Revolution Notebook: Mazatlán, Roster Decisions, And Bobby Wood
Revolution Notebook: Mazatlán, Roster Decisions, And Bobby Wood
Here are some storylines ahead of Saturday's Leagues Cup game against Mazatlán FC.
The New England Revolution begin Leagues Cup play on Saturday when they host Mazatlán FC of LIGA MX.
Here are some talking points ahead of the 8 pm kickoff.
A Different Type Of Opponent
The Revs got a glimpse at the quality of Mexican teams during the Concacaf Champions Cup.
On Friday, head coach Caleb Porter was asked what stands out about LIGA MX sides.
“Their quality,” Porter said. “They have big budgets. They have talented players. They have a lot of savvy in how they play.
“Obviously, their league is very competitive. They have top players and, again, kind of the savvy and street smarts. They are very technical players, typically. They are smart tactically. Their game management is usually very smart and good, and the coaches are really good as well.”
The Revs will start Leagues Cup by facing Mazatlán FC, who are 0-3-1 in league play. They’ve scored two goals and conceded eight.
Porter doesn’t believe these numbers tell the full story of their opponent.
“It's like you see with us, I think we are a lot better than where we sit,” Porter said. “Teams that have underestimated us have seen that we are a good team. Obviously, we have not gotten the results that we want; there have been some reasons behind that. So, it's similar.
“They have a new coach, [a] very accomplished coach, and good players. From what I see in the film, they are a very capable team that we can't take lightly. It's going to be a difficult match.”
Assessing The Leagues Cup Roster
With the Revs still dealing with absences, Porter noted on Tuesday that the team “will be playing probably a very similar group that we played last game.”
That said, the Leagues Cup roster that became public this week did raise some eyebrows as it included Marcos Dias, Maciel, and JD Gunn of Revs II.
Porter was asked why he chose to include these players.
“Because we're so thin, that's why,” Porter said. “We need bodies.
“Obviously, we do want to have a vertical integration with our Revs II, so those guys are the ones that have done the best. It doesn't mean they are necessarily going to automatically come through and make our team, but we're always looking at the bottom end of our roster versus the top end of their roster. There should be kind of an integration there.
“Unfortunately, Dias can't play in the game because he's already played, he's already been on the bench four games. That rule of four [Short-Term Agreement] callups applies to every competition. Maciel did his hamstring in the last Revs II game, so he also won’t be able to be available.”
The Return Of Bobby Wood
Bobby Wood played 90 minutes on Saturday, an impressive feat when you consider he’d only contributed 122 regular-season minutes before then.
Porter praised the striker, saying, “Bobby put in a heck of a shift [against Dallas], especially since he hasn't played all year. Up to that point he only played 15-20 minutes – spot games, spot minutes. He did pretty well in the game.”
Porter noted that Wood “works really hard defensively” and is “very good in the box and in the air.”
Wood looked to have scored the game’s opening tally, but it was later deemed an own goal.
“I think I should have, but at the end of the day it's whatever,” Wood said. “In my head, I know I scored, and that is all I can say to that.”
While the veteran striker has been dealing with injuries throughout 2024, he’s currently feeling ready to help the team.
“I feel good,” Wood said. “I'm just kind of trying to manage the problem as much as I can and helping the team whenever it's possible.”