Hall Happy to Help
- Updated: March 24, 2015
Photo credit: Kari Heistad/capturedimages.biz
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – As a seven-year MLS veteran, Revolution right back Jeremy Hall knows that you have to be prepared for anything and everything, especially if you’re a versatile reserve.
With starting right back Kevin Alston sidelined due to injury, Hall got the start at Alston’s spot in Saturday’s 0-0 draw against the Impact despite that fact that he wasn’t on the 18 in each of the previous two games.
“I just stayed ready, and trained hard as if I was going to start,” Hall said, “and (it was) just being ready if my number was called.”
Hall showed he was ready for his first MLS start in nearly a year. In 90 minutes of action against the Impact on Saturday, the versatile veteran collected five interceptions – tied for the team-high along with Darrius Barnes – with the dangerous Maxim Tissot lurking.
But Hall didn’t the mind the timing of his assignment, even though he hadn’t received considerable minutes since late-February.
“I don’t think that part was tough,” Hall said of his first start of the season. “Obviously, you still want to get match fitness, but I played a lot in the preseason, and I came into the preseason fit.”
Hall played a total of 253 minutes over six preseason matches, all at right back, as he competed for the starting spot along with Alston.
After Alston injured his right hamstring during the Revolution’s 2-0 loss at New York City, Hall had a pretty good idea that his number would be called. And so he prepared accordingly.
With Barnes also pressed into action due to Jose Goncalves’ red card suspension, Hall worked on getting on the same page with the longtime Revolution defender during training to keep the mistakes to a minimum once gameday arrived.
“We definitely had that down,” Hall said. “We knew what we wanted to do as far as defending with the shape, and not giving up many chances, so I thought it was a good first step, and something we can build on.”
Building on Saturday’s scoreless draw – which yielded the Revolution their first point of the season – will be key to turning the corner on the club’s early-season struggles.
“We had the majority of the ball, but Montreal did well defending,” Hall said. “I think maybe our final touch and our final shot wasn’t as sharp as we would’ve liked. But we came away with the clean sheet, and a lot of positives to build on for the next game.”
While Hall himself stopped short of declaring himself 100 percent fit, he’s confident that he’ll be able to contribute against San Jose on Saturday should Heaps need him to fill in for Alston again.
“I still think I’m getting there, but I felt great out there,” Hall said, “and next week, if my number’s called again, I’m just going to do the same thing.”
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