Five Questions: Revolution vs. Toronto FC

Revolution skipper Jose Goncalves is hoping his team can carry the same attitude seen in Houston into Saturday’s match against Toronto. (Photo: Kari Heistad/CapturedImages.biz)

Seventh-place sides don’t encounter a trap game very often, but that’s exactly what awaits the Revolution Saturday night against a stumbling Toronto FC that hasn’t won since Week 2.

Coming off the kind of performance that would make Taylor Twellman’s eyes water, Jay Heaps’ boys have to feel like they’re a team reborn. That their early season woes are behind them, and that their newly-discovered form in the final third are signs that they’ve turned a corner. A win against a team that was very recently unbeatable at home will have that kind of a effect on a team.

It’s all too convenient that their Kim Kardashian-sized (sorry Kanye) win would precede a home game against team who’s last win came on the same day of Jerry Bengtson’s last goal (ask a Revolution supporter how long that’s felt like). A team that’s lost four in a row, and winless in their last nine. A team that, going back to last season, is 1-16-8 in their last 25. A team that, for all intents and purposes, has single-handedly strengthened the argument for a relegation/promotion system in MLS.

You get the idea. Toronto isn’t exactly a side to be reckoned with, which at first blush, should give Revolution supporters every reason to feel good about their club’s chances on Saturday. The pundits, for their part, have penciled in a Revolution win as well. You don’t need to be Nate Silver to know that the odds are pretty stacked against the Reds.

But before Don Garber preemptively overnights three points to Brian Bilello, we must acknowledge that a wild card exists, and that the wild card is none other than the Revolution themselves.

Consider this: in the last three seasons, the Revolution have made it a habit of following up impressive wins with a confidence-shattering defeats. Last year, they beat the eventual MLS champion Galaxy 3-1 in L.A., then lost 1-0 to FC Dallas. The year before, they beat Sporting K.C. 3-2, then promptly dropped a 3-0 loss to Chivas. In 2010, they gutted out a 3-2 win over New York only to get pummeled by Seattle 3-0 a week later.

Then, there’s the most recent example of the post-triumph hangover: a 2-0 win over New York last summer – a win that put them within one game of .500 (and in July, no less!) – that preceded a 1-0 loss to Toronto. Yes, the same 1-0 loss to Toronto that sent the Revolution on their way to a franchise-worst 10-game winless streak.

The Revolution have every right to feel confident about themselves going into Saturday’s game. They beat a terrific team at a tough place to play. Bare minimum, they deserve a pat on the back or warm cookie for it. But they shouldn’t get carried away. After all, Toronto is probably looking at Saturday’s game pretty similar to the way the Revolution viewed last week’s game in Houston. And we all know how what happened to the club that was favored to win in that one.

That’s why they play the games. Because you never know what can happen. And that’s why we ask the questions. Right here, right now.

1. Can Juan Agudelo pose the same threat seen in Houston? Based upon the 55 minutes that Agudelo put together against the Dynamo, the Foxboro Faithful have to be optimistic. After missing the past month with an uncooperative hamstring, the 20-year-old did exactly what Heaps wanted to see: he tested them with well-timed runs, deft passing and an crafty shot that he pinged off Ricardo Clark for a goal that wasn’t credited to him until Friday. Yes, six days after the fact. It’s fair to say Agudelo arrived as advertised last week. This week, he faces a weaker defense, and a team who’s confidence is currently at the bottom of a dumpster in a sketchy alley.  It may point to another impressive performance, but whether he can find the same opportunities at home, where the Revolution have struggled this season, will be interesting to see.

2. How will A.J. Soares’ expected return affect the defense? Getting back a starting center back from injury is often seen as a welcome development, and by and large, that is certainly the case with Soares’ return. In his club’s first five games, he helped them rack up three clean sheets and formed a solid partnership with Jose Goncalves. He also strengthened the team’s aerial presence, and did well to win a number of balls off set pieces. However, during the course of those five games, we also saw a center back who often looked to play it long than to link with his midfielders, something which undeniably hurt the attack in the early going. Soares will be welcome addition to the lineup, to be sure, but the passing skills central midfielder-turned-center back Stephen McCarthy – who’s listed as out for the game – brought to the table will be missed.

3. Can Jerry Bengtson find redemption with Dimitry Imbongo unavailable? The circumstances seem to favor Bengtson’s chances. Although he hasn’t scored since week 2, there’s no questioning the Honduran striker’s skill or abilities. We’ve seen it on bigger stages, with higher stakes. We know he’s capable pulling rabbits out of his hat in front of the net. And he’ll have no choice but to do so on Saturday. With Imbongo serving his red card suspension, the attack finding its rhythm in the last three weeks and a porous defense in town, the arrows are pointing to an opportunity for the soft-spoken striker to make some noise in the attacking third.  He’ll have to be especially loud, too, for Saturday might be his last chance to prove himself as a worthy recipient of the designated player title.

4. Will Diego Fagundez make it three in a row? It’s not a coincidence that the attacking woes started to vanish around the same time that Fagundez began finding his form. Since scoring his first goal of the season in last month’s 2-0 win over Philadelphia, the Revolution have averaged 1.2 goals/game, which isn’t spectacular until you consider that they averaged 0.33 goals/game before that. Take away the Brandon Barklage own goal, and it’s a ghastly 0.16 goals/game. Anyway, you get the idea: the Revolution are leaning on their teenage midfielder now more than ever. So far, he’s answered the call, reeling off three goals in his last five games, and more importantly, has breathed life into the offense. And with a vulnerable Toronto side on tap for Saturday, the chances that Fagundez ups his goal total certainly look good.

5. How will Ryan Guy’s absence affect the offense? Although Fagundez has received much of the credit for spearing the attack as of late, props have to also be given to Guy, who’ll miss Saturday’s game with a calf injury. In Guy’s last five starts, the Revolution’s attack created the chances that were so hard to come by at the start of the season, when Guy’s role was limited. His sneaky runs into the 18, his vision, his ball-winning abilities and general tendency to pester opposing backlines have all served the offense well. No doubt his absence will be felt on Saturday. Yes, Chris Tierney, who’s expected to fill in for Guy in the midfield, will likely provide good service from the flank. But Guy’s ability to stretch a defense will be something the Heaps would love to have at his disposal on Saturday.

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