Player personnel answers
Written by revolutionsoccer.net on July 6, 2010 – 2:14 pm -
NOTE: Apologies for the late posting on this. The trip to Salt Lake City delayed the gathering/posting of the answers.
From Mike Burns:
Is the team looking to add a Designated Player?
It seems like since the inception of the Designated Player rule, we have gotten this question more often than not from our fans.
We have pursued and made offers to a couple of high-profile potential designated players in the past and will continue to do so if the opportunity arises. And when I say “high profile,” I mean a player who works for the Revolution both on and off the field. Any Designated Player would have to be someone whom our coaching staff feels gives a competitive advantage on the field, and someone whom our ownership and front office felt would give us a boost off the field in the community, through marketing, and by drawing additional fans, as well. I think the perception is that there are more of these players out there than do actually exist.
How involved is the first team staff with the youth teams?
We’ve invited a few of our youth team players to train with our first team, who have all done well. It gives our first-team coaching staff an opportunity to look at our youth players first hand.
Once our players graduate from our program – and we’re just getting into that phase where our players are “graduating” and going on to college – there are a couple of things we do. We keep in touch with their college coaches, our academy coaches watch them play in college and we invite the players back to train with us during school breaks so we can continue to monitor their development.
We believe we have the best program at the Under-16 and Under-18 levels in all of New England from a facilities standpoint, from a coaching standpoint and the fact that we’re the only fully-funded program in the region. We feel like those three areas are what separate us from any other organization in New England. On a team side, we’re very pleased that both our U16 and U18 teams advanced to the playoffs this season, and on an individual note, we’re confident that we’ll have Homegrown Players on the first-team roster in the coming years.
Can you describe the process of signing players?
One way we add a player to our roster is signing someone we draft from the college ranks. We draft him, we have the rights to him and MLS signs him to a contract to play for the Revs.
International signings are done in a variety of ways. You can arrange for a player to come on a loan, pay a transfer fee and sign him and/or get a player on a free transfer and add him to the roster.
The team’s needs are what dictate what type of players we’re looking to bring in. For example, the upcoming transfer window is July 15 – August 15, 2010, and we are looking to add attacking players to our roster in this window. We’ve had multiple trialists in training with us the last few weeks, and more in this week. We’ll continue to bring in players as adding attacking players is our primary goal right now.
In terms of identifying potential players to sign, we have a network of contacts (e.g. players, coaches, agents, etc.) that we speak with regularly. We can’t see every player, but they help us identify players we may want to invite in on a trial and/ or, in some cases, discuss the possibility of signing a contract with MLS to play for the Revs.
Have you considered getting players on loan to help the club?
During the last few years, we’ve had several players on the roster who have come on a loan, but our primary objective is to acquire players who make our team better. It really varies case to case. If we feel we’re getting someone that’s helping the team, we’re not as concerned how he’s acquired.
Have you looked for any reason why there have been so many injuries this year?
We look at our injuries every single year. We’ve tried to get data from the league in terms of our injuries compared to other MLS clubs, but that data is not available because it’s never been tracked. There’s no doubt that we feel we’ve been snake-bitten by a number of injuries this year – both random injuries and serious injuries. Look at Osei with a staph infection on his leg and he missed six weeks. You can never plan or predict something along those lines. Then obviously we had the horrific injury to Preston. With Taylor’s situation, everyone, including Taylor, was hoping he’d be back this year.
We’ve looked at everything from our medical staff to coaches to front office to training habits, on the field, off the field, and there’s been nothing or no indication of any one thing that anyone can put their finger on as to why we’ve had this rash of injuries this year.
How involved is the team in players’ rehabilitation, especially someone like Preston Burpo?
We are very hands on with our players’ rehab even though they are not able to play. Preston is just now to the point now that he’s rejoined us in the athletic training room and the locker room, and he’ll do his rehab with us.
Do you consider this a rebuilding year?
I’ve never been a fan of the world “rebuilding.” If fully healthy, we feel our current roster is more than capable of challenging for a league title. Unfortunately, it’s no secret we’ve been hit hard by injuries to some key players this season.
That said, if our roster can get and stay healthy – and we are able to add some players in the transfer window - we can have a strong second half of the season and continue our run into the playoffs.
Posted in Uncategorized |
July 6th, 2010 at 2:29 pm
Boilerplate.
July 6th, 2010 at 2:37 pm
WOW. Terrible DP answer. Done with this team until they care.
July 6th, 2010 at 2:38 pm
“If fully healthy, we feel our current roster is more than capable of challenging for a league title.”
If that isn’t simply happy-talk marketing-speak meant to placate the masses, you are all completely delusional. “Capable of challenging for a league title.” Absolutely ludicrous.
July 6th, 2010 at 2:45 pm
From what I can gather, this looks like the same answer we got at the season ticket holders summit. Isn’t there anything you can tell us as STH’s that will give us some hope that the Revs won’t be a complete and utter embarrassment to us as fans for the rest of this year? We are becoming a joke to the rest of the MLS. The impression I get as an MLS fan in general is that almost every other MLS team is making or has made bold moves to actually compete in the league. I just don’t see this from the Revs. I cannot justify renewing my season tickets if your product continues to be so sub-par in the coming months.
July 6th, 2010 at 2:48 pm
Oh yeah, thanks Brian B for your absolutely clear and informative answers last week! They were truly appreciated. I only wish Mr. Burns’ comments were a fraction as informative as yours.
July 6th, 2010 at 2:48 pm
These answers (barring the mention of Osei and Burpo) could have been posted in any of the last three seasons. There is no sense that things have been progressively worsening. How bad do things have to get?
July 6th, 2010 at 2:49 pm
Well that was wholly unsatisfying. Isn’t the concept of a DP in itself to help the team on and off the team? Correct me if I’m wrong, but signing a fairly big name player, preferably one that caters to the demographics of the fan base, would add talent to the field (after all, if they’re considered a DP, they should have played for big clubs before and proven their worth) and thus put butts in the seat to see said talent. It doesn’t seem like other MLS teams have had that much trouble signing DPs… Hey, maybe we can re-sign Walter Zenga? He’s got to have some juice left in those legs… He was the Rev’s DP before the concept existed. Those Spiderman hats sold like hotcakes…
Anywho, wearing black to Saturday’s game to mourn the sorry state of this team.
July 6th, 2010 at 2:54 pm
Wow such insight. I never knew how the whole college draft thingie worked. Mike, you are as good of a spin-doctor as you are at guarding the near post.
July 6th, 2010 at 2:56 pm
“Unfortunately, it’s no secret we’ve been hit hard by injuries to some key players this season.”
Resigning EJ when its obvious he’s injury prone isn’t helping. Wouldn’t the fact that the World Cup break barely impacted the injured be a clue your training staff is a little behind?
July 6th, 2010 at 2:59 pm
Thanks for answering us Mike.
Unfortunately, that’s a woeful response to the DP question considering soccer is the most popular sport in the world. You can’t seriously cite “the right guy” philosophy still dictates how the Revs acquire players. Stop swinging for the fences for a Beckham - there are plenty of players a tier below that could help this team.
Also, telling us this team is a viable competitor for the league title ‘when fully healthy’ is just not good enough. The stream of poor international signings needs to stop. There are a lot (and growing) of disappointed ex fans of this team that simply will not show up until things change.
Where was the urgency in signing a forward this offseason when it was pretty clear a contingency plan should be in place in case Twellman couldn’t play? Is there even a plan?
Disappointed.
July 6th, 2010 at 3:08 pm
P.S. I really like the “if we’re able to sign new players in the transfer window” comment. Wow. IF you’re able? Maybe if you and Bilello ask really, really nice Bob Kraft will give some extra pocket money huh?
At this point this team needs a significant impact signing just to be more relevant than the Pawtucket Red Sox.
July 6th, 2010 at 3:35 pm
“[M]ore relevant than the Pawtucket Red Sox”? You’re being kind Jim. The Revolution would require a major top-to-bottom reorganization to be more relevant than the Newport Gulls or Wareham Gatemen.
July 6th, 2010 at 3:39 pm
Look, as disappointed as I am with how my boys have been playing, I’ve decided it’s time I started to just lend them more support. I will always respect Mike Burns for what he did for the club as a player, and Steve has the clubs best interest in mind. Sad we have an owner who doesn’t give two cents about any of us, but I say let’s just get behind our team. I’m sure new signings are on the way, and we can all look forward to better play in the weeks to come.
COYR
July 6th, 2010 at 3:43 pm
Sad to see, you keep giving your fans cookie cutter answers. Its always the same. can I ask a question? How do you expect to get a full stadium when you cannot even give the fans you have straight answers? I know people will stick to their teams thru bad patches, but come on 2 years of excuses? You have lost me….
July 6th, 2010 at 3:44 pm
Benny,
We are behind the team, that’s why half-hearted bloodless answers like this upset us so much. If we didn’t care why would we even be posting?
July 6th, 2010 at 4:04 pm
You’re right Jim, I know all of us care and I never said you did not. I’ve been one of the most critical voices since the start of this season, I guess I wanted to try a different approach, since lambasting the team and the ownership till I’m blue in the face hasn’t made me feel any better…
July 6th, 2010 at 4:10 pm
It’s SO hard to back this organization….nobody but the players and the too small fan base seem to care. Attendance has been flat (at best) for years, I hear no advertising, management hasn’t spent anything to compete with other teams and the whole organization seems to be fine with the status quo mediocrity (and do any of us actually think that season ticket holders would get a refund for a really poor showing at home…like in Seatle?). It just all screams “Patriots write off”. Sad, really…I can’t even give my tickets away when I can’t use them.
July 6th, 2010 at 4:11 pm
QUIT YOUR JOB NOW… for the love of the team… Thanks for giving us the same B*llsh*t answers you always give.
July 6th, 2010 at 4:12 pm
Sorry Benny, didn’t mean to snap at you.
July 6th, 2010 at 4:32 pm
This is just pathetic. We’ve been waiting for “answers” for a week and all we get is some fluff answers? And this is coming from a former team captain… The DP answer especially makes me sad, because it means we continue to go with this idiotic “as long as he fits in with the team” mentality… sure we don’t want to sign a complete headcase, but missing out on a player like Guillermo Barros Schelotto because you didn’t think he’d “fit in” is nothing short of stupid. Or look at Ljuneburg in Seattle… not exactly the “perfect” player off the field with his temper, but he made the Sounders instantly credible and attracted all kinds of fan interest. Are you seriously telling me the best we can do are guys like always injured EJ and Joseph Niouky??? (seriously Niouky is one of the worst players to ever put on the Revs kit). Maybe your trying, but it is quite obviously NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
July 6th, 2010 at 4:58 pm
Please don’t discount my criticism based on my grammar mistake! Correction: “Maybe *you’re* trying…” And just one more point: if the Revs claim to have made offers to “high profile” players, can you name a few of these players? Thanks.
July 6th, 2010 at 5:09 pm
The DP answer is garbage. I’m sorry, but if you’ve made several offers and all have fallen through, they’re not serious enough. New York have two, Kansas City has had one and may have another, Chicago had one, Los Angeles is aiming for their second, hell even Houston had one (though he didn’t work out). You can get the player if you make it seem like they’re wanted.
July 6th, 2010 at 5:15 pm
To start with someone else’s words because it says it all:
“Also, telling us this team is a viable competitor for the league title ‘when fully healthy’ is just not good enough. The stream of poor international signings needs to stop. There are a lot (and growing) of disappointed ex fans of this team that simply will not show up until things change. Thank-you disappointed revs fan!
Where was the urgency in signing a forward this offseason when it was pretty clear a contingency plan should be in place in case Twellman couldn’t play? Is there even a plan”
It seems utterly amazing to me that the brass thought that the current roster was good enough. Even if healthy we don’t have anyone who can find the goal without ‘google earth.’ Even if Taylor was back (a longshot and undoubtably he would be at partial effectiveness)he would need someone who is a goal scorer and not a hands to the head..oh I missed like always injured EJ, even NY didn’t want me Khano, let me do it all myself Nyassi..should I go on.
Someone needs to get to the Kraft family and let them know how utterly disgusted we are and the damage to his families reputation. He would NEVER let this happen to the Partiots. Money is no object there but here it seems to be ok to have a half baked semi-pro soccer team that due to no fault of their own embarrasses themselves every week.
The answer to the DP question was no answer but a slap in the face to us fans who pay good money is a terrible economy to support the team.
July 6th, 2010 at 5:15 pm
One word: Brazil.
Honestly, if we want to sign a DP (or just more players who can help in the attack) it might be time to look into stealing a player or two from the Brazilian league (Wellington Paulista, maybe? {I know, wishful thinking})
July 6th, 2010 at 5:32 pm
Are you not angry, Mike? Sheesh, show some heart, show some emotion…show you care.
We’ve won one game in the last three months, and you are giving us the standard responses as if all is well.
We are at our wits end, and this organization just continues to mail it in.
July 6th, 2010 at 5:45 pm
Mike,
Please explain to me why we shouldn’t be grossly insulted by this PR flack pablum horsecrap? Seriously. We pay good money for tickets — some have paid good money for years upon years — and this is the best you can offer.
As for DPs — as the kids say on the internet “pics or it didn’t happen.” I want names. With whom have the Revs negotiated? When? Why did the deals break down? And yes, I want to be able to fact check what you say.
If you can’t be specific about this, I’m calling you out as a flat liar that you haven’t done a damn thing, never have and never will.
July 6th, 2010 at 5:49 pm
Dan thats exactly what I asked for, a list of players courted and future targets, but I got ignored for a copy and paste answer from last year. I’m pissed.
July 6th, 2010 at 5:56 pm
Wow, you guys are trying to hold Burns accountable… Maybe that’s something his bosses should try some time. I don’t get away with half-assing it at my work, so that should be the same for everyone.
I had heard Fowler was one possible DP they had a brief conversation with, but Mr. Burns should be the one to verify if that ever happened. If it did happen, I wonder if the conversation was the Revs making an offer and Fowler’s agent thinking it was that much per week, and the Revs saying, er, no, that’s per season, but as a perk, we’ll let you sit in the luxury box for as many Pats games as you want!
July 6th, 2010 at 6:09 pm
The Revs have spoken to Fowler and Pauleta. Pauleta’s agent said the offer was too low:
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=583075&cc=5901
“Pauleta was in Fall River last week on a fundraising tour but could have been in the area for soccer reasons — he was recruited by MLS teams and said he wanted to play for New England. Jose Silva, a television producer who is accompanying Pauleta, said both the Revolution and New York Red Bulls offered contracts. Pauleta and Silva agreed the money was not good enough”
July 6th, 2010 at 6:19 pm
jw, you nailed it. There is no emotion, passion or anything coming through with those responses. It’s standard, cookie cutter and garbage we’ve heard over and over. There seems to be little to no accountability in this organization. I don’t know how or if they measure performance but 3 consecutive years of poor on-field performances should say it all.
Everyone stay home the rest of the year or wear black if you have season tickets to indicate your displeasure with the status quo.
July 6th, 2010 at 6:34 pm
6 States.
1 Team.
0 Kraft Commitment.
If anyone involved with the Kraft Sports Group can say that they honestly believe that the Krafts’ stewardship of the Revolution has strengthened the sport of soccer on the New England sports scene, than they are completely divorced from the reality of the situation. The Revolution’s profile and importance - and, by extension, that of soccer - have atrophied over the past 15 seasons. As investor/operators of the New England Revolution, the Krafts have failed their players, their fans and this sport.
July 6th, 2010 at 7:59 pm
To: Disappointed Revs fan
“Everyone stay home the rest of the year”
Thats exactly what I’m going to do.
July 6th, 2010 at 7:59 pm
These responses are so cookie cutter that I find it hard to believe Burns had anything to do with them. This stinks of the handiwork of a bad PR flak.
As for the DP comment, the perception is that the Revs don’t know what they’re doing.
Seriously, if anyone involved in putting this team together is reading these responses, you need to rethink your entire player acquisition strategy. It isn’t working and it won’t work in the future.
July 6th, 2010 at 8:12 pm
I agree with everyone so far. These answers are utter garbage. Mike Burns, how dare you attempt to blame everything on injuries again. “Oh, we’d be great if it wasn’t for all these darned injuries.” Well, do you think the fact we play on astro-turf and sign a lot of players well-over 30 might have something to do with it? “We have no idea why we have so many injuries.” Great. We have genuine concerns about the team and it’s line-up and our GM shrugs at us and blames things outside his control. I know if I did that when things were going poorly with my job that I’d be fired.
July 6th, 2010 at 8:17 pm
More BS from the poorest excuse of a franchise in MLS. When will the Krafts take this team seriously or sell them to someone who will? Let’s be a honest, an urban SSS isn’t happening, neither is a DP signing, nor a jersey sponsorship. This team and the way it is managed is absolutely embarrassing. As a season ticket holder of fifteen years I can promise you that I will never attend another Revolution game until the ownership and FO is dedicated to improving the quality on the atmosphere at games.
July 6th, 2010 at 8:41 pm
My name says it all. I work in a call center. Maybe tomorrow when someone calls me I’ll just tell them I’m too tired to tell them the value of their IRA. That seems like the answer we’re getting from this organization. I’m ashamed to watch the team on TV, but still tune in every game. It’s to the point that I barely even care about the results anymore. I had season tickets in ‘08. Went down to a 4-pack last season. Haven’t been to a game yet this season, and I won’t be going to one.
Someone should check this against the post he wrote last year. It reads almost the same, and I wonder if it was just a copy-paste job…
July 6th, 2010 at 9:06 pm
A good team should be capable of standing up even when key players are injured. We’re standing up with a 18 year-old midfielder, a fresh college kid starting in the back, and our top goal-scorer is a ‘Rookie’. It is disgraceful to see on the field that you CAN’T PROVIDE MORE THAN THIS! No insult to players, but the MANAGEMENT. Does Kraft know he owns another ‘football’ team? If you call it ‘football’, he might actually CARE by accident. Twellman is our Tom Brady, if Brady were out for an indefinite time period, I’m *sure* that Kraft would replace hime with a draft pick…
July 6th, 2010 at 9:11 pm
To Bob Kraft: an **obvious** way to show you care about the Revolution: just buy out the rest of Taylor Twellman’s contract with your own $$ and free up his salary cap space to pay for a quality striker. Put Taylor on contract on your staff somewhere — if he recovers, fine he can un-retire and play again but for now the Revs need his cap space.
Taylor’s pay may be a lot by MLS standards but it is chicken feed compared to NFL pay — we all know you can afford this and the Revs desperately need it.
This is so **obvious** in fact Bob that if you don’t do it, it will just confirm to the world what Rev fans believe anyway, that (1) you are very cheap and (2) you don’t care about the Revs.
July 6th, 2010 at 9:12 pm
This is embarrassing. I have been a fan since 96 and it’s getting harder and harder every year to watch this organization fall behind while every other team in the league improves; both on and off the field. It is so unfortunate that the Revs are unable and unwilling to capitalize on the new found interest in soccer coming off the World Cup.
July 6th, 2010 at 9:26 pm
Mike, thanks for replying.
“Pride and Passion” - remember that? We fans have it - and this season is absolutely killing us. The players have it - for all their flaws, inexperience and injuries. Steve Nicol has it - judging from his comments, this season is wearing on him.
It’s unfortunate then, that your reply exhibited so little pride or passion. It’s made a terrible season a little bit worse.
July 7th, 2010 at 1:52 am
This is pathetic. I was going to go to the LA game this weekend, but if the Revolution don’t care, then I don’t care either.
I went to see a Montreal game a few weeks ago, and I can’t wait until they’re in the MLS. I’d rather drive 4 hours to see a club that cares.
Montreal Impact in 2012!
July 7th, 2010 at 8:42 am
Wasn’t it revealed a few seasons ago that Maynor Figueroa was a DP target for the Revs? He’s now being eyed by Liverpool. Imagine for one moment the transfer fee we (and MLS) would receive for a move like that. Just because he wouldn’t have sold out Gillette doesn’t mean it’s not a move that makes sense. Splash the cash at someone and get a damned DP! If he scores 20 goals and gets us into the Cup, he’s made an impact off the field because he’s got the neutrals/casuals buzzing.
July 7th, 2010 at 10:21 am
Maybe the reason we keep asking you the same questions over and over is because the answers you keep giving over and over are unsatisfactory? Seriously, you’d have been better off pleading the 5th: “I refuse to answer on the grounds that it might incriminate me.”
July 7th, 2010 at 10:31 am
We waited 2 wks for *that* response? One is left with the distinct impression that ownership and the FO (excluding Nicol and his staff) either don’t care or (and?) don’t know what they’re doing. One small example: look at the top of this page - the Phila. badge is still off to the right, yet the season started months ago. Is it apathy or incompetence?
I was planning on returning from the beach early this Sat so that I could make it to Foxboro for our Los Angeles match, but after Burns’s impotent response I think I’ll just stay at the seaside for the full day.
This is my 6th season as a STH. Barring significant changes from the ownership and the FO (trust me, I’m not holding my breath) it will be my last.
Pathetic.
July 7th, 2010 at 12:11 pm
FISH ROTS FROM THE HEAD
Everything needs to change, drasticly
July 7th, 2010 at 2:52 pm
Well I go for the tailgating mostly, plus I get to see national team players this weekend. Its too bad they all play for the other team.
The worst part is that this Revs team has 3 guys who have MLS talent. Perovic, Alston and Joseph. The rest of the squad is terrible and probably couldnt rival a strong D1 team.
The front office always has been, and for the exception of BB (who gets it because he was a fan) probably will be a joke for a long time until they realize that winning puts people in the seats. Even if they found a DP for the right money, do you think he would want to come to a crappy team who wouldnt be able to get him the ball??
so yeah, beers, burgers and Buddle this weekend. yay
July 7th, 2010 at 2:52 pm
We are all embarassed to be Revs fans with this level of talent taking the field.
Are injuries to blame as Uncle Mikey would like us to believe?? I don’t think so. Yes they’ve had injuries, but the roster choices being made now, and those made over the last two years, are horrific on their own. The previous poster is right on point; buy Twellman out! Of course you do that if you want to move forward. Maybe bring back Noonan when he becomes available, of course you do that. Keep Jeff L, even though you need a goalkeeper (temporarily), because trading him is too high a price to pay. Of course ….unless fielding a winner isn’t really what you want to do. If what you want to do is field a winner, but only at a certain level of expenditure, well then you might consider any number of bone-headed options.
I don’t know how much SN is involved in these personnel and roster matters but I’m not ready to give him a pass here. He must must be in the room when roster decisions are made, and if he isn’t that’s on him. He should have enough pride to resign if Junior won’t follow his advice.
But I think he’s been in the room all along. I think he’s drunk the Kool_Aid. Or at least he’s made his peace with Junior’s approach.
I recall Feldman harping on and on in broadcasts past how SN and PM (when he was here) would go off on their scouting jaunts, Africa, Eastern Europe, South America and all over USA too, college tours etc. Finding diamonds in the rough…..etc.
And what do we have to show for this?
(a)Nyassi. He’s not going to get any better fans. Its been three years. He can’t finish, he provides poor service, sometimes abysmally poor, he dives, he defends marginally better than he used to, but that’s saying nothing at all. He has outstanding pace. And that’s it.
(b) Mansally. He can finish, kind of, but he has no technical ability at all, not professional, first division technical ability. This has been true since day one.
(c) Jankauskas. Soon he will be found with Castro, Hernandez, Badilla, and others in the Revs Hall of Shame, but he did play in the Champions League! sheeesh…..
(d) Osei. What a nut case, you absolutely cannot know from one minute to the next what he will do, NOT AT ALL. This has entertainment value, I admit, but only for a neutral. He’s an embarassment.
(e) Percovic has played enough now to see that he can provide fair service but he gives off this distrubing aura of thinking he is above it all. He rolls his eyes at teammates miscues (of which there are plenty) and pouts or gets way too angry with the officiating. And where are the goals? Maybe he’s just not THAT good, maybe Nicol got it wrong when he scouted him, or maybe he knew what he was getting but the price was right and it was better than nothing.
(f) Nyouky. O My Goodness he would be hard pressed to start for a Division I US college team. Seriously.
(g) Zach. He’s small but he has skill around the net. He will find his path through MLS diffcult physically but perhaps it will gel for him. I think Jr. thought he might be “another Twellman”, catch lightning in a bottle one more time and think of the shirts he could sell! I bet SN and Uncle Mikey B didn’t abuse him of any of this on draft day. But I’m OK with Zach.
(h) Alston. He wowed me last year, but this year he is playing down to circumstances not rising above them. He’s made some very serious errors. Stuff that one of the best players on the team just cannot do. He has no chance to be on the US team if he keeps this level of play up, regardless of Feldman’s harping on that.
(i) Sinovic, Matthews, Tierney, well you know none of them should even be in MLS…and wouldn’t have a roster spot on any other franchise. Let alone actually PLAY, actually START from time to time. *sigh*
Some of the responsibility for this, that is the fact that some of these players are on the team at all, has to fall on Nicol.
What IS this? What IS happening here…Who could possibly have decided that trading your crucial controlling mid-fielder, Jeff L, for a back up keeper and old, tired and slow center back was a good move. Who? We needed a keeper sure, but at THAT price?
How much was SN involved in all this? Was it all Burns alone, is it Lil Kraft parsing bottom lines and thats the only criteria? Maybe in Patriot Place Jeremy Jacobs is seen as a visonary. That explanation makes sense given these facts. And that’s really very sad.
All the justified concerns about the sss, the lack of sponsorship, the childish logo, all of that is genuine and needs to be addressed. But I fear that the Revs, to the Krafts, are just a loss leader, a write-off, a way to use the Stadium 20 times a year and that’s all.
Yes it was a great run back in the glory days, but a true winner plans for the inevitable downturn. Didn’t happen here. And the insulting part is the people in charge apparently didn’t care enough to even try to plan for that. Unless we count Joseph Nyouky et. al. as The Plan…
I’m a fan and will remain one, I guess, but LA will come in here and smoke them at home on Sat. The best team in the league will be playing the worst team in the League and that’s what will happen.
The Revs are the worst team in MLS…get used to it….the front office has.
July 7th, 2010 at 4:07 pm
“Any Designated Player would have to be someone whom our coaching staff feels gives a competitive advantage on the field, and someone whom our ownership and front office felt would give us a boost off the field in the community, through marketing, and by drawing additional fans, as well. I think the perception is that there are more of these players out there than do actually exist.”
I’ve got a suggestion. There’s a player who’s become available. He’s internationally renowned, would have a HUGE following among a major ethnic group in Massachusetts, people who don’t follow soccer know his name and he’d sell a ton of jerseys (and probably attract a sponsor too). He also would add an element of creativity and entertaining soccer to the product on the field.
His name is Ronaldhinho. Give him a call and make an offer. And when you do, leak the info to the press. Just doing that would suggest that you’re serious and not full of crap, as we think you are.
July 7th, 2010 at 5:07 pm
Bring back Dempsey! It is proven that he fits with this team.
July 7th, 2010 at 8:40 pm
JMH,
I understand your frustration over the team’s buying strategies, but let’s go easy on the players. I see them giving it their all most weeks and refuse to put too much blame on them. You wouldn’t notice many of their flaws if we had a more complete team to put on the field. I’m even impressed by the skills that many of our youngsters can show, but we don’t have the experienced professionals to lead them to victory. Without more $$$ splashed on our line-up we’ll end up fielding a pretty rag-tag post-college team.
July 7th, 2010 at 9:26 pm
Forget Fire Bob Bradley, Fire Mike Burns.
And to any in your organization who will say “oh do you think you could do better” why yes I do.
Take me up on the offer, I’ll even work for free
July 7th, 2010 at 9:45 pm
JMH,
I agree with dave more than you, but yes i believe that nyouky isn’t as good as they thought but the others are showing that they have skill s, they just need an experience player that can connect the strikers and the midfield together.
July 8th, 2010 at 12:18 am
The Revs need serious rebuilding – and not with has-beens or with a crowd of last-year’s college grads or players who wouldn’t be starters on other teams. Revs management has brought the team to this turning point, and everyone is watching to see how you conduct yourselves.
Already management is being branded as not being fully committed. The Media, the STH’s, and observers from around the league and the soccer world are watching. The actions you managers take in the next few months could set the tone for Major League Soccer in New England for years to come.
Make us proud.
July 8th, 2010 at 12:27 am
Absolutely awful answers. There was absolutely nothing of interest or worth there. I seriously doubt your qualifications for this job. The fans deserve better
July 8th, 2010 at 6:30 am
Mike Burns, you are not a player anymore. You are a high level business executive in the sports entertainment industry. When you share information and insight about the team through media outlets you are helping to build and sustain interest in a commercial product.
This product is currently tied for the worst record in the league. By vaguely answering the DP and rebuilding questions, you missed an opportunity to address fan disappointment and market future hope that the product will improve.
We expect players to always say they believe in the team. We expect the front office to MAKE the fans believe in the team by putting the best product they can on the field.
Mr. Burns, the product you are selling is sub-par. I am loyal to your product but hope you are actively looking at ways to improve it. It would mean a lot to me if you could share some specific opportunities you are looking into or have looked at recently to do that. Thank you.
July 8th, 2010 at 8:21 am
I was censored because i ripped Burns, listen, i have been coming to games and am a season ticket holder supporting this pathetic francise since 96, the few fans you have been able to keep see right through the bs you keep dishing us, be honest with the fans or you will keep losing them.
For you guys to chaulk this season up to injurys is PATHETIC, ralston, k smith, Jankauskas, barns, burpo, colaluca, and videira. no offence to the players but these guys would have problems beating a college team.
July 8th, 2010 at 10:57 am
After Bilello came out and gave some honest and hopeful answers to HIS fan questions last week I had high expectations for the stuff we’d hear from Burns. I see my optimism was rooted in fantasy.
Mike, did you really just try to explain to us how a draft works?
And NO ONE IS BUYING THIS CRAP ABOUT DPs ANYMORE. If we sign a high-priced player that can perform on the field and helps us win, THE SUCCESS WILL BREED MARKETABILITY. That’s BASIC SPORTS BUSINESS.
I posted a more complete response to this on American Soccer News. At the risk of raising Jeff’s ire, I’ll link it. http://revs.american-soccer-news.com/?p=767
July 8th, 2010 at 10:58 am
“With Taylor’s situation, everyone, including Taylor, was hoping he’d be back this year.”
Thats true, I think every single New England Revolution fan was HOPING he’d be back this year.
However, I think most Revs fans were assuming he wouldn’t be back this year or ever.
So how come the front office couldnt see this coming and/or plan around it?
July 8th, 2010 at 11:03 am
My disgust with how the FO does things was solidified when at the supporters summit this spring, Mike Burns was asked “where are the goals going to come from?” and his response was “Well, he has a concussion right now, I am only half joking” That statement proved to me that this franchise was not going to take the steps necessary to make the Revs a competitive team. I am losing interest in this team very fast. I feel bad for the players because they are trying their best, but the management is obviously not committed so why should I be a committed fan?
July 8th, 2010 at 12:45 pm
LOVE seeing all the passion in the responses above. Fans only get pissed off when they care about their team! If we didn’t you wouldn’t any responses to the post. Keep up the pressure on management and we will see the results we want! A dangerous team with a legit shot the playoffs next yr.
July 8th, 2010 at 1:59 pm
How is colaluca not starting for this team. He started and played the full game in Colorado Last year and dominated the game he makes things happen exactly what this team needs. Why hasn’t he been on the field if he’s not injured and just sitting on the bench when their are 5 or 6 players consistently playing who would’nt start for my sons high school team?
July 8th, 2010 at 3:38 pm
None of you outraged fans happen to be multi-billionaires, do you? Because one of the best and easiest ways to address these management issues would be to make Kraft an offer he can’t refuse.
July 8th, 2010 at 5:43 pm
The elephant in the room is money, or Kraft’s unwillingness to spend more than he has already.
Twellman’s salary is a huge constraint on bringing in quality players. We hear nothing of the front office’s efforts to get Taylor off the books for salary cap purposes. Why? Because to add a quality replacement would represent an unbudgeted expense, and Kraft doesn’t want to spend the extra money.
If you haven’t got it by now, “the right fit” designated player doesn’t exist. By definition, a quality professional who earns standard global wages will never “fit” on the Revs roster. Part of this is the legitimate fear of disrupting team chemistry (ref: Beckham and his teammates), but mostly it’s money. Making this investment is not part of the business plan.
The Revs have always underfunded their marketing efforts, underpaid their players, an until this year, over-achieved on the pitch. With all the injuries, and especially Twellman’s, it’s finally caught up to them.
July 8th, 2010 at 6:03 pm
The fans are speaking and demonstrating our passion for the club. Hopefully management is listening so positive change can happen. We all want this team to succeed so the ball is in your court. Show us you care as much as we do so we can move forward collectively and once again be proud to support this club.
Go Revs.
July 8th, 2010 at 6:41 pm
1. Release Twellman and make room for more salary signings. 2. Sign a playmaking midfielder. 3. Sign a forward who can score goals on a consistent basis. Finally if Kraft were to build a sss he would have built it in Foxboro. He is dragging his feet on this issue because he will lose revenue at Gillette in the summer months.
July 9th, 2010 at 8:27 am
good job burns, way to give us some insite on the team. You guys seem like a bunch of bumbeling donkeys in the front office. Badilla, castro, burpo, albright, smith, Jankuaskas
July 9th, 2010 at 8:30 am
PLAYER SALERIES
NE Alston Kevin D $ 124,000.00
NE Barnes Darrius D $ 56,250.00
NE Boggs Zak F-M $ 40,000.00
NE Burpo Preston GK $ 70,000.00
NE Castro Mauricio M $ 77,750.00
NE Colaluca Nico M $ 133,000.00
NE Dube Mkhokheli $ 89,000.00
NE Gibbs Cory D $ 128,142.86
NE Griffiths Jason M $ 40,000.00
NE Jankuaskas Edgaras F $ 240,000.00
NE Joseph Shalrie M $ $ 475,000.00
NE Mansally Kenny F-M $ 72,500.00
NE Murray Tim GK $ 40,000.00
NE Niouky Desire M $ 53,000.00
NE Nyassi Sainey M $ 76,750.00
NE Osei Emmanuel D $ 52,875.00
NE Perovic Marko M $ 190,000.00
NE Phelan Pat M $ 40,000.00
NE Reis Matt GK $ 182,011.00
NE Schilawski Zack F $ 42,500.00
NE Shuttleworth Robert GK $ 40,000.00
NE Sinovic Seth D $ 40,000.00
NE Smith Khano M-F $ 50,004.00
NE Tierney Chris D-M $ 40,000.00
NE Twellman Taylor F $ 459,500.00
NE Videira Michael M $ 40,000.00
July 9th, 2010 at 8:39 am
OK, i am playing GM for a minute,
release twellman, work something out so he is happy in NE making money on TV or radio or somewhere in the orginization
savings 470,000
Cut Coluca
savings 130,000
Release Reis (to bad we dont have B Knighton for 40,000)
savings 180,000
release Smith
Savings 50,000
release Jankuaskas
Savings 240,000
Alston worth 140,000? I dont think so but what ever
TOTAL ANNUAL SAVINGS
***1.07M***
without losing a step!!!
July 9th, 2010 at 9:19 am
I’m surprised at the people who are quick to jump on the “cut everyone” bandwagon. Specifically in response to d3:
Colaluca is NOT making $130,000. That HAS to be a typo or a mistake. My first instinct is to say don’t cut him, he hasn’t been given a chance to prove himself, but if he’s really a six-figure guy then drop him YESTERDAY.
Don’t cut Reis. Honestly, just because he’s high-paid and was recently injured doesn’t mean we should drop a former US international and one of the best keepers in the league.
Other than that we’re in agreement.
July 9th, 2010 at 11:51 am
@stoehrst colaluca is generation adidas, so no surprise at 6 figures.
July 9th, 2010 at 12:04 pm
Colaluca has more talent in his left foot than half the starters on the team. Why isn’t he playing? Probably because he likes to play soccer instead of the English style kickball that nichols must seem to love to watch from the sidelines. The problem is you can’t play english style soccer in the MLS with a forward who is 5′3 and midfielders who aren’t creative enough to make anything happen.
July 9th, 2010 at 12:10 pm
no typo unless MLS players union made a mistake, you can get all the saleries on that site. Alston and Colaluca are both gen addidas making over 100k. every year we are just waisting so much money, Kraft has to get more involved and understand how disfunctional the front office is.
July 9th, 2010 at 5:46 pm
i want an ownership team that knows and cares about soccer. im not wasting 200 plus dollars next year on a terrible product that has only gotten worse the past few years. when any teams that have a brain loose players like noonen, dempsey, and dorman, they replace them with good players. the revs just took the cheap way out by replacing them with rookies. shame on anyone who runs this team
July 10th, 2010 at 8:24 am
Really enjoyed the lemonade at the long term season ticket holders celebration anyway.
July 10th, 2010 at 3:13 pm
Just wanted to clarify a couple of the league rules for everyone as there is a lot of discussion related to potential roster moves.
First of all, injured players (even those on season ending injury) cannot be cut, waived, bought out, etc. to save cap space. Those salaries stay on your books.
Also, Generation Adidas players do not count against your salary cap.
July 10th, 2010 at 3:48 pm
Something’s really gotta change…
For the sake of being a broken record,
this team’s front office has done a terrible job convincing its fans that they are doing everything they can to make this team a competitive one that takes itself seriously (as something other than a showcase to area youth players) compared to its 15 (soon to be 17) peers in MLS.
Injuries or no injuries, it’s appalling, and over the past 3 years it seems as though nothing has changed while the rest of the league is thriving…
A) Get a shirt sponsor. The revenue it will add speaks for itself.
B) Get a new stadium within the next two years. I know the plans for a Somerville site have been re-launched, but a white heat fire needs to be lit under it…this is just embarassing by this point.
I will always love and support this team no matter what (so many other New England teams have been in deeper holes reputation-wise) and so will thousands of others, but trying our patience/loyalty is not the way to see how loyal we are.
July 11th, 2010 at 8:43 am
Just for the record, because they won last night doesn’t make all of the above comments disappear and everything is NOT better. Even a broken clock is right twice a day.
July 11th, 2010 at 11:54 am
Want the perfect DP for the Revs:
1. A legendary Brazilian that would bring Brazilians to the stadium in flocks
2. That could live practically anonymously while the Brazilian and European media are driving him nuts
3. Past his prime, but still crazy skilled
4. A creative striker - exactly what we need
5. A supportive Brazilian community
6. Record holder of most goals scored in World Cups EVER (as of this morning)
RONALDO EL FENOMENO!!!!
Burns - Make it happen, cap’n!
I can’t imagine any amount of money being too much for a one-year contract. Earn your salary and get it done!
July 12th, 2010 at 4:44 pm
Hey Fans all that had to happen was for me to rip them in this blog , and LOOK WHA’ HAPPENED.
But seriously folks, if Nyassi plays like that every week who could complain. OK OK OK he HAS to stop jabbering at the refs but a really strong game from him.
And if Gibbs sits another week and Barnes plays that well again I can’t complain there either. And no long throws from him too! Hate that play, they do it too way too often or at least they did last year.
And Perovic scores on a set piece! PRICELESS.
Corrections: I referred to Griffiths as Matthews in previous post, not sure why except to say I grew up in the 70’s and things like that happen to me more and more these days.
Sorry the kid got hurt but he did not wow me while he was out there like he did Feldman and Heaps. He gave the ball away too too easily and twice it resulted in odd man breaks the other way. Nyouky (huh…wha…??/) played better than Griffiths did when he got in there. Jos. N still looks lost too much of the time though.
Anyone else see SN tell Zach that he “ran his ba*** off” when he shook his hand after subbing for him. Zach really did too. Kid follows the game plan. Kudos.
Why would Ronaldino come here? Someone give me one real reason why he would do that? There isn’t money left in MLS for him to do that is there?
Another question: why are Revs playing in Superliga, what are the qualification rules for that?? Are they any??? Didn’t Univision used to televise it???
July 13th, 2010 at 11:27 am
JMH, Telefutura, a secondary channel owned by Univision is showing all the Superliga games. The Revs are in Superliga because they made the post season last year. The MLS champion is in the Concacaf Champions League, While the rest of the playoff teams including the MLS runner-up play in Superliga.
July 13th, 2010 at 2:50 pm
Thanks Joe!
August 4th, 2010 at 4:36 pm
Check out this article on NYRB discussing how they signed Thierry Henry and compare it to these answers given by Revs brass.
This is why the Revs will never get a DP:
http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/red-bulls-brass-reveals-how-henry-deal-was-done