2017 Record: 13-15-6, 7th place in the Eastern Conference
Coach: Brad Friedel
Key Additions: DEF Wilfred Zabiho (Gimnàstic de Tarragona), DEF Gabriel Somi (Östersunds FK), MID Cristian Penilla (Chapecoense), DEF Jalil Anibaba (Houston Dynamo)
Key Departures: FWD Kei Kamara (Vancouver Whitecaps), DEF Je-Vaughn Watson (unsigned), MID Gershon Koffie (Hammarby IF), Xavier Kouassi (FC Sion), Benjamin Angoua (Guingamp)
The Big Question: Will Lee Nguyen be moved in the near future?
Nguyen’s future in Foxborough remains murky at best. Following a strong 2017 season in which he scored 11 goals and collected 15 assists, the veteran midfielder requested a move – one that was immediately shot down by the front office. In response, Nguyen held out of the early part of preseason camp before eventually reporting. But his arrival doesn’t solve the situation.
At 31, Nguyen is staring at another roster rebuild with new coach Brad Friedel in place – a situation hardly welcome by anyone as competitive as the creative midfielder. He also knows the next contract he signs could be his last chance to make serious bank, especially after his banner 2017 season. But that season was a revealing one behind the scenes. Once a focal point in the locker room, Nguyen seemed very much a lone wolf amid a group constructed of distinct cliques.
Yes, Nguyen may indeed suit up for the Revolution this season. But for how much longer? Unless he changes his stance, or unless the front office gives him yet another significant raise, the Lee Nguyen Era in New England may be coming to close very soon.
Area to keep an eye on: Center back
Can we talk about how terrible this team was at center back last season? While Antonio Delamea proved himself capable, he was never given a consistent and skilled counterpart. Benjamin Angoua was a bust while promising rookie Josh Smith flamed out after four games. The late season addition of Claude Dielna offered some hope for New England, but he didn’t quite gel with Delamea before the curtains were drawn on 2017. The club addressed the situation with the additions of Wilfred Zahibo and Gabriel Somi, and it will be interesting to see if either can solidify a defense that looked shaky too often last season.
Outcome: Eighth place
In short, there are simply too many question marks for this team to consider itself anything more than a team looking to stay out of last place. Brad Friedel’s next game at the helm will be his first, and he’ll have to endure a number of teaching moments during his rookie season. And while the team’s so-called talented core of Kelyn Rowe, Diego Fagundez, Juan Agudelo and, perhaps, Lee Nguyen are all back, each will need to show improvement to get the team’s fortunes pointed in the right direction. With a new head coach, a number of unknowns at defense, and no true scoring threat, the Revolution have all the hallmarks of a team in rebuild mode.
NE Revolution
MLS
