Relatively Slipping

I'll try to make this short. Sometimes I post about non-Revolution MLS games and/or news, and forceably make it pretend to be Revolution news by comparing the actual news with its subject's counterpart in the Revolution. Know what I mean?

The Chicago Fire have said via Twitter (at least that's where I read it) that they will announce a DP this Saturday, July 17. Also, as has been well-publicized, NYRB have signed Thierry Henry (nice performance by TH14 on Jimmy Fallon). NY now has two designated players, and is highly rumored to be trying to exercise its relatively new right to sign a third. Meanwhile, Real Salt Lake owner Dave Checketts recently said the Galaxy are going to announce another DP in the next few days, insinuating that that player is Ronaldinho (scroll a bit over 3/4 into the recording to hear that part).

I'll rope this into Revolution news by saying that the Revolution have, in fact, not signed a DP, and are not rumored to be going after one, as far as I know at least. Maybe someone else has a scoop I haven't heard yet (other than Billelo's standard "we look into it on an ongoing basis but haven't found a good match" claim). This is serious, because each time another MLS club buys a DP or builds a stadium, it makes the Revolution's lack of those particular items more and more noticeable. By comparison, it makes the Revolution a less and less exciting team to follow, and it also makes Bob Kraft a cheaper and cheaper owner (again, relatively speaking).

See how I did that?

-John

Fire and RSL games, other

I'm watching the New England vs Real Salt Lake game. I started watching in the 35th minute, roughly, and it's now the 60th, and counting. They're already down 4-0. They were listless against Chicago last weekend, but Chicago weren't stellar. A single great goal separated the sides. This time they're paying through the nose for their incompetence. It's pretty bad. I'm rooting for RSL to pour it on so that Steve Nicol's job starts to lose its nearly impenetrable shield.

The best offensive moments for NE are when Alston makes runs with the ball forward. (Robbie Findley should have just made it 5-0. Back to what I was saying...) However, he's been pretty bad defensively. Ives Galarcep has him on his to-watch-for defenders for WC 2014. He had a good season last year, but he's having a sophomore slump, and is probably a victim of a generally poor team. Anyway, he has a long way to go to be an international defender. A long way.

It must be nice to be a Philadelphia Union fan (not a Philadelphia sports fan in general, but of the Union at least). What a great future they have. Jack McInerney-- there's a player to look for in 2014. I've just branded him my favorite young American player. The Union are just about with the Revs in the standings now, but the two teams are going in totally opposite directions. Very young team, and with Peter Nowak and his staff presiding-- there's nobody I'd rather have with the responsibility of preparing the young studs of the league, and the country, than Nowak. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank him for taking the job in the first place, even though he was great helping Bradley with the senior team, and great also in the 2008 Olympics.

It's now the 75th minute, and it's still just 4-0. That's a small moral victory for the players. Hopefully Robbie Findley scores, in order to further my personal short/medium-term hope for this team.

((EDIT-- Findley has scored. 5-0. Pretty nice goal by him, pretty indifferent defending by the Revs.))

-John