Photo/Kari Heistad
Andrew Farrell was a little down in the dumps in late March. He and the New England Revolution had started the season with consecutive losses, first to Seattle and then to New York City FC.
Obafemi Martins and Clint Dempsey had found space around Farrell in the season-opening 3-0 loss, while David Villa tore through the back line with a goal and an assist a week later at Yankee Stadium.
So, he did what lots of men of all ages do when they’re in need of some encouragement: he called his parents.
“Andrew,” his mother, Ruth Farrell, started after he’d dialed her number, “The league is getting stronger…you’re playing against Obafemi Martins, Clint Dempsey, and David Villa now.
“You can be a lot better. You have to start playing better.”
Farrell, who had been struggling with moving from right back to center back in those first two games, has done more than play better. Farrell has adjusted and has been a leading cause for the Revolution’s success in recent weeks. He has helped the Revolution maintain their eight-game unbeaten run, which dates back to the loss at New York on March 15, and will try and help extend it again this Saturday night at Gillette Stadium versus star-studded Toronto FC.
“My mom probably watches more MLS games than I do,” Farrell said Thursday in a phone interview after practice.
“The criticism is sometimes not wanted,” he said, sounding as if he was cracking a smile, “But I always listen to my mom.”
Both of Farrell’s parents—as well as the entire New England fan base—will be watching the Revolution closely on Saturday night. Toronto, though inconsistent through the first fifth of the season, have a stunning set of attacking options through U.S. national team striker Jozy Altidore and Italian striker Sebastian Giovinco. That level of star power makes the game quite similar to the clashes against Seattle and New York in which the Revolution weren’t sharp.
Toronto presents another difficult challenge, though. Altidore and Giovinco have combined to be arguably the league’s best offensive tandem. Altidore leads Toronto in scoring with five goals. Giovinco has four, including three assists. Both players work off each other in coach Greg Vanney’s system, finding space through one another and via the simple, possession-oriented midfield play of Michael Bradley.
But Giovinco, in particular, has been in a class of his own. Dubbed the “atomic ant” because of his short, 5’5” stature, he’s been running at opposing defenses and getting Toronto goals as both a scorer and a playmaker. Farrell, who will likely play alongside the physically imposing Jermaine Jones for the fourth straight game, knows that height isn’t the be-all, end-all for a striker. Proud of his speed to the point of making his Twitter handle “2Fast2Farrell,” Farrell is confident in his ability to track Giovinco’s movement.
“If it’s a foot race and he’s behind us, that’s bad, especially for defenders,” Farrell said. “He’s slippery, he can turn on you quick. Smaller guys, you’d think it’s easier getting them off the ball but it’s not.”
The Revolution will be betting on their offense, though, for extra support. Charlie Davies has scored in his last four games, while the support play by Juan Agudelo and Teal Bunbury has been impressive as of late. That the Revolution are unbeaten in eight games is a sign of their resolute defense—which, with the help of Farrell, has helped keep the Revolution out of the loss column at home—as well as their offense.
Ultimately, though, the circumstances are there for both teams to flex their attacking muscles and go at each other in a wide-open, end-to-end game.
“They’ve got firepower and they’re a big team in the East and will want that top spot,” said Farrell. “Each game is a different test and this is a big test for us.”
If you want to reach Julian email him at julianccardillo@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @juliancardillo
New England Revolution
Toronto FC
