1. The Revs' exterior defense needs to improve.
Diagnosing the Revolution's faults will probably be a moving target, with a different emphasis changing from game to game. Sporting Kansas City fullback Seth Sinovic's involvement in all three of their goals in this game highlights how far the Revs fullbacks and wing midfielders have to go before they start taking the pressure off the centerbacks and goalkeeper Matt Reis. The inconsistent positioning and tracking of the Revs' exterior players were exploited on each of Kansas City's goals, and Sporting Kansas City's flank players were allowed to play dangerous crosses into the penalty box almost at will.
2. The veterans need to play like veterans.
Shalrie Joseph nearly committed his second catostrophic turnover in as many weeks, Matt Reis foolishly found himself literally floating in no-man's land early in the game, and Benny Feilhaber once again displayed his cranky affect when things weren't going well. The optimism of the pre-season has all but vanished, and there are numerous moving parts on this team. Stalwarts such as Joseph, Reis, and Feilhaber need be the reliable constants amid the evolving lineups and roster changes, but they're not getting it done yet.
3. Despite the result, I'm happier with this game than last week's loss to San Jose.
In terms of scoreline (3-0 vs. 1-0) and the Revolution's share of possession (34% vs. 48%), this week's loss should be more dispiriting than last week's game against San Jose. For a couple reasons, though, it's actually a more encouraging result.
That's partly due to the fact that the Revs' first fifteen minutes against Sporting Kansas City were overall more encouraging than any 15-minute block of the Revs loss to San Jose and mostly due to the fact that Stephen McCarthy's frustrating--but justifiable--ejection in the 15th minute poisoned the sample and leaves that solace of what-if in the back of the mind.
To be sure, Kelyn Rowe's slow start and the inconsistent play among the Revs' fullbacks remain among many causes for concern. But the team did better connecting its passes (not including goalkeeper Matt Reis's distribution in both games, the Revs completed 73% of its passes against Sporting Kansas City and 67% of their passes against San Jose), and even a hobbled Saer Senne was a brighter light than any of the forwards the team threw on the field last week.
Maybe I'm still chugging on the Kool-Aid, but I can't quit the Revs just yet.
- John C.L. Morgan
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