Hard work paying off early for New England Revolution in 2011

Franco Coria has come on strong since signing with the Revolution in the summer. (Courtesy New England Revolutoin)

By Ryan Fleming

Plain and simple, last year didn’t go right. There were many factors that lead to the demise of the New England Revolution’s 2010 season. The absence of their captain, Shalrie Joseph, the injury-ridden roster that was forced to go through transformations week in and week out. But right now, the Revs find themselves in a much different position two games in the new season, with smiles and a constant yearning for more

“We’re never happy, we’re always wanting more,” said Revolution manager Steve Nicol after Saturday’s 2-1 win over D.C. united. “Sitting on the sideline you see more things that go wrong than you actually do when you pat a player on the back when they do things right.”

New England finds itself sporting a 1-0-1 record with an impressive draw with Los Angeles Galaxy and after Saturday night’s win over the emerging DC United. The Revs are one of the more peculiar stories of the league thus far. What has to be the most eye-bulging part of the team is it’s defense.

Revolution hold on to beat D.C. United in home opener

By Ryan Fleming

FOXBOROUGH — It’s been said, but a year can make the difference. For the New England Revolution, a year means another chance at putting a frustrating, lackluster season behind, and improving to 1-0-1 on the year, isn’t a bad way to start.

The Revs (1-0-1, 4 pts.) defeated DC United, 2-1, in their home opener, in front of nearly 13,000 supporters, showing their supporters that perhaps this year will be a bit different.

“It’s huge,” midfielder Pat Phelan said when describing the importance of the win. “There are so many doubts coming into the season off of our results from last year. Would we have enough quality to get the points?

“And it’s still really early in the season and we shouldn’t be holding our heads too, too high, but we are flying high and we’re excited now. We’re looking forward to next week.”

Similar to last week’s game in LA, New England didn’t wasteany time in making its mark on the score sheet. In the eighth minute the dependable Shalrie Joseph launched a 40-yard ball ahead to Zach Schilawski, the lone Revolution forward, who continued to pester DC throughout. Charging in the box, the ball seemed to bounce up, clearly hitting his hand, then after returning to the ground, the forward volleyed the ball past United’s keeper Pat Onstad while no whistle was given.

Revolution on right track heading into home opener with D.C. United

Steve Nicol looks to have the Revolution on the right track heading into its home opener on Saturday after a dramatic 1-1 draw with the Galaxy last Sunday. (Courtesy Revolutionsoccer.net/Keith Nordstrom))

By Ryan Fleming

Surprises have come early to the New England Revolution.

Many predicted the Los Angeles Galaxy to push aside the lowly Revs, last year’s afterthought come playoff time. Instead, the Revs, behind captain Shalrie Joseph ,showed David Beckham, Landon Donovan and the rest of the Galaxy exactly how this year is different.

Amidst torrential rain, the Revs left the West coast with a point, a huge accomplishment to any MLS team.

“It feels good starting the first game of the season getting a point on the road against a huge team like LA. Coming down here and getting a point is good for our confidence,” Joseph said after the game.

Confidence is something that wandered away from the Revs locker room as last season wore on. The Revs found themselves near the bottom of the Eastern Conference and out of a playoff spot for the first time since 2001. This season, despite only one game, the Revs are already noticeably different.

MLS 2011 Season Preview: Eastern Conference

The New York Red Bulls are clear favorites to win the East. The rest of the conference is open with no clear second favorite. (Courtesy Major League Soccer)

By Ryan Fleming

The Major League Soccer season is swiftly approaching us and it’s that time of year where we have to put up with silly conferences and even a more absurd playoff format. But put those things behind and here comes another year with Thierry Henry, Juan Pablo Angel and Nate Borchers (what’s funny? I’m serious).

The Colorado Rapids are the MLS Champs, but that doesn’t matter anymore. It’s a new season. Here’s the Eastern Conference preview.

1. New York Red Bulls. The most notable loss for the New York Red Bulls is the departure of Juan Pablo Angel to LA. From ‘07/’10 Angel bagged 58 goals, leading his team in scoring throughout his tenure. Despite the departure, NY does have some replacements, most notably Thierry Henry. The former Arsenal great came to the Red Bulls in July of ‘10, when manager Hans Backe was searching for a possible deadly partnership with Angel. Two other forward options for Backe will be United States Men’s National Team youngster Juan Agudelo and Corey Hertzog. With the creative Joel Lindpere linking up with the forwards from the midfield, combined with defenders Tim Ream and Rafa Marquez, NY looks to be a lock at the top of the East.

2 or 9. Toronto FC. The Reds went under a revamping of sorts in the offseason. The team brought in Aaron Winter and former Ajax assistant manager Bob de Klerk. Just last week they imported three Dutch players to provide Winter with some assistance in deploying the old Ajax system of “total football” up in Canada. For me, the Reds boast a team that could do anything. They could totally flop or, end up near the top of the conference. In a football-crazed town like Toronto, losing is no longer an option. Quick reason for concern, Winter spent a lot of time with trialists and didn’t find any real replacements with the departures of O’Brian White, Joseph Nane, Maxim Usanov, Amadou Sanyang, Chad Barrett, Raivis Hscanovics, Martin Saric and Nick Garcia.

Charlie Davies and Shalrie Joseph look to reinvigorate careers this year

By Ryan Fleming

Shalrie Joseph isn’t the only one looking for a fresh start. He won’t be the only one getting it, either.

Amidst the United States Men’s National Team’s 2010 World Cup birth, its high hopes immediately dropped a notch as the news of Charlie Davies’s car accident came to fruition. Since then, Davies has been on the long road to recovery – going through rehabilitation and earning a place with his club team, French-side Sochaux.

The most important thing is that Davies is now healthy, with just the lingering scars as painful reminders of the past. Joseph, though, doesn’t have the physical marks to provide the flashbacks, but the mental memories can be just as shaking.

Los Angeles Galaxy Make Moves at MLS Re-Entry Draft With Cup In Sight.

The Los Angeles Galaxy traded up in Major League Soccer's Re-Entry Draft on Wednesday so the Galaxy could select Former New York Red Bull's forward Juan Pablo Angel. (Courtesy Diego Valenzuela)

By Kevin Koczwara

Despite being a dominant regular-season force the last two seasons, The Los Angeles Galaxy have not been able to claim an MLS Cup in either try. David Beckham, Landon Donovan and company couldn’t get the job done when it came time to buckle down and win in the postseason the last two years. The Galaxy may have solved some of its problems yesterday when it made some bold moves during the MLS Re-Entry Draft.

Los Angeles traded up to the fifth pick (the Houston Dynamo’s pick) in the draft to select former New York Red Bull forward and designated player Juan Pablo Angel. The Red Bull’s all-time leading goalscorer did not have his option picked up by New York at the end of the season because the club had signed two other designated players from Barcelona, Thierry Henry and Rafa Marquez.

The Galaxy’s pursuit of Angel shows the league that the club isn’t giving up hope on winning an MLS Cup with Deavid Beckham, and have to be heavy favorites going into next year. Angel scored 61 goals in four seasons with New York, including playoffs, and he will add to the Galaxy’s already potent attack.

Phelan's Header Secures Revolution Victory Over D.C. United

Matt Reis made a season high six saves against D.C. United to help the Revolution extend their unbeaten streak to seven games. Courtesy Revolutionsoccer.net

By Melissa Turtinen

Foxborough, Mass. — It wasn’t pretty and they didn’t play well. But, the New England Revolution left Saturday night’s game with three points and that’s all that matters.

“Truth be told, we didn’t play well, we didn’t pass the ball well,” said Revolution coach Steve Nicol after Saturday’s game. “I think the biggest thing was we didn’t have any legs tonight. And consequently, we didn’t pass it well and we didn’t play well, but what we did do was we stuck at it and we got a goal.”

The Revolution defeated D.C. United, 1-0, on Aug. 7. The lone goal came in the 42nd minute after Pat Phelan headed in Chris Tierney’s free kick from near midfield. Phelan flicked the ball into the inside post.

MLS Power Rankings Week 11

By Kevin Koczwara

A lot has changed in the last week around the MLS. Columbus has struggled since losing to Los Angeles and Colorado has jumped a few spots after a good week. Los Angeles is still the team to beat because no one has done it yet.

1. LA Galaxy – Still undefeated and still the best team in the league. They manhandled a good Houston team 4-1 over the weekend to prove that they don’t need their best players to win easy.

2. Real Salt Lake — RSL tied D.C. United, but they made up major ground the last few weeks in the West, and that should be rewarded. But they can’t have too many more slip-ups because the teams in the West are close behind them.

Week 10 MLS Power Rankings

Courtesy Revolutionsoccer.net

By Kevin Koczwara

It was a busy week around Major League Soccer. The Columbus Crew lost for the first time this year. Real Salt Lake finished off May undefeated. New England got its first win since April 1o, and Philadelphia and D.C. each got their second wins of the season.

1. LA Galaxy – The Galaxy are tough to score on, ask previously unbeaten Columbus after their weekend’s 2-0 defeat at the hands of Los Angeles, who was without their top scoring duo, Landon Donovan and Edison Buddle.

Week 9 MLS Power Rankings

Courtesy Alison Ciarleglio of APC Studio

By Ryan Fleming

This week, a lot has changed, but the top teams stay the same. Overall I am most impressed with how the Galaxy are playing without two of their best players. The Revs still cannot score and the Sounders aren’t playing to their full potential.

1. LA Galaxy – Even without their best players, the Galaxy continue to win and make me second guess myself. Mike Magee scored his first of the season and the Galaxy continue to roll. They take on a tough Columbus team this Saturday on the road.