3 takeaways because the Revolution finish a turbulent week with a 2-1 defeat in opposition to the Rapids

New England Revolution

New England was unable to constantly generate probabilities in Clint Peay’s first recreation as interim head coach.

After per week by which the time period “troublesome circumstances” appeared to be completely relevant, the Revolution suffered yet another stunning flip of occasions on Saturday, falling 2-1 to the final place Colorado Rapids.

Clint Peay, who took over as interim head coach following the surprising information on Tuesday that former interim coach Richie Williams had been changed, presided over a usually lackluster efficiency from a Revolution workforce that struggled to create a breakthrough.

Although the defeat might hardly be pinned on Peay — who barely had time to place collectively a training workers, not to mention an efficient recreation plan — it represents the continuation of a disturbing pattern for New England, a workforce that’s 1-2-2 for the reason that finish of the midseason Leagues Cup.

The Revolution now sit third within the Japanese Convention, and can face Chicago on the highway subsequent Saturday as they attempt to arrest the slight slide within the standings.

Listed here are a number of takeaways:

Unable to finish a troublesome week on a excessive be aware.

Per week in the past, the Revolution dropped two factors on the ultimate kick of the ball in a 1-1 draw in opposition to Minnesota. Instantly afterward, the membership introduced that Bruce Enviornment had resigned following a weeks-long MLS investigation into “insensitive and inappropriate remarks” made by the previous coach.

It turned out to solely be the start of a dramatic interval contained in the workforce, with studies leaking out over inner strife between gamers and administration over the transparency (or lack thereof) within the dealing with of the Enviornment investigation.

The fallout got here to a head on Tuesday, when the workforce revealed that Williams was out as interim coach, and assistants Dave van den Bergh and Shalrie Joseph had additionally been dismissed.

Into the stormy seat as interim head coach got here Peay, who arrived through Revolution II (the place he had served as head coach since its creation in 2020).

Tasked with getting an instantaneous lead to Colorado — a workforce that was additionally working with an interim head coach after going by way of their very own turmoil — Peay deployed his lineup in a lot the identical method as Enviornment and Williams had.

Giacomo Vrioni began upfront as a lone striker with Nacho Gil and Tomás Chancalay on the wings. Carles Gil took up his traditional place as a free-roaming No. 10 playmaker. Ian Harkes acted as a box-to-box central midfielder, with Mark-Anthony Kaye sitting deeper as a holding midfielder.

Defensively, DeJuan Jones returned from worldwide motion to play left again, with Dave Romney and Omar Gonzalez within the heart. Andrew Farrell, filling in for the season-ending damage to Brandon Bye, moved over to proper again. In aim, Earl Edwards Jr. acquired one other beginning nod.

Whereas credit score has to go to Colorado, who performed with a sure stage of freedom inherent in a workforce already eradicated from playoff competition, the Revolution produced a disjointed efficiency.

Regardless of accruing stats that, on the floor, seemed to be spectacular — 84.5 % workforce passing accuracy, a 61-39 % possession benefit, and totaling a 17-8 shot benefit — it amounted to comparatively little in actuality.

Remoted goal-scoring probabilities, together with Kaye hitting the crossbar off a headed free kick, and Gil later grazing the bar once more on a direct free kick, got here largely from set piece alternatives (the workforce’s aim later got here from a nook kick). Optimistic moments in open play got here largely from particular person creativity, with a definite lack of workforce passing actions main on to pictures on track.

Defensive losses clearly inflicting points.

Whatever the teaching modifications, the Revolution are beset by a elementary concern. Particularly, the dearth of depth on the again line.

With Bye out for the season (having gone down in late August with a torn proper ACL), Farrell has confirmed the one viable alternative except for Jones (who’s adept at taking part in each on the left and proper aspect). But when Jones is shifted over, it rapidly reveals that New England is with out correct cowl at left again as effectively.

The outcome, mixed with Henry Kessler’s ongoing absence, implies that the Revolution have to maneuver one of many solely different starting-level defenders (Farrell) out of his traditional place so as to discipline a probably efficient lineup.

The 31-year-old Farrell performed admirably on the appropriate, making an attempt to burst ahead to offer assist for each Gil brothers within the assault, however he merely can’t replicate the offensive functionality that Bye possesses.

Conversely, Farrell at proper again leaves Gonzalez in a beginning function at heart again. The 34-year-old Gonzalez has had a mini-resurgence in 2023, proving a lot of his 2022 critics improper that his MLS days could be over. He additionally scored the workforce’s solely aim — coming as a late comfort in stoppage time — on a thunderous header from a nook kick.

But particularly after the Revolution fell behind, the workforce pushed upfield an increasing number of aggressively, leaving each Gonzalez and Romney more and more uncovered on the again. Whereas each gamers did effectively to withstand Colorado counters (and, the truth is, neither aim resulted from a mistake made by the duo in that regard) it highlighted what might turn into a problem in future video games.

Colorado entered the match on Saturday having not scored a daily season MLS aim since July. That the Revolution surrendered a pair of targets and fell to defeat might loom giant because the playoff race heats up.

Nacho Gil is proving his price.

One brilliant spot in the previous couple of video games has been the emergence of Nacho alongside his brother, Carles. The youthful of the 2 Spaniards, Nacho was out for all of 2023 till the Leagues Cup.

Getting begins in latest video games, he’d contributed a pair of assists heading into Saturday. In opposition to Colorado, he confirmed his high quality in conserving the ball regardless of going through livid defending from the Rapids.

Whereas he may need walked off the sector pondering he ought to have scored not less than as soon as — having been on the tip of a number of probabilities — he was nonetheless one of many workforce’s higher gamers all through the sport.