Porter Sees Competition At Outside Back, Center Mid, And Out Wide

Porter: "When you are looking at where the competition is really going to be, it is probably the outside backs, maybe the center midfielders, and maybe on the wings as well."

Photo Courtesy of the New England Revolution

New England Revolution head coach Caleb Porter sees value in competition.

While the starters at some positions are locked in—even before the regular season begins—other spots are up for grabs.

“When you are looking at where the competition is really going to be, it is probably the outside backs, maybe the center midfielders, and maybe on the wings as well,” Porter said. “But for the most part, up the spine, it will be pretty obvious who is going to play for the most part.

“It doesn’t mean we won’t have good guys behind those guys to be able to step in if we need depth, if we need to make changes, if we need to rotate, or if we have injuries, which hopefully, we don’t. We are a much deeper team.”

The outside back positions are particularly noteworthy.

24-year-old Will Sands is the experienced option at left back, with 17-year-old Peyton Miller pushing for minutes.

Brandon Bye, 29, is the returning right back, though the Revs just signed Ilay Feingold, 20, via the U22 Initiative.

“I think the outside back positions will be interesting just to see how it shakes out,” Porter said. “Will and Brandon are experienced players. They are not old players; they are in their prime. They still have their legs, they are still hungry, and they still have a lot to prove.

“But then, you have two really talented young guys who are going to be champing at the bit to get their chance.”

Porter spoke more about Bye, reporting that he’s looked good during preseason. Though part of this is due to being further removed from his ACL surgery, the increased competition is also a factor.

“He sees the signing of Ilay and sees that he has got someone [to compete with], and that he is going to have to perform,” Porter said.

The Revs have a few options to play center midfield, such as Alhassan Yusuf, Jackson Yueill, and Matt Polster. Porter didn’t rule out playing all three, saying, “There is never a world where I say we can only have two center midfielders on the pitch, because this game is very fluid.”

Wide options include Luca Langoni, Ignatius Ganago, and Luis Diaz. It’s also possible that Yusuf or Yueill will slide to the peripheries. Designated Player Tomas Chancalay is expected back in April.

While lineup clarity and consistency will likely increase as the Revs approach the start of the season, competition will ensure that all players perform at their highest level.

“Of course, we know in certain positions who is going to play,” Porter said. “In most teams, there is going to be a handful of guys you know are going to play. There shouldn’t be, in every position, a decision of who is going to play, especially with your top guys.”

“But there should be a competition in a good amount of positions and we should feel comfortable being able to rotate and play different guys.”