New England at Cincinnati, Game 20: Honors even, again

After 180 minutes of soccer, I can say one definitive thing about the budding New England/Cincinnati “rivalry”—we’re gonna need another 90 in the playoffs to decide who’s better. And barring the Philadelphia and Nashville fan bases, how many people would really mind if this was the Eastern Conference final?

If these teams do meet again, however, I’d imagine every Revs fan in existence will want the game to be more like the first 45 minutes from last night, than the final 45. New England (10-3-7, 37 points) is many things at the moment, but consistent is not one of them. That first half was fun to watch, with the field tilting New England’s way and the team playing with a swagger and confidence that comes from being second (now third) in the conference. Without seeing the post-game audio (Apple TV, wanna be better about that? No reason pressers shouldn’t be part of the post-game broadcast), I’d bet that Bruce leans heavily on the injuries impacting his ability to change games. Probably true, but some reinforcements could really help this team. As Taylor Twellman said in the broadcast (as an aside, he was so mid yesterday, disappointed TBH), roughly: Cincinnati is going to be a different-looking team in six weeks—will New England?

• Reports of Gustavo Bou’s demise have been greatly exaggerated. Well, maybe not greatly. But for a guy that some in Revs fandom call “washed,” Bou certainly looked like the most dangerous Rev for a bit last night. I was shocked that Bruce left him on instead of Bobby in the second half—nothing wrong with Bou being a 70-minute player—but when you also set up the own goal that got your team level, you earn the right to stay on the field. Bou is getting older and might not be the most nimble of Panthers in the world, but he’s still deadly. And don’t get me started on that FK to end the half. That would have been fuckin’ gorgeous had it gone in. Let’s enjoy this last half-season of him, we’ll be sad when he’s gone (I will be, anyway).
• On the other side of the strike partnership was Bobby Wood, who has been generally good this season. Last night, though, he was pretty anonymous. He was played in at least once on a decent chance (pretty sure a Gil ball), but otherwise didn’t do much. How little? One of my favorite Twitter bots is McLachBot, which tracks passes and player movement during games. Bobby…didn’t do a lot last night. Cincinnati figured out how to shut off access to our striker yesterday, and it’ll be something Bruce & Co. have to ponder if—when—we meet again, or for when teams look and say “yeah let’s do that!”
• TQL Stadium looks lit. That atmosphere last night seemed like a special one to be in. Wish we could have nice things like that…
• After the first 30 minutes, the game settled in a lot. Seems that first hydration break helped snap the momentum either team had, and neither could get back into form over the final 15 minutes. Biggest notes during that spell: “Spaulding looks a little more comfortable this week” and “Does look as much a 4231/4213 as anything diamond formation wise.” I really wish I had more time to look at film and break down the formation. It’s interesting watching where Blessing, Bou, and Boateng go during a match and what that says about our structure. Also Spaulding did look OK but he’s still not DeJuan. Three more MLS matches before Leagues Cup begins. Ryan can hold his head for three more games. (Calling it now though: Ben Sweat plays significant minutes over this stretch of three games in seven days, or we do a 3-5-2 with Ema as the wingback.)
• The second half went to shit, and it all started when Carles Gil got that atrocious yellow card. Never in a million years was that a yellow, but once again a MLS official had no idea what was going on. Week in and week out we’re subjected to some truly bad officiating, and it’s going to cost us at times like it did here. Now, hopefully the MLS looks at the play and overturns the yellow so he doesn’t have to miss the trip to NYRB, but that’s not the point…
• …the point is the refs suck. On Cincinnati’s second goal, the referee is signaling an advantage at the start of the play? For what? Now, I don’t think Latif was fouled there like the Revs thought, but I don’t get how the ref raises his arm for advantage in this situation.
• Of course, the refs aren’t the only ones to blame for the draw last night. On both goals, Latif Blessing is on the wrong end of a dispossession as the ball goes the other way and into our net. For Cincy’s first goal, Latif has to take the shot there at the top of the 18. Instead he tries to take a touch, loses possession, and Cincy broke at electrifying pace the other way. I’ve lost count of the number of direct goals the Revs have allowed this season, but that’s another one for the list. Then, on the second, Blessing and 2fast2farrell got mixed up, that allowed Luciano Acosta (OF ALL PEOPLE) the space to pick the ball up, put his head up, and find someone to finish. Blessing has a lot of quality in his game and we need him to make a run at things, but I’m alarmed at his lack of faith (pun intended) in his game. He just seems so unsure of himself instead of just playing. I wonder if part of it is the task he’s being given: Blessing will probably help us more if he can come on as an advanced player, and not a quasi-No. 6 sitting alongside Matt Polster. Noel Buck needs to get fit ASAP.
• Andrew Farrell…Oh Andrew. You’re a legend of this team, you’ve earned your place in our history. But I am praying every day that Kessler’s hammy is getting back to full strength and you can return to your role as a defensive super sub. That’s all. Big role there for you, know you’ll be great at it.
• Giacomo Vrioni got 20+ minutes to make an impact, and didn’t. Verdict remains out. But with one DP spot opening this summer if Bou moves on, maybe this team needs to open a second. Surely there’s a great player in Vrioni somewhere, I just doubt we see it in New England. No points on the taken-off goal, he was offside and the defenders knew it.
• Then again, his option to pass to was Tico Rivera at the end. I’ve been a Tico stan this season and held out hope that he might have a role to play. But after that inept display, I don’t think he’s going to see the field again this year. He was legit walking as we tried playing a fast break late in the game last night. Unacceptable.
• Jack Panayotou, though, did try, he just wasn’t good enough. No shame in it. He’s got a ways to go in his development and I think there’s a serviceable player there, he just seemed scared of the (big) moment. Always believe in the kids!
• The last two bullet points go on to make a bigger one: We need signings. Matt Polster is absolutely knackered at the end of matches and has no one to sub in for him, we have no wingers to bring on that are worth a shit (worth a shit, mind you: I know we have Rennicks and Tico), 2fast2farrell isn’t a starting-caliber defender anymore, we don’t have a target man to put on in attack, and Ben Sweat is our fullback depth until after the Leagues Cup. Send help, now.
• I hate Yerson Mosquera with every fiber in my being because he is a great player for Cincy but is always in the middle of the shithousing moments. Dude knows how to act, that’s for sure. And he can defend, too. Can Wolves recall him already? They surely need defensive help this year. No, you say, Cincy already extended? Damn.

Going into the night, I would have taken a point from the league leaders. So, after the game, I’m happy we walked out with a point. There were two more to be taken if we could have just kept our heads in the second half, but last night was the first time in 11 tries that someone took points away from Cincinnati at TQL Stadium—that’s worth celebrating. Nashville bumped up to second in the east with their win over D.C. United (although Walker Zimmerman will miss next week) so we’re down to third, but considering the bumps we’ve faced along the way, third is an impressive place to be for the Revs. Up next is a trip to Energy Drinks (first of two this month) and a chance to put down a rival. Here’s to hoping Gil plays.

By the Numbers

• 150th appearance for Brandon Bye with last night’s start
• Revs now 6-1-2 when Bou starts this year
• Five saves for Djordje last night, and how important were they all. Keep hearing talk about “how long can the Revs keep Djordje for?” and the answer better be “the rest of the season” otherwise we’re in for a rude awakening of what a decent goalie is like vs. a stud.
• 0.6xG for Revs last night. Not good! Cincy’s was 1.9. Take the point and run!
• 3-0-4 stretch for the Revs now since that losing streak.
• Per the Revs, Bou’s goal is the 41st in regular season play, matching Joe-Max Moore for sixth all-time in club history.

Extra Kicks

• Only saw bits of it, but Minnesota United is back? Emanuel Reynoso is back for the Loons and is showing why his absence was felt so acutely, and now they’re adding Teemu Pukki. The Loons are definitely going to be a fun team to watch as we go into Leagues Cup and the business end of the season.
• NYCFC snapped an 11-match winless streak last night. No one likes them, but worth a note that they finally found the win column again.
• The Athletic is reporting that Jim Curtin has inked an extension in Philly. MLS 360 crew was talking Curtin before the 7:30 window started, and how Chicago Fire should throw the bank at him to get him to the Windy City. Philly brass must have been listening (lol).

Links

• Post-game pressers aren’t easily viewable, but at least the new writer for the Revs (Caroline Oatway, she’s been a great addition if you’ve noticed!) writes a story around his quotes.