Takeaways from the Revolution’s win against Real Salt Lake

New Englanders contributing

Probably the best storyline from this victory is that three native New Englanders got on the score sheet for the first time this season. Even head coach Jay Heaps, when asked about it during his press conference, was struck by that nice statistic. Kudos to Scott Caldwell for getting his first goal. And for that great cross that led to Charlie Davies’ goal. And, of course, to Chris Tierney for that looping thing of beauty that went into the back of the net in the 39^th minute. But the highlight reel and the Goal of the Week polls will be rightly shining the spotlight on each of those plays until next weekend. Let’s focus on something else, such as this: when don’t New Englanders combine for performances like this? Sure, it’s rare to get so many people born in Massachusetts and New Hampshire hospitals on the same score sheet, but they’re almost always on the same lineup sheet. Caldwell has always been an un-sung hero in the middle, Tierney is the most consistent crosser in the league, and Davies is a pure poacher. That trio—plus the likes of Diego Fagundez and coach Jay Heaps—are a solid group. If the Revolution want to say they have a foundation, that foundation is New England.

Jermaine Jones and London Woodberry are impressive at the back

Jermaine Jones didn’t come to MLS and the Revolution to be a central defender, but he’s excelling in that position with absences to Darrius Barnes and Jose Goncalves. On the flip-side, has there been a bigger surprise this season than the play of London Woodberry? His passing out of the back, on the turf at least, is suspect. But his crossing has been a revelation. Prior to Woodberry, who on this team had a reliable cross besides Tierney? Defensively, of course, both players are doing their part. Along with the remainder of the back line, Jones and Woodberry have helped the Revolution earn four shutouts in eight games. Then there’s also the fact that the back line still hasn’t allowed a goal in the run of play since March 15.

Take stock of who’s up top

What do Charlie Davies, Teal Bunbury, Juan Agudelo, and Lee Nguyen all have in common? They’ve all been in and out of the U.S. national team picture throughout their careers. In the case of Davies, Bunbury, and Agudelo, they’ve all notched goals for the national team, too. The fact that they’ve been in the national team picture over time is significant because it means they’re quality players with tremendous up-side. But the fact that they’ve been out of the picture has been key as well. Had their forms not dropped in recent years, would Davies and Bunbury have come to the Revolution so easily? There would have likely been no reasonable price tag for either player. Nguyen is in a similar boat: would Vancouver have let him go knowing what they know now? What team wouldn’t want Nguyen? Obviously hindsight is 20/20, but there’s a lesson here. And, in the case of Agudelo, the Revolution have a player that’s been able to use his time away from the national team as motivation—he wants to represent the stars and stripes so badly that he pushes hard for his chances at getting a call. The point is this: the Revolution have four players in their attack who not only are among the best attacking players in the league, but also are in (or getting back in) the conversation for national team call-ups. How many teams in the league can say that about the upper third of their lineup?