Plenty of uncertainty as Revolution head into off-season

Kei Kamara Photo/Kari Heistad

The New England Revolution hosted their final media availability of the year on Tuesday afternoon at Gillette Stadium as reporters spoke to players before and after their exit physicals.

General Manager Mike Burns was on hand, too, but was only visible for a short moment and did not take questions.

And there are questions. Plenty, as the team heads into the off-season looking for a new head coach and with a number of players’ futures in doubt.

Here’s a snap-shot of what was gathered from the proceedings on Tuesday:

• Tom Soehn is very much in the running to be named the Revolution’s next coach and it certainly seems as though he wants the job. Soehn, who finished the season with a 3-1-1 record and helped the team shake their misfortunes on the road, believes he was able to impart his tactics on the team down the stretch. I asked Soehn if he felt a reason for the team’s poor finish this year was resources from the top, and he shrugged it off saying, “All we can control is what we have in locker room. Through the year –like I said It was a difficult year—all I want to do is focus on the end, knowing I got the most out of guys. I can hold my head up high on that.” That came across as an honest, albeit political answer from a professional coach not trying to throw ownership under the bus.
• Teal Bunbury stated he wants to be back in a Revolution kit next season. Bunbury sat on the bench and was on the fringes for the first half of the season, then staked his claim with a number of fine performances down the stretch. He ends the season with seven goals and is an intriguing piece moving forward for an attacking core that isn’t quite there yet despite boasting a high degree of talent. Bunbury’s wife is pregnant, back in Minnesota, and he told reporters that he split his time between Minnesota and Massachusetts last year. His intention is to spend time there and in Kansas City during the winter, but is hoping to bring his whole family to New England in 2018.
• Juan Agudelo also plans on returning in 2018. The U.S. national team starter noted that the Revs are in the same position now as they were at this point last year: just below the red line in the conference standings and out of the playoffs. Agudelo does have some interest from European clubs, but he appears content to stay in New England for at least one more year and stated he’s happy at the club. With respect to his individual performance, Agudelo said he started the year off well, then tapered off and felt he didn’t do enough for the club on the field. One of his highs was lifting the Gold Cup trophy with the U.S.
• Claude Dielna plans to spend most of the off-season in France. He will try to find a personal trainer. He also plans to spend some time volunteering at local hospitals and being with family.
• Kei Kamara was unclear on what options he’d pursue in 2018. He admitted to wanting to be traded in the summer, but didn’t comment on whether he’s interested in moving now.
• Gershon Koffie has enjoyed his time in New England and was grateful to come back on loan this year, but he’s unsure of what the future has in store. He has at least one year left on his contract at Hammarby in Sweden. He also changed agents, according to a source, and negotiations between the Revolution and Hammarby will need to take place for him to return in 2018.
• Xavier Kouassi, Kelyn Rowe, Cody Cropper, Toni Delamea, Diego Fagundez, Scott Caldwell, Lee Nguyen, and Brad Knighton also spoke to reporters.