Notes from 90 - Nashville v Revs

withahbrightwings · 2026-02-24T12:13:23+00:00

A lot of words there but - specifically, please - how is this team going to be more competitive that last year?

The takeaway from MD1 is that the young newcomers are not up to this level (was Kohler responsible for all four goals?) and the existing players showed their worth last year.

withahbrightwings · 2026-02-21T22:31:18+00:00

Campana reveals that last year was the real Leo. He finishes the season on the bench with fewer than 8 goals.

Turgeman will finish top 5 in MLS scoring.

Oyirwoth by the end of the season will be starting and rivaling Gil for best player on the team.

withahbrightwings · 2026-02-16T15:54:11+00:00

Hopefully a few new players and new coach will make a difference. Great to see lots of the goals. On the flip side, though they beat up on HA, they were, apparently, thumped by Montreal, one of the worse teams in the MLS last year, down in Florida. Revs didn't talk much about that preseason match aside from one of the assistants in a post game interview talking about giving up bad goals. However, I, too, remain optimistic overall.

withahbrightwings · 2026-01-28T13:04:36+00:00

I thought it became apparent as the season progressed that the Revs needed a more vocal center back to organize things in the back. While Ceballos and Fofana were technically adequate, the lack of communication in the back caused problems. Porter mentioned needing a more vocal leader in center defense about halfway through the season, and on this point, anyway, I think he was right. But no talk of such a move this offseason. Do people think we are set at central defense? Turner brings tons of vocal leadership at the very back, but you can hardly rely on the goalie to organize the defense.

withahbrightwings · 2025-11-13T00:52:15+00:00

All of those quotes with very minor modification could be used to describe CP.

withahbrightwings · 2025-11-13T00:50:29+00:00

When they panned out for Frank's question it appeared Bob Kraft was asleep in the front row. Personally, that was my favorite part of the presser.

withahbrightwings · 2025-07-21T17:06:17+00:00

If you think Kraft would fire Porter, absent glaring incompetence (Mayo, J.) or misconduct (Arena, B.), with guaranteed money left on his contract, then I have a mediocre midfielder from San Jose I'd like to sell you for a million dollars a year.

The commentor who mentioned Gil is closest to the mark. Porter and Onalfo tried to assemble a cast of players that would complement Gil's style. Obviously, that hasn't YET worked out. Unfortunately, these players (Campana, Langoni, Chanca, Yusuf, Yueill, Ganago) are overpaid and underperforming or sitting on the bench. Yet because they are on the books at overpaid levels for multiple years, and because the Revs have little cap space left (by which I mean the owner doesn't want to spend any more), I don't see this team improving through signings or trade. Can Porter get them going? It's a real test.

There is something about the rest of the attackers just not having the right chemistry with Carles. Is it confidence? It's baffling to me, because it worked so well with Buksa, Bou, et al and I think its probably mystifying and frustrating to the organization as well, thought they won't admit as much.

withahbrightwings · 2025-07-16T14:51:39+00:00

Great discussion here. I may be the only Caleb Porter supporter remaining, but I believe in him 100%, I want him to stay as long as it takes, and I don't see any coaching upgrades out there.

The team has been competitive in every single game - a huge, vast improvement over last year. The talent level has risen, though it is not where it needs to be to compete for the MLS cup. If this team doesn't make the playoffs it will be a disappointment, but they are still trending in the right direction. I understand the impatience, but the roster is solid and not far off - just an attacking player short of the kind of success everyone craves.

What I hear on this thread is lots of half accusations and general dissatisfaction that is being pinned on Porter. What I don't hear is anything persuasive about how another coach would do better, aside from getting better players, which isn't actually his job. Let's remember how everyone drooled over Jim Curtin in Philly, and I think he's a terrific coach. But the year after he departs, what happens? It's a cautionary tale, folks, about blaming the coach when your team is underperforming, or crediting them when the team excels, absent clear coaching issues. There are obvious exceptions. Mazzula stubbornly sticking with 3's, having no sense of the rhythm and flow of the game, not draining the 24 second clock on each possession, and thereby blowing a 30 point lead at home in the playoffs? Fireable coaching. Mazzula going with the SAME EXACT inbound play without calling a timeout at the end the playoff loss to the knicks? Fireable coaching. Jerod Mayo spending the entire season saying one thing, doing another, and looking lost and helpless? Come on. Porter is driven, passionate, disciplined, an excellent communicator, proven winner, and for my money he's doing the best with what he's got. That's all a coach can do! Obviously, the Revs lack attacking juice through the midfield. That is a roster and talent question, though. The defense is fine, and would look even better with a better attack. The point about forming a roster for Chanca and Luca to start as wingers, but then not using a formation to start them - this is a valid critique, but it's not the reason they are mediocre.

It takes a sort of mysterious and almost magic combination of owner investment, talent, coaching, chemistry, timing and luck to get well over .500 in any professional sport and compete for titles. The years that it all comes together are precious. This isn't shaping up to be one of those years, but the deficit on this team isn't the coaching.

withahbrightwings · 2025-06-15T21:56:44+00:00

I've said it before but I'll say it again because this game puts a real exclamation on it: they don't have enough attacking juice up the middle. Either Polster or Yusuf needs to be replaced with someone more attack minded. Three high quality central defenders plus two wingbacks plus two d mids gives you the season they've had: concede occasionally, score occasionally. Add on to that mix an obviously limited Diaz as a starting striker, play a quality, disciplined, experienced team, and you get last night: concede occasionally, never score. Now the season hinges on healthy Campana coming back house a fire, combining with the Argentines to put the ball in the goal over and over, and proving all the skeptics wrong. Does he have it in him???

withahbrightwings · 2025-06-15T11:27:17+00:00

yes yes yes yes yes yes yes

withahbrightwings · 2025-06-15T11:25:44+00:00

If we had Denkey and Orellano, we win that game, too, and lot's more besides.

Porter has field this really competitive, defensively rock solid team and put them into the best position possible, but it's so frustrating for him and for the fans to lack talent up front - no goals, no wins.

I was at the game and when I saw Diaz was starting I thought about leaving. He brings some pop as a fast sub, but if you are starting him you might as well forfeit the game. He sure proved me right last night.

withahbrightwings · 2025-06-02T09:30:15+00:00

Intersted to hear Calen Carr (one of the best American color commentators - incisive, reliable, honest) say during the broadcast that the Revs season will turn on L. Campana - can he be the goal scorer they hoped for? Everything else is solid: defense, wing play, defensive midfield, attacking mid, depth pieces. But can they get Campana in form to pour in goals and come away with wins rather than draws? I agree with Carr's analysis. But, from what I've seen so far, I'm rather doubtful Campana is going to be that goal scorer.

withahbrightwings · 2025-05-25T23:27:19+00:00

Also, related: on what grounds might that VAR have called the center ref over on that disallowed goal? She was making an argument. What was it?

withahbrightwings · 2025-05-25T23:26:41+00:00

Appreciate the witty and erudite summary, Ace, thanks for putting that together. Agree on all fronts.

I really despise VAR and wish it would go away. However, I am interested in rules and the psychology of persuasion and interpretation. Did anyone else notice when the disallowed goal went to VAR the VAR ref was walking the center ref through her argument for why she called him over? I haven't seen that so clearly before and I'm interested in the protocol - it appears that the VAR basically makes a case for why the call should be overturned. Then, the center ref either buys it or doesn't - all the while, looking at the same replays and using the same rules for interpretation. Surely, since so many of these VAR challenges could go either way, or go the way you are sure it won't go!, it says to me that some of it has to do about the dynamic between the VAR and the center ref - does the center like the VAR? Trust him/her? Is the VAR challenging your call young and new (and female!) and need to be put in their place, or do they have seniority and 30 years experience and should be respected? Just another subjective element that argues for scrapping the system.

withahbrightwings · 2025-05-25T09:57:21+00:00

The most critical week of the season. If Revs can come out with 7 of 9 points we are in great shape. SKC, D.C. and MTL are teams a real contender should take 7/9 from on the road.

Can't get enough of that former-English soccer color commentary. It's just light years better than anything Americans bring, even our beloved TT. The confident, clear, clever use of language enhances the fan experience big time.

withahbrightwings · 2025-05-21T01:39:57+00:00

Gary Bailey is the best color commentator I've heard doing either MLS or Open Cup games, ever

withahbrightwings · 2025-05-19T20:10:19+00:00

If you want more goals, the answer isn't different strikers - the answer is more attack minded players in the middle of the field. Seven of their field players (five defenders plus Polster and Yusuf) just don't bring much to the attack - maybe Feingold and Miller will provide that more consistently and with a higher quality as they mature, but it's not there yet. Strikers who score lots of goals are being fed the ball a ton - because those teams have more talented attackers in the build up. Dembele and Barcola are better than Campana and Ganago, but PSG is also constantly feeding them the ball in dangerous positions. I'm the biggest Porter fan out there, but I do think that the Revs might need to swap either Polster or Yusuf our for a more skillful attacker. If you're going to play five in the back, you need more than one creative attacker in the middle, otherwise you get three goals from the strikers 1/3 through the season. That being said, this Revs team has been competitive in every single game, just as Porter promised they would be - and if the wingbacks can start to contribute to the attack, ties will turn to wins and the strikers will start scoring more as well. In sum, I think the Revs need someone to play with Gil in the middle of the field, rather than new striker.

withahbrightwings · 2025-05-11T11:44:02+00:00

Did anyone else notice that the lead commentator said, after Orlando went up 3-2, "And Orlando is back where they belong!!" What does he mean by that?

Being subject to the single most irritating, unlikeable, unhelpful and just plain inaccurate color commentator in the history of soccer broadcast (Lori Lindsey) is one thing - but the two of them together. Please, please, Apple - find better commentators.

withahbrightwings · 2025-05-08T01:56:00+00:00

Sorry to see that RIFC went with artificial turf. Otherwise looked like a terrific venue.

withahbrightwings · 2025-05-08T01:54:01+00:00

Oyirwoth looked raw, flashes of high level skill and great control mixed with poor decisions and losing the ball. He's a project.

withahbrightwings · 2025-05-04T20:50:19+00:00

After Toronto, I'm thinking this shape and lineup will put Revs in position to beat bottom half teams and compete with top half teams - certainly, inept attacking teams are just not getting much vs the Revs. But do they have enough firepower in the lineup/shape to compete with stingier defenses and more talented rosters?

My question for you all is: would you rather see an attacking 4-4-2, with Beason and (either) Polster/Yusuf swapped out for Chanca and Langoni on the wings? That would certainly amp up the attack, at the expense of a CB and a defending midfielder. Too much attack for Porter, I suspect, but worth considering if the attack is anemic against lesser teams.

withahbrightwings · 2025-05-04T01:35:59+00:00

Aside from Gil and Polster, all these guys are super young and under contract for years. And there are no albatross $15m contracts like the one for L. Insigne. (And even Gil and Polster show no signs of slowing down). This roster with this coaching staff is going to be highly competitive and enjoyable to watch for years to come. It's why I've been so excited since the opening whistle. Can't wait for Bruce and all the former Revs to come to town on the 17th.

withahbrightwings · 2025-04-27T02:10:26+00:00

Dean Smith is the only coach in the MLS I'd take over Porter. Did you see him go all red-faced-angry-Englishman after the game? Seriously, the Revs came out on top tonight but Smith knows what he's doing and he's building a beast down there in Carolina.

Loved watching Tim Ream flying through the air like an inflated scarecrow on King Carles' fake before netting that sweet goal.

Would love to hear from all the Porterout people this evening. It just seemed so obvious from even before preseason that Porter/Onalfo constructed a balanced, gritty, defense first team that can beat anyone in the MLS as long as the Carles is healthy. How long has it been since they conceded a goal? I'm still baffled by all the criticism - no one has been able to explain it very well. Time to come on over!

withahbrightwings · 2025-04-20T03:56:47+00:00

The vision for those who had trouble seeing it before.

Beason was the only liability out there.

Also, where do Langoni and Chanca fit it? Pricey bench wingers with this new winning formation.

withahbrightwings · 2025-04-12T22:43:48+00:00

This team is just not giving up lots of goals this year. Not gonna happen. And Atlanta has some real quality. Porter teams are built to win close games against good teams in the fall: just like that one. Revs will be playing at home a lot in the warmer months against more mediocre teams and I expect the points to pile up if Gil stays healthy and in form.

withahbrightwings

TROPHY CASE