There is a level of excitement among the NE Revolution faithful that hasn’t been felt in years going in the start of the 25th MLS season. And, there is reason to be optimistic for the season ahead. Bruce Arena and his coaching staff are now firmly entrenched in Foxboro and the team opened a brand new training facility in December.
Arena’s goal was to have a full roster before pre-season and if they sign the players that they took in the draft, the roster will stand at 28 as players reported for pre-season. The team went wide in their search for talent, filling out the roster with signings that included a designated player, two former Revolution players, foreign players, a home-grown player and a draft pick. According to Arena, all are expected to compete for playing time.
The off season had some noteworthy moments with the Revolution parting ways with players including Juan Agudelo who was briefly headed to Canada but then ended up in Miami. He will team up there with former teammate Lee Nguyen. No-one in New England was surprised during the off season that Goalkeeper Matt Turner was called up into the USMNT camp for the second time. While he dressed in October for the team, he didn’t see the field and he may get a start in this winter window. While he will miss out on the first part of pre-season with the Revs, no-one will be complaining as he gains time and coaching with the national team.
The biggest signing in the off season was the latest designated player for the team: Adam Buksa. a forward from Poland. He is expected to link up with returning 2019 MLS Newcomer Carles Gill and 2019 mid-season signing Gustavo Bou to create a powerful attacking combination.
In the midfield, Arena brought back Kelyn Rowe from a year in wilderness when he passed through two MLS teams after he was traded last December. Rowe was clearly excited to be back when he reported for opening day. He noted that while had been away only a year with a new coaching staff and a new training facility in some ways it was like coming home to a new club.
The defense badly needed reinforcements and they have come in the form of Jeff Caldwell as goalkeeper, Alex Buttner a Dutch left back and returning Revolution defender Seth Sinovic who was drafted by the Revolution in 2010 before going to Sporting Kansas City in 2011 where has been since. The team had also signed Samba Camara center back from France, but news came this week that his P1 visa was denied and his contract was voided so there is still one more spot for Arena and his staff to fill before the season opens.
Looking at new talent, midfielder Damian Rivera became the team’s seventh home grown player to be signed to the senior team and he is joined by central defender Henry Kessler whom the Revolution was thrilled was still left in the MLS Super Draft when it came to the sixth pick. In the draft they also took Simon Lekressner and Keegan Meyer who will work to secure contracts before the season begin.
All of the players will be using the brand-new training facility which the Revolution officially opened in December. Located in the bucolic woods nestled behind Gillette Stadium, the facility houses offices for Revolution staff, training facilities for the new Revolution II team, the academy players and the first team. With the building set into the hill, the second floor houses the first team’s locker room, state of the art training room, an aquatherapy room with three tubs (hot, cold, underwater tread machine), barber station, and a treatment room literally just steps from the two training fields. One of the fields is heated so that the players can train on grass even during the colder months. Buksa who was clearly impressed when he toured the facilities upon his arrival will surely not be the last player to enjoy training in the new digs. Early comments out of training this week has echoed Buksa’s sentiments.
During a press conference call after the MLS Draft Arena spoke to the important role that the new facility will plays. “I think anybody that works in an environment that’s conducive to getting you excited and working at your best can only make you better in your craft in whatever you do. Whether you’re working as a mechanic or you’re working as a soccer player, to be in a facility that gives you all the advantages to get better is a plus. I think when our team shows up next week, they’re going to be absolutely thrilled to see what we have here. I’ve said this many times since I’ve been here; the Krafts have just done a simply outstanding job in supporting our team and we now have a venue that every team in the league would like to have. And I’m not saying it’s the best, but it’s very good and it’s only going to help, I believe, improve our team as we move forward.”
If the upcoming season lives up the anticipation of the Revolution fans remains to be seen. But, the off-season is over, the players have reported for training and the excitement is building for Revolution fans who feel that the future is bright in New England in 2020.
