MLS - New England Revolution

The New England Revolution are best characterized as a team in transition, although some who are more pessimistic may describe them as a team staring rock bottom straight in the face with no clue how to find their way back up. As the 2011 MLS season draws to a close, the once-proud franchise has been bouncing around the bottom three spots in the Eastern Conference, and for the second straight year, the playoffs are out of reach. Things have gotten so bad that some fans have begun calling for head coach Steve Nicol – an MLS legend with over 100 wins who has spent 10 seasons at the helm – to be fired.

Apart from a dismal record, calamity has seemed to pile on the Revs organization, and a series of controversial decisions has seen serious and possibly irreparable damage done to the team's relationship with its fans. In a June 18th match with the Chicago Fire, stadium security responded with overbearing force and a total lack of professionalism to complaints of excessive profanity in the sections devoted to the hardcore fans; sections that are supposed to be designated as “18+” for that very reason. In the aftermath, many fans have pledged not to renew their season tickets next season, and a response of cold stoicism from the Revolution organization has not done much to smooth things over.

Furthermore, New England released their 2010 MVP and best player, Marko Perovic, while he was rehabbing from serious knee surgery. Accounts vary, but the player himself claims that he was previously promised a raise when his contract option was up, but when that happened, the organization attempted to use his injury as leverage to keep his salary down. Predictably, this did not go over well with the fans either, especially since Perovic was a firm fan favorite.

There is, however, some cause for optimism in Foxborough. This season has seen the addition of several quality players who could provide building blocks going forward. USA international Benny Feilhaber has added spark and composure to an attack sorely lacking in both categories, and Danish striker Rajko Lekic has rounded into form, bringing a lethal scoring touch to the striker corps. Rookie defender A.J. Soares has shone individually despite featuring in a defense that ranks among the worst in the league, and the recent additions of Milton Caraglio and Monsef Zerka have also brought calm to the side, improving their ability to pass and maintain possession.

The coming offseason will be critical for New England as they look to haul themselves out of the mire of mediocrity and return to the heady days of the mid-2000s, when they made four appearances in the MLS Cup Final. Team captain Shalrie Joseph looks to be departing in the winter, leaving the front office with enormous shoes to fill, but a strong draft and some decent international scouting work could put the Revs in a decent position to improve in 2012. Only time will tell.