Sweeney: Four takeaways from Saturday's 2-0 loss to LAFC

FOXBOROUGH — A neat set of four takeaways from Saturday night’s 2-0 Revolution loss to LAFC as you leave church, or settle in with coffee and cruellers.

Don’t give LAFC the title just yet

Remember how in 2006 — gosh, has it really been 13 years?! — Dennis Green, then the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, suggested to us all that if you’re going to give the Chicago Bears that year’s Lombardi, “then crown their ass”?

Yeah, about that — Bruce Arena doesn’t get the potential MLS Cup love being showered on Los Angeles Football Club right now. Sure, they lead the Western Conference. Sure, they lead the Supporter’s Shield rankings. Sure, Carlos Vela’s nine goals away from tying Josef Martinez for last year’s scoring record.

But they haven’t won anything yet.

A reporter had asked Arena his opinion about LAFC and how it is having one of the best seasons “in MLS history.”

Arena shut that talk downright quick.

“I wouldn't say in MLS history,” he said. “They haven't won anything. If the Patriots didn't win any Super Bowls, would you be talking about it? To be one of the best teams in history, you have to win something. They haven't won anything yet. That's their challenge, and I would not be surprised that this is the year where they win, but that's stupid talk, saying that one of the best teams in MLS history. Let them win something first.”

Of course, Arena knows a little something about winning.

And speaking of letting them off the hook…

The offensive “production” lacked severely

Were these the same offensive players who pounded Vancouver for four? Were these the same players who dropped four on Orlando? Did they waste some goals over the last couple of weeks?

To clarify: I don’t necessarily believe the goals were wasted in those two games. Everyone likes watching goals, and I certainly like writing about them.

I just think that on Saturday, they could have used one or two of them against the Black and Gold.

To recap: 10 shots total, 4 in the first half. The only shot on-target came just before the hour mark, off the foot of Carles Gil.

To me, that is a pre-Arena total, something that I thought had been eradicated over the last three months. Of course, anyone can have an off day.

But there were a few head-scratching moments where the Revs just couldn’t get a lot of space to shoot, and I thought that was in part of LAFC’s organized defending. And when Teal Bunbury elected to shoot in the 50th minute instead of lay the ball off to Gustavo Bou, one had to believe that was the only gilt-edged chance New England would have had in a 1-0 game — and it really was.

Here’s hoping that the Revs bring their scoring boots to Seattle.

How do the Revolution respond?

The last time New England lost to a team from Los Angeles, the Revs didn’t respond well. In fact, they didn’t really respond until this past May. That’s pretty fair to say.

So now, the question is how will the Revolution respond when they head to Seattle later this week? I’ve maintained that outside of LAFC, the Western Conference is rather weak this season. The Sounders entered the weekend second in the conference — and enter Sunday night’s game with Sporting Kansas City a full 14 points off the pace behind LA.

Seriously, LAFC is running away with the West, and it’s pretty fair to say that no one’s catching them.

If the Revolution can rebound on the trot, then Saturday’s blip will be an afterthought — at least until the playoffs.

If I’m being honest, I’m expecting a rebound. Time will, of course, tell if I’m correct or not.

Will the Revs make a move before Tuesday’s deadline?

After Saturday night — actually, for a while — it’s clear that the Revs need some help in certain areas of the pitch. Defense, for one. Maybe a holding midfielder. Maybe another attacker — a really good one.

A couple of weeks ago, Arena told me — he also said it on State of the Revs the same day — that if there’s a fit, they’ll make a move. He also re-addressed it Saturday night.

“If it's possible,” he said. “We only have a couple days left to do that. It's possible. But you know, I think everything I'm doing this year is to try to give us a plan for the future. There's no reason to believe that we have to do everything now. We have the offseason to try to strengthen our roster.”

I know a lot of fans won’t like to hear that, but I think that there’s still some moves to be made — further shedding of players — before Arena goes for, say, a third DP.

Yes, they are thin at the back — and I gave a little grin when he said that; someone in the Revs front office sees what I see! — and I think they need a holding midfielder.

Does it get done this week? Not sure — but I won’t wave the white flag if they don’t.