The Revolution need another forward who can make them unpredictable on the wings
Sustaining a 1-0 loss to Charlotte FC going into the World Cup break is not what the Revolution had in mind, but the result served to confirm something management already knew.
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The team needs another forward.
Early in the second half of Saturday night’s game, the Revolution (8-5-1, 25 points) seemed set to take control. Right winger Peyton Miller had exposed the Charlotte back line, speeding past David Schnegg, who was cautioned in the 14th and 58th minutes, leaving the Revolution with a numerical advantage. They failed to capitalize.
Carles Gil was shadowed all over the field. Dor Turgeman was neutralized by center backs, and when he did get through, was upended by goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina. And, with Leo Campana (lower body injury) and Luca Langoni missing (personal reasons), nobody showed the ability to threaten.
Going 32 minutes 11-on-10, the Revolution should have produced several shots. Instead, Miller got off two attempts — one saved (60th minute), another just wide (83rd). And that was about it. There were a few ways Charlotte’s packed defense could have been dissected: quick perimeter passing, which should, eventually, find an opening; shots from distance; setting up 1-v-1 situations on the wings. None of those approaches seemed to suit the Revolution, though.
They are not alone in MLS in being unable to move the ball at lightning speed, or consistently crank 30-yarders. More disturbing, though, is what relates to the third alternative.
In many countries, individual play by wingers and outside backs is a major attraction of soccer, and it is not just for show. If players can break down the wings, it leads to mismatches and, often, a general collapsing of the defense. It is a fundamental asset to the offense. Sure, it can seem risky, because the attacker could be abandoning his defensive position, but there are times when it simply must be done.
Many US professionals hesitate to go forward in those situations because it is coached out of them. Revolution coach Marko Mitrovic put it this way: “I felt maybe we rushed to create better situations or to bring more numbers higher in the box. But I would also say that Charlotte was defending very well, they were still very dangerous in those moments in transition.”
In other words, not enough Revolution players seemed willing to go at defenders, partly because it is not second nature to them. Also, they were worried about surrendering a counterattack.
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That made life easy for Charlotte right back Will Cleary, a former Loomis Chaffee star who defended effectively and helped set up the goal. The Revolution’s predictability made the center backs’ task relatively simple.
Those deficiencies are not likely to change soon. So, the best solution might be adding a dynamic striker to act as a target for Gil, and also complement Turgeman.
“I said on my very first day when I came to the club, if we have the opportunity to improve our team, we’ll do it,” Mitrovic said. “Obviously, every transfer window is an opportunity to do that. So, we’re not going to sit and wait for something to happen. We’ll work on that and we’ll see.”
Otherwise, the Revolution appear to have put most of the past behind them. After two losing seasons, they stand in fourth place in the Eastern Conference.
“Something that I said to the guys right now in the locker room is that I really appreciate them coming in and giving their best day after day, having the right mindset and the right approach,” Mitrovic said after the game. “I think that helped us to grow as a team. Again, we still have a long way to go, but I am happy with the progression we’ve made so far. I know that the second part of the season will be very difficult, because I think a lot of teams will go to strengthen their teams, to try to bring in additional pieces.
“Every game after the World Cup will be, I feel, even more intense, with more urgency played by every team. I strongly believe after the World Cup that competition will be even higher.”
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