One of the big problems with the Revolution — and seriously, where do we start with all of that? — has to do with the lack of scoring punch, at least so far, up top in this young 2019 season. As yours truly mentioned on Six States One Podcast on Monday night (and if you missed it, I went on a nifty rant at 20:30, and another at 30:14), New England’s strikers have combined for a total of zero shots on frame in the first 540 minutes of the new campaign.
And if one wishes to be technical, Revs’ strikers haven’t found the back of the net since Juan Agudelo’s second-half stoppage time goal against Atlanta United on Oct. 6 last year. That’s 810 minutes ago, folks.
(And yes, Cristian Penilla and Kelyn Rowe and Diego Fagundez were responsible for The Boys In Blue’s goals to close out ’18; they are all midfielders.)
In a phrase, it’s not good for a mainly veteran attacking unit.
Brad Friedel addressed the lack of goals during his Tuesday morning press junket outside the locker room, noting the two shots on-target against Columbus — and again, neither of them were by strikers.
“We would’ve liked (Columbus goalkeeper) Zack Steffen to work a little bit more,” Friedel said. “It’s really important that everyone starts playing a lot of minutes together. Not just Juan Fernando Caicedo, but also the more that Teal (Bunbury) and Juan (Agudelo) play with Carles (Gil) and Scotty (Caldwell), and Wil Zahibo’s got a goal in him, Luis Caicedo has a goal in him, (Cristian) Penilla, Diego (Fagundez). We do have a lot of players who can score goals, we just have to have that one game where everything starts clicking and then have confidence from there.”
That has been something the Revs’ manager has said since the tail end of the 2018 season, when New England’s goal production screeched to a crawl. Before Agudelo’s tally against Atlanta United — coincidentally, this weekend’s opponent — the last goal by a striker was Brian Wright’s goal against New York City FC (Sept. 5), and before that was Bunbury’s goal in the 76th minute against Orlando City on Aug. 4.
Of the Revs’ 24 goals scored since halftime of the 3-2 win over D.C. United on June 30, 2018, only four of those markers were scored by true forwards. 11 of ‘em are by attacking midfielders (Penilla, Fagundez, Gil, Rowe), while the balance are by defensive midfielders and defenders.
It is something the Revolution hope will turn around during this three-match homestand. In addition to welcoming the defending MLS Cup champion Five Stripes, New England will see the Scarlet Steers of New York next Saturday, April 20, before welcoming in L’Impact du Montreal on Wednesday, April 24.
“It’s important that we pick up maximum points (over the next fortnight),” Friedel noted. “If we do that, then we’ll be in a very healthy position with regards to the league standings, and again, hopefully we can grab confidence from it and carry on through the rest of the season.”
New England remained in 10th position in the Eastern Conference following the weekend, with Atlanta pulling up the rear with one point taken. New York is ninth, while Montreal is seventh.
Montreal plays at DC United tonight (8 p.m.) and will be at Columbus Saturday afternoon, while traveling to Chester, Penn. to take on the Union on the 20th.
The Red Bulls are at Sporting Kansas City this Sunday night.
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