Hall Answers the Call
- Updated: August 18, 2015
Photo credit: Kari Heistad/capturedimages.biz
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Shortly after falling in the 2014 MLS Cup, the New England Revolution made a trade to bring in veteran defender/midfielder Jeremy Hall from Toronto FC. Many viewed the move – which sent a fourth-round pick north of the border – as a classic low-risk/high-reward deal that netted a versatile player who’d only played three league games last season.
Although the former first-round pick only saw action in two of the team’s first 21 games, Hall’s emerged as a key contributor over the past month by taking over the starting right back’s spot all the while the Revolution have run off a four-game unbeaten streak.
Most recently, Hall went the full 90 in a 2-0 win over the Dynamo, a game that was interrupted by two lengthy delays due to lightning. Despite the unexpected stoppages, Hall remained focused, and helped the team pitch its second shutout in its last three home games.
“It was pretty tough,” Hall said. “I think everyone was just professional about it. We came in here, we talked about what we needed to do. When we went back out there, finally, to break them down. I think everyone was just ready for it. We’re going into a bye week, we had a little bit of momentum, so we felt we can just play a little bit harder and take the weekend off.”
That hunger to help out the team in any way he can sums up Hall’s season to a T. After struggling with injuries, then watching others bypass him on the depth chart, he’s worked his way back into the starting XI for coach Jay Heaps.
“He brings a presence,” Heaps said when asked about Hall’s recent form. “I think he’s been around a while he’s got that veteran swagger because he’s been there and played in a lot of games. But also I think he brings a good calming influence on the ball. He’s really good with his passing, and he’s always an option for (Andrew) Farrell out there.
“I think that helps because now we can move the ball quickly and Jeremy’s willing to make a play. And then from there I’ve been really happy with how he’s defended. I thought he did a great job on Brad Davis, and I thought he did a great job a couple weeks ago when we played in Chicago on (David) Accam, which for me is probably one of the toughest players to defend one-on-one in the league.”
Yet even with his recent success, Hall knows he needs to maintain his fighting attitude.
“It was tough. We just have so many guys that can play (right back),” Hall said. “There’s competition for spots everywhere. It keeps everybody on their toes, everybody wants to play, there’s only 11 spots, and everyone wants to play.
“I just tried to keep my head up. It was definitely hard because everybody thinks they should be on the field. But I just wait for my opportunity, and I got one, and just trying to ride with it and help the team as much as I can.”
With only nine games remaining in the regular season, and Hall is looking to keep his recent run of form to help the Revolution make another playoff push. If the last four games are any indication, Hall will continue to make it difficult for Heaps to change his spot in the lineup down the stretch.
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