Photo/Kari Heistad
The New England Revolution are known for annually closing out their regular season on a high note, which is why their form in their last three games is so disconcerting.
The playoffs and New England soccer usually attract like the opposite sides of two magnets, but the Revolution have now blown three consecutive chances to punch their ticket to the post-season.
What’s more, their disappointing, 3-1 loss at Chicago this past weekend effectively ender the possibility of winning the Supporters’ Shield and also put their chances of finishing the season in the top two of the Eastern Conference in serious doubt.
Here are a few more observations and statistics to kick-off the week:
- Despite their current three-game winless run, the Revolution are still in prime position to make the playoffs. Though it’s mathematically possible for them to miss out on the post-season, it’s unlikely, as teams near the bottom of the Eastern Conference table like Orlando and New York have too steep a mountain to climb.
- That said, the Revolution want to sprint into the playoffs, not limp into them. Tying second-worst offense in the East at home, then losing to the worst team in the league doesn’t exactly spell success.
- If the playoffs were to start today, the Revolution would play the Montreal Impact, who have been surging in recent weeks thanks to the arrival of Didier Drogba. The Revolution’s next game, two weeks from now, is against the Impact at Gillette Stadium. That match-up could give us a sneak preview as to what we can expect from both team’s in a playoff scenario.
- Except that playoffs are a home-and-away ordeal. The Revolution would likely be on the road for game one of the two-game series, which isn’t exactly a strong proposition. The Revolution lost 3-0 in Montreal just three weeks ago, so the Impact will have plenty of confidence in being able to repeat that result in the playoffs.
- Eastern Conference teams have an average of 3.6 road wins this season. The Revs are slightly above that at four. That statistic could be meaningful come playoff time.
- Jermaine Jones was called up to the national team this weekend for the CONCACAF playoff vs. Mexico. Jones picked up a silly yellow card against Chicago and had one of the Revolution’s worst passing ratings.
- In two of the Revolution’s last three games, blowing a lead has cost them points. That seems an awful lot like that 12-game streak earlier this year when they won only once and gave up lead after lead.
- Charlie Davies hasn’t scored since Aug. 1.
