The Bent Musket - Story Stream: Revolution vs. Dynamo 2014 Part Two
For the Fort, By the Fort
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2014-04-16T09:06:01-04:00
http://www.thebentmusket.com/rss/stream/5372195
2014-04-16T09:06:01-04:00
2014-04-16T09:06:01-04:00
Revs 2 - 0 Dynamo: Player Ratings & MOTM
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<figcaption>Jim Rogash</figcaption>
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<p>The Revolution beat the Houston Dynamo this past Saturday in what would have probably amounted to a huge payout if you could bet on MLS in Las Vegas (can you?) based on who scored the Revs' goals. There was one obvious man of the match, but some others who were just as important, as well. </p> <p><b><u><span>Bobby Shuttleworth</span></u></b>: Average Rating - <b>5.5</b> (Corey 5.5)</p>
<p><i>Corey</i>: Was barely tested but a clean sheet is a clean sheet.</p>
<p><b><u><span>Kevin Alston</span></u></b>: Average Rating - <b>7.5</b> (Corey 7.5)</p>
<p><i>Corey</i>: Easily the best game I've ever seen from KA. Great speed and movement. Put his defensive responsibilities first (AND managed to score a goal). Sublime performance.</p>
<p><b><u><span>Jose Goncalves</span></u></b>: Average Rating - <b>6.5</b> (Corey 6.5)</p>
<p><i>Corey</i>: Was playing well before the injury. Hoping it's nothing too serious.</p>
<p><b><u><span>A.J. Soares</span></u></b>: Average Rating - <b>7</b> (Corey 7)</p>
<p><i>Corey</i>: Didn't have the *best* passing game, but was clutch when it mattered most. Helped keep Houston's strikers quiet all afternoon. Oh, and his long ball up field (which he gets plenty of flak for every week) was an assist on Jerry's goal. So, there's that.</p>
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<p><b><u><span>Andrew Farrell</span></u></b>: Average Rating - <b>8</b> (Corey 8)</p>
<p><i>Corey</i>: This kid just gets better and better. So impressive to switch from RB to CB and adjust his game seamlessly.</p>
<p><b><u><span>Andy Dorman</span></u></b>: Anverage Rating -<b> 7</b> (Corey 7)</p>
<p><i>Corey</i>: Another great game with absolutely crucial tackles, headers, and recoveries in the middle of the park. So pivotal for the Revs right now.</p>
<p><b><u><span>Diego Fagundez</span></u></b>: Average Rating - <b>6.5</b> (Corey 6.5)</p>
<p><i>Corey</i>: Got himself more involved and had a few looks on goal, but his shooting boots are still missing. Extra points for putting in the defensive effort all game.</p>
<p><b><u><span>Lee Nguyen</span></u></b>: Average Rating - <b>6.5</b> (Corey 6.5)</p>
<p><i>Corey</i>: So important to this team right now. Everything seems to be running through him. A good game, but 17 instances of "tackled and possession lost", according to OPTA, isn't ideal.</p>
<p><b><u><span>Daigo Kobayashi</span></u></b>: Average Rating - <b>7.5</b> (Corey 7.5)</p>
<p><i>Corey</i>: Does all the little things, and does them well. Turning into a great compliment to Nguyen. Key in making Alston's goal happen. Maybe his best performance of the season thus far.</p>
<p><b><u><span>Saer Sene</span></u></b>: Average Rating - <b>5.5</b> (Corey 5.5)</p>
<p><i>Corey</i>: Decent passing, but as an attacker he was a weak link. He doesn't have the speed to play as a winger (which is of course not his fault), and it slowed down the Revs' attack significantly against Houston. If he can find space for himself to get some shots off, then it'll start coming together for him.</p>
<p><b><u><span>Teal Bunbury</span></u></b>: Average Rating - <b>4</b> (Corey 4)</p>
<p><i>Corey</i>: Four unsuccessful passes in/around the 18 tells the story of this one. He needs to get some shots off rather than trying to force the extra pass. Big missed opportunity on the breakaway in the second half. Still not clicking for him.</p>
<p><b><u><span>Darrius Barnes</span></u></b> (sub): Average Rating - <b>6</b> (Corey 6)</p>
<p><i>Corey</i>: Having a great season as a fill-in/bit-part player. Isn't flashy, but gets the job done defensively.</p>
<p><b><u><span>Scott Caldwell</span></u></b> (sub): Average Rating - <b>7</b> (Corey 7)</p>
<p><i>Corey</i>: Simply put, Scotty came in and did exactly what he was asked to do: keep possession. 88% passing plus a few key headers (yes, headers) as well as a recovery and clearance in his limited minutes. Bravo.</p>
<p><b><u><span>Jerry Bengtson</span></u></b> (sub): Average Rating - <b>6.5</b> (Corey 6.5)</p>
<p><i>Corey</i>: Okay, I won't rag on him this week. Happy for him to get the goal. Maybe it will be the one that broke the seal. But I'm not betting on it.</p>
https://www.thebentmusket.com/2014/4/16/5620084/new-england-revolution-mls-2014-houston-dynamo-player-ratings-kevin-alston-bengtson
Corey E. Major
2014-04-12T19:55:20-04:00
2014-04-12T19:55:20-04:00
Recap: Revs 2, Dynamo 0 - Alston Nets Winner
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<figcaption>Jim Rogash</figcaption>
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<p>It's been a tough start to the year in New England, but Kevin Alston and Jerry Bengston (yes, that's not a typo) gave Revolution fans plenty of reasons to smile in an outstanding team-wide performance in a 2-0 win over Houston.</p> <p>Last year <span>Kevin Alston</span> was diagnosed with leukemia and missed several months while receiving treatment and getting back into game shape. While he started the season opener at right back for the injured <span>Andrew Farrell</span>, he lasted only 20 minutes before sustaining his own injury and was subbed off.</p>
<p>Now recovered from that earlier injury and starting at left back for the injured <span>Chris Tierney</span>, Alston's second career professional goal and first in MLS play proved to be the winner as the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thebentmusket.com/">New England Revolution</a> defeated the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.dynamotheory.com/">Houston Dynamo</a> 2-0 at Gillette Stadium.</p>
<p>It was a rather uneventful start to the game, with neither side generating much offense and the Revolution in particular having trouble maintaining possession. But the Revs settled down and started putting pressure on Houston's goal. Winger Diego Fagundez forced Dynamo keeper Tally Hall to make a smart save on his near post in the 24th minute. Later in the half, <span>Ricardo Clark</span> slid in late on Revs captain <span>Jose Goncalves</span> but referee Edvin Jurisevic waved play on and the Revs capitalized on the counter with <span>Lee Nguyen</span> stinging a hard shot that forced Hall to redirect the ball over the crossbar.</p>
<p>Goncalves would have to be subbed out of the game however with what the team is calling a right quad injury. Even though on the replay Clark slid into Goncalves' left leg, it was clear that Jose would not be able to continue after being helped off the field with the assistance of the training staff. Clark was cautioned for the foul and <span>Darrius Barnes</span> replaced Goncalves in the lineup at right back with <span>A.J. Soares</span> and Andrew Farrell pairing in the center.</p>
<p>In the second half the Revolution continued to pressure <span>Tally Hall's</span> goal, with <span>Teal Bunbury</span> taking a hopeful shot from well outside the area in the 57th minute.</p>
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<p>But in the 68th minute the Revolution would find the breakthrough from one of the more unlikely sources. Alston and <span>Daigo Kobayashi</span> attempted to play a one-two but it was disrupted by the Dynamo defense. The ball was still not cleared however and after a deflection off of Teal Bunbury, Alston smashed a first time shot into the upper corner of Tally Hall's net.</p>
<p>Houston attempted to get more players forward, and subbed on big striker <span>Omar Cummings</span> but also left themselves open on the counter attack. Teal Bunbury was played in towards the end of regulation but his shot was forced wide by some last ditch defending by Houston. The Revs' second goal also came on a ball over the top when <span>Jerry Bengtson</span> ran onto a long ball from A.J. Soares deep into stoppage time, beat Tally Hall who had come well out of his area, and slotted home from close range to seal three points for the Revs.</p>
<p>It was a tremendous team performance for the Revs who are still struggling to create quality chances and find the target with their shooting. But the day belongs to Alston, who scored just his second career professional goal, the only other tally came in the 2010 SuperLiga final versus Morelia, and first in MLS play. For a player who had to overcome so much to even get on the field last year to rewarded with such a moment as scoring a game winner is truly special.</p>
<p>The New England Revolution (2-3-1) will head back on the road next week as they square off against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/">Chicago Fire</a> on April 19 at 4PM on a nationally televised game on NBCSN.</p>
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https://www.thebentmusket.com/2014/4/12/5608922/new-england-revolution-2-houston-dynamo-0-recap-kevin-alstons-first-mls-goal-jerry-bengtson
Jake Catanese
2014-04-12T16:45:02-04:00
2014-04-12T16:45:02-04:00
Revs vs. Dynamo: Lineups and Game Thread
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<figcaption>Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>It's game time. Let's do this.</p> <p>It was a gruesome 4-0 loss that opened the Revolution's season down in Houston last month. Now the Dynamo travel up to Foxboro for a rematch, and the boys in blue will be looking to exact revenge and restore balance to the world (okay, I'm exaggerating <i>a bit</i>). Can New England take advantage of the Dynamo's rookie center back, AJ Cochrane and send Revs fans home with a win? Will they at least notch a goal today? Lots of questions; let's hope Tom Soehn (replacing the suspended <span>Jay Heaps</span> on the sideline today) and his Revolution squad have some answers. Lineups below and be sure to join us in the comments section below!</p>
<p><b>Lineups:</b></p>
<p><b>Revolution Starting XI (4-1-4-1): Shuttleworth; Alston, Goncalves (c), Soares, Farrell; Dorman; Fagundez, Nguyen, Kobayashi, Sene; Bunbury <br></b></p>
<p><i>Revs Bench: Knighton, Davies, Neumann, Bengtson, Caldwell, Barnes, McCarthy<br></i></p>
<p><b>Dynamo Starting XI (4-4-2): Hall; Sarkodie, Taylor, Cochran, Ashe; Cascio, Clark ©, García, Driver; Bruin, Barnes<br></b></p>
<p><i>Dynamo Bench: Deric, Arena, Creavalle, Carrasco, López, Sherrod, Cummings<br></i></p>
https://www.thebentmusket.com/2014/4/12/5608214/new-england-revolution-vs-houston-dynamo-lineups-and-live-game-thread-mls-2014
Corey E. Major
2014-04-12T13:45:15-04:00
2014-04-12T13:45:15-04:00
TBM Predicts - Week 6, Revs vs. Dynamo
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<figcaption>Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>I'm not sure if there's such a thing as a shooting allergy in soccer, but if there is then the virtual players of New England and Houston certainly have it.</p> <p>I'd like to say I can take any positive qualities from that video. But I can't. Perhaps I need to mess around with the settings to promote little things like shooting anywhere near the attacking third. Because not every simulation can be a midfield slog fest but that's what I get every time the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thebentmusket.com/">New England Revolution</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.dynamotheory.com/">Houston Dynamo</a> square off in FIFA14.</p>
<p>Anyway, this prediction terrifies me because it's the exact same result and almost exact same style of game that <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJv1TaO1LPY">the very first simulation</a> cranked out when these two teams opened the season. And I'm not going to even bring up that result because I've blocked all knowledge of that game from my head.</p>
<p>REVS LINEUP (4-1-4-1)</p>
<p>Shuttleworth; Farrell, Soares, Goncalves, Tierney; Dorman; Sene, Nguyen, Kobayashi, Fagundez; Bunbury</p>
<p>DYNAMO LINEUP (4-4-2)</p>
<p>Hall; Sarkodie, Cochran, Taylor, Ashe; Driver, Garcia, Clark, Davis; Bruin Barnes</p>
<p>WHY THIS SIMULATION WILL BE RIGHT</p>
<p>Because both teams are accurately out of form, with 14 of the 22 total players receiving negative modifiers to their individual stats. New England is barely generating half chances on offense despite improvement in their defensive play from the opener in Houston. Teal Bunbury and <span>Saer Sene</span> have been taking some shots but they can't seem to generate anything but half chances. Five games into the season the Revs have been shutout four times, and <span>Lee Nguyen</span> and Own Goal are tied with a goal apiece for the team lead.</p>
<p>The Dynamo are also in a bit of a funk as well. They've lost two in a row including a 4-1 pasting against <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bigdsoccer.com/">FC Dallas</a> when a 60th minute straight red to defender <span>David Horst</span> opened the floodgates. <span>Will Bruin</span> got off to a torrid start with three goals in the first two games but has cooled off considerably since. Would a 0-0 midfield slogfest surprise me? Absolutely not...</p>
<p>WHY THIS SIMULATION WILL BE WRONG</p>
<p>...but I said that last time and New England ended up on the wrong side of a crooked socreline. The growing problem that I'm seeing with these simulations is that not enough chances are generated. The players spend to much time dribbling and losing the ball in the midfield. And the AI is allergic to using the "B" button (or the PlayStation equivalent) for the entire 12 minutes of simulation.</p>
<p>I'd like to think that Houston would get a lot more balls out wide and cross into their strikers, the simulation basically had them going up the middle the entire time. The virtual Revs and the real Revs both at times look disjointed and unsure of themselves in the attacking third but at least the real Revs take shots when they get near the box.</p>
<p>Even if I think a draw is very possible, I don't think it will be scoreless. I think both teams will want to try and break out of their respective funks rather early which should produce a few offensive chances.</p>
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https://www.thebentmusket.com/2014/4/12/5607854/tbm-predicts-2014-mls-regular-season-new-england-revolution-vs-houston-dynamo-fifa14
Jake Catanese
2014-04-12T08:30:02-04:00
2014-04-12T08:30:02-04:00
Know Thy Enemy: Revs vs. Dynamo (part 2)
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<figcaption>Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>With the Dynamo coming to town, you know the Revs will want to get some sort of revenge on the shellacking they took in week one down in Houston. It 's a big test for the Revs, for sure. And it might be just as big of a test for the Dynamo as well.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thebentmusket.com/">New England Revolution</a> desperately need some home-cooking (on brand new turf!) this weekend to shake off last Saturday's loss to rivals <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blackandredunited.com/">D.C. United</a>. Can they overcome the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.dynamotheory.com/">Houston Dynamo</a>, who absolutely spanked them in the season opener, and find three points (or even just a goal?). We spoke with <a href="http://www.dynamotheory.com/">Dynamo Theory</a>'s Alicia Tolar to get the low-down on the creamsicles ahead of this weekend's clash. (Oh, and <a href="http://www.dynamotheory.com/2014/4/12/5603200/four-questions-with-the-bent-musket-houston-dynamo-vs-new-england-revolution">we answered some of their questions</a>, too.)</p>
<p><b>TBM: So the Dynamo probably couldn't have started any better when they spanked the Revs 4-0 in week one. From your perspective, what did you see that allowed Houston so much success?</b></p>
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<p>AT: The victory over the Revs may have had more to do with what the Revs didn't do than what we did. The Revs defense was a completely disaster which allowed the Dynamo to put up such an impressive score line. They also offered up little challenge for the Dynamo's backline or goalkeeper <span>Tally Hall</span>.</p>
<p>The disastrous defense allowed <span>Will Bruin</span> to go on a scoring run. The Dynamo were able to exploit everything that was wrong with New England. Our defense has improved from last season, but the Dynamo still need to come out attacking and push forward. Falling behind is disastrous for them and once they are able to grab a lead they pour on the coals and end up with large scorelines like the 4-0 victory.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><b>TBM: Speaking of the Dynamo's start, you had the win over us and the win over Montreal, and since you've had two losses. Including a real bad loss to your Texas rivals, Dallas. What's changed? Is it quality of opposition, or is there something wrong with the Dynamo?</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p>AT: It's a combination of things. The first two wins were at home, a place that the Dynamo are always stronger, against weaker opponents. When they had to travel to play Vancouver they came up against a tougher team. Combine that with the magical force field that causes the team to fall apart as soon as they cross into Canada and the result actually became a positive one for fans. Had a few breaks gone the teams way they would have come out with at least a tie.</p>
<p>Dallas, we played Dallas? That is a game fans would prefer to forget and to some degree an outlier. The game changed greatly on the red card, a very debatable red card, that was issued to defender <span>David Horst</span> which was then followed by <span>Brad Davis</span> exiting the game injured. The goal deficit was created by the team completely falling apart for about ten minutes after the red card was issued.</p>
<p>But in all of the games the team has played the quality of passing has left something to be desired. They are giving up turnovers at inopportune times and costing themselves shots on goal as a result. Defensive questions have grown each week as mental lapses have cost the team big.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><b> </b></p>
<p><b>TBM: You had some strong words concerning Will Bruin last time we spoke. With a couple of games in the books here in 2014, do you feel your misgivings were valid, or have you started to lean towards the opinion that he'll come around this year?</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p>AT: Well opinion on Bruin was pretty low before the season started. I don't know that it has really gone up too much. Bruin had great first two games but his production since coming up against tougher opponents has fallen off. The goals he scored in the first two games were shots that he wouldn't have taken last season he would have put in one touch too many and bungled the shot. But the last two game he started to look more like the Bruin of last season who couldn't seem to keep his shots on frame and he still isn't doing anything with balls over the top.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><b>TBM: Which player do you think the Dynamo fear most on the pitch for New England?</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p>Goncalves. He is the type of defender who is able to negate what Bruin does which can kill our attack. We need Bruin to have a good game for us to be successful, like the last time we played, if our attack gets shut down we are in trouble.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><b>TBM: Finally, let's have your projected starting XI and a scoreline prediction.</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<blockquote>
<p>Hall; Sarkodie, Cochran, Taylor, Ashe; Driver, Clark, García, Davis; Barnes, Bruin</p>
<p>Score: 1-1 The Dynamo backline will probably leak a goal that even The Wall Hall won't be able to save.</p>
</blockquote>
https://www.thebentmusket.com/2014/4/12/5604314/new-england-revolution-houston-dynamo-2014-know-thy-enemy-horst-brunner-rivalry-east
Corey E. Major