Henrich Ravas Looking Himself In The Mirror After Difficult Start In MLS

"I think that I should look myself in the mirror, just to make sure we don’t concede as many, and then I think we can score goals."

Photo By ©J. Alexander Dolan

Sunday afternoon was another rough performance and he didn’t try to claim otherwise. The New England Revolution goalkeeper has allowed 10 goals in just four MLS matches in what has been a disappointing start to his MLS career.

The 26-year-old was forthright with media after Sunday’s loss.

“I think we’ve conceded too many goals,” the goalkeeper said when asked by The Blazing Musket about the club’s defensive woes. “It’s four games and I think 10 goals conceded. If you want to be in games, we have to concede less. I think we’ve scored. The games are tight, let's be honest. So, if we give cheap goals away, you're not going to win games. I think, me personally, I think the whole defense, we have to make sure that we concede less goals and give less sloppy goals away. ... I think that I should look myself in the mirror, just to make sure we don’t concede as many, and then I think we can score goals. Hopefully, that will turn and we can win the games.”

Sloppy and cheap goals were a message that was echoed by head coach Caleb Porter.

“But if we don't find the goal, we have to have a mentality to keep a clean sheet until we do find the goal,” Porter stated. “And that's the other problem, we keep giving away soft goals, too cheap. A set piece, a free kick under the wall, I've never seen that. I've seen it, I've never been a part of a game where that happens. Bottom line, we have to be better, and we have to find guys who can be more consistent and who can perform in the way we need them to perform game in and game out, and have a stronger, tougher mentality – both sides of the ball.

“I think he [Ravas] had a very good game on Thursday,” Porter added when asked about Ravas’ performance on Sunday by The Blazing Musket. “I want to see more consistency. I think that's the key. There's no doubt in my mind that every guy on this team can do it. It's whether or not they can do it every single game, consistently. That's the key. The best teams in this league, the teams that win trophies, the two teams I've had that won the MLS Cup, were very, very consistent teams, game in, game out. Tough mentality, very, very strong teams, mentally and physically, good defensive teams, and we would find ways to win. This is a group that clearly is still coming together in that regard. I think there were signs of that last year. When you look at the group at the end of the year, there were signs, so I don't think it's out of the blue. We're still forming that mentality, forming that mental toughness, resiliency, all the things, intangible things. When the bullets start flying and push comes to shove, these guys need to be stronger, and no way we should start that second half like that.”

The goal that Porter is referring to was an interesting strike from FC Cincinnati captain Lucho Acosta. The former MVP snuck his free kick under the wall and Ravas was unable to keep it out of the net.

Ravas broke down the play from his perspective after the match.

“Obviously, I know he [Acosta] is a good player,” the goalkeeper said. “I was trying to be in a position to give myself the best chance if he goes over the wall, or if he goes my side. And then, he hit it low. He hit it under the wall. I tried to react, but he did well. It's hard, I try to react to the ball which comes. I try to give myself the best chance and then try to make the save, but I wasn't there. I think that second goal killed us even more. Then we had such a big job to get away with something. But I think after we started playing again, we started moving the ball quicker, but it’s too late.”

It seems a bit early to write off Ravas completely but as Porter mentioned he needs to be more consistent. He has shown flashes and made some impressive saves (including in Sunday’s match) but he needs to bring his performances from Concacaf Champions Cup to league play.

But the clock only ticks downwards. While there are a lot of MLS matches to be played, New England is digging themselves quite a big hole in league play.

It’s gut check time for Ravas and the club. The goalkeeper needs to show why the Revs acquired him in the offseason. If he is able to be more consistent, New England will likely start picking up points.

A trip across the pond to play for his national team could be just the confidence boost that the goalkeeper needs. Hopefully, he comes back refreshed and revitalized.

Because if he continues to struggle, Ravas could join Tomas Vaclik as the latest Revs goalkeeping failure. If that does occur, that’s when questions need to be asked on the individuals who signed off on those deals.