Revolution have plenty to learn from NYCFC loss

The New England Revolution lost to NYCFC 1-0 on Wednesday. Photo/Kari Heistad

The New England Revolution seem to be freely and hopelessly wallowing in mediocrity, the latest reminder that they’re not ahead of the curve coming in a 1-0 loss to New York City FC on Wednesday night at Gillette Stadium.

NYCFC – via second half strike by Designated Player Frank Lampard – did what few teams have been able to accomplish in Foxborough: record a shutout victory against the hosts.

In fact, Wednesday night was only the third time since July of 2014 that the Revolution have lost at home without scoring.

A statistic like that would generally indicate that the performance against NYCFC was a fluke. Unfortunately for the Revolution, who are outside playoff contention and have lost three straight, things are actually that bad.

New York out-shot New England 15 to 10, including five to two in shots on target. The visitors’ possession statistics were also better than the hosts’ in every category. In fact, New York controlled overall ball possession, crosses, attacking third, and attacking half.

Here are three thoughts on the loss to NYCFC

1. The attack looks lost, and the blame falls on everyone’s shoulders

Let’s be clear here: the Revolution have plenty of attacking options, even with injuries to Charlie Davies and Juan Agudelo. That said, injuries in midfield – plus some questionable tactics and lackluster performances overall – continue to plague New England this season. The Revolution sorely miss the veteran presence of Jermaine Jones, who helped the team win back possession and carve out space for attacking players. Gershon Koffie isn’t of the same ilk as Jones, but has at least provided that same physical and two-way presence when he’s been on the pitch.

Under the current parameters, Kelyn Rowe is stuck doing two jobs: making runs into the box and returning centrally to midfield, where he’s responsible for helping defend and with aiding Scott Caldwell in anchoring the team’s possession. Daigo Kobayashi has injected life into the attack, but lacks the speed or precision to hold down the center of the pitch.

Kei Kamara still isn’t delivering as expected. When he arrived, he spoke about pairing with Lee Nguyen and Chris Tierney and the Revolution’s other attacking players. Nothing of note has truly materialized yet.

2. The back line needs help

Revolution coach Jay Heaps was, in many ways, a player ahead of his time. Heaps was a defender who knew how to attack, or rather, an attacker that knew how to defend. In any case, that style of play has informed his tactical approach to coaching.

Defenders that come forward are a necessity in the modern game. Each of the Revolution’s defenders on Wednesday night – Chris Tierney, Jose Goncalves, London Woodberry, and Andrew Farrell – either have vision or are adept at attacking. But they’ve been unequivocally slacking when it comes to their main job: assisting the goalkeeper in preventing the ball from going into the net.

The Revs have the worst defensive record in the league; they’ve conceded 32 times, allowing six goals in their last three games. The back line could use some assistance, both for the purposes of depth and squad competition. Beyond that, Woodberry, who is predominantly a wing player, has been unconvincing on the flank.

3. The Revolution have done only one major thing right in three years

Jermaine Jones is the sole outlier. Take Jones away and the Revolution’s 2014 season, Cup run and all, is a bust.

I don’t necessarily prescribe to the belief that Designated Players are the secret formula for success in Major League Soccer. But every team gets three DPs for a reason. Two of them (Andrea Pirlo and Lampard) created New York’s lone goal on Wednesday night. And in the 2014 Cup final against Los Angeles, Robbie Keane, another DP, scored the game-winning goal.

Jones was a single player who transformed the Revolution’s entire season, which was no accident. The current team has talented players. However, none comes from an elite caliber that can make success look less accidental and more deliberate. The front office did acquire a proven player in Xavier Kouassi, but injuries have limited his contributions.

A DP defender or midfielder with experience in a European top flight league is precisely what the Revolution need. It’s worked in the past with Jones and it’s worked for competitors. Wednesday’s loss to NYCFC cemented yet again that such an investment is already overdue.

Email Julian at julianccardillo@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @juliancardillo.