The Revolution are close to getting Jermaine Jones back. Photo/Kari Heistad
BOSTON- The New England Revolution began the week by waking up on Sunday morning with satisfaction, having snapped a five-game losing streak the night before in a 1-0 victory over New York City FC, and more good news seems to be on the way.
The club announced today that Jermaine Jones would be speaking to the media ahead of Thursday’s morning training session, a sign that his 6-8 week recovery for bilateral sports hernia surgery—which is now in week six—is actually progressing ahead of schedule. Jones practiced with the Revolution on Wednesday and was seen exiting the Gillette Stadium practice field with team strength and conditioning coach Nick Downing before last Saturday’s game.
For a team that’s slumped so low (winning two in their last 13, falling eight points behind in the Supporters Shield standings, and dropping from second place in the Eastern Conference to fifth), having a pivotal player like Jones come back is an enormous boost.
The Revolution has been here before. The team had this exact run of form last year—start off the season with two losses, a tie, and a win, then go on a shortish winning streak, and then crumble with an ongoing losing streak in early summer—en route to reaching the MLS Cup final. But last year it was Jones, whose first game with the Revolution was a 3-0 victory over Toronto on Aug. 30, who effectively turned the season around.
Jones likely won’t be rushed back to playing an entire match until he’s ready, though. Not that there should be any real hurry—at least for this week.
The Revolution’s next match is on Saturday at the Chicago Fire, which has the league’s worst record. The Fire has just one win in its last eight games and has collected only four points of a possible 32 points in that stretch.
To be fair, the Revolution hasn’t been particularly impressive in that same period. But they’re still a playoff team and has more talent than the Fire, which has scored the third-fewest number of goals at home this season.
Jones will be needed after this weekend, though. The Revolution host dangerous Toronto FC and their MVP-caliber designated player, Sebastian Giovinco, on Aug. 1, then play Houston, Orlando, Toronto again, and the New York Red Bulls to round out the summer. To complicate matters, there are two bye-weeks (Aug. 7 and Aug. 22) in that stretch, which could threaten whatever positive momentum the team might have.
But facing all of those challenges becomes easier with Jones back in the picture. His return will restore the full depth of central midfield, which is actually quite eclectic and experienced when he’s in the picture. But Jones is also a team leader and a rock in the center of the pitch. His tactics were groomed and sharpened in the German school of fußball, where no lead is ever safe and creating a premium number of chances is a must.
That should be a breath of fresh air for the Revolution, which hasn’t scored more than once in a match since June 13.
With the similarities between this season and last being uncanny, it might be too easy to draw parallels between 2014 and 2015. Jones’ return gives the Revolution a competitive edge and certainly a better shot at keeping their playoff place.
But the field is decidedly tighter this year than last and Jones alone may not be enough. Consider that D.C. United has been the most consistent team in the league and is only likely to relinquish the conference’s top spot to either Toronto or NYCFC, who will emerge in August, September, and October as title contenders because of their big name designated players.
That leaves three spots left for Columbus, New York, Orlando and the Revolution.
The parity behind among those teams is unmistakable, though it’s also important to note that the Revolution hasn’t faired well against any of those teams this season.
The week has started off well and bringing Jones back into the fold is certainly a boost—but whether it’ll yield the same results as last year remains to be seen.
If you want to reach Julian email him at julianccardillo@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @juliancardillo
