Looking ahead: Five Revolution predictions for 2019

As 2018 slowly shrinks into the recesses of our collective minds, 2019 emerges onto the scene full of hope and renewal for the New England Revolution. We reported a couple of weeks ago The Boys In Blue have added a couple of key pieces to the squad, and we have reason to believe — thanks to Brian Bilello’s tweet from Dec. 19 — the front office will further bolster the team sheet with additional newcomers in the coming days.

But right now’s not the time to think about that. Instead, let’s go out on a limb with some "for entertainment purposes only" predictions for 2019.

DC United’s Wayne Rooney will not play at Gillette

This isn’t a prediction as much as a sure bet: we know how the big European stars feel about playing on the plastic pasture of Gillette. Simply put, they don’t like it. Last July, Zlatan Ibrahimovic didn’t even make the trip with LA Galaxy on The Night That Everything Changed, six days after playing 19 minutes in Portland (and by the by, Portland plays on exactly the same stuff as the Revolution and Patriots). When Rooney signed with DC United, the announcement was made just before the Black and Red headed to Foxborough in late June. He couldn’t make that trip as it fell before the start of the Secondary Transfer Window. This time, he’ll make the trip with the club, but we would be absolutely shocked if he is either in the squad or starts. Those 33-year-old knees running on fake grass for some nine miles? I wholly doubt it happens.

Brad Friedel will continue to clean house in 2019

Forgive me for saying this, but the Revolution in the last few years have — for the lack of a better word — stunk. At one point in 2016, the starting XI was practically the same as it was in 2014. Fans have complained the core group of this team, in place over most of this decade, really haven’t really gotten the job done. (Spoiler alert: They’re not exactly wrong.) And over the course of the last eight months, Friedel has moved two fan favorites — Lee Nguyen and Kelyn Rowe — to the Western Conference, while unfulfilled signing Krisztian Nemeth also made his way to the exits after nearly a year on Route 1. There are still moves to come, I feel, as Friedel will determine certain players won’t be up to his standards, and they’ll find themselves on the way out. Back in March 2018, I told one rather rabid Revolution supporter I believe Friedel would “cut the chaff” — my exact words — when it came to this club. Not suggesting Nguyen or Rowe are chaff; they just didn’t work with Friedel’s vision and system. That happens at football clubs all over the world. I think this will continue in 2019, albeit little by little.

This is Zachary Herivaux’s breakout year

The Brookline native and Haitian international will turn 23 next month, and will start his fifth professional season after the club signed him to a Homegrown contract in 2015. Yet over these last four years, Herivaux has made all of 10 first-team appearances with the Revolution in the league: 5 appearances in 2016, and 5 in 2018. One of those appearances this past season was a start, his first (at Atlanta United). He has been in the hard position of being behind others on the depth chart, and still is entering 2019. Regardless of where one looks, Herivaux can’t break in for a long stretch. That needs to change during this upcoming season -- Herivaux needs more than short run-outs, and he can’t languish on the bench. The minutes he has received are not enough to establish himself, and we believe the team has stunted his development. With the way Luis Caicedo has a tendency to accrue cautions, there’s the opportunity to get a few starts under his belt. Right now, it appears he’s just a depth piece — but clubs are supposed to be developing Homegrowns to start matches. At least that’s the theory. My feeling? Herivaux gets more than just simple run-outs in 2019.

Gabriel Somi will only be used in the US Open Cup — if that

When Somi spoke with the media on Oct. 28, he informed us he had a guaranteed contract and he planned to be back with the Revs in 2019. He also noted a lot of things could happen; rumors swirled around Christmas of him heading back to Sweden. Personally, I don’t think anything happens — at least not at first. He’s coming to work every day and earning his paycheck, but he won’t get anything resembling first-team minutes. You’ll recall a couple of weeks ago I had him fourth in the left back depth chart — the position he was signed to play — and I don’t see that changing. If anything, he’ll get minutes in the US Open Cup game(s). Again, a big if. Right now, I don’t believe he has any value with MLS clubs, so I don’t suspect there will be a transfer within the US top flight. He may remain on the books until August, and then he will be sent overseas.

The Revs end their playoff drought this season

With the moves made already and with MLS expanding to seven-club playoffs for each conference, a long look into my crystal ball reveals the Revolution will make the playoffs in 2019. Nine points separated New England and sixth-place Philadelphia in 2018, and four points between the Revs and seventh-place Montreal. New England now has a proven goal-scorer up top in Juan Fernando Caicedo, coupled with Cristian Penilla and Diego Fagundez. There’s also a new left back in Edgar Castillo, and the days of blowing leads in the final 20 minutes — eight of ‘em in 2018 — are hopefully a distant memory.

We will see what we will see come March 2. It can’t get here fast enough.