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Juan Agudelo Traded To New England

By on May 7, 2013 | Follow @WVHooligan |
Juan Agudelo is joining New England. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)

Juan Agudelo is joining New England. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)

You read that correctly. Chivas USA has traded forward Juan Agudelo to the New England Revolution on Tuesday in exchange for allocation money.

He made 20 starts in 26 appearances for the Rebaño Angelino, recording five goals and four assists.  So far this year, he’s made six appearances, scoring two goals and adding one assist.

I must say this deal kind of came out of no where. It is interesting to see that Chivas was so quick to get rid of Agudelo, not even a year after trading for him from New York. Obviously Chivas USA is lining up some sort of forward signing that is more in line with their Mexican-American path that they are on this season.

For New England, Agudelo fills a big need that they have up front. Whether or not he fits in with this club remains to be seen but this is a good move for both the player and the club. New England needs a go-to striker and Agudelo has shown at times that he can be that kind of player. It all depends on if he wants to be in New England for the long haul.

What do you make of this move?

 

Continue Reading · · in Chivas USA, MLS, New England Revolution

Giving Grades: How First and Second Year MLS Bosses Stack Up

By on April 17, 2013 | Follow @WVHooligan |
Porterball is starting to show its way in MLS. (Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports)

Porterball is starting to show its way in MLS. (Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports)

It seems as though with each passing season in Major League Soccer we get a new crop of coaches in the league. Last year we got a couple new coaches and this season was no different with five new managers roaming the sidelines.

After seven weeks I feel as though we know a greater deal about each coach. Some are doing very well while others are still navigating the tricky and difficult MLS waters.

Typically at this time of the year we can begin to see a coaching hot seat forming and while I may get to that soon, I felt it was better to take a step back and see how the newcomers were fairing. Here is how I see them all doing so far this season with the sophomore coaches included as well.

Continue Reading →

Continue Reading · · in Chivas USA, Colorado Rapids, MLS, Montreal Impact, New England Revolution, New York Red Bulls, Philadelphia Union, Portland Timbers, Toronto FC, Vancouver Whitecaps

New England Defender Kevin Alston Takes Leave Of Absence

By on April 8, 2013 | Follow @WVHooligan |
Kevin Alston will return soon. (Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports)

Kevin Alston will return soon. (Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports)

The New England Revolution announced on Monday that defender Kevin Alston has taken an indefinite leave of absence from the team to undergo treatment for chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), a rare but treatable form of leukemia.

Alston’s medical treatment is not expected to require hospitalization and he expects to return to the team in the future, however, he and his family have requested privacy while he undergoes treatment.

“The Revolution fully supports Kevin as he begins treatment,” Revolution general manager Michael Burns said in a statement. “Right now, the most important thing for Kevin, and his family, is to concentrate on returning to full health. Kevin’s had a tremendous attitude since the diagnosis and his positivity is an inspiration for all of us.”

The key in all of this is that this is treatable. Just reading up on CML and the reports sound positive that Alston will come away from this and be able to live a normal productive life.

More information about CML can be found at the National CML Society’s site. Major strides in research and treatment of CML have been made in recent years.

Fans wishing to send Alston get-well messages and thoughts can email GetWellKevinAlston@gmail.com or tag tweets with #GetWellKA.

Continue Reading · · in MLS, New England Revolution

2013 MLS Season Preview: Eastern Conference

By on February 28, 2013 | Follow @WVHooligan |
Sporting KC hopes to keep their hold on the Eastern Conference in 2013.

Sporting KC hopes to keep their hold on the Eastern Conference in 2013.

It is time to get down to it. I’ve already gone through each MLS side, along with several other previews. But now it is time to get down to where I think things will shake out once the dust settles later this year.

Yes, I am talking predictions folks.

First up is the Eastern Conference.

Right now I see the Eastern Conference as a pretty deep group of clubs. I feel confident that it could end up being a eight team race for the long haul of the season. Yes, eight teams folks. I think the top part of the conference is pretty well stacked but the middle group from about 3-8 is closer than some might think.  Continue Reading →

Continue Reading · · in Chicago Fire, Columbus Crew, DC United, Houston Dynamo, MLS, Montreal Impact, New England Revolution, New York Red Bulls, Philadelphia Union, Sporting KC, Toronto FC

2013 MLS Season Preview: Rookie Watch

By on February 27, 2013 | Follow @WVHooligan |
Just how good will Andrew Ferrell be for the Revs? (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)

Just how good will Andrew Ferrell be for the Revs? (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)

The new MLS season is right around the corner. Just like with every year, there are a fresh crop of rookies that hope to make their impact on the new year. Like most years it make take a little while for some rookies to break into their lineups while others may get their shot earlier in the year.

While some are predicting their Rookie of the Year winners already, I’ll save mine for later this week. Until then, I wanted to point out a few rookies that I think will have a big impact on this season.

Andrew Ferrell (New England) – The first overall pick should always have a big impact on his first year. We saw some out of last year’s number one Andrew Wenger in Montreal but I see Ferrell having a bigger impact in his rookie year than Wenger did. Ferrell will be tasked with helping repair a pretty broken defense in New England. The talent has been there with guys like AJ Soares and Kevin Alston being big parts in the defense in recent years but it always seemed as though they were missing an element. I believe Ferrell is that missing element or link that the Revs have been needing in their defense.  Continue Reading →

Continue Reading · · in LA Galaxy, MLS, New England Revolution, Rookie Watch, Sporting KC, Toronto FC

2013 MLS Season Preview: Homegrown Talent

By on February 26, 2013 | Follow @WVHooligan |
DeAndre Yedlin could be a solid HGP for the Sounders' future. (Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports)

DeAndre Yedlin could be a solid HGP for the Sounders’ future. (Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports)

Each year Major League Soccer is growing not just on and off the field but in how they grow their own talent. Academies are getting to the point where they are producing quality talent each season soon enough MLS teams will be able to take full advantage of a younger player in their every day lineup.

We’ve seen some success so far in the Homegrown movement. Andy Najar is the obvious best example. In his rookie season with D.C. United, the Honduran midfielder earned the league’s Rookie of the Year award. He was the first Homegrown to win the award and to this day remains the only one to as well. Najar was also recently the first Homegrown player to get transferred overseas.

This winter several MLS squads made Homegrown signings. Dallas, Columbus and New York each signed a couple of their own in hopes that they have the next best young start.

So who are these Homegrown players? Here is a good list of who you should be expecting to get some playing time in 2013. Continue Reading →

Continue Reading · · in Columbus Crew, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, LA Galaxy, MLS, New England Revolution, Seattle Sounders FC

2013 MLS Season Preview: New England Revolution

By on February 19, 2013 | Follow @WVHooligan |
Just how good will Andrew Ferrell be for the Revs? (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)

Just how good will Andrew Ferrell be for the Revs? (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)

The last couple of years have not been so kind to the New England Revolution. From coaching changes to struggles on the field, the Revs have missed out on the playoffs each of the last three seasons.

New England is going into year two of the Jay Heaps era. Once again the Revs enter a new season with a decent amount of change in the roster. Heaps and the Revs made some serious splashes earlier this by trading up in the MLS SuperDraft to snag Andrew Ferrell at the top pick. Bold moves like that have at least made the Revs a talking point this offseason.

But have the moves been enough to get them back in the hunt in the Eastern Conference?  Continue Reading →

Continue Reading · · in MLS, New England Revolution

What’s Lacking: Montreal and New England Preseason Look

By on January 22, 2013 | Follow @WVHooligan |
New England and Montreal are both lacking some punch up front. (Getty Images)

New England and Montreal are both lacking some punch up front. (Getty Images)

Like I mentioned yesterday, I’m going to try and get as many two team sets of preseason posts up as I can this week.

I’m sticking with the Eastern Conference again today as I’ve already looked at the Chicago Fire and Columbus Crew, as well as last year’s Eastern Conference finalists D.C. United and the Houston Dynamo.

Again, all I’m doing here is taking a quick look at some missing pieces that each club is needing to fill while they kick off their preseason camps this week.

Montreal Impact

- Direction. The Impact have been busy this winter but mainly in the sense that they have changed their coaching staff up. Jesse Marsch is out and Marco Schallibaum is in. So where exactly does this club that had a decent expansion season go next? Obviously in the direction to win the Serie A right?

- Thin in the attack. Outside of a couple Italians and Andrew Wenger, the Impact are very thin up front. If they are expecting to make a decent run of things in year two, they need more than what they possess up front right now. Possibly another DP? I’m not saying that will be the answer but they certainly are thin at the moment.

- Defensive depth. Outside of their regular starters, this group isn’t too heavy on guys that can fill in and step up in the defense just yet. Adding some depth at full back will be good.

New England Revolution

- So thin in the attack. It could be a long, long year if New England doesn’t get more help up front. Jerry Bengston and Saer Sene are both good but Sene isn’t fully healthy and you know Bengston will be in and out this season with Honduras. They need more up front, it is as simple as that.

- Playmaker in the midfield. They have some guys that can sorta/kinda fill this void but when you really boil it down the Revs lack a true number 10 on the field. They need a guy that can pull all the right strings and set up the attack and keep the pressure off a young defense.

Continue Reading · · in MLS, Montreal Impact, New England Revolution

New England Snags Top Pick

By on January 16, 2013 | Follow @WVHooligan |

Trades are coming in left and right and this one is a biggie.

The New England Revolution has acquired the number one overall pick in tomorrow’s 2013 MLS SuperDraft following a trade with Toronto FC, which held the top spot. The Revs sent the fourth overall selection and allocation money to Toronto in exchange for the top pick in tomorrow’s draft.

The pick will allow the Revs to make the very first selection in the 2013 SuperDraft, marking the team’s highest-ever draft pick in the 18-year history of the event. The team’s previous high pick – No. 2 in 2002 – was used to take the club’s all-time leading scorer, Taylor Twellman.

Continue Reading · · in MLS, New England Revolution, SuperDraft, Toronto FC

New England Signs Caldwell to Homegrown Deal

By on December 21, 2012 | Follow @WVHooligan |
Scott Caldwell is New England's second HGP. (Photo via New England Revolution)

Scott Caldwell is New England’s second HGP. (Photo via New England Revolution)

No shocker to most fans around New England today, the Revolution have announced that they have signed Akron midfielder Scott Caldwell to a Homegrown contract.

The two-time All-American has played the last four seasons at Akron while training with the Revolution’s first team each summer. He is the team’s second Homegrown player, joining Diego Fagundez, who was the team’s first-ever Homegrown signing in 2010.

Caldwell is a former member of the Under-18, Under-17, Under-15 and Under-14 national teams, and played with the U.S. Under-17 Residency Program in Bradenton, Fla., for the 2006-07 and 2007-08 academic years.

He was a Hermann Trophy semifinalist and a finalist for the Senior CLASS Award. In 88 career games with the Zips, Caldwell started 66 games and scored 20 goals while adding 22 assists.

As a two-time captain, he finished his senior year in 2012 by starting all 22 of Akron’s games and scoring a career-high nine goals and recording a team-best 10 assists.

Caldwell was voted the Most Outstanding Player at the College Cup in 2012 as a sophomore as he helped lead Akron to a national title.

It seems like we’ve been talking about Caldwell and the Revs forever now. It is good to see this come together in full circle for both sides. Caldwell would have been a solid first round draft pick in next month’s draft had he not signed with the Revs via the HGP route.

Continue Reading · · in MLS, New England Revolution