The Revs have now gone five straight games without a loss after last week’s 2-1 come from behind win over the Union. It was impressive that the Revs turned the game around on the road, especially considering the lineup adjustments Jay Heaps employed due to injuries. To make it six straight unbeaten and back to back wins, they’ll have to overcome injury problems again as they host Real Salt Lake.
The team announced Friday that Darrius Barnes will be out the next 6 months after having surgery on his left Patellar Tendon. Barnes has made three starts this year, two at right back and one at center back. Additionally, captain and center back Jose Gonçalves is questionable after missing last week with a calf injury. To make up for this depleted back line, Heaps moved Jermaine Jones out of the midfield and into the CB role which he’s been playing with the national team.
Jones and Andrew Farrell were solid in the back but Heaps replaced him with Andy Dorman playing alongside Scott Caldwell. I assumed Daigo Kobayashi would get the start, but alas he was also out with an injury and is questionable this week (hamstring). But they had two defensive midfielders and one of the more creative players playing in the back four. The result was a paltry offensive display in the first 45 minutes last week.
Teal Bunbury came into the game in the 61st minute and promptly changed it assisting on Charlie Davies’ goal and scoring the game winner himself. Diego Fagundez also had a huge impact off the bench assisting on Bunbury’s goal with a pretty cross.
The question for Heaps: how do you set up your squad this week at home?
If Gonçalves can play, it’s a simple fix as he will be inserted into the lineup alongside Farrell. Jones will go back to the MF and, most likely, Andy Dorman will go to the bench. I’d also argue that Teal Bunbury continues to impress and improve out wide and should get the start in Kelyn Rowe’s place.
If the captain can’t play and Jones has to be pushed into the back four again, I think they go back to their 4-1-4-1 system Heaps employed for most of last year before Jones was signed. This would mean that Dorman or Caldwell play the lone CDM role. The four man midfield will be more offensive-minded with Juan Agudelo and Bunbury on the wings, Kelyn Rowe playing more centrally alongside Lee Nguyen.
As for their opponent, RSL suffered their first defeat of the season last week against Vancouver, conceding the 1-0 loss after Sebastian Saucedo saw straight red in the 76th minute. However, they only sit on 9 points (2-1-3) and 5th in the Western Conference. They also are battling a number of key injuries and suspensions. Their first choice center back tandem will not be available. Chris Schuler is out with a meniscus injury and Jamison Olave will be serving a suspension for picking up two yellows in last week’s match. Still, they have Kyle Beckerman, one of the best CDM’s in the league that will be protecting that back four looking to break up Revs' attacks.
Offensively, they also have issues. Their best offensive threat Joao Plata has been out since January with a fractured foot. His replacement up top Alvaro Saborio only has one goal on the year and the team has struggled to provide him with consistent service. Their leading scorer and dynamic threat out of the midfield Javier Morales is questionable with a hamstring injury.
Given the injury issues for RSL and the fact that the Revs are playing at home, I think Heaps needs to set up a team that will be the aggressor regardless of their own injury problems. This should be reflected in their lineup but also the high pressure tactics we see more of in Gillette. RSL has one goal scored and zero conceded on the road this year. The Revs have to take the game to them to get all three points because RSL would be more than happy to leave New England with one point.