Oppo Research: 5 Things about New England Revolution

In this edition of Oppo Research, Hudson River Blue spoke with Jake Catanese of The Blazing Musket to learn more about New England Revolution, New York City FC's opponent at Gillette Stadium on Saturday. Here is your NYCFC vs New England Revolution preview.

1. Despite two solid wins, New England is far from complete

Hudson River Blue: New England has two solid wins this season: A 2-1 victory over the Red Bulls and an impressive 1-0 road win at Atlanta. Besides that, it’s been a bleak start to the season for New England. How do you assess the team through its first seven games?

Jake Catanese: It's no secret the Revs' offense has struggled this year. No goals from open play (unless you count the one NYC scored for us) through two months is not something to be proud of. The Revs' offense has been far too static/uncreative under Caleb Porter, and even with the return of Tomas Chancalay and Leo Campana, I don't see that changing. The formation change last week that saw the Revs add a third center back, Tanner Beason, to the lineup wasn't ineffective, but Atlanta still had two goals chalked off for offside and hit another couple of posts and didn't exactly add anything to the attack.

It's hard to imagine a lineup where putting Luca Langoni on your bench is a good thing. There have been several players that have played well individually – Ivacic in net, Ceballos and Fofana at center back, and even veteran Matt Polster in the midfield has had a resurgence – but overall for a team that shouldn't be rebuilding and be in the mix for a playoff spot it feels like the Revs are still a long way off from where they should be. Add in a fairly confounding lack of minutes for homegrown midfielders Noel Buck and Jack Panayotou, and there are still far more negatives for New England than positives despite the win last week.

2. Caleb Porter's system of play has led to offensive woes

HRB: Carles Gil has three goals this season, but no other New England player has scored. The strikers and wingers have contributed nothing, and the offense looks highly disappointing. How can Caleb Porter get everybody who is not named Carles Gil going?

JC: I have long stated that Caleb Porter's system is too restrictive and slow for the players that he has. There are very few teams in MLS that dominate and create via possession alone. New England has some tremendous team speed when it's healthy, and a lot of their best chances this year have come from quick, direct counter-attacking play. As long as Porter insists on playing a mostly build-from-the-back system, the Revs are going to struggle offensively. Sending in crosses from out wide to a non-target man striker is just not an effective way to generate offense against a set defense, so the goal for New England should be to get as many opportunities against a backpedaling opponent as they can.

3. New England's defense has tons of potential

HRB: As we talked about earlier this season, the defense looks solid so far. A clean sheet against a high-powered Atlanta offense is impressive and something not many teams have done this season. How much can the defense carry New England this season?

JC: I am starting to think very far...or significantly farther than the offense might be capable of the rest of the year anyway. Ivacic has been tremendous in his shot-stopping this year, but it can not be understated how well the Fofana-Ceballos partnership is doing at center back. It's ridiculously hard to sign a brand new tandem in the middle of your backline in MLS, especially two new players to the league but Porter wanted to have his CBs be better on the ball and the ability to get line-breaking passes out of the back line has helped the stagnant offense get on the front foot. With three of the starters under 23 (Ceballos, Feingold, Miller), this is a unit that could develop very well over the next few years.

4. The X-Factor: Team speed, the return of Campana and Chancalay

HRB: What's the X-factor that could decide this game?

JC: Team speed. The return of Campana and Chancalay should help, but also figuring out ways to get players like Peyton Miller involved in breaking down defenses would help the Revs' offense improve. When New England keeps things simple and uses this trait as its greatest strength, I think this roster can play very similarly to the 2021 Shield squad, with more through balls instead of crosses into the box. I don't see them rising massively up the East standings, but if their defense can keep them in games, the offense might be able to do just enough to get them into the playoffs.

5. Predicted score, Starting XI

HRB: Prediction time: Starting XI? Final score?

JC: This might be closer to the lineup the Revs end the game with, as Chancalay and Campana might not be fit for 90 minutes and maybe only like 45, but I still think this is the best formation for the Revs. The imbalance New England has with the ball I don't think is a personnel issue, and if Caleb Porter can't figure out how to make that attacking front four moderately effective in MLS before the summer transfer window rolls around, then there will be trouble in Revs-land. Until proven otherwise, this offense is bad, and I don't think a 1-1 draw is a bad result, but I do think Carles Gil gets one from open play at home.