COMMENTARY: Revs all the way?

By: Sabin | August 21st, 2007

The Eastern Conference has been packed all season with four or five teams consistently within six or fewer points from first place. The New England Revolution for their part have been right up there throughout, and seemed to have pulled to freedom a month ago with their games-in-hand on New York and D.C. United. Freedom wouldn’t be so easy.

A startling loss to D.C. United at home followed two weeks later by a phoned-it-in performance in Colorado has left the Revolution a mere six points ahead of their east-cost rivals, and it’s D.C. and New York who now have games in hand.

Additionally, Steve Ralston and Pat Noonan are both on the DL with flu-like symptoms and a pulled groin muscle, respectively, though may play on Saturday. Jay Heaps came out just before half-time with an injury at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday. The bench is to be tested, it seems, and clouds are gathering around the Revs’ picnic.

The fates, however, seem to be watching out for the Revs this year. In spite of key squad members holding injuries, New England played one of their best games of the season against Kansas City on Sunday. Wells Thompson made up for Thursday’s disastrous performance, and Khano Smith played a fantastic game, his best moment leading to Taylor Twellman’s winning goal. Adam Cristman also proved why he’s being considered rookie of the year as Jimmy Conrad worked hard to keep up with the Revs’ rookie

As far as the race for the East goes, New England made The Wizards’ task a lot harder on Sunday, and New York and D.C. will use up one of their games in hand against each other this coming Wednesday. The Revs will then host New York on the 25th for their chance at separating the pretenders from the contenders this week. New England will need to defeat New York if they’re to go into their Labor Day weekend rest with any sense of well-being, though.

New England hasn’t had a season so filled with points since 2005, and are just three points shy of that pace. Though the ogre of injuries is marching towards them, the Revs look to be in position to make a solid run for the MLS Cup. Additionally, their run in the US Open Cup is their best in years. Could they get a treble this year? A double? Most Revs fans would settle for one of the three, but a few of them — if they’re anything like me — are daydreaming about the possibilities.