BSJ Match #21 Breakdown & Review: Revolution 4, Vancouver 0 - Revs earn their way to 4 goals and 3 points

New player, new attitudes ... new results. The Revolution dominated a struggling Vancouver side on their way to a nine-game unbeaten streak. They ripped all hope from the away team with off-ball movement, poise in their passing, and quality in front of the opponent's net, leaving four different blue shirts with goals.

Let's look at the starting 11...

• The technique with which he dribbles, clips, and hits the ball is top class (league-wide standard). The way he hit that volley by swinging his leg across his body and away from goal to apply the right trajectory shows he has a brilliant mind for the game, or at least finishing.


• His natural movement off of the ball will help his team in more ways than one. Not only will his movement open things up for his teammates on the pitch, but it may spark a sense of creativity and freedom in this group as well.


• He might turn the Revolution in a very dangerous team to foul around the 18-yard box. They will now have two players that are dangerous over the ball on a free kick; one of which is left footed (Gil) and Bou is right-footed. Each of them hit a fantastic free kick in this one.

• I noticed he didn't put much effort in on the defensive side of the ball. For his first game with the team, he seemed awfully comfortable taking minutes off of defensive duty to hover up near the height of the forward. Maybe this was by Arena's design, but I think it's more likely that he tends to be lazy on the defensive side of the ball.


• He hit a wonder strike and showed some serious promise as an attacking threat in this league, but he also nearly led the team in straight-up giveaways. Let's see how he responds/plays when they aren't playing one of the worst teams in the league, and they're down by a goal with 10 minutes remaining. That's when he can earn real respect.