Sweeney: Veteran Revs offensive options acknowledge, embrace increased competition for spots

FOXBOROUGH — Heading into the 2015 season, Leominster’s Diego Fagundez had acknowledged just how out of form he was in the tail end of 2014: he had a lot of concerns on his then 19-year-old mind, including the tug-o-war over playing for Uruguay in the U20 World Cup and potentially playing for the U.S. men’s national team in the future. It was part in parcel of his issues with not finding himself named to Jay Heaps’ starting XI’s in that stretch run toward the MLS Cup Playoffs.

Yet he also acknowledged going into 2015 that with the re-acquisition of Juan Agudelo in that offseason, it was going to be even more difficult to find time on a roster with such talented attacking players.

Four years later, a few of the names in the attack have changed — bye, Lee Nguyen, bye, Kelyn Rowe; hello, Juan Fernando Caicedo, hello, Carles Gil; heck, even the manager has changed — but the mantra remains the same.

Several of the mainstays in the Revolution attack acknowledged this week that with what are, on paper at least, impressive new attacking options on the roster, finding time on the field is going to be a challenge.

However, they — Teal Bunbury, Agudelo, and Fagundez — are all ready to accept the challenge.

“It’s awesome; competition in training is going to be fun,” Fagundez said outside of the New England locker room on Tuesday. “Some people are not going to be happy because they’re not starting or whatnot, but every weekend could be different. We want the competition, and that’s what’s going to make this locker room a lot better.

Knowing that just 11 players on the field is not just going to make a difference.

“You can look back into our whole team and know that if someone steps down, someone else is going to have to step up into the game and know what to do.”

Bunbury had a tremendous first half of 2018. Yet after the calendar turned from June to July, TB10’s goal-scoring production ebbed to near-nothingness, his 76th-minute goal against Orlando City on Aug. 4 being the last he scored — more than two-and-a-half months prior to season’s end.

And he was the primary No. 9, the main striker, in Brad Friedel’s 4-2-3-1 system.

In 2019, he will go up against newcomer Caicedo — as well as third-year-pro Brian Wright — in looking to dent twine.

Bunbury welcomes the opportunity to fight for his spot.

“It’s been something that I’ve — personally, it’s my 10th season, so I think that’s something you have to do every year,” he said. “There’s new players that are coming around; there are new guys that are here now, where they were playing every game to now, you just don’t know. There’s competition always in sport, and I think that’s the exciting part; it brings out the best in everybody.”

He also notes that he doesn’t get “caught up” in performances; listening to him Tuesday, he prides himself on other things.

“I’m always evaluating myself and re-evaluating myself in the season, offseason, and preseason, and it’s about working hard and not getting caught up in strong starts, slow finishes, or things like that, but taking it each day in training, each game, making sure my motivation is high, making sure I’m being a good teammate, pushing my teammates, being a leader, and being a good example,” he said.

Agudelo said that this year’s competition is no different than last year.

“We definitely have a lot of quality in the attacking half, but then again, whoever shows it in the game and who’s able to keep a winning team on the field is going to play,” he said.

Agudelo, whose natural position is striker, played more out on the right last year as he used deft steps to unlock defenses. But some Blue Level pundits feel that Fagundez — who played at the No. 10 in 2018 — will be called on more to play out on the right now that Carles Gil, a natural playmaker and a technical player on the ball, is in the squad.

“We’re just trying to see where it’s going to work out,” Fagundez said of his role, “and I’m just doing my best to make sure I’m on the field. Doesn’t matter where; I’m going to try my best whatever position I play.”

But with the addition of Caicedo, where does Friedel play Bunbury? He played out on the right for a good portion of last Saturday’s final preseason match against KR Reykjavik, a 2-1 Revolution victory.

Added Bunbury: “Anywhere on the field where I can contribute and help my team win, I’m going to do that.”

And don’t forget about Isaac Angking and the four rookies in Tajon Buchanan, DeJuan Jones, Justin Rennicks, and Nicolas Firmino.

Seriously, what a stroke of fortune Friedel and his staff have with this team in 2019.

“It’s a very healthy competition,” Agudelo said. “Every single guy obviously understands that there are positions to be won in preseason and especially with this type of manager that we have. I truly believe he gives a lot of the guys who are playing well a chance, so having the guys understand that made for a healthy competition in preseason, and still, this week.”