The Couch Captain
Matty Jollie's weekly series critiquing management from the blogger's couch.
Win This One For...
With MLS Cup 2014 approaching ever closer, one Revolution die-hard looks at what a championship would mean to the region, fans, and the next generation of Revolution stars.
The Couch Captain: Preseason Stream of Conscience
If you were looking for a clean, well thought-out preseason column, you've wandered down the wrong rabbit hole. The Captain returns from a long hiatus with what can only be described as "a column full of rambling nonsense".
The Couch Captain: The Playoff Push
It's mid-September and the New England Revolution are sitting in a playoff spot. Matty Jollie looks ahead to the final stretch and wonders what it's going to take to stay in the postseason hunt.
The Couch Captain: SKC 3, Revs 0
Hot tempers, questionable substitutions, and a struggling offense all add up to one of the most lopsided losses of the 2013 Revs season.
The Couch Captain: Revs 2, United 1
After a brief hiatus, the Couch Captain returns to find the Revs have won back to back matches on the road. Maybe we'll take breaks from blogging more often?
The Couch Captain: Revs 1, Chivas USA 1
West Coast trips are never easy, no matter who the opponent may be or what the perception of their club is. The Revs left their final West Coast trip of 2013 with a point, but most fans are disappointed. Should they be?
The Couch Captain: USOC 100 Edition
A mere three wins away from CONCACAF Champions League qualification, the New England Revolution crashed out of the Cup with a 3-1 loss to rivals D.C. United. Was it more than just a bad night?
The Couch Captain: The Streak
After another clean sheet on Saturday Night, the New England Revolution set a franchise record by running up their current shutout streak to 395 minutes. How has Jay Heaps found all the right answers?
The Couch Captain: Revs 2, Toronto FC 0
New England returned to Foxboro on Saturday Night and put on one of their finest performances of 2013. With back to back wins for the first time this season, does Jay Heaps have the Revs back on track?
The Couch Captain: Revs 0, Timbers 0
With a remarkably depleted back line, and only a few days to prepare for a cross-country road trip, Jay Heaps dialed up a solid game plan and the Revs earned a 0-0 draw in Portland. Are the Revs turning a corner?
The Couch Captain: Revs 2, Union 0
In front of the home fans for the first time since the Boston Marathon tragedy, the New England Revolution returned back to their attacking style of soccer and defeated Philadelphia for the first time in team history. Is it a sign of things to come?
The Couch Captain: NYRB 4, Revs 1
Still scoreless, and with more questions than answers, what can Jay Heaps possibly do to turn the ship around in the right direction?
The Couch Captain: Revs 0, Sounders 0
In their first match without Kevin Alston, New England served up another clean sheet while overcoming one of MLS' most difficult places to play. The defense is top-class, but can the offense improve enough to keep the Revs moving up the table?
The Couch Captain: Revs 0, SKC 0
Another stellar defensive performance leads to the Revs' second clean sheet of the 2013 season, but without striker Jerry Bengtson the Revs struggle to find the scoresheet. Matty Jollie tries to offer up a few answers to the puzzle in this week's CC!
The Couch Captain: Union 1, Revs 0
In what could only be described as a drab affair the Revolution fell to Philadelphia 1-0. Matty Jollie takes a look at the Revs and the decisions made by Jay Heaps in search of some answers ahead of the home opener.
The Couch Captain: Season Preview
The long offseason is finally over. The Couch Captain takes a look at the state of the New England Revolution as they begin their 2013 MLS campaign.
The Couch Captain: Dissecting the Depth Chart
With First Kick rapidly approaching, Matty Jollie begins to take a look at the Revs' depth chart and how this team may line up in Chicago.
The Couch Captain in Review: Forwards
Plenty of fresh faces, but not enough results plagued the 2012 Revolution strike force. With a full offseason to rest and jell, as well as a few new options, are the Revs poised to score more goals in 2013?
The Couch Captain in Review: Midfielders
The team's biggest strength in 2012, the midfield looks like it could be even more talented and versatile heading into 2013. Will the additions of Cisse and Dorman, as well as another year of seasoning for Rowe and Fagundez, propel the Revs in 2013?
The Couch Captain in Review: The Back Line
The New England Revolution improved their Goals Against by 14 goals in 2012. Matty Jollie takes a look back at last season, and analyzes where the team went right, and what they could do better moving forward into 2013.
Couch Captain in Review: Between the Sticks
In 2012, Bobby Shuttleworth emerged as a solid #2 goalkeeper in MLS with a strong final month of the season. With Matt Reis returning for another year in 2013, does the depth chart stay the same? Or is it time to anoint a new #1 in New England?
The Couch Captain: Revs 1, Impact 0
In their season finale, the New England Revolution took all three points in Montreal through an 88th minute winner from A.J. Soares. Was the result just a consolation? Or a sign of better times ahead? Matty Jollie begins the search for an answer.
The Couch Captain: Revs 1, Fire 0
In their home finale, Jay Heaps and the short-handed Revs twirl a gem in defeating Chicago 1-0 on Saturday. With five players missing due to injury and Benny Feilhaber serving a suspension, it was some new blood providing the spark for the Revs.
The Couch Captain: Union 1, Revs 0
We take a look inside the Revs, and how Jay Heaps is handling the final few matches of the 2012 season. With spots for next year up for grabs, some players are literally playing for a job in 2013.
The Couch Captain: Dynamo 2, Revs 0
Revolution Head Coach Jay Heaps did a fine job on Saturday Night of putting the Revs in the best position possible to earn a result. While the shorthanded squad ultimately fell to the Dynamo, all the pieces were in place for a Revs' result.
The Couch Captain: End of the Winless Streak Edition
For the first time in 10 matches, Matty Jollie breaks down a Revs victory in this week's Couch Captain. New faces in the lineup, as well as familiar faces in new places on the field, and we take a look at the home stretch.
The Couch Captain: Revs 0, Sporting 1
The good thing about difficult, controversial weeks is that eventually they come to an end. Matty Jollie breaks down the loss to Sporting Kansas City, and takes a look ahead to where the Revs are headed after the most tumultuous week of 2012.
The Couch Captain: Union 2, Revs 1
In one of the most frustrating losses of the 2012 campaign, New England brought about some old, haunting memories. Silly fouls, poor finishing, and a controversial call all contributed in a disappointing 2-1 loss to Philadelphia.
The Couch Captain: Revs 0, SKC 0
The New England Revolution achieved what few teams in MLS have done in 2012 on Saturday Night: earn a result at Livestrong Sporting Park. In this week's Couch Captain we break down the coaching decisions, squad composition, and more!
The Couch Captain: Toronto FC 1, Revs 0
In this week's Couch Captain, Matty Jollie takes a look at how Toronto FC were able to snap the Revs' five-game unbeaten streak on Saturday night. With a road trip upcoming, it's time for Jay Heaps to figure out where the goals will come from.
The Couch Captain: Revs 2, Red Bulls 0
The Revs stretched their unbeaten streak to five matches with a 2-0 over their I-95 rivals New York on Sunday night. It's a Revs love fest in this week's Couch Captain.
The Couch Captain: Revs 2, Sounders 2
Another late game-tying goal for the cardiac kids extends the unbeaten streak to four games. Where can the Revs improve to start picking up more wins?