New England Revolution
One other change within the system produced disappointingly related outcomes from a defensive standpoint.
The Revolution fell 3-2 in Nashville on Saturday, a 3rd consecutive defeat for Clint Peay’s crew.
New England produced a disastrous opening 45 minutes and trailed 3-0 at halftime. Within the second half, behind a bevy of substitutions, the Revolution pulled again two objectives (each scored by Tomás Chancalay).
Ultimately, it was too steep of a hill for New England to climb. Taking part in with out each DeJuan Jones and Noel Buck (each away for worldwide call-ups), the already short-handed Revolution roster was stretched noticeably skinny.
With a playoff spot already clinched, it’s one more week the place the Revolution misplaced to a crew they could see once more in a number of weeks (Nashville has additionally clinched a postseason berth). New England falls to fifth within the Japanese Convention on account of the newest loss forward of the ultimate common season sport subsequent Saturday at Gillette Stadium towards the Philadelphia Union.
Switching to a three-back system didn’t work.
After unsuccessfully making an attempt to implement an inverted fullback system over the previous few video games, Peay — New England’s interim head coach — shifted to a reasonably aggressive 3-5-2, with Nacho Gil and Emmanuel Boateng as exterior wingbacks.
Regardless of some early promise (with Carles Gil virtually giving the Revolution an early lead after his run by means of the center of the Nashville protection resulted in a curling shot crusing inches huge of the precise put up), a harsh actuality quickly set in.
Dealing with a disciplined Nashville lineup adept at putting on the counter and changing crosses, the Revolution suffered breakdowns from just about all facets of the protection apart from the goalkeeper. Nashville tallied two objectives from dead-ball restarts (a throw-in and a free kick), every culminating in a cross. The third aim resulted from a basic counterattack.
Provided that neither Nacho Gil nor Boateng are common wingbacks, each — whereas spirited of their dedication — had been merely much less capable of present defensive cowl. Every of the primary two objectives resulted from the house crew discovering house both in between New England’s center-backs and wingbacks, or in behind the latter after they had been caught upfield.
As well as, the promise of defensive solidity with three center-backs on the sphere did not materialize. Miscommunications led to poor marking, and Nashville took full benefit. Even in midfield, Matt Polster (returning to his favored function after a number of video games as a hybrid left again) and Mark-Anthony Kaye had been caught out of place on the third aim, in addition to a number of different sequences through which Nashville playmaker Hany Mukhtar was capable of dribble in open house by means of the center.
And for all the criticism that Peay caught for the supposed vulnerability of his inverted fullback system towards counterattacks, the Revolution seemed equally (if no more) prone to counters on Saturday in a 3-5-2.
Regardless of garnering simply 39 p.c of the possession at halftime, Nashville held a commanding lead.
Tomás Chancalay led an admirable second half effort, however a bigger subject stays.
In response to the 3-0 debacle, Peay made three modifications at halftime. Tommy McNamara, Jack Panayotou, and Ryan Spaulding got here on for Nacho Gil, Kaye, and Boateng. New England shifted to a flat 4-4-2, with center-back Henry Kessler shifting to proper again (and Spaulding getting into to play his pure left again function).
The outcomes improved, although it was additionally partly resulting from Nashville eradicating center-back (and U.S. worldwide) Walker Zimmerman given the wholesome lead, with maybe one eye on the playoffs.
Chancalay, working properly together with Carles Gil and Gustavo Bou, pulled again two objectives for the guests. It created an enjoyably dramatic ultimate 20 minutes, even when the Revolution seemed equally — if not barely extra — susceptible on the again as Peay continued to ratchet up stress going ahead.
The defeat, as with a number of in current weeks, supplied extra questions than solutions for Peay and New England administration. And with just one extra sport earlier than the beginning of the playoffs, the interim coach acknowledged that he doesn’t know who his greatest 11 gamers are.
“I imply, clearly, tonight was powerful,” he mentioned in response to Seth Macomber of The Blazing Musket. “We had been lacking a number of gamers, a giant one being DeJuan Jones. I believe the very best lineup remains to be to be decided, to be sincere with you.
“We nonetheless have some guys who’re nonetheless making an attempt to get match minutes, Kessler, Bou, and we’re nonetheless making an attempt to determine which guys are going to point out up and decide to enjoying the sport the way in which it’s alleged to be performed for 90-plus minutes.”
Jacob Jackson’s MLS debut had some good moments regardless of the end result.
In a stunning transfer, Peay handed 2022 first-round choose Jacob Jackson his first MLS begin.
It was an identifiably powerful task for Jackson, even earlier than it grew to become clear that Nashville had the higher hand on New England’s protection.
Whereas he may wish to have the third aim again — although it was properly positioned within the nook by Nashville striker Sam Surridge — Jackson performed as greatest as he might within the circumstances.
His first half save on a stinging effort from Mukhtar gave a glimpse at his shot-stopping potential, and he added a number of extra saves within the second half when the Revolution started throwing extra numbers ahead.
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