Revolution seeking offensive punch
Must-win match in Columbus looms for playoff-hopeful New England
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Score goals.
New England has mustered just 32 goals in its 29 matches, tied for third fewest in the league, and hasn't scored in 241 minutes. Unless the Revs strike three times against the Crew on Sunday, they will set a new team record for fewest goals scored during the course of a campaign. To put a finer point on the Revs' struggles in front of goal this season, the new season-low team record would best the 35 goals compiled in just 27 games back in 2001.
Long-term injuries to Steve Ralston and Taylor Twellman have robbed the Revolution of much of their creativity and their ruthlessness in front of goal, respectively, but New England midfielder Shalrie Joseph said the attack still hasn't met his expectations even with those injuries.
"Our scoring woes have been the biggest disappointment for this team so far," Joseph said. "The defense has been great. The back four, including Matty (Reis, Revolution goalkeeper), have been awesome all season. They've kept games at 1-0 all season. You expect with the offense we have to at least score one or two."
That hasn't often been the case as a mix of intermittent service from the wide areas, occasional wastefulness in possession and spotty creativity and finishing have limited the Revs in the attacking third. Three players -- Kheli Dube (eight goals), Joseph (eight) and Ralston (seven) -- have combined for 23 of the 32 strikes, with no other player contributing more than two goals.
Revolution boss Steve Nicol said his side will need to improve its attacking prowess considerably in Columbus in order to secure the three points it will need to stay in the playoff hunt. The best way to assuage the scoring problems, Nicol believes, is to create more chances and rely on the strikers to polish them off.
"We just have to try to put ourselves in the position to score," Nicol said. "That's the bottom line. After that, then we have to rely on the guy's ability, calmness and whatever else. That's all you can do."
Nicol also pointed to Edgaras Jankauskas' return in last Saturday's 0-0 draw with Chicago after a three-match layoff as a key to sparking the attack. The veteran striker links the play and brings other in to attack, but the Revs will need him to produce the goods in front of goal against the Crew on Sunday.
Jankauskas said his side is doing enough to create chances, but believes it needs to ignore the importance of the game and show more poise in front of goal.
"I don't want to say it's bad luck," Jankauskas said. "Sometimes, you make the wrong decision or show a lack of calmness when you're taking a shot. It's not as easy as it looks from the side."
Revolution defender Jay Heaps said he thinks Jankauskas combined well enough with Dube last weekend and thinks a break through is right around the corner for the New England front two.
"I like the way Dube and Edgar have been playing up top and I like the way our service has been, so that's our key," Heaps said.
Joseph said he wants to push into the attack a bit more to provide additional support for Dube and Jankauskas. Between the additional support and increased movement off the ball, Joseph said he thinks the Revs can create the requisite chances in order to keep their season alive.
With a win in the season finale almost certainly required to make the playoffs, the Revs can't afford to struggle in front of goal any longer, according to Nicol.
"It's not like we've got another 15 games where if it doesn't work on Sunday, we'll get another chance," Nicol said. "That's the huge difference."
Kyle McCarthy is a contributor to MLSnet.com
