Photo/Kari Heistad
In the end, the New England Revolution just didn’t stack up.
Not tactically. Not physically. Not with discipline on the field, or intensity, or creativity.
So FC Dallas cruised to a 4-2 victory over the Revs on Tuesday night in the US Open Cup final at Toyota Stadium, winning a major trophy, a $200,000 cash prize, and an automatic berth into next season’s Champions League.
This was a blown opportunity for the Revolution, to say the least. But the way New England was outplayed after Juan Agudelo’s calm and collected finish inside the first six minutes indicated that the Revs are ways off from being any kind of contender.
Dallas crippled the Revolution with high pressure. New England turned the ball over often, finding few ways to engage playmakers Diego Fagundez and Lee Nguyen and struggling to create any sort of attacking football.
New England’s players are fast. But on Tuesday, Dallas’ were faster. Each time the Revolution took the speed of play up one notch, the hosts were right there with them.
Here’s my take on the overall performance and where the Revolution go from here, since this wasn’t just any normal match. It was a final.
The Revolution are not cursed. They’re naïve.
Tuesday night was not the Revolution’s first rodeo. Pun intended.
The Revolution have been the weaker team – on paper, at least – in at least half of the tournament finals they’ve appeared. You can easily make the case that the Revolution choked in the 2005, 2006, and 2007 finals. But that was not the case in the 2002 and 2014 MLS Cup finals or in Tuesday night’s Open Cup final or in the 2010 Superliga final.
On each of the latter occasions, the Revolution were picked apart by tactically superior teams.
The Revs could have done themselves a favor by at least putting together a full team. But they haven’t.
Gotta wonder what the score would be right now if #NERevs had bothered to replace AJ Soares at some point in the past two years. #USOC16
— Sean Donahue (@SeanLDonahue) September 14, 2016
Indeed, New England’s back line is more fragile and makeshift then Icarus’ wings.
The Revolution weren’t ready for Champions League, anyway
The Revolution will be Champions League material as soon as they’re expected to be title contenders each year.
For that to happen, coach Jay Heaps and general manager Mike Burns can’t leave gaping holes on their roster. Failing to replace Soares and strengthening the back line is just one example of how they’ve failed.
The Revolution also can’t rely on miracle runs at the end of the season to pull them into the playoffs. Dallas is the top team in the Western Conference and have only lost two in their last eight. They’re not their own worst enemy.
Earning a place in Champions League would have been over-taxing on the Revolution. They do not have the depth or players with enough experience to handle road swings in tough environment in Mexico and Costa Rica. They barely stay competitive in MLS.
This year’s playoffs
In spite of this poor result, the Revolution still remain in a reasonable position to make the playoffs. But as Tuesday showed, the Revs likely won’t get too far in the post-season if they make it.
American fans are spoiled in the sense that we have playoffs at all. It gives teams that underperformed in the regular season a clean slate to upset clubs that were consistent throughout the year.
Sure, a club can win the Cup. But it’s a bit silly to think of the Revolution – who currently sit 14th out of 20 in the overall standings – as “champions.” Dallas are in first and are a true contender for the Cup. So in a top league, the Revolution be trying to stave off elimination, not clinch a title or a tournament berth.
This isn’t an argument for or against relegation. But think of it this way, Bournemouth are 14th in the Premier League standings. Manchester City is in first.
Ergo: the Revolution are not and never have been the Manchester City of MLS. Not since the DP era, anyway.
They’re Bournemouth.
Follow Julian on Twitter @juliancardillo
