3 takeaways from the Revolution’s defeat in Philadelphia

New England Revolution

Accidents proceed to mount for New England, with Carles Gil exiting Saturday’s loss.

Accidents to a number of starters compounded what was already a tricky 3-0 loss for the Revolution on Saturday night time in opposition to the Philadelphia Union.

New England captain Carles Gil exited the sport abruptly within the thirty fifth minute with what the Apple TV+ broadcast referred to as a “proper leg damage,” whereas proper again Brandon Bye was pressured off close to the tip of the sport after a collision (favoring his left arm).

Other than that, it was a decisive defeat for the Revolution in opposition to a well-recognized Jap Convention foe.

Listed here are a number of takeaways:

A worrying development of accidents continued.

Gil’s damage didn’t look like severe within the second, although he shortly realized that his night time was over. After elevating his arm to the bench, Gil sat down and waited for therapy from the medical employees.

Precisely what the character of the correct leg damage is stays to be seen.

“We’ll know extra after we get an MRI,” mentioned Bruce Enviornment after the sport.

Any Gil absence from the lineup can have monumental ramifications. Because the literal centerpiece of New England’s midfield, the 30-year-old is actually irreplaceable in present circumstances. Whereas the Revolution can (and have) coped with accidents to Gil earlier than, it’s a course of that’s produced combined outcomes (see: the 2020 common season).

Bye went off late within the second half clutching his arm, a testomony to the physicality of the sport in opposition to Philadelphia.

Like Gil, the correct again gives each expertise and high quality at a place the place New England lacks an abundance of depth. It might imply that 2023 MLS SuperDraft No. 4 total decide Joshua Bolma lastly will get a run within the lineup, or presumably that left again DeJuan Jones strikes to the correct and one other bench possibility (maybe Ben Sweat) slots in on the left facet.

Midfielder Matt Polster additionally appeared to select up a leg damage, although he was capable of persevere. In all, it underscores a tough early-season development of accidents. Ahead Gustavo Bou, winger Dylan Borrero, center-back Henry Kessler, and several other others are already out. Enviornment’s workforce can ill-afford too many extra absences.

Errors proved pricey.

As for the sport itself, it was principally even over the primary 45 minutes. Even with Gil heading to the bench, 18-year-old academy graduate Jack Panayotou got here on and confirmed flashes of his expertise in tough circumstances.

Within the second half, the Union had been capable of execute a number of swift counterattacks that led to targets. The primary aim resulted from a fast throw-in, which caught center-back Andrew Farrell out of place and left fellow center-back Dave Romney attempting (unsuccessfully) to mark two gamers.

From there, New England struggled to create any breakthroughs regardless of having fun with a lot of the possession. The Union merely waited for opportune moments to counter, and located two extra targets because the Revolution did not register a shot on course.

In every case, Philadelphia exploited New England errors.

“Errors in a recreation like this are going to value you,” remarked Enviornment, “and so they did.”

Strikers struggling to provide.

One worrying facet of the Revolution’s latest struggles — the workforce has misplaced two league video games in a row, and three total together with the U.S. Open Cup defeat — has been the play of the workforce’s strikers.

With out Bou within the lineup (he continues to cope with an damage of his personal), forwards Bobby Wooden, Giacomo Vrioni, Jozy Altidore, and Justin Rennicks have did not make a lot of an impression during the last two weeks.

Every has been given various minutes with out an excessive amount of to point out for it. Wooden, who began on Saturday, had what was most likely the Revolution’s greatest probability of the sport. He discovered himself on the tip of a left-sided cross from winger Emmanuel Boateng, however couldn’t place his shot into the far nook (sending the ball vast of aim).

Vrioni, one of many workforce’s “Designated Gamers,” got here on for Wooden within the 66th minute however contributed simply 5 touches on the ball. He has but to make a constant impression for New England, although his presence was extra vital than ever with fellow Designated Gamers Gil and Bou out.

If Gil misses greater than a recreation — and provided that Borrero is out for the season with a torn ACL — Enviornment is starting to run wanting dynamic attacking choices. He (and the remainder of the workforce) will want higher contributions from the strikers up entrance if New England can have any probability of continuous what was till not too long ago a strong begin to the 2023 season.