Revolution Recap: 2016 Season Wrap-Up Podcast
- Updated: October 27, 2016
Join New England Soccer Today’s Sean Donahue, Brian O’Connell and Greg Johnstone for the first Revolution Recap podcast in five years. Sean, Brian and Greg discuss a disappointing New England Revolution season and what the team needs to do going forward.
Listen to the podcast right here on the player below, subscribe to our iTunes feed, or right click the download button to save it to your computer.
Revolution Recap: 2016 Season Wrap-up Edition
Music: Kevin MacLeod
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RickSewall
October 27, 2016 at 12:22 pm
I agree with the assessment that the Revs were far too late in using the 4-4-2. To me it was very obvious Juan was most effective as a withdrawn striker, especially with Kei up top.
I also agree that Diego, Lee, and Kelyn are basically supporting players in need of a real star, like Jones, to help them improve. To me a player (understanding that a player of Jones’ type won’t be available) like Chicago’s David Accam would fill the bill. The Revs could use a penetrating winger to really challenge opposing defenses.
There was some discussion concerning the fact that Lee, Diego, and Kelyn have not made adequate improvement over the past several years, and that the coaching staff is to be faulted for this lack. One of the ways to insure a player’s improvement is to make his weakness his strength, especially concerning technique.
The best example of this, for all three players, is the weakness they have in shooting, a point Brad Feldman briefly brought up in his post- game interview on Sunday. From what I’ve seen over the years is the problem they have , specifically, with the power kick. There is simply plenty of room for improvement in the execution of this critical technique for all three players, and I do fault the staff for ignoring this fact, maybe not even aware that it exists. If these three (as well as the rest of the team) could shoot properly there is little doubt in my mind that they would have made the playoffs. A player’s confidence in his technique will also make him more confident in his overall play.
Player technical improvement, unlike bad referee decisions and player acquisitions, is something a coaching staff can totally control. if they have the knowledge and desire to do so. The Rev organization should take this aspect of coaching more seriously, especially with the academy kids. There is an old soccer saying- that the best tactical practice is a technical practice. It says here that they would win more games with this approach.
Rick Sewall
November 13, 2016 at 5:06 pm
Concerning Mexico’s winning goal- you can never, ever let an opposing forward have a free header on any cross even if the header takes place well away from the goalmouth.
I learned this the hard way when playing a Portuguese team in the 1960’s. The situation was very similar to the one Friday night except the ball was a little closer to the end line and only about 2 feet above the ground. I thought the guy I was covering had no chance so I just watched him, but he , on a dive header, was able to score just inside the near post. Truly an amazing goal.
Never underestimate the talents of any team you are playing.
Rick Sewall
November 18, 2016 at 8:42 am
Regarding Tim Howard’s groin injury- He, like almost every other professional keeper, basically chips the ball, thereby generating the power of his leg swing by using the adductor , or groin, muscle. The constant use of he groin when kicking the ball from the ground over many years has very likely caused the injury.
To prevent this (and to add about 20 yards on your goal kicks) keepers should kick the ball with the full instep, following through in the intended direction of the ball with the ankle locked in the plantar position. This means that the hip flexor, not the adductor , is used to generate power. If Tim kicked this way I doubt that he would not be needing a 4 month recovery period to make his adductor healthy.
The Costa Rican keeper’s goal kicks were done very well , and this surprised me. A couple of times his kicks landed fairly close to the USA penalty area.