21 Random Thoughts About Revs Camp (So Far)
- Updated: February 8, 2015
Photo credit: Chris Aduama/aduamaphotography.com
You kept pace with the Juan Agudelo rumors, plugged the trialists into your personal team sheet, and tracked the scrimmages real time via Twitter. But what did we learn from the first part of the Revolution preseason camp?
It’s difficult to say from afar all the things that have shaken out since the start of camp, so here are 21 random observations from the first segment of the preseason.
1. No A.J. Soares, no problem, because Andrew Farrell appears to be the leading candidate to fill the center back spot opposite Jose Goncalves. And given the way he manned the spot last season, that’s probably not a bad thing.
2. The loss of Soares could also spell more minutes at center back Darrius Barnes, who saw a half-hour’s worth of time in the central defense in the second scrimmage.
3. Jay Heaps’ really, really wants to find out what midfielder Jeremy Hall can give him at right back. So much so that neither Kevin Alston, nor Darrius Barnes, has seen minutes at the spot this winter.
4. Speaking of Alston, he’s accrued exactly zero minutes of action during the team’s first two scrimmages.
5. The addition of Juan Agudelo instantly banished the biggest question mark on the roster.
6. It also made the Revolution front runners to win the Conference.
7. It also signaled that Sean Okoli is going to have to bust his tail that much harder to avoid ending up in Rochester in April.
Photo credit: Chris Aduama/aduamaphotography.com
8. We didn’t see it coming: Donnie Smith’s brief assignment to right back during the first scrimmage.
9. By fielding a first-team unit for the first half of both scrimmages, Heaps seems intent on getting his starters back in the same groove they found themselves in late last year.
10. On the topic of lineups, the second half selections seen during the first two scrimmages have afforded many trialists a remarkable opportunity to open some eyes – and the kind of opportunity (an entire half of action rather than pockets of minutes) that hasn’t been seen in recent years.
11. There seems to be more to the presence of Joe Nasco, who is under contract with the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers, than just getting the jump on preseason training. Something to keep an eye on.
12. Most intriguing storyline: What becomes of Charlie Davies’ playing time now that Agudelo’s back?
13. Speaking of which, Davies’ seventh minute strike in the first scrimmage was proof that he won’t let go of the role he filled remarkably during the postseason so easily.
14. Early favorites on getting signed: Marc Fenelus and Timi Mulgrew. Fenelus because he’s versatile, fast and technically sound, Mulgrew because he’s got a left foot – and can cross.
15. Player who’ll be looking over his shoulder when Diego Fagundez returns from Uruguay U-20 camp: Kelyn Rowe.
16. The new training tops aren’t as nice as last year’s.
Photo credit: Chris Aduama/aduamaphotography.com
17. Imagine what Heaps’ reaction would have been six months ago if you had told him that he’d have both Agudelo and Jermaine Jones at his disposal for the 2015 Desert Diamond Cup. The club’s come along way from the days of running out the likes of Bjorn Runstrom and Marko Jesic for the tourney.
18. The Revolution still have eight open roster spots.
19. Does anyone think the Revolution can’t win the MLS Cup this year?
20. Buzzword of camp: fitness.
21. There are a lot less questions marks and controversies surrounding this club than there were a year ago – and that can only be a good thing for all parties involved.
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