Know Thy Enemy: Revolution vs Atlanta United Down in the Dumps Edition
There has been very little to cheer about in New England or Georgia the last few seasons, and with both teams already eliminated from the postseason it's time to look ahead to next year.
I would advise against looking at the form guide ahead of tonight’s New England Revolution-Atlanta United match (7:30 PM - MLS Season Pass).
On their current miserable summer form going back to late May/early June, these two teams have a combined three wins with the Revs claiming nine total points in…*double checks math*… 17 games while the Five Stripes have put together a blistering 10 points from 14 games. I started the Revs streak after that 3-0 win in Montreal which was the end of the Revs unbeaten run in the spring and the “high” watermark of the Porter era in 2025.
Now I wouldn’t classify the Revs or Atlanta as putrid, aside from that one second half blitzing the Revs got from RBNY and Atlanta going down 5-0 to Colubmus and coming back to lose 5-4… there haven’t had many performances I’d describe as horrific for either team. Just largely bland and forgettable.
But like my beloved Braves going on a random late season 11-game winning streak because the Nationals gonna Natinal (yes the WSH Natinals are a thing), there are some positives both teams can take into next year.
First, well, the injury bug kind of bit everyone hard. The Revs up top in the early part of the year were a mess and never found their stride and Stian Gregersen for Atlanta has been in and out of the lineup since coming to MLS. Both squads brought a pair of centerbacks to help stabilize the defense, the Revs with Mamadou Fofana and Brayan Ceballos in preseason and Atlanta with Enea Mihaj and Juan Berrocal in the summer window, and saw improvements but those new additions can’t fix the other half of the field on their own.
The Revs will hopefully see the debut of Tor Durgeman in the attack tonight as the Israeli international is finally stateside after paperwork and international duty derailed his arrival not that it would have helped New England’s playoff chase but more games would not have hurt the Revs in the long term.
Also, if Brad Guzan’s nearly 2 GAA this year was his swansong season in Atlanta, they may have found their keeper of the future in one Jayden Hibbert. Stop if you’ve heard this one before - UConn Husky keeper of Jamaican descent gets drafted in the first round and becomes a regular starter in MLS.
Yes, that’s right Connecticut is still the Goalkeeper Capital of CONCACAF. Hibbert absolutely could be the next on the list whether he files a one time switch to Canada or not. Yes, apparently all of Jamaica’s goalkeepers play at UConn, you know Andre Blake from the Union but you will also respect Jahmali Waite of the USL's El Paso Locomotive and his 16 international caps for the Reggae Boyz or the traffic gods will punish you on the Merritt Parkway.
Of course there is also internationally retired USWNT legend Alyssa Naeher of the Chiago Red Stars (Christian Heritage HS, Trumbull CT), former Canadian WNT keeper and current Vancouver Rise (Northern Super League, Canada’s women’s league) sporting director Steph Labbe (UConn), and some guy whose Metro Atlantic school probably couldn’t beat the Rider Broncs in Matt Turner but I can’t remember what he’s up too these days…
Anyway, as always we are joined by our good friend Sydney Hunte of Scarves and Spikes to discuss what few positive things we can about tonight’s game. Be sure to check out my answers to his questions and Sam on their podcast earlier in the week over on their site.
TBM: So 55 goals allowed is not good, also not historically awful like the Revs were last year... what was the biggest issue for the defense this year, and is fixing it the top priority this offseason?
SH: The long and the short of it is some really silly mistakes by Atlanta. We saw it time and time again with this team, and it’s been a consistent source of frustration for this team for a while. Case in point, when Steven Alzate switched off near his own box for a brief second before being dispossessed by Chucky Lozano, who fed it to Anders Dreyer for San Diego FC’s goal last week.
They brought in Enea Mihaj and Juan Berrocal in the summer window to help stabilize things in the backline, and for the most part, it’s helped somewhat, outside of the 5-4 disaster against the Crew. Stian Gregersen has struggled to stay healthy since arriving last year, but when he’s fit, he puts in some strong performances. I would like to see them address this right back in the offseason with Brooks Lennon on an option year for 2026 and Ronald Hernandez stepping into the starting XI quite admirably, as Lennon doesn’t appear to be fully in Ronny Deila’s plans.
All that said, I’d like to think a full offseason and some rest for the new guys helps this defense come out strong from the get-go in 2026.
TBM: What makes less sense - a cow pasture in upstate Connecticut being the basketball capital of the world or the Jamaican MNT getting all their goalkeepers from UConn? Talk about your boy Jayden Hibbert.
SH: I mean, the former Husky that’s playing in goal for Philly right now has done pretty well for himself!
Obviously, it’s very premature to say that Jayden Hibbert is the second coming of Andre Blake. But since stepping into the starting XI several weeks ago, the 21-year-old has barely looked out of place at all. He’s more of a quiet presence than Brad Guzan, but we’ve definitely seen that fire come out at certain points. He responded well after Atlanta’s 5-4 loss to Columbus (side note, maybe one of those was marginally his fault). Long story short, it wouldn’t shock me if he starts 2026 as Atlanta’s No. 1 keeper.
The Reggae Boyz are obviously keeping tabs on him, but, interestingly enough, he was called into the Canadian men’s national team for a pair of friendlies in Romania and Wales earlier in the month (he’s eligible through his mother). And while Dayne St. Clair and Maxime Crepeau are looking to claim the No. 1 shirt for Canada heading into the World Cup next year, it doesn’t hurt that Hibbert is at least on Jesse Marsch’s radar as the CanMNT looks to add a third keeper in the mix. It’s not a guarantee, of course, but his work’s getting noticed.
That begs the question of who he’ll represent at the international stage. Hibbert shares an agent with several CanMNT standouts, but it doesn’t hurt the Reggae Boyz’ cause to have a fellow UConn Husky in Hibbert’s ear.
TBM: Let’s try to end on a high note, I remember liking Emmanuel Latte Lath at the start of the year? Did he keep that form and is there another bright spot/one for the future Atlanta has been able to salvage from 2025?
SH: His form has plummeted since the year began. When he scored five goals in seven matches, most everyone was convinced that the $22 million Atlanta paid for him was money well spent. Since scoring his fifth goal on March 29, though, he’s scored just three times across all competitions (one of those coming in a dead-rubber match against Pumas in Leagues Cup).
Part of that was due to a lack of service, but part of it certainly lies at his feet, too. My theory (and hope) is that he just needs rest. His last match for Middlesbrough was only three weeks before he played in Atlanta’s preseason match against FC Dallas, meaning he’s practically been playing non-stop since mid-August of last year. He also just returned from a hamstring injury, so it will be good for him to unplug after October 18 and not have to worry about soccer for about three months.
As far as a bright spot, outside of Hibbert, I’ve really liked what I’ve seen from homegrown winger Luke Brennan. It hasn’t fully shown up on the scoresheet, but he just adds energy to the wing that others don’t. Will Reilly (an Academy alum who signed a homegrown deal after playing his college ball at Stanford) has shown some promise in midfield. Bartosz Slisz has improved tremendously since his arrival and has been terrific at the 6. As mentioned above, I’m hoping that we see a fully healthy Gregersen in 2026 because he’s so valuable to the back line.
Predicted lineup (4-2-3-1)
Jayden Hibbert; Pedro Amador - Enea Mihaj - Stian Gregersen - Ronald Hernandez; Bartosz Slisz - Steven Alzate; Miguel Almiron (c) - Alexey Miranchuk - Saba Lobjanidze; Jamal Thiare
Injuries
Jay Fortune is done for the year after suffering a mid-foot sprain during the Gold Cup with Trinidad and Tobago in late June. Matt Edwards and Will Reilly have been dealing with hamstrings - Reilly could be back before Decision Day, while Edwards suffered his in late July and was given a four-week timeframe but has seen it continue to linger.
Predicted scoreline
1-1. These two teams have struggled to find goals all season long and I think that will continue on Saturday. I feel the Revs will open the scoring before Atlanta finds an equalizer in the second half.