{"id":30389,"date":"2015-01-09T22:36:05","date_gmt":"2015-01-10T03:36:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nesoccertoday.com\/?p=30389"},"modified":"2015-01-12T12:36:27","modified_gmt":"2015-01-12T17:36:27","slug":"5-revs-matches-thatll-catch-our-attention-in-15","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/nesoccertoday.com\/?p=30389","title":{"rendered":"5 Revs Matches That’ll Catch Our Attention in ’15"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Photo<\/a>

Photo credit: Kari Heistad\/capturedimages.biz<\/p><\/div>\n

On Wednesday, we got our first look at the Revolution’s 34-game schedule, a list that features a\u00a0healthy dose\u00a0of notable matchups, storylines and potential shenanigans.<\/p>\n

But which\u00a0of the 34\u00a0jump out\u00a0at us\u00a0the most? We’re glad you asked.<\/p>\n

The Can’t Miss Match:<\/strong>\u00a0May 31\u00a0vs. LA Galaxy. A sitter in every sense. After swallowing a bitter 2-1 title game loss, the Revolution get another crack at the Galaxy – and on home turf. Not only will it be given the national broadcast treatment, but the fact that the locals wiped the floor with the Galaxy last time they came to Gillette makes it appointment viewing. Obviously, the stakes won’t be as high this time around. Yet there’s a lot to like about this match, especially with former club legend Matt Reis making his return to the stadium he called home for nearly a decade. Plus, no more sappy tributes to Landon Donovan (we get it, he was good). Expect the Fort to bring its A-game on every level for this one.<\/p>\n

The Dark Horse Clash:<\/strong> Jun. 21 at D.C. United.\u00a0Yes, we may be in MLS 3.0 (or whatever iteration we’re currently in) and things are a lot faster, shinier and younger than they used to be. But one aspect of the old days that’s\u00a0gone the way of baggy jeans and\u00a0Britney Spears\u00a0is the fervor that once\u00a0encompassed Revolution-United clashes.\u00a0It\u00a0may not be 2005 all over again, but\u00a0this game is brimming with storylines. The last time Jay Heaps was in D.C., he was ejected, while the return leg saw United players and coaches complain about the drenching their\u00a0box received\u00a0from the grounds crew at halftime. Oh, and lest we forget: these were the two best teams in the east last year! With both clubs\u00a0keen for greater\u00a0success in 2015, this clash\u00a0could be an\u00a0Eastern Conference Final preview.<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>

Photo credit: Chris Aduama\/aduamaphotography.com<\/p><\/div>\n

The First Big Test:<\/strong> Mar. 8 at Seattle Sounders. Typically, west coast clashes don’t carry much cache for Revolution supporters.\u00a0 After all, these affairs rarely impact postseason hopes, and are often held well before playoff hunt commences. This one, though, won’t be lacking for intrigue. For starters, it’s a rematch of the 5-0 embrassment issued by the Revolution. So Sigi Schmid won’t have to do much to get his players’ attention for this one. On the Revolution end,\u00a0it’s an immediate test that will\u00a0pit the hottest team\u00a0last autumn\u00a0versus the best team in the league all season. Last year, the Revolution laid an egg in their season opener. Don’t count on it happening again this time around.<\/p>\n

The Tilt That Won’t Live Up to Its Billing:<\/strong>\u00a0May 2\u00a0vs. New York Red Bulls. Replicating the Scorsese-esque scenes that unfolded during the Conference Final would’ve been difficult as is. But with Thierry Henry gone (yes, he probably wouldn’t have played anyway, but still), Mike Petke unemployed, and Tim Cahill’s return uncertain, the Revolution will be welcoming back a very different Red Bulls’ squad come spring. And that squad, despite still having Dax McCarty, Luis Robles, Lloyd Sam and Bradley Wright-Phillips, simply won’t be as fearsome – or interesting –\u00a0as the one that nearly upstaged the locals in the second leg of the Conference Final.<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>

Photo credit: Kari Heistad\/capturedimages.biz<\/p><\/div>\n

Because Expansion (Double Feature):<\/strong> Mar. 15 at New York City FC\u00a0and Jul. 18 vs. New York City FC. This may come as a shocker, but many Revolution supporters are also ardent Red Sox fans. So rare is the case when the two worlds collide. But that collision will occur in earnest when the Revolution step into the hallowed home of the Yankees, er, NYCFC,\u00a0come Week 2.\u00a0Not only will David Villa be there, but so will old friend Patrick Mullins.\u00a0Four months later, the\u00a0Bronx-based outfit will make\u00a0its first trip to Foxborough, where they may or may not bring a certain loan-dodging Manchester City midfielder. If they do, and Mr. Lampard isn’t averse to playing on turf, this match could be one to remember.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Which of the Revs’ 34 regular season games already have us thinking spring (and summer) ?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":30434,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[3],"tags":[891,892],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nesoccertoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Dorman-1.png?fit=600%2C415","jetpack_likes_enabled":false,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/nesoccertoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30389"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/nesoccertoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/nesoccertoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/nesoccertoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/nesoccertoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=30389"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"http:\/\/nesoccertoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30389\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30528,"href":"http:\/\/nesoccertoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30389\/revisions\/30528"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/nesoccertoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/30434"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/nesoccertoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=30389"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/nesoccertoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=30389"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/nesoccertoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=30389"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}