ROBC Vol. 3 No. 2, March 11, 2025
Source: philadelphiaunion.com
Matt: First first three matches of the season are in the books, and pretty much all of the preseason hype and hopes have drained out of frigid Foxborough. Yes, it was 28 degrees. And yes, it’s almost 10 degrees colder inside the stadium. Yet still, the weather wasn’t the only reason why fans started to head for the exits after the Union went up on the Revs 1-0 in the 76’. IN THE 76th MINUTE. ONLY DOWN BY ONE.
Josh: Our annual conversation about Winter in New England being too cold for soccer continues. That ball is heavy and hard. And hopefully as the weather thaws, so will New England’s goal-scoring.
Matt: Philadelphia adjusted well to the Revs using the width of the field and stacked their defense well when the Revs pushed the ball up high. And then it started to look like more of the same, with the Revs not having a feasible plan to move the ball closer than 18 yards. The Union was much more physical, and while there were nice moments of possession in the offensive end, there was no one in Revs Blue to impose their will and move the ball into the box against the Union. Ivačič did well, making some impressive saves, but it wasn’t enough. There was a brief flash of the old Carles in the second half, but after about 3 seconds it was back to the Revs playing flat footed.
Josh: So far, Ivačič has been player of the match on all three occasions - saving the 1 point against Nashville, and keeping the Goal Differential about as small as it can get, for this W-L record. And he’s doing really well without much support in the backline. Perhaps trading away three defenders in the late trading season is coming back to bite ol’ New England.
Matt: In the second match, against Columbus, the fans were, IMHO, absolutely correct when a PK was taken away near the end of the match. During the 2024 season, there was a narrative of bias against the Revs, who had 0 penalty kicks at home. The game against Columbus was a concrete and accurate example that only reinforced that narrative.
Josh: Andrew Weibe on Instant Replay agrees with the VAR, but I’m inclined to agree with you. The ball trajectory suggests to me that the arm was involved, and in all likelihood, the Revs would’ve had a PK, a goal, and a change in momentum. During the rest of the 100+ minutes, the ball made it into the opponent’s last 18, but never across the line - and as far as I can tell, without making the keeper sweat too much.
Matt: All these things may be true, but where the rules apply here is that there was a call on the field, and that there was not clear and obvious evidence that the call was wrong. But while sometimes a team can push past that and regardless get a result, we haven’t seen that yet in 2025.
As well, there are more decisions, like we saw last season, where there are lineup decisions that aren’t being clarified enough for the fan base. For example, why didn’t Bye start against Philadelphia? He was rock solid for the first two games, and it was confusing to see him not in the Starting XI. These decisions don’t reinforce fans’ faith in the coach. There are quality players on this team, and right now it doesn’t look like they are working together to maximize their strengths.
Josh: Last question of the post-game presser. Coach says Sands was strong in training after six weeks and wanted to see how he worked with the team on the field. Switching Feingold to the other side, and then losing Campana so early, I agree that seems like a strategy that didn’t pan out - and was weakened further by the necessary change up front. Brandon Bye knows how to play Philadelphia and has already been strong in the opening two matches, so I agree he should’ve been out there.
Matt: I want to be positive about this team, even after the end-of-season and off-season housecleaning of players, many of them quality players who were well-liked by the fans. But any optimism after a feisty and focused Revolution squad held Nashville to a scoreless draw at the season opener is pretty much gone. Fans are worried we’ve seen this before, as in the short Brad Friedel era.
Josh: Of course they would. After last season’s result, seeing NE so low in the standings is a hard thing. Unfortunately, unless it’s an unlikely blowout against NYCFC, even a win this coming weekend does not boost them much higher, so it’s gonna have to be the long game for the frigid fans in Foxboro.
Matt: I know the announced attendance on Saturday was 15,596, but there’s no way that many people were there. No way. It was bitter cold on Saturday, and I’ll pay for your dinner when you come to see the Quakes play in Foxborough in May if there were actually, physically, literally more than 2,500 fans in outdoor seats at the game. Taking into account the rumblings on social, you don’t have to be a sportsing expert to know that the fan base is VERY UPSET. Calls for firing the coach and in the FO have begun, and not with any subtlety.
Josh: I do like a free dinner, but unless everyone was hiding in the hot cocoa stand, MLS Season Pass cameras told me you’re right. You, me, and the fans on social were shocked that Coach Porter wasn’t replaced during the off-season, so that seems like a fair question after such a hard start. And the rest of March isn’t going to be any easier for the Revolution hopefuls… unless it is!
Matt: Looking ahead, Matchday 4 at NYCFC looms large. The Pigeons are also in a reset year, and will be without their starting left back, Kevin O’Toole. That being said, it’s in NYC and we’ve yet to see the Revs score a goal, so I’m not going to go out on a limb and say that New England will drop this one as well, 2-0. It’s entirely possible that NYCFC GK Matt Freese will block the first PK the Revs have been awarded in a long time.
Josh: I’ll play the other side, and say Revs leave with a 1-0 victory. They have truly held on through some long matches against two of the top-three ranked clubs. If they can be healthy and show up again, I think they can deliver what everyone loves to see: New York losing in Yankee Stadium.
Matt: OK, you know I can root for that! Let’s go Revs, take 3 from the Pigeons! Bring the Eastern Pine Fight!
Revs On Both Coasts Slyde-ing Scale for Matches 1-3
Category | Matt | Josh | Average |
Offense | 0 | 3 | 1.5 |
Midfield | 7 | 6 | 6.5 |
Defense | 8 | 4 | 6 |
GK | 8.5 | 8 | 8.25 |
Strategy/Coaching | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Team Composure | 7 | 5 | 6 |
Average Score on the Revs Slyde-ing Scale: 5.5 /10 - The Revolution is teetering on the brink of ending before it even started.
Twitter and Instagram: @RevsCoasts
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