There is not one New England Revolution fan that would tell you the 2016 MLS season has been successful on the field. New England finds themselves in eighth place in the Eastern Conference with 19 points and a -7 goal difference to boot. Where is the positive note of this whole article? The Revs are only one point out of the playoffs, and one-win shy of jumping from eighth to fourth in the standings. Why? Because the East is still terribly weak and that plays perfectly into the struggling Revs hands.
What is wrong with the East?
Let’s all be honest for one moment as no one saw the Philadelphia Union or NYCFC as the top two teams in the Eastern leading up the All-Star break in their preseason predictions. Heck, players on both teams probably did not have that much confidence either. Yet, here we are. After making it to the 2015 MLS Cup, the Columbus Crew are struggling to find goals and avoid relegation (joking of course). Thankfully, because of traditional powerhouses struggling to make the leap to the top of the table, New England has done just enough to keep their name in consideration for a playoff spot, thanks to recent victories.
Draw! Again….
New England is one of many teams in the Eastern Conference that has been bitten by the draw-bug. Seven draws this season alone have played a major factor in the Revs being higher or lower in the standings. The East as a whole is “outdrawing” the West 55-45 through the first 14-18 games. While some teams are grateful for snatching a point at the bitter end of a match, New England is one of many, that wish a lead could’ve been held onto and all three points secured.
The tides are turning
The Revolution are heading towards better days in MLS. Three wins from their last five matches and an 1.3 goals per game average. Lee Nguyen continues to wow fans and makes those who follow the USMNT wish Jürgen Klinsmann had brought him in for the Copa America Centenario. That’s another conversation, though. Kei Kamara has yet to score a goal for the Revs, but still provides an even larger threat for opponents that was not their early in the year. New England won just one match before Kamara and has picked up three more since his arrival. His mere presence on the field makes the Revs a larger threat going forward, leaving players like Kelyn Rowe, Femi Hollinger-Janzen and Nguyen with more opportunities to take shots on goal.
MLS 2016 has lots of action and excitement left in its storied season and New England could find themselves pushing for a top four playoff spot if the success of recent continues to grow. The Revs have the talent to compete with any club in MLS and win most matches. As those who follow the soccer world know, the soccer gods always have a different narrative they march to, making it impossible to predict how a team will do. The Colorado Rapids are example number one this season. Hold onto your hats Eastern Conference supporters, there is still lots of life left in the pesky and hard-hitting clubs that you love unconditionally.