Ready to get things started?
The weekend you've all been waiting all offseason for is finally here. Your Sounders FC kicks off its 2015 campaign this weekend against New England Revolution, the defending Eastern Conference champions.
With the Sounders hosting their seventh opening-weekend match, the team looks to add another win to its current 4-2 record in home openers.
Here to fill you in on New England ahead of the team's trip west is New England Revolution's Staff Writer and Host, Jeff Lemieux.
Dangerman – Kelyn Rowe
Under normal circumstances I’d have to point to Lee Nguyen, who was Major League Soccer’s breakout star in 2014 when he racked up an astonishing 18 goals from central midfield. But he’s still working his way back from a groin injury so his status for this weekend remains up in the air.
Jermaine Jones would also be in the discussion after a remarkable first half-season in MLS, but sports hernia surgery after the recent U.S. National Team camp seems likely to keep him out of the opener.
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In their absence, much of the attention turns to Kelyn Rowe, who spent a hefty portion of preseason operating in the central attacking midfield role vacated by the currently recuperating Nguyen.
Rowe’s overall stats dipped slightly in 2014 (five goals and five assists after a breakout seven-goal, eight-assist showing in 2013), but he came on strong toward the end of the campaign and played a key role in the Revolution’s late-season resurgence.
Player to Keep an Eye On in 2015 – Diego Fagundez
It was always going to be difficult for Fagundez to consistently replicate the success he had in 2013 (13 goals and seven assists as an 18-year-old), but there’s little question there was a dip in form last year as those numbers dropped to five goals and four assists and a limited role late in the season.
But this figures to be a bounce-back season for Fagundez, for multiple reasons.
The creative attacker spent the early part of this preseason participating in the South American Youth Championships with the Uruguay Under-20 side, helping his native country qualify for the U-20 World Cup set to take place in New Zealand this summer. Since returning, Fagundez has been one of the sharpest players in Revs camp, showing a renewed confidence and an energetic spark.
Fagundez will also be boosted by the return of Juan Agudelo, whom he formed a sterling partnership with during Agudelo’s first stint with New England back in 2013. There have been signs this preseason that the chemistry between the pair never faded, and if they can rekindle that relationship during the regular season, we may see Fagundez return to his 2013 form.
Best Offseason Pickup – Juan Agudelo
There’s been very little turnover on New England’s roster following last year’s MLS Cup run, which speaks to the core Jay Heaps has built through his first three years at the helm.
The Revolution’s primary offseason need, though, was another forward to complement the resurgent Charlie Davies at the point of New England’s attack. Agudelo, returning from his frustrating nine-month European sojourn, gives the Revs exactly what they needed.
Not only is Agudelo already familiar with most of his Revolution teammates from his previous stint with the club, but he’s also an ideal fit for the free-flowing, interchanging system New England employs.
Any questions about Agudelo’s fitness or sharpness after a lengthy layoff have been answered this preseason – he played in all five of the Revolution’s preseason games following his arrival and led the team with a pair of assists.
Best Recent Team-Related Tweet
While Steve Neumann and Kevin Alston would’ve preferred to move into their new apartment without several feet of snow on the ground, they’d likely have to wait until April to get the opportunity. One of the snowiest winters in New England history shows no signs of stopping as we’ve entered March.
Favorite Stat
Agudelo said that his 2013 spell in New England, albeit brief, was the most successful of his young career. The statistics back up the claim.
After racking up 11 goals in 59 appearances with the New York Red Bulls and Chivas USA, Agudelo scored seven times in just 14 appearances with the Revolution. That’s an increase in strike rate from 0.19 goals per game to 0.50 goals per game.
No wonder Agudelo said he felt so comfortable in Foxborough.
Three Thoughts
1) The first 15 minutes of Sunday night’s season opener should be intriguing. While most MLS teams need the opening stages to settle a new group, both Seattle and New England had such little turnover this past offseason that they may be ready to fly right out of the gates.
2) Speaking of flying out of the gates, New England will be looking to avoid the slow start which bit them last year in Houston. The Revs conceded just 62 seconds into their 2014 opener en route to a 4-0 loss, so preparedness from the outset is a key focus heading to Seattle.
3) All eyes will be on the Revolution’s new central defensive partnership between Jose Goncalves and Andrew Farrell. The duo played significant minutes together this preseason to build a working chemistry, a necessity following Farrell’s shift from right back.
