made the Revs look more dangerous, even notwithstanding his efforts to set up the goal.</p>
<p>Perhaps more importantly, Davies appeared to be playing the center-forward role, relegating Bunbury out wide. Honestly, they both looked at home there. Putting Bunbury wide gives him the opportunity to focus on attacking defenses while facing goal instead of holding up the ball. Whether or not Davies could hold up the ball himself isn't clear, but he seemed to move fluidly with Bunbury and <span>Diego Fagundez</span> as part of that attacking trio.</p>
<p>In any case, Davies should be getting more time now that he's clearly healthy and seemed to have a positive impact. If he does, it looks as though it might be a really good thing.</p>
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https://www.thebentmusket.com/2014/4/1/5570986/revolution-2014-earthquakes-charlie-davies-impact-teal-bunbury-jay-heapsSteve Stoehr2014-04-01T13:09:33-04:002014-04-01T13:09:33-04:00Revs vs. Quakes: Player Ratings and MotM
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<p>The Revolution earned their first goals and first victory of the season on Saturday night in San Jose. Here's a look at how we feel everyone performed on the evening.</p> <p><u><span>Bobby Shuttleworth</span></u>: Average Rating - <b>4.67</b> (Steve 4.5, Corey 4.5, Nick 5)</p>
<p><i>Steve:</i> A win's a win, but that goal looked real soft...<i>Corey:</i> Could have had a shutout but seemed to have a mental lapse leading to Wondo's goal. Still looking for more from Bobby...<i>Nick:</i> Sometimes he looks comfortable and in command, others he looks sheepish and lost. Needed to make himself bigger and redirect Wondo's equalizer.</p>
<p><u><span>Chris Tierney</span></u>: Average Rating - <b>4.3</b> (Steve 4.5, Corey 4.5, Nick 4)</p>
<p><i>Steve:</i> Passing needs to get much better. Struggled to handle speed on the flanks...<i>Corey:</i> Nothing spectacular on the attack, and Cato was a tough match-up for him all night...<i>Nick:</i> One of Heaps' steady defenders struggled yet again. Could not keep up with Cato on the left side, and took a poor angle on the eventual equalizer. </p>
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<a href="http://www.thebentmusket.com/2014/3/30/5562982/recap-new-england-revolution-2-san-jose-earthquakes-1-lee-nguyen-chris-wondolowski">
<h2>Nguyenning in San Jose</h2>
<img src="http://cdn3.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/30876927/20140329_mta_ax5_218.0_standard_783.0.jpg"></a> <span>The Revs beat San Jose 2-1 on Saturday night</span>
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<p><u><span>Jose Goncalves</span></u>: Average Rating - <b>6.83</b> (Steve 6, Corey 7.5, Nick 7)</p>
<p><i>Steve:</i> He made 17 clearances, and passed well. Strong showing...<i>Corey:</i> Amazing what a difference a settled contract dispute makes...<i>Nick:</i> Tough, gritty defending throughout, but needed a tidier clearance on the equalizer. Made it too easy for San Jose's premier goalscorer.</p>
<p><u><span>A.J. Soares</span></u>: Average Rating - <b>6.3</b> (Steve 5, Corey 6.5, Nick 7.5)</p>
<p><i>Steve:</i> Not on the Soares bandwagon. 50% passing and routinely gave up chances by losing his mark and allowing runs in behind. Needs to focus more on marking and less on asking for an offside call...<i>Corey:</i> Handled Lenhart pretty well. He's been pretty consistent so far this season; knows his role...<i>Nick:</i> Another consistent, reliable performance in the middle. Stood strong during several dangerous moments.</p>
<p><u><span>Andrew Farrell</span></u>: Average Rating - <b>8.17</b> (Steve 7, Corey 8, Nick 9.5)</p>
<p><i>Steve:</i> Had a game out there. Pretty good passing, quality speed defense...<i>Corey:</i> In beast mode for a second straight game. Farrell is on fire now that he's returned to right back. Let's hope he can keep it up...<i>Nick:</i> Just blown away by his athleticism. Won every 50/50 ball and defended with his signature strength and speed.</p>
<p><u><span>Andy Dorman</span></u>: Average Rating - <b>7.5</b> (Steve 7.5, Corey 7, Nick 8)</p>
<p><i>Steve:</i> He's killing it out there. Good D, careful passing, instincts to get forward, and needed leadership...<i>Corey:</i> Another excellent shift. The difference has been night and day with Dorman as the defensive midfielder. Had some significant help from Daigo and Lee, too, though...<i>Nick:</i> Has fully returned to late-2013 form. Took up a massive amount of space in the middle, and pushed forward with pace when needed. Clean, consistent performance.</p>
<p><u><span>Daigo Kobayashi</span></u>: Average Rating - <b>6.5</b> (Steve 6, Corey 6.5, Nick 7)</p>
<p><i>Steve:</i> Another guy who passed cleanly, but still needs to contribute a little more to the attack...<i>Corey:</i> He stepped in admirably for the injured Rowe and had a good two-way performance. He seems to be getting more comfortable with his teammates...<i>Nick:</i> Mirrored Nguyen's work rate in the first 45, but resorted to sloppy tackles and poor passing as his shift pressed on. Overall strong performance.</p>
<p><u><span>Lee Nguyen</span></u>: Average Rating - <b>8.83</b> (Steve 8, Corey 9.5, Nick 9)</p>
<p><i>Steve:</i> Scored the goal, had another shot on target, and put in 90% passing accuracy while making defensive impacts, too. Complete performance from Lee...<i>Corey:</i> You automatically get at least an 8 when you score a game-winner in extra time on the road. Nguyen, who is very much coming into his own as a leader on this team, had a superb game against San Jose. Facilitated many attacks; just what the doctor ordered...<i>Nick:</i> His engine never stops. Despite slowing in the later stages, Nguyen fought, and fought and fought, earning every touch of the game-winner.</p>
<p><u><span>Diego Fagundez</span></u>: Average Rating - <b>5.17</b> (Steve 5.5, Corey 5, Nick 5)</p>
<p><i>Steve:</i> Not meeting expectations, but still 81% passing and a shot on target. Dispossessed far too often (6 times, plus 6 errant passes), though...<i>Corey:</i> Doing his disappearing act from 2013. Diego needs to find a way to be more active during the run of play. It'd be nice to get him on the right side of the pitch more, where he seems more dynamic...<i>Nick:</i> Clever "assist" on the own goal served as a lone highlight. Disappeared for long stretches, took inadvertent touches and failed to impact the attack with his usual creativity.</p>
<p><u><span>Saer Sene</span></u>: Average Rating - <b>6.17</b> (Steve 5, Corey 6.5, Nick 7)</p>
<p><i>Steve:</i> Need to see more. Tidier passing, needs to keep the ball better, and should have scored...<i>Corey:</i> A strong performance from Sene who is coming closer and closer to full fitness. Hasn't been very dangerous on the attack yet this season, but he's at least been involved and it seems as though the goals will start coming soon. Great understanding of his defensive responsibilities out on the wing...<i>Nick:</i> Strong and tough over the ball, and always seemed to find space in a dangerous spot. Just a match or two away from full fitness.</p>
<p><u><span>Teal Bunbury</span></u>: Average Rating - <b>6.17</b> (Steve 5, Corey 6, Nick 7.5)</p>
<p><i>Steve:</i> An improved performance, but still need more from him. Not quite dangerous enough...<i>Corey:</i> I thought he played better in this match than any of his previous this season, but I'm still not totally convinced he's the best option up top. That said, he was much more involved against San Jose. Now he just needs to be a bit more selfish and find some confidence when shooting on goal...<i>Nick:</i> Heaps has been patient, and his methods are slowly paying off. Bunbury looked more comfortable (and much more patient) in hold-up play than in any of his previous three matches. On the doorstep of his first goal.</p>
<p><u><span>Charlie Davies</span></u> (sub): Average Rating - <b>6.33</b> (Steve 6.5, Corey 6, Nick 6.5)</p>
<p><i>Steve:</i> He was instantly dangerous in all facets of the game. Good running, worked well with Teal. Oh, and took the quick kick that lead to the goal...<i>Corey:</i> Really liked what I saw from Davies, who looked fit and rearing to make an impact and a good impression. More please...<i>Nick:</i> Did a lot of running for a few short touches, but added an extra dimension to the Revs attack. Heads-up restart led to the game-winner.</p>
<p><u><span>Scott Caldwell</span></u> (sub): Average Rating - <b>6.33</b> (Steve 6, Corey 6.5, Nick 6.5)</p>
<p><i>Steve:</i> Pass to Lee on the break showed great vision. There's a place in this team for Scotty...<i>Corey:</i> Made a really positive impact and maybe has found a more suitable role for himself, at least for the time being, as an influential second-half sub...<i>Nick:</i> Displayed the physicality we've been so eagerly waiting for, showcasing a defensive command of the middle. His presence will be needed off the bench.</p>
<p><u><span>Darrius Barnes</span></u> (sub): Average Rating - <b>N/A</b></p>
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https://www.thebentmusket.com/2014/4/1/5570880/revolution-vs-earthquakes-2014-player-ratings-lee-nguyen-andy-dorman-andrew-farrellSteve Stoehr2014-03-30T01:34:51-04:002014-03-30T01:34:51-04:00Revs Nguyen Late in San Jose, 2-1
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<figcaption>Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Lee Nguyen scored deep into stoppage time, er, "Goonie-Time," as the New England Revolution stunned the San Jose Quakes for their first win of the year.</p> <p>It took the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thebentmusket.com/">New England Revolution</a> until stoppage time of their fourth game to score a goal by someone other than "Own Goal." It was certainly worth the wait.</p>
<p><span>Lee Nguyen</span> finished a long dribble following a quick restart with a low drive past <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.centerlinesoccer.com/">San Jose Earthquakes</a> keeper <span>Jon Busch</span> in second half stoppage time as the Revs won their first game of the year 2-1 at Buck Shaw Stadium.</p>
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<p>Rain had saturated the field since the mid-afternoon in San Jose and the goalkeepers especially were having problems keeping a hold of the ball. <span>Victor Bernardez</span> opened the scoring with an own goal after a scramble in the box with Busch and Saer Sene. Bernardez was only able to slide the ball into his own net with Sene looking to pounce on the rebound. Head coach <span>Jay Heaps</span> praised his side for the opening goal, despite not scoring it themselves.</p>
<p>"It wasn't without trying," said Heaps after the game via teleconference. "Our effort the last week was really good, we were progressing to get chances and we continued to work on that all week and it was a good strike for us even if we didn't score it ourselves.</p>
<p>But it would be a rocky end to the first half for New England, who conceeded most of the possession to end the first half and San Jose came out the halftime break looking the stronger side. Owning most of the possession for the half, it seemed only a matter of time before that pressure turned into a goal.</p>
<p><span>Chris Wondolowski</span> obliged, sending a close range effort past <span>Bobby Shuttleworth</span> in the 69th minute to tie the game. The Revs were boxed into their own area for several minutes leading up to that chance and Wondolowski finished it from close range as Shuttleworth had little time to react from his position on the near post.</p>
<p>The Revs spent most of the second half on the counter, and it produced several decent looks at goal including a stinging shot from <span>Andrew Farrell</span> that was blocked as close range by Quakes leftback Jordan Stewart. The Revolution had several shouts for dangerous free kicks, notably when referee Dave Gantar ruled play on following a <span>Clarence Goodson</span> challenge on <span>Charlie Davies</span> at the top of the box.</p>
<p>The winning goal came in stoppage time following a rare San Jose foul, who committed only five fouls on the night. Charlie Davies was fouled and played a quick restart to <span>Scott Caldwell</span> which caught the Quakes defense off guard (probably because the ball was still moving when the restart happened) and Lee Nguyen who was all alone down the left side. His run carried him all the way to the penalty area and with no defender stepping up, he choose to shoot and fired a low drive to the right of a diving Busch to seal three points for the Revolution.</p>
<p>For the Revolution this could be the win the propels them out of their slow start the 2014 season. Even a draw at their previous 0-2-1 record would have been a positive but Jay Heaps was glad the result worked in the Revs favor.</p>
<p>Obviously we would have taken the point, because of where we were and because I thought they were in control of the game," said Heaps. "We had a little more space for the counter (in the second half), we gave Lee a little more space and Diego a little more time. I thought once we broke into space that we'd like our chances 3-on-3 or 4-on-4 because we have guys like Charlie (Davies) that can push the backline and guys like Lee that can create themselves some space."</p>
<p>With the win the Revolution snapped a 21-match unbeaten streak for the Quakes at Buck Shaw field and improved their record to 1-2-1 with four points on the year. The Quakes sit at 0-2-1 with one point, last in the Western Conference with a game in hand.</p>
<p>The victory set off wild celebrations on Twitter, as the Revolution "out-Goonied" the Goonies in stoppage time, where the Quakes had scored more goals than any team in MLS over the last few seasons. Even the Revs Twitter account got in on the fun, it's good to have three points.</p>
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<p>Goonies never say die! The <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23NERevs&src=hash">#NERevs</a> top the <a href="https://twitter.com/SJEarthquakes">@SJEarthquakes</a>, 2-1, on the back of <a href="https://twitter.com/LeeNguyen24">@LeeNguyen24</a>'s stoppage time goal. <a href="http://t.co/7rIphQnZbs">pic.twitter.com/7rIphQnZbs</a></p>
— NE Revolution (@NERevolution) <a href="https://twitter.com/NERevolution/statuses/450130121375375361">March 30, 2014</a>
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https://www.thebentmusket.com/2014/3/30/5562982/recap-new-england-revolution-2-san-jose-earthquakes-1-lee-nguyen-chris-wondolowskiJake Catanese2014-03-29T22:11:50-04:002014-03-29T22:11:50-04:00Revs at Quakes: Lineups and Live Thread
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<figcaption>Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Revs are out on the West Coast in San Jose looking for their first goal and first win of 2014. We've got the lineups and commentary </p> <p>It's a rainy night in and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thebentmusket.com/">New England Revolution</a> brought the same weather to the West Coast as they'll face the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.centerlinesoccer.com/">San Jose Earthquakes</a> from a rainy Buck Shaw Stadium.</p>
<p>REVS LINEUP</p>
<p>Shuttleworth; Tierney, Goncalves (c), Soares, Farrell; Dorman; Fagundez, Nguyen, Kobayashi, Sene; Bunbury</p>
<p><i>Bench: Knighton, Barnes, Caldwell, Davies, Imbongo, McCarthy, Neumann</i></p>
<p>QUAKES LINEUP (4-4-2)</p>
<p>Busch, Barklage, Bernardez, Goodson, Stewart, Salinas, Cronin, Pierazzi, Cato, Wondo, Lenhart</p>
<p><i>Bench: Meredith, Koval, Gordon, Harris, Schuler, Djalo, Francis</i></p>
<p>Well, there's nothing staggering about the Revs lineup other than the missing <span>Kelyn Rowe</span> who didn't make the trip due to injury and <span>Daigo Kobayashi</span> will be alongside <span>Lee Nguyen</span> in the midfield. <span>Andy Dorman</span> retains the starting role at the holding midfield spot over <span>Scott Caldwell</span> after a strong performance last week.</p>
<p>Really interesting options for the Revs off the bench, and there's no shortage of options this week. <span>Charlie Davies</span> and <span>Steve Neumann</span> are both in the squad to give the Revs depth in the winger/midfield positions. <span>Dimitry Imbongo</span> is the clear option up top with no <span>Jerry Bengtson</span> on the bench and it's possible that Imbongo could replace <span>Saer Sene</span> and head coach <span>Jay Heaps</span> gives Teal Bunbury some time out wide.</p>
<p>For San Jose there's nothing out of the ordinary here. Wondo and Lenhart are up front with a fairly solid midfield and two great centerbacks in Bernardez and Goodson in defense. A name to keep an eye on for the Quakes is potential debutant is <span>Yannick Djalo</span>, a Portuguese attacker on loan from Benfica.</p>
<p>If you haven't already read<a target="_blank" href="http://www.thebentmusket.com/2014/3/28/5558276/preview-san-jose-earthquakes-vs-new-england-revolution-2014-mls-wondolowski-threat"> Corey's preview for the match</a> as well as <a target="_blank" href="http://www.thebentmusket.com/2014/3/29/5560980/revolution-vs-earthquakes-2014-preview-questions-simon-dawkins-chris-wondolowski">Steve's Know Thy Enemy</a> with Quake, Rattle and Goal's Robert Jonas and my <a target="_blank" href="http://www.thebentmusket.com/2014/3/29/5562284/tbm-predicts-new-england-revolution-at-san-jose-earthquakes-mls-fifa14/in/5325083">FIFA 14 Prediction video</a> and post. <span>Teal Bunbury's</span> scoring the winner from the spot, my XBOX said so.</p>
<p>Comment below about the lineups and the game as kickoff is around 1030PM EST.</p>
https://www.thebentmusket.com/2014/3/29/5562628/revolution-at-earthquakes-mls-2014-regular-season-lineups-and-liveJake Catanese2014-03-29T19:30:50-04:002014-03-29T19:30:50-04:00TBM Predicts 2014: Week 4 Revs at Quakes
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<figcaption>Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Somehow my XBOX has gotten two of these predictions stone cold correct in as many weeks...I hope it's dead on this week too.</p> <p><em>(Production Note: There aren't any graphics for the recap section because the software crashed and didn't save all of them.)</em></p>
<p>So, if you've watched the video above, there's not much more for me to say. The prediction is a 1-0 win for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thebentmusket.com/">New England Revolution</a> over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.centerlinesoccer.com/">San Jose Earthquakes</a>. Yes, my XBOX is on a two-game perfect streak and I certainly hope that it's three-in-a-row. More on that in a bit.</p>
<p><strong>SIMULATED LINEUPS</strong></p>
<p>REVS (4-1-4-1) - Shuttleworth; Farrell, Soares (+2), Goncalves, Tierney (+2); Dorman (+7); Sene, Nguyen, Kobayashi, Fagundez, Bunbury</p>
<p>QUAKES (4-4-2) - Busch (-3); Cato, Bernardez (-2), Goodson (-2), Francis; Harris (-3), Pierazzi, Cronin (-3) Salinas, Wondolowski, Lenhart (-3)</p>
<p><strong>WHY THIS SIMULATION WILL BE RIGHT</strong></p>
<p>Because the Revolution's defense did a good job clogging up the center and limiting cross and shots. Shuttleworth was credited with 4 saves in this game but most of those were on crosses and should be labeled as "catches" or whatever that old FIFA stat was. By my count, San Jose didn't actually have a true shot on goal but they did have some chances, especially late during "Goonie Magic" time.</p>
<p>The Revs goal was actually strange, I'll admit I don't remember the last time I've seen a penalty in the box between two players going up for an aerial challenge, let alone on the goalkeeper. But Bunbury put his penalty in a decent enough spot in the simulation and even though Busch guessed correctly it was high enough where he couldn't get a hand/foot on the ball to keep it out.</p>
<p><strong>WHY THIS SIMULATION WILL BE WRONG</strong></p>
<p>Because for long stretches San Jose dominated the possession and should have had more chances, especially in the first half. More than half of the Revs possessions in the game end with a Quakes player stealing the ball right off of their feet. And San Jose out-muscled the Revs in the midfield a lot, so often Fagundez, Nguyen or later as a substitute, Caldwell will just get muscled off the ball and give up possession in the center of the field. And the Revs don't like to cross either, especially virtual <span>Andrew Farrell</span>.</p>
<p>The other thing that bothers me is I don't think that Wondolowski or Lenhart got a decent chance between them on goal. Most of the opportunities came from the midfielders Salinas and Pierazzi. While I think the Revs defense can do well against the two strikers, I doubt that they'll shut down those two players entirely. But if that does happen then you would think the Revs would come out of the game with at least a point.</p>
https://www.thebentmusket.com/2014/3/29/5562284/tbm-predicts-new-england-revolution-at-san-jose-earthquakes-mls-fifa14Jake Catanese2014-03-29T12:00:26-04:002014-03-29T12:00:26-04:00Revs vs. Quakes: Know Thy Enemy
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<p>The Revolution will face San Jose in a late game on the West Coast on Saturday night.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.thebentmusket.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New England Revolution</a> have traveled to the West Coast to take on the <a href="https://www.centerlinesoccer.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">San Jose Earthquakes</a>. We caught up with Robert Jonas of Quake, Rattle and Goal to learn more about Saturday night's opponent.</p>
<p><b>TBM: 2012 was something of a dream regular-season campaign for San Jose. After what seemed to be very little key turnover in players, 2013 proved to be almost the exact opposite. Can you talk a little about why that happened, and whether or not the right issues were addressed for 2014?</b></p>
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<p>RJ: One issue was that the Earthquakes began the 2013 season with a complacency that led to a series of draws and losses in games the season before were wins and draws. Perhaps modeling their behavior too much after the hubris shown by the <a href="https://www.lagconfidential.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">LA Galaxy</a> in 2012 following their MLS Cup championship, the Quakes admitted that they felt they could turn things on whenever they felt they were ready. Unfortunately, it took a coaching change to shake loose of their early season doldrums, and though interim head coach Mark Watson led the team to the best record in MLS over the last three months of the season, the Earthquakes missed out on the playoffs due to a tiebreaker with the <a href="https://www.burgundywave.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Colorado Rapids</a>. Watson is in charge from the very beginning in 2014, so it is unlikely the same complacent behavior will be manifested by these Quakes.</p>
<p>A big difference on the field was the departure of English midfielder Simon Dawkins at the end of the 2012 season. On loan from Tottenham, Dawkins played two years in San Jose and was a dynamic part of the Earthquakes attack. Calm on the ball and able to cut in from the left wing, Dawkins commanded attention from opposing defenders, opening up space in the area for the Quakes' attacking corps of <span>Chris Wondolowski</span>, <span>Steven Lenhart</span>, and Alan Gordon. Without the Hotspur man orchestrating matters in 2013, the offense slumped from consistent lack of service as <span>Shea Salinas</span> was tasked with too much of that responsibility. Correcting that deficiency, the Earthquakes signed Portugal winger <span>Yannick Djalo</span> on loan from Benfica. The crafty ball-handler was cleared to play earlier this week and will likely make his Quakes' debut, off the bench, against the Revolution on Saturday.</p>
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<p><b>TBM: The Quakes' full body of work in March featured two draws and two losses, but it looks as though the Goonies are still scoring goals in stoppage time to scrape out some results. What is it about this club that makes them so dangerous late in the game?</b></p>
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<p>RJ: Gordon was asked almost the same question following the team's heroic comeback against <a href="https://www.rslsoapbox.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Real Salt Lake</a> in the season opener, and the tall target man simply said that such determination is in the team's DNA. While such a biological justification seems farfetched scientifically, he did hit on the team's collective attitude when it comes to playing games through to the final whistle. Every player, to a tee, will say that they would rather not have to rely on stoppage time goals to get results - 17 second half stoppage time goals scored since the start of the 2012 season, 15 have led to points earned for the Quakes - but the thrill of the comeback is intoxicating. Add in the pull from the sell-out crowds at Buck Shaw Stadium, the Earthquakes have a 21-game unbeaten streak at the little college stadium that could, and it is little surprise that San Jose has seen so many late game spectacles.</p>
<p>On the flip side, opponents seem all too ready to let the Quakes seize the momentum late in games, most evident in watching an RSL side known for possession tactics resort to long clearances over the last 30 minutes of the season opener. The Utah side was leading 3-1 at halftime, and opened the second half playing in much the same way that saw them take the lead: keep the ball away from the Quakes. However, when San Jose dialed up the pressure, RSL abandoned its tactics and allowed the Earthquakes unimpeded access into the attacking half of the field. A comeback, even from two goals, seemed inevitable to those in attendance. <span>Victor Bernardez</span> must have felt it too, as his brace in the last quarter hour secured a point for the Quakes against the defending Western Conference champions.</p>
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<p><b>TBM: Last season, the fullback tandem of <span>Justin Morrow</span> and <span>Steven Beitashour</span> was heralded, in many ways, as one of the most solid and talented fullback tandems in the league. Now they're both gone. Was that a good move for the Quakes, and have their replacements panned out so far?</b></p>
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<p>RJ: Basically this was a money move. The Earthquakes are still a year away from enjoying the increase in revenues that a new stadium should provide, so keeping two expensive players at positions that can usually be filled out with less expensive talent was a simple choice for general manager John Doyle. The Earthquakes brought in English veteran <span>Jordan Stewart</span> last summer, and he quickly supplanted a stagnant Morrow at left back. This season, the Quakes signed former Red Bulls defender <span>Brandon Barklage</span> and German fullback <span>Andreas Gorlitz</span> to fill the void left by departed free agent Beitashour. Even emergency starters <span>Cordell Cato</span> and <span>Shaun Francis</span> have done an admirable job in the stead of the former All-Star tandem. The money has been spent on a whole platoon of outside backs, and so far the Quakes have made good use of that depth.</p>
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<p><b>TBM: Give us an under-the-radar player Revs fans should watch out for in this match.</b></p>
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<p>RJ: Probably the biggest signing of the offseason for San Jose was French midfielder <span>Jean-Baptiste Pierazzi</span>. A native of Corsica, Pierazzi has been playing in France his entire career, many of those seasons in Ligue 1. He had always wanted to play in the United States, so when the Earthquakes had a chance to sign the talented 27-year old, they jumped at the chance. Pierazzi is a box-to-box central midfielder that complements the durable and reliable <span>Sam Cronin</span> in the center of the Quakes four-across midfield. Pierazzi was not brought in for his goal-scoring prowess, but instead will be tasked with linking play from the back to the wings and assisting the big guys in the box on set pieces.</p>
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<p><b>TBM: Finally, let's have your projected starting XI and a scoreline prediction.</b></p>
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<p>RJ: The Earthquakes attack is easy to predict, as Wondolowski and Lenhart will start up top, and Salinas and <span>Atiba Harris</span> will join Cronin and Pierazzi in the midfield. The back line is where it gets interesting, because other than center back tandem Bernardez and <span>Clarence Goodson</span>, the outside backs are still undetermined. Cato and Francis could start for the second straight week, or one of Gorlitz, Barklage, and Stewart -- all upgraded to "questionable" on the latest injury report -- could make the Starting XI and push Cato into midfield at the expense of Harris. Off the bench, Djalo will likely enter as a winger and Gordon as a forward.</p>
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https://www.thebentmusket.com/2014/3/29/5560980/revolution-vs-earthquakes-2014-preview-questions-simon-dawkins-chris-wondolowskiSteve Stoehr2014-03-28T13:46:27-04:002014-03-28T13:46:27-04:00Preview: Revs @ Quakes
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<p>The Revs travel to sunny (but actually rainy) California this weekend to take on the San Jose Earthquakes. Here's a quick preview of the match and also some interesting facts about San Jose!</p> <p>The Revs are back on the road this weekend, this time across the country in San Jose where they will take on the Earthquakes on Saturday night (10:30pm ET) at Buck Shaw Stadium. San Jose, the third largest city in California and tenth largest in the United States, is a hike for the boys in blue, but at least they can look forward to some warm weather (we expect 58 degrees and rainy at kickoff) in the land where people still aren't over Sublime yet.</p>
<p>Neither team has a win yet this season, so this will be a crucial match for the Quakes to get their first of the year. For the Revs, the onus might not be so much on winning as simply just finding the back of the net, something they've yet to be able to do thus far in 2014. San Jose boasts a 20-12-5 record against New England, but last season the Revs were the victors in the two sides' yearly meeting, winning 2-0 at Gillette Stadium. Playing at Buck Shaw, however, is a whole different match-up.</p>
<p>Earthquakes forward <span>Chris Wondolowski</span> and defender <span>Clarence Goodson</span> were recently called up to the United States Men's National Team for their upcoming friendly against Mexico next Wednesday. Unfortunately for us, they'll still be there in San Jose this weekend. Wondolowski in particular will prove to be the Revolution's biggest threat as he is one of the most lethal strikers in Major League Soccer. He notched the game-winner in the Revs' last visit to San Jose, which <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_from_San_Jose,_California">Wikipedia</a> tells me is the birthplace of Nikki Sixx, wide receiver James Jones, and DJ Shadow. Smash Mouth is also from San Jose.</p>
<p>As for tactics, the Revs should already know exactly what's in store for them. The Quakes have a reputation as being a very physical and direct team. They like to play "Route 1" ball and lean heavily on their target man (and resident MLS bully), <span>Steven Lenhart</span>, to hold-up the ball in the attacking third and play off of Wondo and/or any combination of the San Jose's midfield. I expect the Revs to roll out the same backline as last week, and it will likely be <span>A.J. Soares</span>' job to stick to Lenhart like glue while captain <span>Jose Goncalves</span> deals with Wondolowski.</p>
<p>The Quakes' flank play will likely be manned by <span>Shea Salinas</span> and <span>Atiba Harris</span>, with Salinas being the main creator when the Quakes play out of the midfield. <span>Sam Cronin</span> and newcomer <span>Jean-Baptiste Pierazzi</span> will be the most probable candidates in the middle of the park. I expect <span>Shaun Francis</span>, Clarence Goodson, <span>Victor Bernardez</span>, and <span>Cordell Cato</span> comprised the Quakes' backline last weekend against <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thebluetestament.com/">Sporting Kansas City</a>. There's a good chance that nothing will change here against New England. Jon Busch will man the goal.</p>
<p>The Revs will need to be on their A-game when it comes to defending set pieces as San Jose likes to capitalize on dead ball opportunities. They could also benefit from being more dangerous on their own set pieces as well. I expect <span>Daigo Kobayashi</span> to fill-in for the injured <span>Kelyn Rowe</span>, but Heaps may opt to play Kobayashi deeper in a similar double-pivot midfield tandem like we saw against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.brotherlygame.com/">Philadelphia Union</a>. I'll be shocked if <span>Andy Dorman</span> doesn't get the nod at defensive midfield after his top shelf outing in that role last week against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.eightysixforever.com/">Vancouver Whitecaps</a>.</p>
<p>The one change I'd be particularly interested to see is <span>Dimitry Imbongo</span> playing up top in place of Teal Bunbury. Imbongo has more of a physical presence and may be better suited to take on the hard-nosed San Jose backline. Plus, he scored against them last year in Foxborough.</p>
<p>Be sure to join us right here on The Bent Musket for our live game thread. Go Revs.</p>
https://www.thebentmusket.com/2014/3/28/5558276/preview-san-jose-earthquakes-vs-new-england-revolution-2014-mls-wondolowski-threatCorey E. Major