Curt Onalfo Discusses Revs Roster Moves, New Assistant Coach, And Stadium News
A recap of Monday's media availability.
The New England Revolution are looking toward the future after a disappointing 2024.
On Monday, the Revs announced their year-end roster decisions.
16 of the returning players were on guaranteed contracts: Esmir Bajraktarević, Noel Buck, Tomás Chancalay, Malcolm Fry, Carles Gil, Ian Harkes, Aljaž Ivačič, Mark-Anthony Kaye, Luca Langoni, Peyton Miller, Jack Panayotou, Matt Polster, Dave Romney, Santiago Suarez, Giacomo Vrioni, and Alhassan Yusuf.
Additionally, the Revs picked up the one-year options on two players (Ema Boateng and Brandon Bye) and signed two players to new contracts (Will Sands and Earl Edwards Jr.).
Andrew Farrell signed a one-year deal that will also see him work as an assistant coach with the Revolution Academy.
The Revs declined the options on six players (Xavier Arreaga, Joshua Bolma, Dylan Borrero, Nacho Gil, Tommy McNamara, and Jonathan Mensah) while five players are out of contract (Nick Lima, Tim Parker, Damian Rivera, Ryan Spaulding, and Bobby Wood).
Later that day, sporting director Curt Onalfo spoke to the media. Here are some notes from the availability.
Signings Are Coming
The recent moves open up some roster flexibility, which will allow the Revs to make additions.
“Any time you say goodbye to players, it is a difficult situation,” Onalfo said. “But we had a very difficult season, and so we had to look very closely at our current roster and how we can improve upon it. With all the decisions that we made, our plan is to bring in players that are going to perform at a better level than the ones that no longer will be here.”
He later added, “Our season ended early, so we have put a lot of work and effort into it. We are very, very close to announcing some of those roster moves, but we also have a good period of time before we start preseason, and we are working diligently every day to make sure we replace the [outgoing] players with players are going to help us have a successful 2025 season.”
When asked about specific positions, Onalfo spoke about both offense and defense.
“I mean, it's glaringly obvious where our weaknesses were, right?” Onalfo said. “I don't need to talk about stats, but we know we have to do better defensively, so we will bring in defensive reinforcements, for sure.
“We have to score more goals, so that means adding players in that part of the field. Also, knowing that we lost Chancalay, who is somebody that was pegged to score 10 to 15 goals just based on what he had done prior. So, knowing that he is going to be coming back fairly early – we are hoping to have him back around April, or hopefully, a little bit before.
“So, we definitely have to get better in those two parts of the field, and that's where our main focus is.”
The Revs made a pair of big signings last summer when they added Yusuf and Langoni, both of which required a transfer fee. It was the most the Revs have ever spent in a transfer window.
Onalfo expects to have another busy window this offseason.
“We created a lot of space, so we have room to do things,” Onalfo said. “Like I said, it is going to be a very active window for us. Our last window was extremely active.
“This will be even more active and you can just look at the numbers: a third of our roster is going to be replaced. Obviously, some of those players are supplemental roster players and others are senior roster players, but we have to replace them. So, you are going to see a very busy offseason, and we are very confident and very optimistic.”
Onalfo later noted that the Revs have the resources to make “enormous change.”
“Right now, we currently have two U22 spots available, so those are areas this year that we will likely make sure that we utilize,” Onalfo said. “Whether or not we use both of them in the January window is to be seen.
“Our owners are committed to us; they have shown that. They are great owners. We have also created a lot of cap space, so we have the ability to make enormous change and we’re going to do that. The owners have always been committed to making sure that we have a strong team on the field.”
A New Assistant Coach
The Revs will also make adjustments to their staff, as assistant coach Clint Peay will depart.
Peay has been a member of the Revs organization since 2020. The first-ever head coach of Revs II became the interim head coach of the first team at the end of the 2023 season. He stayed on as an assistant coach for 2024.
The Revs will look to replace Peay with a set piece specialist, which was a weakness for the club last year.
“Clint, for personal reasons, decided not to come back,” Onalfo said. “He ended up leaving. We thank him for his contributions. He was a big part of the pro pathway and the work that he did there for all those years, and then obviously, the last year (plus) with the first team. A class act and we wish him well.
“I will say that our plan is to replace Clint with a set-piece specialist. That is an area where we need to improve upon, so that is something that we’re looking to add to our coaching staff.”
No Concrete Offers For Young Talents
The Revs have recently had success at the youth level, promoting several academy players to the first and second teams.
Miller, Bajraktarevic, and Buck are three players who have made significant contributions to the first team. As such, it shouldn’t be a surprise that all three players are garnering interest from abroad.
Onalfo, who still keeps close tabs on the academy, said the club hasn’t received any concrete offers yet.
“The one thing we do have for sure is a lot of young players that are thriving,” Onalfo said. “Our academy is just absolutely killing it. I went to the games two weekends ago, we played NYCFC and our U-18s won, 3- 1, and our U-16s won, 4-0. We continually build up those programs through our pro pathway. So, we have enormous talent.
“The three players you mentioned, [Miller, Bajraktarevic, and Buck], we have heard about potential rumors and stuff, but we don't have anything concrete that has come to us. In the case of Peyton, he is not 18 yet, so we have time before offers come in for him.”
Stadium Could Be A Selling Point
The other big news related to the Revolution is that the economic bill that could pave the way for the Revolution to build a soccer-specific stadium in Everett was signed by Governor Maura Healey.
There are still many steps until shovels are in the ground, such as forging a community agreement and getting permits approved, but Onalfo believes the stadium will be a huge positive if it does happen.
“It is incredible news for us, for our organization, and, obviously, for the city,” Onalfo said. “But it's a little down the line, so for us, we're like in the now, right now.
“But certainly, that will help us in terms of attracting players. Any time you have a beautiful stadium that is going to be coming online, that is an attractive thing for future potential players.”
The end of last season Spaulding was done wrong. Sent to Tampa then called back and not played or needed should have been left in Tampa. Hope he gets picked up by a team that will treat him right.