This weekend is the Portland Timbers' penultimate game against an Eastern Conference opponent. Before flying to Guyana the Timbers play the New England Revolution on Saturday evening at Gillette Stadium. Though they started brightly, New England has been a disaster since late May, winning just once against nine losses. That said, the Revs remain just outside the playoff picture in the East. To figure out just how bad things have gotten in the Boston area we turned to the Bent Musket's Steve Stoehr. It's, well, grim:
1. An eight-game losing streak was broken two weeks ago with a 3-0 win against the Colorado Rapids. Though the Revs lost again last week, what are the chances New England can recapture that high scoring form and challenge the Timbers?
Low. I can't exactly tell you why the Revs' offense clicked so well in that stretch, but it hasn't come close since. In fact, they've been terrible. It's typical Revs issues: finishing and movement in the final third. Last match Charlie Davies provided the only scoring, but I don't think he's about to blow up.
Basically, I don't see anything changing. This team always has the potential to explode, but I can't say that it has any good chance of happening.
2. Speaking of the losing streak, well, what exactly happened? Especially coming immediately after a five-game winning streak.
I think reality caught up with this team. Some of the opponents clearly read the scouting report: clog the middle because there's very little width in the team, and don't give them the counter. Game over. That, and half the team appears to have forgotten how to finish. I wish I could say more, but that's pretty much it.
3. Most Timbers fans are familiar with the likes of Lee Nguyen, Kelyn Rowe and Diego Fagundez. Is there another player Portland should be worried about in one of the last non-conference games of this season?
During that 5-game streak, I would have said Patrick Mullins, because he was killing it. Now? No idea. Charlie Davies? Honestly, no one deserves it right now. Be afraid of no one.
Bonus:
Expected XI:
Bobby Shuttleworth; Kevin Alston, Jose Goncalves, A.J. Soares, Andrew Farrell; Steven Caldwell; Diego Fagundez, Lee Nguyen, Kelyn Rowe, Teal Bunbury; Charlie Davies