Revcetera

2010 Expansion Draft - Who to Protect?

Tue, 9 Nov 2010 14:18:19 -0500

With MLS Cup coming in a couple weeks and the Revs packing up for the long winter offseason, it's time to start getting ready for next year. It's safe to expect that the 2011 Revs will look different, and, indeed, must be different after a disappointing 2010 season. This past week we've seen the retirement of Taylor Twellman, the Revolution's all-time leading goal scorer, due to brain injury. While not unexpected, it is still sad to lose the hope of seeing him knocking in goals for the home-town team. But that's a post unto itself...

The next major personnel decision will be the 2010 Expansion draft later this month. Deciding who to protect and who to leave unprotected is always a bit of a cat-and-mouse game. Can you leave higher-priced players unprotected because they will not be as attractive as a cheaper, more promising youngster? Do you protect experience or potential? I won't be amongst the Revs brass who will be making these decisions, but if I had a vote, my list would look like the following:

Alston
Barnes
Sinovic
Joseph
Nyassi (SI)
Mansally
Perovic (SI)
Tierney
Dube
Schilawski
Stolica (SI)

Now before I explain my selections, let's review the rules and the current roster.

The Rules (a summary)

11 players protected. GA and Home Grown Exempt.
If 3+ Internationals, can only leave total-3 unprotected
If 3 or less Internationals, can only leave 1 unprotected
If Dev player taken, must be put on expansion teams senior roster
If a player is taken, the team can protect another player
A total of 20 players between the two expansion teams will be selected.

The Roster

Name	Position	Age	Salary	Status	Notes
Matt Reis	GK	35	182,011	Out of Contract�	There will be other experienced keepers available for cheaper. Coming off 3rd surgery in past 12 months.
Preston Burpo	GK	38	70,000	�	Age and injury will probably keep him from attracting intetest.
Bobby Shuttleworth	GK	23	40,000	Dev	He could be the most attractive of the keepers due to age, price and some real experience. He almost made my list over Dube.
Tim Murray	GK	23	40,000	Dev	Too unknown to be attractive to an expansion team and he's not likely to be missed much.
Kevin Alston	D	22	124,000	�	Starter, all-star, young. Obvious choice.
Darrius Barnes	D	23	56,250	�	Starter, young, experienced and cheap. He would be attractive and fills a role going forward.
Cory Gibbs	D	30	128,142	�	Older, some injury history, mid-priced. Too inconistent for age and experience. Not likely to be attractive and not difficult to replace. Maybe pull him back if Osei is taken?
Emmanuel Osei	D	28	52,875	SI	Cheap, international. Wildly inconsistent. Reads game well defensively, but makes questionable decisions with the ball. Maybe pull him back if Gibbs is taken?
Seth Sinovic	D	23	40,000	�	Young, cheap, some experience for a rookie, left-sided. Showed some potential for first year pro. Position and potential give him another year in NE.
Zak Boggs	M	21	40,000	�	Young, cheap, showed flashes, but soesn't have large body of professinal work and he's had a long recovery from a head injury. Probably not very attractive to an expansion team.
Nico Colaluca	M	24	133,000		Not an integral part of team, despite some promise. Not likely attractive.
Jason Griffiths	M	23	40,000	SI	Young, cheap, some experience. His international status and limited minutes keep him from being too attractive. Pull him back if Phelan is taken?
Shalrie Joseph	M	32	475,000	�	All-star, team leader, can control midfield. He's getting older and he's expensive, but has too much value to risk exposing him. Obvious choice to protect.
Roberto Linck	M	22	40,000	SI	Young, inexperienced, cheap, but an international and not likely on anyone's radar.
Kenny Mansally	M	21	72,500	�	Young with lots of experience, mid-priced, versatile, and left-footed. Could be attractive. He provides good depth and can push for a starting position.
Sainey Nyassi	M	21	76,750	SI	Young, experienced, fast, can control a wing. Inconsistent on his crosses and can be hesitant to take defenders on. I like him anyway, but we need to protect 3 internationals and I pick him over Osei.
Marko Perovic	M	26	190,000	SI	young, reasonably priced, lethal on dead balls, can play a number of attacking positions. He's a keeper, especially as one of 3 internationals.
Pat Phelan	M	25	40,000	�	Experienced, steady but not spectacular. Hasn't really made that giant step forward. But he's cheap and can provide some depth at CB, too. Same player as Griffith now, so pull him back if Griffith taken.
Khano Smith	M	29	50,004	�	Khano is Khano. Sometimes that's a good thing and sometimes it is not. He's cheap and can be deadly, but also can be frustrating. If he's taken, oh well, if not, let him fight to make the roster next season.
Chris Tierney	M	24	40,000	�	Mr. Versatile, left-footed, soccer-smart. Not spectacular at anything, but very good at many, and on short money. Too valuable to lose.
Kheli Dube	F	27	89,000	�	Had a rough 2010 after a good 2009. Does many good things off the ball, and adds some right-midfield depth. My eleventh man protected over Shuttleworth.
Zach Schilawski	F	23	42,500	�	Young, cheap, and showed potential. the type of player attractive to an expansion side for depth. Done enough to keep around to see what he can do as a sophomore. Maybe tradeable, too, if the Revs bring in forwards from outside.
Ilija Stolica	F	31	221,500	SI	Older, expensive, but provided some key goals and fills a dramatic need in holding the ball up front. Plus, the Revs need to protect 3 internationals. I expect he'll be more effective his 2nd season in the league.

Whatever is left after the expansion draft will certainly need some trimming and enhancement if the Revolution want to contend for MLS Cup in 2011. The 2010 roster gave away too many goals and scored way too few. However, there will remain a usable framework. I'd consider lining them up in a 4-2-3-1 with most the wide play offensively coming from the outside fullbacks, and the 3 advanced midfielders with a bit of freedom to interchange and generate some constructive chaos. It would look something like this:

                        Stolica
            Mansally        Nyassi/Dube
                        Perovic

          Phelan/Griffith        Joseph

Tierney/Sinovic�                          Alston
            Osei/Gibbs    Barnes

            Reis/Shuttleworth

I think that to get this to work, we would need another strong, sound center defender, and a partner for Joseph who has more bite on both sides of the ball, a la Beckerman (RSL), Juninho(LA), or Alonso (SEA). It would also require that Nyassi/Dube and Mansally, become consistent finishers, while Alston improved his crossing and offensive decision making.

Another variation that I feel would suit the squad would be a 4-4-2 diamond with Joseph playing in fron of the back four and Perovic mroe advanced. The wings would drop back a little more, but stay pinched inside with considerable offensive freedom. Let Stolica play more like a target and find a Twellman-like finisher to partner him. Easy to write...

Can the 2010 Revolution Play in a 352 alignment

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:48:32 -0400

It seems that the Revolution team that led the league in scoring over the 2002-2007 period did most its damage in the 352, and that they've struggled to score since switching to the 442 in late 2008. Maybe it has little to do with the alignment and more to do with the health of Mr. Taylor Twellman. But let us examine the 2010 roster to see if it could be suitable for a switch to the 352 at some point.

First let's examine some of the different requirements of each position in the two formations. We'll assume that the goalkeeper's role doesn't change much.

Defense: Obviously the number of defenders is different, but so is the type of defender needed. To play with three in the back, it's more about positioning, shape, and communication (i.e. soccer smarts) than it is about athleticism and one-v-one defending, though all defenders need a certain amount each to be called defenders in the first place. In the four-man backline, you need more athleticism on the wings and wing backs that can contribute going forward.

It seems that Barnes, Gibbs, Osei, Badilla, and Alston have the qualities to play in a 3-man backline, with the caveat that communication may be an issue with Osei and Badilla. Maybe Tierney and Phelan could show well in a pinch. Alston is better suited as a wing back in the 442, but he didn't seem uncomfortable the few times the Revs showed a 352 in 2009. We haven't seen Sinovic yet, but all descriptions lead me to believe he is a left-sided Alston who would be better suited as a wingback, but maybe he can learn the role as well.

Midfield: The 352 would require two central midfielders who can disrupt in the back and alternately link with the attack. One of these can be a classical destroying midfielder. We know Joseph can do this and have been sold on Niouky being a solid two-way midfielder. Phelan can play the more defensive of the two if he has limited offensive responsibility. Videira is probably not a fit here. We've seen Badilla here in limited action two years ago and he could maybe provide depth, if needed.

The third central midfielder would need to be able to control tempo, and create offensively. This was the natural role for an aging Ralston, but he's gone. Presently, on the roster, this position might be able to be filled by Colaluca or Videira based on skill-level alone. Neither one has the experience you would like to see in this pivotal position, though. And both still have questions to answer concerning their future as MLS players. Castro was billed as the type of player who could fit this role, but on the few occasions where he could have been used here, he was not. Perhaps, if they are able to sign recent trialist Marko Perovic, he could step into this role. Jankauskas might be another candidate in a pinch.

I think this attacking midfield position is the one with the most questions, but that there are available, unproven options. This, I feel, would be Videira's best position, or would be the position in which he had the best chance of success.

The wing midfielders in the 352 need to be able to get up and down the wings and provide offensive spark and defensive cover. Nyassi and Mansally can both do the work, but both are better going forward (if inconsistent) than defending. I would put Cololuca, Castro, and probably Boggs in the same boat. Maybe Alston, Sinovic, and Teirney can find spots at the wing midfield if they aren't needed in the back in the 352. I guess this is also a position of concern if they transition to a 352.

Forwards: The 352, and the presence of an attacking midfielder who can control the offense, takes some pressure off the forwards' responsibility to hold up the ball in a target role as the team transitions into the attack. While Twellman and Jankauskas (if healthy) can fill that target role effectively, our other forwards are not suited for it at this point in their careers (and some may never be). I think Dube, Schilawski, Mansally, and Colaluca would all be better fits playing off a target forward in a 442 or as partners in a 352.

So, in conclusion, I believe the Revs could have a solid defensive core in either formation. We already know that the offensive will struggle in a 442 without a strong target forward who can hold the ball and transition the team into the attack. Both the candidates to fill that role are presently injured, with one having an unknown return timetable and the other struggling to stay healthy for any period of time. I don't like to consider Joseph a candidate for forward and hope to not see him there in 2010.

That leaves me wanting to see a 352 again even though its success will depend on a number of young players stepping up to redeem their potential into consistent professional performance.

My opening day 352 would look like this (assuming Barnes, Alston, and Jankauskas are likely to be healthly and Badilla, Castro, and Twellman are not):

Forwards: Dube, Schilawski
Attacking Midfielder: Colaluca
Wide midfielders: Mansally, Alston
Defensive Midfielders: Niouky, Joseph
Defenders: Osei, Gibbs, Barnes
Goalkeeper: Burpo

A Modest Proposal for MLS Free Agency

Tue, 2 Mar 2010 12:20:20 -0500

It seems that the issue of "Player's Rights" is at the center of the impasse between the MLS owners and the Players Union. In particular, the right right to free movement when a contract expires or the club fails to pick up an option, or even waives a player. Neither side seems ready to compromise on this issue, leaving some uncertainty around the 2010 MLS season.

Nobody wins in the event of a work stoppage, so it is beneficial for both sides to reach an agreement. My proposal is probably not earth-shattering, or even something that hasn't been considered in pieces already. But it is reasonable and requires some concessions from both sides.

This analysis is simplified and I am surely not privy to any of the real discussions, nor am I experienced in labor law. This is simply from the perspective of a fan who wants both sides to find a middle ground.

The owners have said that they need to keep clubs from competing against each other for players in a free market in order to avoid the excesses past professional leagues and to continue the steady growth of the league. The players feel that they should be able to be free to sign with any club when they are out of contract, without the new club being forced to compensate the former club.

I propose the following solution:

1. Waived players. Players waived by their current clubs are made available, at their current contract, to all MLS teams through a waiver draft taking place no more than 7 calendar days after the player is waived. Players chosen through this draft must remain on the claiming club's roster through the next MLS Cup. Any players not chosen through the draft become immediate free agents, inside and outside MLS.

Additionally, team rosters will increase by 2 senior domestic players on July 15 each season and may be filled by any club having the salary budget to do so. Playoff rosters will be limited to 23 players specified before the playoffs begin.

This, I believe, is not too different from the current situation. It seems to favor the players, but the owners will have a hard time justifying keeping a player under the control of a club that does not want him. Adding the 2 additional roster spots creates positions for players waived during the season and should placate that player concern to some degree.

2. Option declined by club. If a club declines to pick up an option year on a contract, the club will have an exclusive 14-day window in which to renegotiate with the player. If, after the 14-day period, no agreement has been reached on a new contract, the player may become an unrestricted free agent if the average yearly guaranteed salary of the proposed new contract does not equal 85% or greater of the guaranteed money of the declined option year. So, if a club declines the option on a player due to make $100,000 in an option year, then fails to offer a contract averaging at least $85,000 per year, the player then becomes a free agent if he is not willing to accept the new offer within the 14-day window.

If the club does offer a sufficient contract, as described above, and the player does not accept, the player becomes a restricted free agent within MLS. Any club signing such a player will be required to pay the former club a fee (allocation money) equaling 10% of the guaranteed salary of the option year. The former club will have the option to match any offer averaging 95% or greater of the guaranteed money of the declined option year.

This proposal splits the power a little more evenly, but still weighs toward the players on the money side. The owners get to keep the escape valve of the club option years, but are limited with how much they can control a player without losing his rights. This requires a healthy compromise from both sides and is reasonable.

3. Player contract expires. If a player allows his contract to expire, he may become an unrestricted free agent in MLS providing he has 5 years of MLS service, or is at least 29 years of age on the date the contract expires.

Any player whose contract expires and who does not meet the requirements to become an unrestricted free agent, as outlined above, will become a restricted free agent under certain conditions. The club must present, before the contract expires, a contract averaging yearly at least 85% of the guaranteed money of the final year of the expiring contract. The restrictions placed on the free agency of the player will be determined by the average yearly guaranteed value of the club's proposed new contract in comparison to the final year of the expiring contract, as described below.

85%-99% Any MLS team wishing to sign the player must compensate the former club with allocation money totaling 10% of the average yearly guaranteed money of the former club's proposed contract. If the final year of the expiring contract, or the first year of the proposed contract, guaranteed at least $100,000, the new team must also compensate the former club with a 4th round draft choice. If the club is not compensated for the player's rights, they continue to hold those MLS rights for 1 calendar year.
100%-114% Any MLS team wishing to sign the player must compensate the former club with allocation money totaling 20% of the average yearly guaranteed money of the former club's proposed contract. If the final year of the expiring contract, or the first year of the proposed contract, guaranteed at least $100,000, the new team must also compensate the former club with a 3rd round draft choice. If the club is not compensated for the player's rights, they continue to hold those MLS rights for 2 calendar years.
115% or more Any MLS team wishing to sign the player must compensate the former club with allocation money totaling 30% of the average yearly guaranteed money of the former club's proposed contract. If the final year of the expiring contract, or the first year of the proposed contract, guaranteed at least $100,000, the new team must also compensate the former club with a 2nd round draft choice. If the club is not compensated for the player's rights, they continue to hold those MLS rights for 3 calendar years.

This, too, splits the power of both parties. Players can move freely if they reach certain marks of service or age, or if the previous club does not offer a "reasonable" contract. Clubs that cannot reach agreement with expiring players, can retain some rights to compensation if they make "reasonable" offers, with more "reasonable" offers earning more compensation. The players benefit from the compensation being dictated and non-negotiable, limiting the former club's ability to hold a player hostage.

The players will not be getting their complete rights of free movement, as they define them, but they will be getting considerable concessions from the owners and well-defined framework with which to work. They also gain increased leverage in contract negotiations.

The owners get some protection, in addition to their salary cap/budget, against inflating player payroll, while taking away the players' claim of being powerless to control their market value.

In the end, both sides can claim victories while showing their willingness to compromise for the good of the game. The fans will be the real winners when this is over and they can enjoy their favorite team without worrying about the shadow of a work stoppage.

What do you think? Is this reasonable for both sides? Where are the holes?

Depth Chart 02-25-2010

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 16:34:08 -0500

Here we are two games into the 2010 preseason. Admittedly, very few of us have seen the games or the training, and I have seen none. But that won't keep me from projecting my initial depth chart for the 2010 season.

Projected Opening Day Starting XI

Working under the assumption that Nicol will use a traditional 4-4-2 with this group:
XI_OpeningDay.png
Most of these selections will be obvious, but some merit discussion and will surely change before the first kick, even without injuries. The most contentious area will be the left side of the field, including the entire left half of the defensive line, the left midfield spot, and the central midfield partner to Shalrie Joseph. I've chosen the players I have in these spots under the assumption that Nicol will opt to be conservative away in the first match of the season. That includes some stability and continuity from last year's squad. Here is where Phelan starts next to Joseph, Mansally beats out Castro (and Tierney) at the left midfield, and Osei starts next to Barnes in the center of defense. Gibbs beats out Badilla and Tierney on the left defense due to MLS experience.
Now let's take a closer look at the positions.

Forwards

In the magical world where everyone, especially Mr. Twellman, is healthy, the clear depth probably: Twellman, Jankauskas, Dube, Schilawski, Videira, Colaluca, Mansally. Until Twellman returns and is game-fit, the middle of that list, from Jankauskas to Colaluca, will be battling to establish themselves as the clear number 2 forward and staking a claim to be that first forward off the bench. Let's hope that Twellman returns soon, that Jankauskas can remain healthy, that Dube becomes more consistent, and that Schilawski adjusts well to the professional ranks. That's a lot of hoping...

Left Midfield

Mansally and Castro should battle out for this spot most the season. They'll need to prove they can produce offense to claim top spot. Last season, both had games where they provided the needed creativity. But both also had very mediocre games, as well. Tierney is good depth here and could put himself into the fray for the starting spot with his crossing and dead-ball skills.

Right Midfield

This is Nyassi's spot to lose, at this point. Colaluca would likely provide depth here. Nyassi needs to show the willingness to take on defenders on the wing that was getting him hammered by the Mexican defenders in SuperLiga 2008. If he's getting by that defender and getting deep, he can cause a lot of trouble. Improving his crossing would open his game up quite a bit. Schilawski may find himself getting minutes here if Nyassi gets injured or becomes ineffective.

Central Midfield

Joseph has this spot locked up for very good reason. It will be good to have some extra options here in case, heaven forbid, we are desperate enough to need Joseph up front for any period of time in 2010. Among the candidates, Phelan has the most experience in this position under Nicol and would have to feel he has the advantage. But he can't be complacent. Videira offers less defense (though a willingness to work), but more offensive abilities. He might offer some ability to control the tempo in the middle of the park. But we've seen so little of him that it's unclear. This will be a critical year for both Phelan and Videira to prove they belong at this level. The wild card is Niouky Desire who recently signed out of Senegal. He's booked as a two-way traditional central midfielder, but little is known until his visa gets approved and he shows what he can do. There's also some noise, but not from management as far as I can tell, that Osei may find a place here making room for Gibbs in the center of defense.

Left Defense

This is sort of a log jam of players who's best position is somewhere else. Gibbs and Badilla have both played this position for other clubs, but are probably better suited in central defense. Tierney has some experience here, but his lack of speed and crossing ability better suit him for wing midfield. I guess it's also possible that Osei finds himself out here as well. I'm secretly hoping that the draftee, Sinovic, is an Alston-like revelation and provides the same threat coming forward as Alston does on the right. Tierney can provide some going forward, but Gibbs and Badilla are more stay at home defenders.

Right Defense

Much like Nyassi in front of him, Alston has this spot to himself. The problem is that the cover we had last season with Heaps and Albright is gone. Badilla can probably play here in a pinch, as could Tierney or Osei. This will be an interesting spot if Alston continues to struggle with the hamstring that has kept him out of two national team camps over the winter.

Central Defense

Barnes and Osei laid claim to these spots last season, but will have to do more to hold on to them this season. A healthy Gibbs and/or Badilla (playing up to their billed potential) could make life difficult for Barnes and Osei.

Goalkeeper

Matt Reis is the clear #1, but he'll be out until May or so recovering from a pair of off-season surgeries. Preston Burpo was brought in to provide an experienced backup who can start when needed. Reis showed some chinks in his armor last season with some communication and judgment errors. I don't think he needs to worry about Burpo taking his spot, but he'll need to get back on track if this team is going to make a challenge for silverware in 2010. I don't know anything about Shuttleworth apart from the fact that he knows the drills from his time as the #3 last year.

Holes and Needs

The biggest need for the Revs is to stay healthy. The depth can get real thin, real quick with a couple key injuries to injury prone players. Even if everyone gets and stays healthy, this team needs some bolstering in the right midfield to challenge Nyassi and some depth in the wing defense positions. These are places that Boggs and Sinovic have a chance to fit into the roster.

Currently, there is one senior roster spot available and 2 development roster spots open. If Castro or Badilla can't make themselves invaluable to the team, during this preseason, they risk being the first to go to make room for additional players.

I'll revisit this in a few weeks as preseason unfolds and opening day approaches. What do you think?

Revolution All-Time Goal Scorers

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 23:42:02 -0500

Rank	Player	RS	PO	OC	CC	SL	Total
1	Taylor Twellman	101	10	7	1	0	119
2	Steve Ralston	42	2	3	1	1	49
3	Joe-Max Moore	41	1	1	0	0	43
4	Shalrie Joseph	37	1	1	0	3	42
5	Pat Noonan	37	5	3	0	0	45
6	Clint Dempsey	25	1	0	0	0	26
7	Wolde Harris	24	2	3	1	0	30
8	Imad Baba	23	0	0	0	0	23
9	Raul Diaz Arce	18	0	0	0	0	18
10	Andy Dorman	17	0	2	0	0	19
11	Ted Chronopoulos	16	0	0	0	0	16
12	Kheli Dube	14	0	2	0	3	19
13	Ivan McKinley	13	0	0	0	0	13
14	Alberto Naveda	13	0	0	0	0	13
15	Sa�r S�ne	11	0	0	0	0	11
16	Adam Cristman	10	0	0	0	0	10
17	Giovanni Savarese	10	0	0	0	0	10
18	Jay Heaps	9	1	1	0	1	12
19	Jeff Larentowicz	9	0	2	0	1	12
20	Kenny Mansally	8	0	1	0	3	12
21	Johnny Torres	8	0	1	0	0	9
22	Cate	8	0	2	0	0	10
23	Khano Smith	8	1	0	0	1	10
24	Brian Kamler	8	2	0	0	0	10
25	Marko Perovic	7	0	0	0	2	9
26	Sainey Nyassi	7	0	0	0	0	7
27	Paul Keegan	7	0	0	0	0	7
28	Edwin Gorter	7	0	0	0	0	7
29	Jose Cancela	6	1	0	0	0	7
30	Rajko Lekic	6	0	0	0	0	6
31	Matt Okoh	6	0	2	0	0	8
32	Chiquinho Conde	6	0	0	0	0	6
33	Zack Schilawski	6	0	0	0	1	7
34	Lee Nguyen	6	0	1	0	0	7
35	Diego Fagundez	6	0	0	0	0	6
36	Darren Sawatzky	5	0	1	0	0	6
37	Chris Tierney	5	0	0	0	0	5
38	Joe Franchino	5	0	0	0	0	5
39	Benny Feilhaber	5	0	1	0	0	6
40	Ryan Guy	4	0	0	0	0	4
41	Iljia Stolica	4	0	0	0	0	4
42	John Kerr	4	0	1	0	0	5
43	William Sunsing	4	0	2	0	0	6
44	Milton Caraglio	3	0	0	0	0	3
45	A. J. Soares	3	0	0	0	0	3
46	Zak Boggs	3	0	0	0	0	3
47	Kelyn Rowe	3	0	1	0	0	4
48	Mike Burns	3	1	0	0	0	4
49	Welton	3	0	0	0	0	3
50	Geoff Aunger	3	0	0	0	0	3
51	Jair	3	0	0	0	0	3
52	Jamar Beasley	3	0	0	0	0	3
53	Mauricio Ramos	3	0	0	0	0	3
54	Andy Williams	3	0	2	0	0	5
55	Chris Brown	3	0	0	0	0	3
56	Jerry Bengtson	3	0	0	0	0	3
57	Mauricio Wright	3	1	0	0	0	4
58	Daniel Hernandez	3	1	0	0	0	4
59	Alexi Lalas	3	0	0	0	0	3
60	Wells Thompson	2	0	1	0	0	3
61	Edgaras Jankauskas	2	0	0	0	1	3
62	Pat Phelan	2	0	0	0	0	2
63	Blake Brettshneider	2	0	0	0	0	2
64	Stephen McCarthy	2	0	0	0	0	2
65	Fernando Cardenas	2	0	0	0	0	2
66	Robert Ukrop	2	0	0	0	0	2
67	Monsef Zerka	2	0	0	0	0	2
68	John Harkes	2	0	0	0	0	2
69	Leonel Alvarez	2	0	0	0	0	2
70	Leo Cullen	2	0	0	0	0	2
71	Alex Pineda Chacon	2	0	0	0	0	2
72	Darrio Fabbro	2	1	0	0	0	3
73	Dimitry Imbongo	1	0	0	0	0	1
74	Jos� Moreno	1	0	0	0	0	1
75	Darrius Barnes	1	0	0	0	0	1
76	Ryan Cochrane	1	0	0	0	0	1
77	Alejandro Farias	1	0	0	0	0	1
78	Daouda Kante	1	0	0	0	0	1
79	Sam George	1	0	0	0	0	1
80	John Wilson	1	0	0	0	0	1
81	Richard Goulooze	1	0	0	0	0	1
82	Carlos Parra	1	0	0	0	0	1
83	Jeff Baicher	1	0	0	0	0	1
84	Brian Dunseth	1	0	0	0	0	1
85	Jose Luis Morales	1	0	0	0	0	1
86	Evans Wise	1	0	0	0	0	1
87	Peter Woodring	1	0	0	0	0	1
88	James Riley	1	0	0	0	0	1
89	Felix Brillant	1	0	0	0	0	1
90	Marshall Leonard	1	0	0	0	0	1
91	Michael Parkhurst	1	0	0	0	0	1
92	Jose Manuel Abundis	1	0	0	0	0	1
93	Jim Rooney	1	0	0	0	0	1
94	Mamadou Diallo	1	0	0	0	0	1
95	Mark Watson	1	0	0	0	0	1
96	Diego Serna	1	0	0	0	0	1
97	Shaker Asad	1	0	2	0	0	3
98	Mauricio Castro	0	0	0	1	0	1
99	Alan Koger	0	0	1	0	0	1
100	Kevin Alston	0	0	0	0	1	1
101	Avery John	0	1	0	0	0	1
102	Eric Wynalda	0	1	0	0	0	1
103	Sam Brill	0	0	1	0	0	1
104	Joe Germanese	0	0	2	0	0	2
105	Emmanuel Osei	0	1	0	0	0	1
	Own Goals	20	0	0	0	0	20
	Totals	735	34	47	4	18	838

Welcome to Revcetera

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 20:22:00 -0500

Revcetera is a blog written by Frank Truscott, a long-time soccer fan who has a particular interest in the New England Revolution of Major League Soccer. This site is in no way affiliated with, nor endorsed by, the Revolution. Some of my readers will take exception to the optimistic view that will be portrayed here. I've been a fan of the Revs for a long-time and have seen good and bad teams. But most importantly, I've been a negative fan and I've been a positive fan, and I have found that being happy is more enjoyable than being miserable. Could the Revs do some things better, off and on the field? Yes, most certainly they could. But I can't control that. I may have an opinion, and I may share it, but it's not going to change one thing. What I can control is how I enjoy the games and following the team. My time is too precious to waste making myself miserable over what should be entertainment. My approach will be, for the most part, one of analysis and reasoned, rational commentary on both the soccer and business sides of the Revolution. This will necessarily, from time-to-time, lead to discussion of MLS-related topics, and occasionally even topics from around the world of soccer. I am not a journalist and do not have sources in the business, so do not expect to find breaking news here. There are a lot of good soccer writers out there who can get you this inside information. One thing that I've been doing for years, for my own amusement, is tracking Revolution goal scorers in all official competitions. It is available here at http://revcetera.com/scorers.html. I update it after each game. It's an easy way to see how our current players rank amongst our historic favorites. I hope you enjoy the blog and that it might become a place for reasoned discussion of all things Revolution.