As announced last week, the Revolution have hired Stephen Myles as assistant coach. Myles comes over from the David Beckham Academy, where he had been the assistant director of competition since 2005, according to revolutionsoccer.net. He had also been the coach of the LA Galaxy U-16 team for the past two seasons.
We're kind of surprised by this move. Is this guy the direct replacement for Paul Mariner? Mariner had been a top pro in England, a guy who knew the game very well; he was good enough to be an MLS head coach. We are surprised the Revs didn't get a higher profile assistant to replace a guy like Mariner. At the same time, maybe this is a guy that the Revs feel has a lot of potential down the line.
In other news, Matt Reis has undergone successful knee surgery, according to revolutionsoccer.net. The article says Reis is expected to be out of action for 12-16 weeks. This is a concern. The Revolution have a young defense, and they need a solid keeper. Hopefully Burpo can fill in as a stop gap and Reis comes back sooner than the 16 weeks that he might miss.
In the meantime, we're going to go get some iced coffee.
Andrew and John
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Castro and Shuttleworth re-sign
The Revolution have announced the re-signing of GK Robert Shuttleworth and MF Mauricio Castro. Terms of the two deals were not disclosed. However, the Revs recently traded for veteran GK Preston Burpo, which makes it appear that Shuttleworth will be the second string goalie going into this year, and probably third once Reis returns. Remember: the Revolution lost their 2009 second stringer, Brad Knighton, to Philadelphia in the expansion draft. The Shuttleworth signing suggests that Burpo is strictly a stop-gap solution while Reis is out, and therefore that Shuttleworth is looked at as the long-term successor to Reis. With all of this in mind, it's a good move for the Revolution.
The other signing of Castro is very difficult to analyze since we don't know the terms of the deal. Last year he made $120,000. For what Castro has done the past couple of years $120,000 is about $90,000 too much. Castro's got some talent but he just hasn't shown it in a Revolution uniform, and now with the departure of Steve Ralston the Revolution either need someone to step up (lets face it there's not much of a chance of Mansally stepping up but that's another post) or they need to go out and sign someone. Castro could step in and fill in the void left by Ralston but it's far from a sure thing. If we knew the terms of the deal it'd be much easier to analyze. If the Revolution did get Castro for $50,000 or less then it's not a bad deal as Castro does have the potential to be a starter on the team. However, if they paid more than that then it's too much of a risk.
-Andrew
The other signing of Castro is very difficult to analyze since we don't know the terms of the deal. Last year he made $120,000. For what Castro has done the past couple of years $120,000 is about $90,000 too much. Castro's got some talent but he just hasn't shown it in a Revolution uniform, and now with the departure of Steve Ralston the Revolution either need someone to step up (lets face it there's not much of a chance of Mansally stepping up but that's another post) or they need to go out and sign someone. Castro could step in and fill in the void left by Ralston but it's far from a sure thing. If we knew the terms of the deal it'd be much easier to analyze. If the Revolution did get Castro for $50,000 or less then it's not a bad deal as Castro does have the potential to be a starter on the team. However, if they paid more than that then it's too much of a risk.
-Andrew
Monday, February 1, 2010
Ralston to St. Louis
Three days ago we heard that Steve Ralston had declined a contract offer by the Revolution. However, as Kyle McCarthy wrote in the Boston Herald, Ralston was "expected to consider other potential playing options." Per MLS rules as they stand now (a new CBA is expected by February 12), Ralston is not allowed to consider other playing options within MLS. Today, however, we've found out it's not an MLS move he was considering, but an NASL move, to AC St. Louis. He will co-function as a player and an assistant coach.
This marks the departure of a second key Revolution midfielder this offseason (Ralston and Larentowicz). Ralston made $150,000 in 2009, and he was worth it. Mike Burns & co had even less bargaining power here than they had in the Larentowicz case, because whereas Larentowicz couldn't bargain with other teams himself, Ralston could bargain with AC St. Louis because they are not in MLS. For this reason, I do not hold Burns responsible for Ralston's departure. I do, however, expect him to have a succession plan for both players (Zak Boggs?).
On the St. Louis side, it's good to see the new 2nd division get such an accomplished player as Steve Ralston. It's a sign that although it may change in composition over the next few years (in fact it necessarily will change, since Vancouver and Portland will join MLS in 2011), the 2nd division as a whole in this country is here to stay.
John
This marks the departure of a second key Revolution midfielder this offseason (Ralston and Larentowicz). Ralston made $150,000 in 2009, and he was worth it. Mike Burns & co had even less bargaining power here than they had in the Larentowicz case, because whereas Larentowicz couldn't bargain with other teams himself, Ralston could bargain with AC St. Louis because they are not in MLS. For this reason, I do not hold Burns responsible for Ralston's departure. I do, however, expect him to have a succession plan for both players (Zak Boggs?).
On the St. Louis side, it's good to see the new 2nd division get such an accomplished player as Steve Ralston. It's a sign that although it may change in composition over the next few years (in fact it necessarily will change, since Vancouver and Portland will join MLS in 2011), the 2nd division as a whole in this country is here to stay.
John
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Larentowicz and Thompson trade
Last Thursday the Revolution made another trade, this one with the Rapids. The Revs gave up Jeff Larentowicz and Wells Thompson in return for goalie Preston Burpo, defender Cory Gibbs, allocation money, and a third round pick in 2011. Jeff Larentowicz's contract had expired, but due to MLS rules, the Revolution retained the right to either negotiate a new contract with him or trade him within the league.
There are two specific pieces of information that would make this trade easier to judge: how much allocation money did they get, and how much money would they have had to pay Larentowicz if he had stayed? The allocation money is a straightforward gain, obviously. The money they would have had to pay Larentowicz, on the other hand, is an opportunity cost of making the deal. Both are relevant, and both are unknown, at least to us.
That said, I'm not feeling great about this. In a Q&A with VP of Player Personnel Mike Burns after the draft, the former Marlborough High full back said the reason they didn't draft a goalkeeper was that they wanted someone experienced who could fill the position from day one until Reis gets back. If I were looking for a stop-gap solution at that position, my mind would not immediately jump to the idea of trading Jeff Larentowicz. I know he would have demanded a much higher salary than the $34,650 he made in 2009, like I said, but surely if the Revolution wanted to get such a goalkeeper they could have managed it some other way.
The Gibbs acquisition I can understand. He's played left back (which they need because Heaps retired) as well as center back (which they need because Osei isn't that good). Here, the Revs have not only filled a position, but they've filled it with a player that has a lengthy and fairly impressive resume. It's reasonable to me that the Revolution would trade a player due for a big raise like Larentowicz for Cory Gibbs, even though it's not altogether thrilling.
Wells Thompson. Well, I won't miss him.
So overall, I'm not in love with this trade, but it's hard to judge confidently without knowing the amount of allocation money the Revolution received as well as Larentowicz's salary demands.
Here's to Pat Phelan in 2010.
John
There are two specific pieces of information that would make this trade easier to judge: how much allocation money did they get, and how much money would they have had to pay Larentowicz if he had stayed? The allocation money is a straightforward gain, obviously. The money they would have had to pay Larentowicz, on the other hand, is an opportunity cost of making the deal. Both are relevant, and both are unknown, at least to us.
That said, I'm not feeling great about this. In a Q&A with VP of Player Personnel Mike Burns after the draft, the former Marlborough High full back said the reason they didn't draft a goalkeeper was that they wanted someone experienced who could fill the position from day one until Reis gets back. If I were looking for a stop-gap solution at that position, my mind would not immediately jump to the idea of trading Jeff Larentowicz. I know he would have demanded a much higher salary than the $34,650 he made in 2009, like I said, but surely if the Revolution wanted to get such a goalkeeper they could have managed it some other way.
The Gibbs acquisition I can understand. He's played left back (which they need because Heaps retired) as well as center back (which they need because Osei isn't that good). Here, the Revs have not only filled a position, but they've filled it with a player that has a lengthy and fairly impressive resume. It's reasonable to me that the Revolution would trade a player due for a big raise like Larentowicz for Cory Gibbs, even though it's not altogether thrilling.
Wells Thompson. Well, I won't miss him.
So overall, I'm not in love with this trade, but it's hard to judge confidently without knowing the amount of allocation money the Revolution received as well as Larentowicz's salary demands.
Here's to Pat Phelan in 2010.
John
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Albright Trade
Chris Albright was traded to New York Red Bulls for draft picks. It's a pretty good trade, since the Revolution are basically dumping salary. Albright made $176,000 last season. He's been injury prone the last couple of years and hasn't really contributed much to the team. While he was hurt last year, Alston really stepped up. So the Revs have a replacement for Albright in Alston, and also shed quite a bit of salary at the same time, giving the Revs flexibility to fill other needs. All in all, a good trade.
Andrew
Andrew
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Introduction
If you're looking for one of those Cinderella positive blogs then you've come to the wrong place. Alright. This blog is just gonna say how it is. We're not gonna try to sugar coat anything. If someone does something stupid we're gonna call them out on it. We're not just going to sit here and pretend that so-and-so didn't do anything wrong just because he plays on our favorite team. We're going to observe what's happening and just be honest about how we feel. If you don't like it you can go f*** yourself-- no don't write that.
The focus of this blog will be the New England Revolution. However, we will also be covering MLS in general, European soccer, and anything else we feel like talking about in the world of soccer. We'll probably make a lot of obscure references to punk bands that you've never heard of as well.
We're starting a supporters group called the Boston Ultras. We're looking for the right people to join. If you think you're a right person, email us, and we'll determine if you're right or not. Chances are you're not. No no no don't write that either.
We don't plan on being a news site. We just plan on writing our opinions on various news events that transpire. Eventually we'd like to ditch this blog and start a legitimate site. However, we are both broke, and as such, do not have the funds to do that at the moment.
So look for some articles in the coming days/weeks ahead. We hope you enjoy reading the site, which will serve as an alternative to the mainstream media that we often feel is dead wrong about the various stories within the game.
Ixnay on the hombre!
Andrew and John
The focus of this blog will be the New England Revolution. However, we will also be covering MLS in general, European soccer, and anything else we feel like talking about in the world of soccer. We'll probably make a lot of obscure references to punk bands that you've never heard of as well.
We're starting a supporters group called the Boston Ultras. We're looking for the right people to join. If you think you're a right person, email us, and we'll determine if you're right or not. Chances are you're not. No no no don't write that either.
We don't plan on being a news site. We just plan on writing our opinions on various news events that transpire. Eventually we'd like to ditch this blog and start a legitimate site. However, we are both broke, and as such, do not have the funds to do that at the moment.
So look for some articles in the coming days/weeks ahead. We hope you enjoy reading the site, which will serve as an alternative to the mainstream media that we often feel is dead wrong about the various stories within the game.
Ixnay on the hombre!
Andrew and John
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