New England Soccer Today

5 Potential Replacements for Jones

Photo credit: Kari Heistad/capturedimages.biz

Photo credit: Kari Heistad/capturedimages.biz

In a matter of weeks, Revolution midfielder Jermaine Jones will officially hit the free market looking for the kind of long-term deal the front office is in no hurry to give considering his age (34) and injury history (two sports hernia surgeries in 2015).

While the Revolution will still hold his MLS rights after his current deal expires, Jones has indicated that he’s drawn interest from clubs in Europe and Brazil, where he can sign without the local outfit interfering.

Should the star midfielder depart, there’s no doubt that there’d be a sizable crater not only in the midfield, but on the entire squad given Jones’ savvy, skill and leadership. Oh, and star power, of course.

To address it, the brain trust cannot afford to take a flier on another free transfer like Ousmane Dabo (or, heaven forbid, another Joseph Niouky). They have to be aggressive, which means they’ll have to orchestrate a offseason trade or make a move during the winter transfer window. After all, they’ll presumably have the budget to do so.

So who could the Revolution tab to replace Jones if he decides to sign elsewhere? We take a look at some possible candidates who could, at the very least, make the prized midfielder’s possible exit somewhat easier to stomach around these parts.

1. Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake) – At 33, he’s not much younger than Jones, but there’s no doubt that Revolution coach Jay Heaps is a huge fan of his former Miami Fusion teammate. And it’s easy to see why. Beckerman has been a top-5 defensive midfielder for the past five years, a U.S. Men’s National Team regular, and a key cog in a Real Salt Lake squad that up until this year, was a perennial Western Conference power. With Salt Lake likely in rebuild mode this winter, you have to believe that the thought of Beckerman in Revolution blue has at least crossed Heaps’ mind this fall.

2. Osvaldo Alonso (Seattle Sounders) – One of the grittiest no. 6’s in the league, Alonso is reportedly on the outs in Seattle, another Western Conference club that appears intent to do some major tinkering this winter. Injuries were an issue for the 30-year-old midfielder in 2015, but that didn’t stop him from exerting his influence on an uber-talented team for yet another year. Then, of course, is his familiarity with artificial turf, which can’t be overlooked when making a major signing. Oh, and did we mention his league-best 92.3 percent pass completion percentage?

3. Jack Jewsbury (Portland Timbers) – If you’re looking for reliability, verve and leadership, few players in MLS fit the bill better than Jewsbury. Yes, he may have been shifted to the rear recently with his legs no longer what they used to be during his Kansas City days. But paired alongside a spry Scott Caldwell, the 34-year-old won’t have to run any marathons in Foxborough. Plus, there’s the fact that his familiarity with the league (13 years and counting) gives him the edge over any potential overseas signing. Yes, we’re talking about you, Kalifa Cisse.

4. Geoff Cameron (Stoke City) – This might be a bit of a FIFA 16 fantasy, but then again, so was the thought of landing Jermaine Jones less than two years ago. Cameron’s local ties make him a natural to someday suit up for the Revolution, though it appears that he’s quite happy to stay at Stoke City. A defender by trade, the 30-year-old University of Rhode Island product has plenty of experience at center mid, as well. If the front office wants to make a major splash, they’d be wise to at least put in a call to Cameron’s agent to see if there’s a figure worth discussing to bring him back to the region this winter.

5. Marcelo Sarvas (Colorado Rapids) – One of the most underrated defensive midfielders in the league, Heaps has witnessed first-hand what Sarvas brings to the table during the Revolution’s encounters with the Galaxy during his first three yeas at the helm. Yes, the Brazilian midfielder isn’t exactly a spring chicken at 34. And yes, he had an underwhelming 2015 campaign after the Galaxy unloaded him to make room for Steven Gerrard. But if the Revolution are seeking a short-term solution, they can do a lot worse than the two-time MLS Cup champion.

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