Player Ratings: New England Revolution vs. Real Salt Lake
- By Sean Donahue
- Updated: April 10, 2011
After each match the contributors to New England Soccer Today will rate the performances of the Revolution players who made an appearance on a 1 to 10 scale (1 horrendous, 5 average, 10 perfection). This week Brian O’Connell, Carl Setterlund, and Sean Donahue contributed ratings for the Revs’ 2-0 loss to Real Salt Lake.
Bobby Shuttleworth – Average Rating: 4.33 (Brian 4.5, Carl 4, Sean 4.5)
Still struggled to get on the same page with his back four. Admitted that the Schuler goal was a product of that miscommunication. (Brian) … I can’t help but think Matt Reis would have taken better control and shut things down on one of RSL’s two goals, but he was also getting pressured all night. (Carl) … Blamed first goal on himself for calling for it and not getting there. Slow to come off his line and narrow the angle on the second. (Sean)
Didier Domi– Average Rating: 5.17 (Brian 5, Carl 5.5, Sean 5)
Made some nice advancing runs, and looked decent on the ball. Not much he could do alone about the waves of Salt Lake attacks. (Brian) … I’ve continued to be impressed by his skill level. (Carl) … Can’t be blamed for either goal and made some nice runs forward, but struggle to find space to put in a good cross. (Sean)
Ryan Cochrane – Average Rating: 4.5 (Brian 5, Carl 4, Sean 4.5)
Quiet, yet solid game before he departed in the second half with an apparent hip injury. (Brian) … Getting called off by Shuttleworth on Schuler’s goal puts him less at fault, but I’d expected Cochrane to act more like the veteran of this back line. (Carl) …May have been a miscommunication with Shuttleworth, but Cochrane was in position to win the header on the corner and Schuler beat him to it. He also conceded that corner when he cleared a rebound over the endline though he probably had time to clear it elsewhere. (Sean)
Franco Coria – Average Rating: 4 (Brian 4, Carl 5, Sean 3)
Played reactively rather than proactively, messy on a few tackles, and probably warranted a red card in the second half. (Brian) … Like Domi, the tools are there, RSL was just on a higher level as far as communication. (Carl) … Played very dangerously for a defender carrying a yellow card and was lucky not to have been sent off. Often found himself out of position. At fault for the second goal when he let Araujo run in behind him. Atypical of what we’ve seen from the defender. (Sean)
Kevin Alston – Average Rating: 5.17 (Brian 5, Carl 5, Sean 5.5)
Sent an excellent ball to Phelan in the 42nd minute, made good runs, but also found himself in bad positions in the middle third. (Brian) … Was scrappy and a bit reckless, also got forward nicely a few times. (Carl) … Had the best cross of his season and wasn’t found enough by teammates when making runs forward. Cut inside on occasion when the Revs really needed him to provide width. (Sean)
Stephen McCarthy – Average Rating: 4.33 (Brian 4, Carl 5, Sean 4)
Out of position far too often, played tentatively, and really added little to the team’s form (or lack thereof). (Brian) … Needs to start doing more to distinguish himself if he’s going to hold down that starting spot long-term. (Carl) … Failed to make an impact on the game. Schuler appeared to be his mark on the corner, though not much he could do in the mass of bodies going for the ball. (Sean)
Shalrie Joseph – Average Rating: 4.83 (Brian 4.5, Carl 6, Sean 4)
Tried to take on the task of defender, midfielder, and striker all at once. Needs to let his teammates do some of the work. Red card was stupid, but he souldn’t have allowed himself to have been baited by Beckerman. (Brian) … I’ll mark him down for that bogus red card, although I can’t blame Shalrie too much. Should have been more composed, but was active as ever in the middle. (Carl) … Too much pressure is on Joseph to do it all and with Salt Lake’s tight defense he wasn’t able to. Needs more support from his teammates when he gets the ball. Turnover started the play leading to RSL’s second goal. Didn’t deserve a red card, but he needs to be smarter in that situation. (Sean)
Pat Phelan – Average Rating: 4.5 (Brian 4, Carl 5.5, Sean 4)
Tried to involve himself in the attack, but far too often failed to collaborate with Joseph and McCarthy. (Brian) … I always admire the way he’ll stick his nose into any situation, but at some point the skill level needs to equal his daring; another questionable red card. (Carl) … Unnecessary and reckless tackle led to a red card the Revs couldn’t afford late in the game. Couldn’t get much going in the attack. (Sean)
Marko Perovic – Average Rating: 4.5 (Brian 4.5, Carl 4.5, Sean 4.5)
Sluggish in the early going, registered a few half chances in the second frame, didn’t seem fully fit.(Brian) … We’ve come to expect that Perovic needs time to round into form. Had smart ideas on several occasions, but was also a step behind on several others. (Carl) … Touch was there for much of the match. Improved as the match went on and had a few nice solo efforts, but the Revs needed more from him. (Sean).
Kenny Mansally – Average Rating: 4.33 (Brian 4.5, Carl 4.5 Sean 4)
Service improved over the Vancouver game, but was unimaginative for far too much of the match. (Brian) … I didn’t think he did anything to prove to Nicol he’s a better starting option than Nyassi. (Carl) … Couldn’t get anything going on the right. Looked slightly more dangerous in the second half on the left, but his service in the final third was lacking. (Sean)
Zack Schilawski – Average Rating: 4.83 (Brian 4.5, Carl 5.5, Sean 4.5)
Put a decent shot on frame in the waning seconds of the first half, but lacked the service to do much else. (Brian) … He’s always a tough grade for me because he’s just so alone up there. Seemed to play his game though. (Carl) … Seemed like he never had the ball and, for the most part, that’s on the midfield. (Sean)
(sub) Ilija Stolica – Average Rating: 4.33 (Brian 4, Carl 5, Sean 4)
Lackluster performance; only threat he found was the give and go with Perovic in 46th that he clearly tried to do too much on. (Brian) … Most notable moments came when he was smooth-talking the referee, but I like his attitude in the face of defeat. (Carl) … Combined nicely with Perovic at the start of the second half, but could’ve been sent off for a reckless tackle at midfield and was pushing his luck arguing with referees all match while already on a yellow card. (Sean)
(sub) Sainey Nyassi – Average Rating: 4 (Brian 4, Carl 4.5 Sean 3.5)
Would’ve had a 3 until he started using his left foot – pretty nicely – but on the right. Go figure. (Brian) … I didn’t think he did anything to prove to Nicol he’s a better starting option than Mansally. (Carl) … Brought on to provide a spark off the bench. He didn’t. (Sean)
(sub) Darrius Barnes – Average Rating: 5.33 (Brian 5.5, Carl 5, Sean 5.5)
Good performance put in by one of last year’s starting center backs. One of the few even-keeled players remaining amid the hostilities. (Brian) … The forgotten man on the back line showed me he’s just as capable as Cochrane out there. (Carl) … Came on after both goals were already scored and provided a steadying presence on the backline when the Revs were down a man, though RSL had begun to take their foot off the gas. (Sean)
About Sean Donahue
Sean Donahue serves as an editor and staff writer at New England Soccer Today. He has been covering the New England Revolution since 2002 for various publications. He has covered four MLS Cups, in addition to covering various international matches, including World Cup Qualifying and the CONCACAF Gold Cup. He has done freelance work for the Associated Press and ESPN Boston. Sean co-hosts New American Game, a soccer talk radio show from 10am to noon on WMEX AM1510. He previously hosted Revolution Recap, a weekly radio program covering the New England Revolution and U.S. Men's National Team from 2005-2008. He is a member of the North American Soccer Reporters. Sean can be reached at nesoccertoday@gmail.com or on Twitter @SeanLDonahue