Five Questions: Revolution vs. Toronto FC

Revolution head coach Jay Heaps (left) speaks with team owner/investor Robert Kraft prior to Sunday’s game against the Red Bulls. (Photo: Mr. Walter Silva)

For anyone who doubted that Jay Heaps meant business, last week erased any lingering doubts.

Faced with shaky goalkeeping in recent weeks, Heaps tabbed his unproven backup and kept his veteran on the bench versus the Red Bulls. The backup posted a shutout.

In the 73rd minute of the same game, Heaps gave the hook to his technically-gifted midfielder not for an attacking sub, but for a not quite healthy stopper. That stopper nearly sprung the finishing pass on a potential third goal.

Surprising? In hindsight, it really shouldn’t be. During his introductory press conference, Heaps touched upon the tenets of his coaching philosophy. Hard work. Conditioning. Accountability.

To paraphrase Denzel Washington’s character in Training Day: “This stuff’s chess, it ain’t checkers.”

That’s the pretense Jay Heaps is operating under. This isn’t a game. This is business. And if you’re aren’t making bank in this business, then expect unpleasant changes.

With the bold moves from Sunday’s 2-0 win still fresh in our minds, Saturday’s clash against Toronto opens the door to a litany of questions. Too many to fit into one column. So we picked our top five.

1. Who gets the start between the sticks? Last week, Heaps pulled the rug under Matt Reis by starting Bobby Shuttleworth in goal. The official reason: Reis needed a rest. The real reason: Shuttleworth had been better on crosses – an area that the 15-year veteran had clearly struggled on against Toronto and Seattle – and deserved a crack as the starting keeper’s spot. And now, with Toronto on tap again, Heaps has a decision to make. The easy choice, of course, is to go with the seasoned, albeit shaky, Reis. But, if Heaps has shown us anything this season, it’s that he’s not afraid to make the hard choice.

2. How much playing time will Jerry Bengtson get? There’s no doubt that the Honduran striker wants the start this week. Heck, he wanted the start last week, only three days after his transfer became official. But Heaps and his staff aren’t in a rush to have their newest striker thrown to the wolves. No way, no how. Even though he’s already proven his scoring touch, Heaps has to be judicious when it comes to playing time. Bengtson may not get the start, but if the Revolution find themselves with a deficit at halftime, he may come on sooner than the 60th minute.

3. Is goalkeeper the only area where Jay Heaps will make changes? There’s little doubt that Heaps was pleased with Benny Feilhaber’s performance on Sunday. After a solid start, the attacking midfielder faded as the game progressed. As a result, Feilhaber was subbed out in the 73rd minute – but not for an attacking sub. Instead, Heaps went with the injury-hampered Shalrie Joseph to fill the spot. With Joseph’s name absent from Friday’s injury report, it wouldn’t be all that surprising to see a starting midfield without the easily-frustrated Feilhaber.

4. How will A.J. Soares perform with Danny Koevermans and Ryan Johnson lurking? The last time the Revolution met the Reds, it was a match that the second-year center back wasn’t particularly proud of. On both of Toronto’s goals, nearly identical in nature, Soares was right there at the forefront. Sure, he wasn’t the only defender who had a forgettable afternoon at the office. Nor was he the lone culprit behind either strike. But you could tell Soares took it personal. He wanted both of those goals back. Well, on Saturday, he’ll do all he can to make Toronto’s target men vanish.

5. Can Jay Heaps summon a goalscoring sub for the fifth time in six games? For all the praise that Heaps gets for assembling an 18 that looks stronger every week, you have to wonder: where does he hide the crystal ball? Against Chicago, Kelyn Rowe came on late and scored. In Toronto, Blake Brettschneider came on and scored. Against Seattle, Diego Fagundez came on and scored. Against New York, Jerry Bengtson came on and, well, you get the picture. Although the Revolution have never lost at home to Toronto, don’t be surprised if Heaps unleashes yet another goalscoring sub on Saturday.

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