Five Questions: #NEvPHI
- Updated: September 26, 2015
Photo credit: Chris Aduama/aduamaphotography.com
It was all a part of the plan.
A week after falling short of clinching a postseason berth amid a monsoon in Montreal, the Revolution will conveniently get another crack at it on Saturday. At home, of course. In front of the home supporters. And against one of the worst clubs in the conference, who, even more conveniently, won’t be fielding a first-choice XI because of next week’s Open Cup final.
But before we get too carried away with the possible conspiracies, and whether Steve Neumann and Kelyn Rowe did or didn’t intentionally alter the direction of those shots from Johan Venegas and Didier Drogba last week (we kid, we kid), let’s take a look at the questions surrounding the probably playoff bound Revolution going into Saturday’s clash. A clash against a Union team that conveniently won’t be fielding it’s strongest XI.
1. How much will a full week’s of rest benefit the Revolution? In one word: immensely. In more than one word: very noticeably. However you want to phrase it, the Revolution will likely be a lot sharper than they looked in Montreal, and possibly even crisper than they performed against the Red Bulls. With all the first-teamers rested and at the ready, the Revolution’s passing and attacking prowess should be much better than what we saw at Gillette Stadium and Stade Saputo last week. Oh, and did we mentioned that the already-bad Union won’t be using a first-choice XI? That development alone should make the locals look like Barca-beaters on Saturday.
2. Can Diego Fagundez continue his scoring tear? We’re not saying the 20-year-old should be plugged into your fantasy team this week because of the matchup. Actually, that’s exactly what we’re saying. With a week’s worth of rest behind him, and a leaky defense ahead, Fagundez shouldn’t find it all that difficult to score his seventh goal of the season. Or his eighth. Maybe even his ninth. You never know. Sky’s the limit. This is a depleted Union side we’re talking about here. So Andre Blake, when you see that streak of blonde hair heading your way, be ready…to pick the ball out of your net. XOXOXO, all soccer-loving teenage girls in and around around New England.
3. Who’ll get the start opposite Fagundez? The answer depends on who you ask. One person may tell you it’s going to be Teal Bunbury. And with good reason. The winger is a sound option defensively, and gives the Revolution some pace against a side that thrives on the counter. Okay, a side that is halfway decent on it. Another person may say it’s Kelyn Rowe’s spot, pure and simple. That’s a sound stance, too, as the fourth-year midfielder has found himself in a nice patch of form as of late. Plus, he just made this year’s 24 Under 24 list. Pretty sure there’s a rule against benching a guy right after he shows up on it. We think. Anyway, if you ask us: it’ll be Donnie Smith. Just kidding. It’ll be Rowe.
4. Will Charlie Davies be able to snap out of his scoring drought? It’s sometimes hard to gauge whether a lengthy scoreless stretch truly eats at a guy like Davies, who’s one of the cheerful guys you will ever meet. On one hand, few pro footballers in Foxborough have dedicated themselves to the team concept than Davies himself. He eats, drinks and sleeps it. On the other hand, well, he’s a striker, gosh darn it, and guys (and gals) who play that position take a heck of a lot of pride in their scoring haul. Either way, you can bet Davies is anxious to get back on the board, even more so against what could be a USL-quality backline. That being said, we eagerly await the forthcoming goal celebration.
5. Is Saturday’s contest against the Union a trap game? It sure as heck feels like one. Not only are the Revolution heading into this one with a playoff ticket right in front of their face, but they’re 7-1-1 in their last nine. They’re also at home, where they’ve won five in a row. They’ve also beaten Philadelphia twice already this year. Oh, and the Union aren’t very good. And that same Union team that probably won’t start Sebastian Le Toux, Maurice Edu, C.J. Sapong and Cristian Maidana. Shoot, they may not even let Ramond Gaddis see the field, and that guys has played almost every game. In sum: Saturday’s game has all the hallmarks of a surefire Revolution win. All of them. Except for the fact, that, you know, it’s just another regular season MLS match, and we’ve all seen how much of a hot mess those things can turn out to be. In short, it just takes a stunning decision from referee Alan Kelly, a terribly-timed injury, or a brief sequence of disaster to put the guests in a position to pull off the upset.
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