Three Things To Keep An Eye On Regarding The 2024 Revolution
Three Things To Keep An Eye On Regarding The 2024 Revolution
We saw a preseason game, which means it’s time for some (way too early) tactics talk.
We got our first glimpse of the 2024 New England Revolution on Wednesday when they played the Philadelphia Union to a 0-0 draw. I don’t believe that we can say anything definitive based on one game—especially a preseason game—but I did notice a few things.
So instead of three thoughts, here are three things to keep an eye on ahead of the 2024 season.
Esmir Bajraktarevic
After making a highlight reel from his USMNT debut and writing a long-form article about his past, I feel like all I do is talk about Bajraktarevic.
But to be honest, he’s deserved it.
Bajraktarevic looked strong against the Union as he popped into good spots, showcased solid ball control, and completed line-splitting passes.
In short, he was very active.
I think the most interesting part of his performance is that he often came inside in search of pockets of space. Another encouraging aspect of his 90-minute outing was that he operated well alongside Carles Gil.
Bajraktarevic, who MLSSoccer.com’s Matt Doyle listed as a breakout candidate, is one to keep an eye on.
Direct Play
There were times on Wednesday when the Revolution found success by playing direct. This often started with the Revs making a few passes in their defensive half before sending a long ball towards a target.
Once the target—a role sometimes played by Giacomo Vrioni—won the ball, the Revs looked to go to goal. This isn’t a bad strategy for a team that has Bajraktarevic and Tomas Chancalay. Dylan Borrero will be another weapon on the break once he’s healthy.
The other thing to note is that periodically going long opens up space in the midfield. When a team is dangerous in transition, the opponent usually has to drop back a bit. This creates space, which is something that Carles Gil and others want.
Low Crosses
To be clear, the Revs didn’t always go long against the Union as there were spells when the team looked to hold possession.
One thing I noticed during these moments was that Revolution players were sometimes opting for low crosses. This is how Matt Polster scored against Orlando.
This isn’t to say that all of the Revs’ crosses were on the ground. Rather, I’m just making note of something that could become a trend. Low crosses can be dangerous, especially if players are making late runs.
Final Thoughts
Will the Revolution be good in 2024? I don’t know, but I thought Wednesday’s performance was perfectly fine. The Union had some chances (including a free kick that hit the crossbar) and the Revs had some chances.
I loved being able to watch a preseason game but I don’t believe you can take any definitive lessons from it. Preseason is when players build fitness as they learn tactics. For coaches, it’s a time to try different personnel and styles of play.
Remember, the season is long and the teams that win the MLS Cup play their best soccer at the end of the season, not the beginning. Also, remember that there’s a summer transfer window.