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New England’s Summer of (Player) Discontent

July 19, 2011 by Soccer Soap Box

When I actually get moving on an update for Soccer Soap Box there is generally an uncanny intersection of an interesting topic related to the New England Revolution or US Soccer, personal time to write and the hope that I have something interesting to add to the discussion.

Clearly there have been interesting topics lately. The Women’s World Cup, the ongoing fall out from another blown two-goal lead by the USA Men’s National team in a Cup Final, various MLS topics and yes, the near-implosion of the New England Revolution.

The New England Revolution are clearly my backyard story. And yet, despite all of that, of the last five posts that I’ve written here only two are about the Revolution – one post was about the “summit” between the Revolution Front Office and Gillette Stadium security team and the supporters groups, and the other post was admitting that I didn’t bother watching a late away game.

Not a good record for me.

Now I sit here with some personal time, and yet there is more Revolution news that I can easily parse through in any sane manner and I’m struggling to find perspective. Since I can’t reasonably wrap my brain around everything going on with this team right now – let alone write about it sensibly, I’m going to hit on a couple the main concerns that I’ve had over the last week or so over two posts.

My last post centered on the frustration of the supporters’ groups and the team’s Front Office. Let’s stick with the idea of frustration, but turn our focus a bit closer to the field.

It seems to me that on top of the pressures of being last in the east and not having won in two months, the New England Revolution’s off-field challenges are now weighing on the players as well.

We now need to add players and coaches to the list of frustrated parties around Foxboro.

First, after watching Benny Feilhaber’s melt-down as he was ejected from the Revolution’s 0-3 loss to the Philadelphia Union it was clear that he had reached a level of frustration that had been brewing for some time. This is the same player who is (I would say rightfully) generally lauded by his coach as having a “soccer brain” and who would hopefully be seen as a calming influence on the field.

Among the many comments Revolution Coach Steve Nicol had for and about his team after that game, he included this this gem: “…We talked about it before the game – about growing a pair. And that doesn’t mean you can run fighting with people and kicking people, it means that you do the basics well and you do your own job well.”

New star player melting down? Coach taking a not-too-hidden jab at it? Two points for frustration.

But this funk that surrounds the team isn’t JUST about what is happening on the field – which is where I suspect Benny’s frustrations grew. Players are clearly feeling the pressures of the off-field challenges the team is facing, and how could you blame them?

When Manchester United came to town, there were many opportunities for players to comment on the occasion, and many of the comments were revelatory.

Before his press conference with Steve Nicol, Sir Alex Ferguson and Rio Ferdinand, Shalrie Joseph tweeted the following:

Ouch. Seems Shalrie hasn’t missed the empty seats at the cavernous Gillette Stadium.

But Shalrie isn’t alone. Newcomer A.J. Soares has avoided most of the criticism other on-field players have had leveled at them. I think part of this is because despite the situation he has been solid for an MLS rookie, seems to be level headed, and has been active in engaging fans with video blogs on the Revolution Website and blog posts on boston.com.

One such post happened during the run-up to the Manchester United match, and while well intentioned and admirably honest, A.J.’s comment that he “…will have a special appreciation for the people who come out with their Revolution gear on, ready to cheer on the home team” vs. those who were there rooting for the visiting team felt more like a (desperate) plea than a simple comment.

Let’s be fair, many (real?) Revolution fans agree with A.J. as do, I would assume, many other players. Kenny Mansally is likely one of those players. Kenny was quoted on RevolutionSoccer.net talking about the Manchester United game, and also saw the crowd as something worthy of mention. He said, “Wow. For me, like if you told me we were going to get this kind crowd every game I don’t think we would lose any points. Because you know you get the home support and this kind of crowd, it’s unbelievable…”

Is there anything wrong with Kenny making those comments after an emotional game in front of 50,000+ fans? Absolutely not. But taken in context of Shalrie’s tweet and A.J.’s blog post it adds to a theme of players feeling, and publicly speaking about, crowd-related concerns.   And knowing that the team travels to so many other stadiums – many soccer specific – that have a raised-bar in terms of MLS team support, means we shouldn’t be surprised that they’d want similar support at home.

So, the players are frustrated and it is starting to show.

But, at least their coach, the eminently respected, hugely experienced and historically successful Steve Nicol has what it takes to wrestle the situation back under control. Right?

More on that next time…

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Frustration Reigns as Revs and Supporters Meet

June 30, 2011 by Soccer Soap Box

I attended tonight’s meeting between the Revolution front office and the Revolution supporter’s groups (really open to any fan that knew of it) as a self-proclaimed “unbiased observer.”

I’m “unbiased” in the sense that I’m not a Revolution supporter’s group member, I have no capacity with the team, and I was not there on the night that the ruckus began in earnest.

Yet, being an “unbiased” observer, now leaves me in the unenviable position of feeling like I’m about to make friends with exactly nobody in writing of my impressions of where the Revs and Supporters are at.

Let’s call this the lose/lose blog post.

(And by the way, much like Soccer Soap Box is NOT your home for play by play recounting of games, you will be let down if you expect me to do a similar thing for an evening meeting in Foxboro.)

Probably the biggest takeaway from the meeting for me, is that this bust-up is NOT about a specific chant. Don’t misunderstand, there was a very specific effort to stope the Fort from using the the (now affectionately referred to as) “YSA” chant each time the away team goalkeeper kicked the ball back into play.

But that’s not what this is REALLY about.

And that’s too bad, because ditching the YSA chant is something that (nearly) everyone can agree on.

But what the tempest in Foxboro is really about is frustration.

The Supporter’s Groups are clearly frustrated. The obvious target being the Revolution’s front office and its (now quite public) bumbling in communicating with them (and other season ticket holders) about eradicating the offensive chant.

But again, that’s not REALLY where their frustration mostly lies. It’s really the TeamOps security outfit that they feel has been unnecessarily heavy handed with them for quite some time. Stories of over-reaction and problem escalation, rather than the hoped for problem resolution, were plentiful if only as hearsay.

Admittedly, it was pretty credible sounding hearsay. And while the statements from the TeamOps representative at the meeting were suggestive of an open ear to problems, she might have been well served to think a bit more politically when answering some challenges. When asked if one of the main Supporter’s Group leaders would hear an apology for what nearly all the supporters in attendance thought was unfair treatment, her answer was a curt “No.” Even if you believe your security force wasn’t in the wrong, perhaps a better answer in this environment would have been an offer to stay for a few minutes and talk over the situation with said leader, who sat quietly toward the back of the room.

Revolution Supporters, I’ll suggest, are also somewhat frustrated by their plight. Relative to other fan bases in MLS they seem a bit smaller and more loosely organized, despite their tremendous efforts. This is not meant as an attack, as without these members in the Fort (and at away games) the entire stadium would even more resemble the “Morgue” that they so commonly refer to the very quiet other ¾ of Gillette Stadium on a Revolution game day. That “morgue” is a frustration point as well, since the fort has had trouble engaging other attendees in chants and noise making.

Tonight’s meeting was, unfortunately, an example of their challenge. Maybe 100 people were in attendance, mostly all official supporters, and a smattering of other season ticket holders, bloggers and the ever-present Revolution beat writer Kyle McCarthy. The Revolution set out twice as many chairs as needed, presumptively in hope of a passionate meeting, it instead served as a reminder of games with a half-filled Fort, and ongoing weak stadium attendance.

Imagine the attendance of a similar meeting if such an issue erupted in Seattle and not Foxboro.

It’s possible that the Supporters now feel added pressure as league-wide support has come in from other Supporter’s Groups, and the Midnight Riders, Rebellion and Rev Army’s success or failure in establishing their lines in the sand will be rather common knowledge.

The Supporter’s Groups, however, do not have a monopoly on frustration. The Revolution Front Office is equally frustrated.

Their frustration is centered on their being situated on the outskirts of what has been arguably the most successful sports city in America and are still struggling for the relevance, fan interest and support they feel they deserve.

If it was simply proven that Boston is a great sports city, but a terrible soccer city, they’d be off the hook. The problem is that with sixty two thousand plus fans coming to see Spain roll over the USA at the Revolution’s home stadium, along with healthy crowds for visiting professional team games locally, it’s not possible to write Boston off as a soccer problem child.

The Front Office must be frustrated with their in-game atmosphere issues, including these new challenges with the Supporters. Becoming the epicenter of a Support Group rights discussion was also not likely on their agenda. It’ not a fun position for them to be in, with 10% of their season ticket holders making 90% of the crowd noise and now perilously near protest mode.

Team management surely gets frustrated that despite having built a solid, MLS Cup competing team, they weren’t able to win a championship, and now in the thinner, rebuilding years, their own fans are convinced that cost savings is a bigger priority than winning championships.

Situational frustration for the 2011 seasion has probably kicked in as well, since despite some missteps, there was hope in the system not too long ago. Benny Feilhaber was signed. (Albeit, luckily.) A jersey sponsor was inked as the Revolution signed up for a long-term relationship with United Healthcare. But just as quickly as people were getting excited, we find ourselves back at square one.

All of these frustrations are turbo-charged by the Revolution’s poor form over the last two years. It’s clear that if this team was winning games and playing great soccer, all of these issues would seem far less dramatic.

And yet the team is not winning games and playing great soccer.

And that is very frustrating, even for those of us who are usually in the “morgue.”

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US Soccer Learning That Change Isn’t Easy

June 29, 2011 by Soccer Soap Box

Judging by the strident tenor and continuing strength of the ongoing, online, venting session emanating from the US Soccer fan and pundit communities, the 4-2 Gold Cup Final loss to Mexico could be interpreted as the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back.

However, rather than it being simply “one loss too many,” or even the fact that it was a loss to the USA’s most significant rival, there’s something greater going on here.

There is, slowly but surely, a realization that answers we seek are not going to be easy to find. The problems are complex and deeply rooted.

Let’s be honest, if the fix for the USA’s ills was as easy as the very common “Bob must go!” refrain, people would all feel quite a bit better.

Maybe Bob must go. Fine.  He has certainly provided examples of questionable decisions in the 20/20 that is hindsight. (As all coaches will.)

But anyone who’s paying attention also knows that Bob alone isn’t the problem. A chef can only make an exemplary meal with exemplary ingredients. Our player pool is not providing those ingredients.

And that’s not Bob’s fault.

The problem is systemic. And systems are hard to change.

The USA has “grown” a national player pool filled with adequate athletes, that tend to be very limited soccer players. It has prioritized brawn over creativity.  Durability over soccer cunning.   (There are notable execptions, sure.  But we know that exceptions are there to prove the rule, don’t we?)

Frankly, the discussion should be less about who replaces Mr. Bradley, and more about the structure that would lead to long-term success.

Replacing one coach with another is unlikely to change much.

Sure, there would likely be a momentary surge in on field focus and motivation to impress the new guy. There may be some personnel shake-ups on the field. Maybe some new tactical decisions and sophistication might be seen.

But at the end of the day, the new coach will still deal with a mediocre player pool (relative to the world’s best, or even our southern neighbor) that lacks any cohesive system or style.

The bigger issue is that the new coach will assume a position that offers very little influence over changing it.   To foster true change, our youth, professional and National programs would need a discernable style and priority alignment that what exists today.

The question though, is do we have it in us to make the hard changes?

This isn’t new. Let’s not pretend. It’s just hard to deal with.

On August 4, 2009, I went ahead an picked a “style” for the USA to target, and suggested a change:

“If we want a true “style” — and one of possession-oriented, attacking soccer I’d hope — a simple switch of coaches won’t make much of a dent in our current direction. I’d suggest we need to find someone that has a history of building teams with such a style, guarantee them time to experiment and learn the US system (since I suspect this person is not American) and give them greater-than-normal control over the US Soccer development machine. That greater control means they would have a say in both the development and management of quality players.”

If the idea of a newcomer having “greater-than-normal” control sounds familiar, it did to me too. In that post, I said, “Sounds a bit like what almost happened with Jürgen Klinsmann, no?”

But this isn’t about Klinsmann the man. I’m not sure he’s the right person.

However, the right person would be a “name” like Klinsmann I think. Someone who demands respect and can command the attention of our many politicized soccer factions – because a stylistic change needs some level of buy-in from independent sources like MLS, which is becoming the new training/proving ground for US Soccer. One who preferably has a history of building systems, developing players and cultivating a style of play.

And a connection to the ever-expanding Latin player pool in our country via language or experience sure wouldn’t hurt.

There aren’t many of these folks around around.

So what now?

What would be a meaningful move, and thus unlikely, would be a summit somewhere involving Sunil Gulati, the coaches of all Youth and Sr. National Teams (perhaps including the more powerful “new guy”), Don Garber and key MLS leadership, and a smattering of NCAA and Lower Division professional leaders that would discuss some major changes that need to occur for soccer to really move forward.

In fact, nobody should be allowed to leave that summit until some fundamental and strategic changes are identified that all parties can support in that room. Looser NCAA rules for club participation?  Funding changes for Youth Soccer that allow it to better reach the masses (urban or otherwise) and not be confined to the pay-to-play crowd we have today? A plan to increase the level of play in MLS in non traditional ways and by putting money out in the league to support it.

Oh, and they should invite Adidas. Or Nike. Or whoever writes the bigger Qatar… I mean check.  Because, without finding a way to dangle a big check in front of these disparate audiences, many won’t line up.

Because after all, we aren’t trying to fix soccer.

We are trying to fix American soccer, and even in – or especially in - this economy, money still talks.

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Panama Loss Provokes Difficult Reality Check

June 11, 2011 by Soccer Soap Box

There’s nothing like a USA National Team loss to get the fingers on the keys.

Sure, there are parallels to the New England Revolution’s loss last night, with both teams frustratingly not turning it on until it was too late. However, the emotion surrounding the two, for me at least, isn’t the same. And thus, my frustration isn’t either.

(And to be fair, by the time I made it through the Revolution game on the DVR – hey, the Bruins did deserve some attention – I was too tired to repeat the common refrains we’ve heard this season, though with a slightly brighter attitude based on an energetic second half. There, that about covers it.)

For the USA’s Gold Cup loss however, there are some thoughts that jump out at me and I am awake enough to write about them.

First, the difference between the USA’s ability to beat Canada two to zero, and lose two to one against Panama is, to me, more about playing style than playing ability.

Is Panama that good of a team? They aren’t bad, but no, I don’t think they are terrific.

But they are skillful. They control the ball and play with the skill, quick passing and trickery that the USA so infrequently displays. They play like you’d expect from a good Central or South American side.

For the USA, beating Canada is like beating a slightly worse version of itself. When in doubt, effort replaces skill in order to win.

Playing Panama is an adjustment and a reminder that despite the fact that players on the field for the US represented (theoretically) better pedigree as judged by their club teams, pedigree and professionalism are no replacement for skill and “soccer brains.”

This is simply another piece of evidence that true soccer skills development is something the USA needs to figure out in our youth development program. By the time players get to MLS, or get shipped overseas, it’s too late.

That skill deficit is something we hand to our National Team coach, Bob Bradley, to deal with. And while many USA fans have reasons they believe Bob Bradley is not the right coach for this team. I find many of those reasons farcical or delusional.  However, the the other idea that’s really sticking with me: there may be a different reason to see Mr. Bradley off into a new role.

Bob Bradley understands the game, has tried to bring in fresh/better talent as possible and treats his duties with respect (even if he’s unable to dress that way.) There comes a point where the talent within the USA team will only go so far.

However, the USA has a history of coming out flat and either being outplayed or giving up an early goal in the beginning of matches.  Tonight, it was both.

While the eleven players on the field are who really make a difference  and a coach can only do so much to predict or prevent individual errors, this early-game lethargy is the one argument against Mr. Bradley that I find most compelling.

Of course, it’s true that after an opponent gets comfortable in a lead, the USA looks better because they are allowed to see more of the ball as the opponent tends to bunker and counter-attack. But there’s rarely a killer instinct in this team that can sense and attack another team’s weaknesses during nearly any part of the game.

When there’s a history, a pattern, a near predictability to the USA’s inability to start a game with a fire in its belly, what does that tell you? It makes me start to wonder about the coach’s ability to properly get his team mentally ready for the game.

And that’s a problem that Mr. Bradley needs to answer for.

Switching gears, I think there are a few rapid-fire points worth considering at a player-level:

  1. Anyone that is still insistent that Michael Bradley is only on that field because his father is the coach is watching with their eyes closed. Michael Bradley is clearly an imperfect, if improving, midfielder, but he is a driving force in the USA midfield. If Bob Bradley was fired tomorrow, the next coach would have a similar interest in having Michael in his team.
  2. There’s quite a bit of banter on Twitter (and elsewhere) about Freddy Adu and how he “cannot even make the 18 man lineup” for the US team he’s training with. I’ve commented on Freddy before, and hope that there’s still an exciting future for him. On a more timely note, however, given that first 45 minutes we all suffered through today, it is hard to think that Freddy would have been a step down for many of those players. I haven’t seen much of the Turkish Second Division, but I bet that if you come out that flat you risk bodily harm. If not by the other team, maybe by your own fans.
  3. Lastly, I don’t know what Jermaine Jones was saying or thinking when he came off the field against Panama tonight. However, he’s not done nearly enough in that USA jersey (and certainly not tonight) that he so coarsely removed and threw for him to be given a pass. With that petty display by Jones, Maurice Edu just got his starting role back in my mind.

So as we look forward to the game against Guadeloupe, we look through a fog that worries about a lack of skill, motivation and questions around our lineup.   Hopefully we can muster a solid drubbign of Guadeloupe amd we cam chalk up some of these concerns as a post-loss over-reaction.

Hopefully.

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Enough is Enough: Use “Our” Stadiums

June 7, 2011 by Soccer Soap Box

It seems generally accepted in the MLS community, if not the US Soccer community, that soccer specific stadiums are key to the growth of soccer in the USA.

The reasons are many, and include everything from the emotionally-relevant display of faith in the sport in this country, to the very practical ownership of parking and other associated revenue streams.

Yet, I sit here watching the second USA National Team match in only a few days taking place in an American football stadium with a temporary grass field laid on top of the normally used artificial turf.

Let’s be clear, these are not good playing surfaces.

With regard to Saturday’s game against Spain in Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, MA, Boston Herald and MLS writer Kyle McCarthy posted this on Twitter: As one might suspect,the ball dies once it plops down on the temporary grass surface at Gillette. Chunks coming up as well. #usmnt

Tonight’s match in Detroit under a similar surface drew similar commentary.

Sports Illustrated writer and best-selling author Grant Wahl’s views on Twitter didn’t provide a much better view of the situation in Detroit, he said: Know what the fake turf in Seattle is like when it’s wet? This temporary grass field in Detroit is the opposite.

As I just watched tonight’s Gold Cup game, Carlos Bocanegra slipped down while creating a divot in a chunking turf that nearly led to a scoring opportunity for Canada and luckily did not lead to an injury.

Ironically, one reason it might not have led to a goal is it looked like the Canadian player who went around him, Will Johnson of Real Salt Lake I believe, looked to struggle to control the ball, and was staring down at the turf seemingly suggesting it did him no favors either.

While all this is going on, Sporting KC of MLS is about to open its brand new (and quite nice looking) stadium this week, which serves as an immediate reminder that there’s another way.

As the soccer community benefits from some “big bets” that MLS owners and investors are making, isn’t it time we repay the favor? It would be as simple as a declaration that US Soccer matches and key competitions will be held Soccer Specific Stadiums with a natural grass surface.

Period.

Not having such a stadium near me, this certainly isn’t said with any personal goal in mind.   But let the Revolution deal with Gillette, US Soccer has choices.

Sure, there’s an economic argument against it, with the greater capacity still existing in the American football stadiums. Guess what, there were probably economic arguments against building the soccer specific stadiums as well. But it happened.

There are probably concerns relative to location, with some soccer specific stadiums located in areas that would often lead to away-team atmospheres against some opponents. Sure, if we play Mexico in Dallas or Los Angeles, that’s a pretty big challenge.

But first, we don’t only play Mexico (yes, there are other teams that bring this challenge as well), and second, play them in Columbus or Kansas City.   Or, let’s just beat the pants off them and win those fans over.

Without data I cannot be sure of this, but I’m going to guess that there would be US Soccer supporter and MLS season ticket advance sales that could go a long way to ensuring some semblance of a pro-USA crowd.   Or at least minimize any potential disadvantage.

Whatever the concerns, it’s time get the US Men’s National Team and key competitions on grass fields and in soccer stadiums.

US Soccer, lets pay back the investors that have bet on soccer in the USA, provide our team and the teams that come here with a reasonable playing surface, and reward fans with a wonderful atmosphere and a better looking game played on an appropriate surface.

Otherwise, let’s be honest with everyone and just admit that what matters are the gate receipts.   And if that’s all you care about, let me know when Sepp and friends revote on 2022, maybe then we can negotiate a different approach.

Until that point, let’s use “our” stadiums.

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Two Hours of My Life Back

June 6, 2011 by Soccer Soap Box

I have to get this off my chest: on my DVR sits the New England Revolution game versus FC Dallas from this Saturday night, and I have no plans to watch it.  Ever.

On Soccer Soap Box, I don’t attempt to capture news before other blogs. I don’t analyze every game and every touch.  If you are looking for a scoop or play by play coverage,  you are unlikely to get it here.

Despite all that though, it’s unlike me to skip a game altogether.  Not “breaking” news is  different usually than “not being in the know.”  Even if just to motivate a commentary for the blog, I generally find the time to watch.

And while I don’t bring the die-hard fan credibility of a Midnight Rider or Rebellion member, let’s say I’ve been to more home games than I’ve missed, and it’s not my preference to have reason to complain.

Typically I’ll contort a normal schedule to find time to watch late night west coast games or run the DVR when the family is asleep.

But not this time.

What’s the point?  We’ve seen this story before.

Lack of possession.  Lack of goals.  Lack of imagination. Lack of excitement.

This isn’t an indictment of the players.  They are trying.

In fact, this time I don’t intend this as an indictment of anyone, though the usual suspects should all be getting grilled by their bosses.

Because we all know the Kraft Sports Group will settle for nothing but success, right?

Let’s hope so.

Because core Revolution fans are getting frustrated and nervous. Again.

It is interesting, but not shocking, that while I was in the middle of writing this, The Drug is Football delivered its own perspective on a season that seems to be
slipping away.  It is worth a read.

So as I sit watching the Bruins restore their fans faith by winning their NHL game three playoff game by scoring so many goals a Revolution fan would expect it to be illegal, and have the memories of sixty four thousand soccer fans in Gillette Stadium this weekend, I see a reality check for the team.

Despite the handy-cam commercial that suggests Pride and Passion are alive and well, they are both on life support in Foxboro.

In fans’ eyes they need entertainment as well as sporting excellence.  What is the draw?  Where is the excitement?  Where are the goals?

So Revolution brass, instead of asking why fans are staying away from Revolution games and feeling indifferent, it is high time ask yourself why they shouldn’t be.

It’s getting increasingly hard to answer that.

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Revolution Lose Battle of the Bands vs. LA Galaxy

May 29, 2011 by Soccer Soap Box

Last night’s New England Revolution loss to the LA Galaxy was a frustrating, if predictable, example of the Revolution struggles of late.

Watching it in the afterglow of the UEFA Champions League Final yesterday, where an excellent Barcelona removed any doubts about their status as the best team on the earth, made for some interesting contrasts.

For both games you just need to look at what’s right in front of you, and state the obvious.

The Revolution (and Manchester United) were both beaten by superior foes.

Simple, right?

Somewhat.

Barcelona have been given tougher games (and losses) from lesser opponents than Manchester United, and though a squad of inferior quality right now, MLS parity means that the Revolution could have beaten the LA Galaxy had a few things went differently.

They didn’t. And it wasn’t for lack of effort.

In the Revolution example, it was for lack of quality.

More than quality, I am reminded of the analogy Fox analyst (and former US National Team and MLS great) Eric Wynalda used pre-game to describe Xavi’s role as “conductor” in Barcelona’s mesmerizing midfield.

There is no doubt, Xavi is excellent.

But for that orchestra to play beautiful music, the surrounding musicians need to be masters of their instruments (positions, roles) and play from the same song sheet (tactics, style.)

While it’s unfair to compare the Revolution with Barcelona, the goals are the same, even if at different levels. Unfortunately, the Revolution have some missing ingredients.

Conductor? Shalrie is a magnetic force in the midfield when at his best, but not a top-notch conductor. (More the driving force in a hard-rock band, maybe…) And frankly, Benny Feilhaber hasn’t grabbed solid hold of the role yet either.

Musicians? At too many spots on the field the Revolution is simply average. How many of our starters would crack the first eleven of other established MLS teams?

Song sheet? Watching this team, you get the sense that if Mr. Nicol is going to motivate the team to pour more effort in, it’s not exactly sure into what that gets poured. Save for harder running.

Lastly, the very best orchestras showcase a stand-out soloist or virtuoso. Some may have a few. Lionel Messi stands out amongst the soccer “giants” at Barcelona, for instance.

The LA Galaxy’s obvious answers to that are Landon Donovan and David Beckham.

In my last post, I “thanked” the LA Galaxy for putting up with all the external noise created by Beckham’s presence such that the rest of MLS could avail itself of the media glow. (A blog which undoubtedly made fellow Revolution fan’s eyes roll. But count the butts in seats last night for my point to have been made.)

Let me be clear, I’m no Beckham fan boy. And no, I’d never have been in Gillette Stadium in a Beckham jersey.

But let’s also say this. The guy is a pro. Imperfect, predictable, aging? Sure.  But he delivered.

He played his part to “conduct” accurately hitting passes from all over the field.  He delivered a tough (some might say nasty looking) tackle on Benny Feilhaber that looked to add a level of uncertainty into Benny’s game for a while. And, of course, he delivered a terrific ball that led to the game winner.

Who’s the player on the Revolution who can step up into the limelight and lead? Where’s the soloist?

So, credit the Revolution’s effort, but there’s still more missing than present (orchestra analogy or otherwise.)

The fact remains that turning up the volume on bad music doesn’t make it sound better.

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