While having Matt Polster play right back raised a lot of questions about whether it is the best move for the team, Polster has put in the work and it paid off against Toronto.
The veteran was one of the better players on the pitch for New England. While Carles Gil and Jack Harrison led the way, Polster was able to aid in the attcking efforts, combining with the duo and providing service into the box.
Polster had four key passes and a chance created. Additionally he had 91 touches and completed 97 percent of his passes.
Revolution head coach was pleased with Polster's performance in the 2-1 loss.
"I think that triangle on the right side was very strong tonight with Matt [Polster], Carles [Gil], and Jack [Harrison]. Matt was very good, he was coming into the final third many times," Mitrovic said. "He had crosses, he even had some opportunities. When you are a midfielder, and you go and play in the wide areas, it’s a very different type of running that you make and you expose different stamina. For Matt, it’s not easy and you get fatigued, but I think he had a very good game for those 80 minutes that he was on the field.”
While Polster has played right back in his early MLS career in Chicago as well as at Rangers, he has primarily been a midfielder since joining New England. Even when Clint Peay experimented with Polster at outside back, he was on the left not the right.
Revolution goalkeeper Matt Turner praised Polster for the work he has put in on the training ground and hoped the team can repay him for his efforts by getting three points.
"Matt [Polster] has done very well transitioning into different roles on the pitch," Turner said. "Guys look to him as a leader and he's not a complainer. Of course, he's just going to go out there and he's going to play. He competes and he pushes other guys to be better, so I'm glad that the transition over there has gone well for him so far. It was nice, especially in the first half, the amount of times he's getting forward, and the relationship between him, Jack [Harrison], and Carles [Gil] just seemed seamless tonight. We wish we could have done more. He obviously had the shot on goal, the shot that just missed in the second half, so he's creating chances. He's getting into really good areas on the pitch, and he's working hard defensively. I think he's a coach's dream as a player because of how hard he works and he always shows up. Hopefully he continues on the upward trajectory over [at right back] and then we can reward all our hard work with getting results. Because I know for him, that's all he really cares about."
While the Revolution will welcome the return of Ilay Feingold, Polster deserves credit for the hard work he has put in. Instead of just being upset at the position change, he took it in stride and has helped the club as it deals with a slight injury crisis.
Sometimes being a leader is about putting the team on your back and performing above and beyond. But sometimes it is being an example to younger players and showing them the value of simply showing up and working hard.
