Hey ya’ll!

On The Field

Our last game was against San Jose this past Saturday. It was a game that I think all the boys would like to forget. We got quite the whoopin’! We ended up losing 4-0. The score does not really reveal how the game really went. We did not play well by any means, but we did not deserve to lose 4-0. Hey it’s just one of those games you try to learn from, but also one where you kind of just have to forget and move on. We have to understand that there are going to be games like that from time to time. We just must make sure that we learn our lesson from that game and make sure that it does not happen again. We were missing a couple key players on our team, which in my mind no doubt hurt us. We have plenty of depth on the team and guys that can step in and not miss a beat, but we sure did miss Micheal Parkhurst and Shalrie Joseph in San Jose. “Parky” was just getting home for the Olympics and Shalrie was serving a one game suspension for his red card against Chicago the week before. Sometimes you do not really notice or realize how much a player means to the team until they are not out there. I realized that about Parky and Shalrie in San Jose. Look, I understand that it is a team game and that every player is vital to the team’s success. I am a big proponent of the team concept and believe that should be stressed with every team. But I also realize the importance of certain players. I can’t say enough about Shalrie and Parky as players and as people. They are very vital to the team and our success and I fully realized their importance to our team in their absence against San Jose. It will be good to have them back for our upcoming game against DC United on Wednesday.

Off The Field

Off the field not too much has been going on with me over the past week or so. We have been traveling quite a bit, so mainly I have just been resting up and taking it easy. I put a lot of importance on soccer. It is something that I am passionate about and I want to do the very best that I can. I am very competitive and have very high standards for myself so I want to win every game and I want to play the best I can in every game. It doesn’t really always work out like that though. In fact, things here recently have not been going that way at all. Sometimes I can put so much into soccer that it affects my life outside the game. A bad practice or game or lose can turn my world upside down. Now, for the most part I am a positive and sensible person, but sometimes I just lose it. You know the saying “leave all your work at work when you leave?” Well I have been trying to apply that to my life. I was becoming somebody that I did not want to become. I was miserable to be around at times. Now I am not saying by any means that I have lost my competitive edge or anything at all like that, I am just saying that I am trying to adapt to the pressures and demands of the professional game in a better manner. There are a lot of ups and downs in sports, just like there are in life. I believe, among other things, that what separates athletes is how they deal with things when they are down. I had a good first year, it would have been great if we won the Cup, so coming into this year my expectations and goals were much higher. I wanted to establish myself as a starter and a premier player in the league. Things have not gone like I had planned them, but I believe in myself and have faith that God has plans for me and that he will take care of me. I know that sulking and doubting will only hurt me further, so I am trying to continue to work hard and try and look on the positive side of things. Like I said, I believe in myself, and I know that without a doubt I can be a good professional.

So like I said, our next game is Wednesday against good ‘ole D.C. United. I really can’t stand DC so I am looking forward to the game and hoping to put them in their place. They are a good team and have some really good players, but they are not the quality that we are. I do not say that to be arrogant, I just believe it to be the truth. I don’t consider myself an arrogant man at all, in fact I feel that I am very humble.I definitely owe that and accredit that to my upbringing and my parents. My parents raised me right. I cannot thank them enough for all that they have done for me, sacrificed for me, given me, and loved and cared for me. I owe all that I am and all that I have and have become to my parents. They have always stood by my side, no matter what. I am so grateful for the hours they put into driving me to tournaments, washing my stained and dirty uniforms, and their love, sacrifice, and support for me following my dreams. There was a time in my life when I would not have been able to express that. As I have gotten older and matured, I have begun to realize more and more how blessed I have been and am to have such wonderful parents. I hope one day I can make millions and take care of them like they have of me. Somewhat kidding, but that would be nice huh? I hope one day I can be the kind of parent to my kids as my parents were to me.

-Hope ya’ll enjoyed this week’s blog! Have a great rest of the week-Take care, God bless, and be easy!

-wells

The New England Revolution defeated Mexico’s Atlante FC and survived a post-match melee on Wednesday night to move on to this year’s SuperLiga final against a familiar rival, the Houston Dynamo. This will be the third time the clubs have met in a final in just under two years, the previous two encounters having ended in Houston’s favor. But this could be the one for the Revs.

The Revs are undefeated in SuperLiga, the only team in the entire tournament with such bragging rights. And while Houston isn’t far behind with one loss, the teams’ MLS records paint a more vivid picture. Houston is 6-4-8 and New England is a telling 10-4-3. Not to mention, the Revs thumped the Orange 5-0 in this season’s 2-game series.

Personnel-wise, it’s not quite clear which team has the advantage. As the Revolution’s injury list is finally shrinking, Houston has added Richard Mulrooney and Eddie Robinson to theirs. Both teams also have players in Beijing (New England’s Michael Parkhurst and Houston’s Patrick Ianni and Stuart Holden). But with Jay Heaps suspended, the Revs are presented with a few question marks. Jeff Larentowicz has already slid into the center back position with Parkhurst gone. Who will join him in the makeshift back line? Perhaps the recovering Pat Phelan. Will Steve Nicol continue to employ the 4-4-2? Can Larentowicz step up and communicate and organize as well as his missing teammates? And who will keep on a sometimes spacey Amaechi Igwe, if not Heaps?

Another big factor to be considered; this is a home game for New England. Home fans, no travel, and almost a week between games. The Dynamo, on the other hand, had an MLS match-up Saturday night and now must travel the almost 2,000 miles to Massachusetts for the Tuesday night SuperLiga final.

My prediction? 2-1 New England. The past two meetings have been fast-paced and have seen many scoring opportunities for both teams. If the Revs can continue to capitalize on the speed of Sainey Nyassi and Mauricio Castro on the wings, and the patchwork defense can hold it together, they might just take the SuperLiga title.

Steve Nicol called New England’s performance last Saturday their most complete since the season-opener against Houston. I couldn’t agree more. The team played like the Revs of (relatively) old, relying more on good passing and possession than makeshift lineups, a little goal poaching, and some more luck. Players of note include Mauricio Castro, who irrefutably played his best game of the season, Steve Ralston, who continues to impress with his guile and grit, and Michael Parkhurst with his game-saving block at the goal line.

This week, the Revs travel to LA for an Independence Day match-up against the Galaxy. David Beckham and crew (my apologies Galaxy fans) are coming off a less heartening game, having lost 4-1 to D.C. United on Sunday.

Friday marks not only the teams’ first meeting of the season, but also the first time New England encounters Beckham on the pitch. The Revolution has not yet experienced the Beckham-Landon Donovan linkup that has proved to be so dangerous this season. And Edson Buddle has landed his share in the back of the net up to now. But the Revs have a monster midfield and backline in place, and will work hard to limit the Galaxy’s attacking options. New England also cannot afford to give Beckham space. We all know that guy can put a ball anywhere at any time and too many teams have let him do just that.

The Revolution is just 3-10-3 all time at LA, but I don’t think that record matters much. The Galaxy scores goals, but they also allow goals. If New England can hold down the fort in the defensive third, they have four effective strikers (plus leading scorer Ralston) who can get the job done in whatever order they appear. I’m reluctant to make a numerical prediction for this game. It has the potential to be a high scoring one, but there are a lot of variables that could put either team on top. … Happy Fourth of July. 2-2.

Though I could easily come up with at least eight excuses (ie. the elevation, the surface, the travel…) as to why the Revolution fell to Real Salt Lake on Saturday night, there is no denying the fact that they just plain played poorly. A lot of the team’s success this season is a result of getting by on makeshift lineups and fortitude. But as we approach the halfway point of the MLS season, that may no longer be enough.

This week, New England will look to rebound against Toronto FC at home. It will mark the teams’ first meeting of the season, the last being October 20, 2007. (Remember Michael Parkhurst’s wonder goal?) But this Toronto team is very different from the one the Revs procured a 2-0-1 record against last year.

Toronto holds a 1-4-0 away record this season, which bodes well for New England. However, the Revolution are only 3-2-2 at home. As I alluded to before, they need to step it up. With Shalrie Joseph, Khano Smith, and Kenny Mansally all back from World Cup qualifiers, the Revs may be able to restore some semblance of consistency. And if you’re beginning to hear the faint echoes of a hallelujah chorus, it’s probably because Taylor Twellman may be making his return to the Revs’ bench during the team’s last MLS home game until August.

With both teams looking to improve upon last week’s results – and both coaches vying for a position with the All-Star team – it could prove to be a close match. My prediction? 2-1 New England.