New England Soccer Today

Making a Good First Impression

Photo credit: FC Dallas

Photo credit: FC Dallas

The Revolution roster may have seven roster vacancies with only a week to go before First Kick, but if Revolution coach Jay Heaps’ post-game assessment of a certain veteran trialist is any indication, that number could decrease before long.

Only days after arriving in camp hoping to get a job, veteran defender/midfielder Je-Vaughn Watston started at right back for the Revolution in Saturday’s 2-1 win over Crew SC in the Desert Diamond Cup final. And it’s fair to say that he made a good first impression with the boss on his first official day.

“I thought he had a great night tonight,” Heaps told the media after the match. “He just joined us on Wednesday, and he was excellent tonight.”

Watson, who suited up for FC Dallas last year, went 63 minutes before he was spelled by incumbent London Woodberry at right back. During the course of Saturday’s match, the 32-year-old defender rarely hesitated to get involved in the attack, something that Heaps likes to see from his fullbacks.

While the Revolution coach would’ve probably liked to have gotten a longer look at the former Dallas defender during the club’s five-week camp, a player with Watson’s experience (five years in MLS) doesn’t necessarily warrant a lengthy trial given the readily available film and scouting info.

If that proves to be true, then it wouldn’t be shocking shocking if Watson suits up for next weekend’s clash at Houston where, coincidentally, the Jamaican International spent the 2011 and 2012 seasons as a member of the Dynamo.

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