It's only been two games at home for the New England Revolution, so far this season but they've come out on top decisively in both, with wins of 6-1 and 3-0. It can't conceivably get any better than that in the remaining fifteen home games.
But it won't continue to be as easy as these first two wins at home. Are there any adjustments or improvements we can identify for this week's game against D.C. United or can the Revs simply repeat last week's performance and take three more points?
Last week, we looked at the Revs lack of a central attacking presence so far this season and a bit of tilt towards playing down the right, thanks to Carles Gil's constant positioning on that side. We not only didn't see any change last week against Montreal, we saw an even more drastic shift to the right. 72 percent of the Revs' passes in the final third and 75 percent of their penalty area entries were on the right side of the field.
Now, the knee jerk reaction might simply be, who cares? They won 3-0, doesn't matter where or how or who did what. They had a shutout and won by three goals.
Good points all around but this isn't a look at what worked against Montreal, it's asking, will this work again this week? Luca Langoni has been the main man in the Revs attack this season and Ilay Feingold has been the team's best outside back by a wide margin. It makes sense then to take advantage of these two being in fine form as much as possible.
Meanwhile, on the left side of the field, we've seen Alhassan Yusuf and Griffin Yow split time at left mid with Will Sands plugging along as best he can behind whichever one is out there. Yow is a player who should be capable of having a good season in MLS and Yusuf has shown himself to be an above-average player in multiple positions. At various points this season, Langoni and Feingold will have off nights or need a rest or possibly get hurt. When those moments come to pass the Revs will need big performances from Yow and Yusuf, assuming Peyton Miller doesn't put both of them on the bench.
So, yes, the right sided jubilee didn't matter last week but teams will start to game plan to counteract it. Teams will be looking to do all they can to contain Langoni and that may mean more time and space over on the left. Will Gil react if this happens?
Yow, Sands, Miller and Yusuf can also help themselves get on the ball more by winning it off their opponents more consistently. The Revs didn't press as much as normal last week and had little in the way of defensive disruptions on the left. Montreal spent plenty of time in the attacking third on that side. 49 percent of its passes were on the Revs left flank. If they're not getting fed the ball from their teammates, they can go and take it off D.C. United instead.
As a whole, the Revs looked pretty comfortable to stand off against Montreal and let their opponents have the ball. The Revs didn't look in control of the game for close to an hour last week.
Again, in the end, it did not matter but against a better team, you can leave yourself vulnerable to conceding a couple of goals with such a lengthy spell of not imposing yourself on the game. If they can engage their press a little higher, a little more often for the next two weeks, they should benefit from it.
If they get another early goal, an immediate ramping up of the intensity in the aftermath of going ahead would be a great habit to develop at home. The Revs are well on their way to reestablishing Fortress Foxboro. The foundation has been laid down. How will they continue to build it back up this week?
