New England Revolution Offseason Abnormally Quiet
Revolution Roster Remains Largely Unchanged From Disappointing 2022 Major League Soccer Season So Far
The 2022-23 offseason has been abnormally quiet for the New England Revolution. New England as of January 1st has had nine outgoing players and just five incoming players for the 2023 Major League Soccer season. With just eight days before players report to preseason training in Foxborough on January 9th the time to bring in new additions prior to the season starting is running out.
Below I will dig thru the outgoing transactions, ingoing transactions, and take a look at the current roster build and where the holes remain for the Revolution.
Outgoing Transactions:
Options declined: Emmanuel Boateng, Clément Diop, Wilfrid Kaptoum, Edward Kizza, Ismael Tajouri-Shradi
Out of contract: A.J. DeLaGarza, Nacho Gil, Brad Knighton
MLS Expansion Draft: Jon Bell
Total: 9
Thoughts: No real shockers here although the cost to acquire ITS via a trade deadline acquisition proves costly with the team not electing to bring the midfielder back for 2023. Boateng also stands out as a potential bit miss given his pace was a game-changer off the bench for the past two seasons. There was also a theory/expectation that Nacho Gil would be brought back for 2023 but that hasn’t come to fruition just yet.
Ingoing Transactions:
Free agents: Santiago Suarez
MLS Re-entry Draft: Bobby Wood
MLS Super Draft: Joshua Bolma, Victor Souza, Andreas Ueland
Total: 5
Thoughts: Suarez won’t actually be on the roster until 2024 due to MLS HomeGrown Player signing rules. In addition, the three MLS SuperDraft picks haven’t been signed to a first-team contract yet and could easily go unsigned or sign to a second-team contract. New England to this point has not signed a first-team quality free agent on the open market this offseason which seems off.
Current Projected Roster
Forwards: Gustavo Bou, Giacomo Vrioni, Jozy Altidore, Bobby Wood, Justin Rennicks
Attacking Midfielders/ Wingers: Carles Gil, Dylan Borrero, Damien Rivera, Noel Buck, Esmir Bajraktevic
Defensive Midfielders: Matt Polster, Tommy McNamara, Christian Makoun, Maciel
Outside Backs: DeJuan Jones, Brandon Bye, Ryan Spaulding
Centerbacks: Henry Kessler, Andrew Farrell, Omar Gonzalez, Ben Reveno
Goalkeepers: Djordje Petrovic, Earl Edwards Jr., Jacob Jackson
Thoughts: What is this teams formation? How do Bou and Vrioni work together? Is Dylan Borrero the only true wide-attacking midfielder on this roster? Where is this teams depth? These are the major questions that come to mind when looking at this roster. Since the three MLS SuperDraft picks are not signed I didn’t include them in this roster snapshot but they would do little to move the needle and complete the picture.
New England needs additional depth at outside back, centerback, and should have really looked at improving its defensive midfield opposite Polster.
A glass-half-full point of view is a fully healthy team in 2023 and should be better than the 2022 team. Full seasons of Vrioni, Borrero, and Petrovic should also aid things. New England will also not have to worry about playing in CCL in 2023 and will theoretically need less depth. That’s not even mentioning Altidore who could bring upside to 2022 by just being present in one match.
That being said their depth at key positions is rather glaring and could prove to be a major issue if they run into injuries or receive a cannot refuse transfer offer for either Jones or Bye.
There is still time to add to this team but it’s odd to have so many holes heading into the preseason.