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New England Revolution Are MLS Eastern Conference Favorites

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By @DFresh39

2015 New England Revolution Preview

Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Last season ended with another trip to the MLS Cup final and another loss for the New England Revolution. One of the league’s original teams has come in second five times, but they are looking to capture hardware this season. Entering the 20th season of existence has come with only two championship trophies, the 2007 U.S. Open Cup and the 2008 North American SuperLiga. The goal this season will be to add the first MLS Cup to the trophy case.

The road to MLS Cup last season was quite strange. It included an eight-game losing streak and two five-game winning streaks. They went 12-2-3 over their last 17 games which coincided with the addition of Jermaine Jones, who is part of the 16 players returning who suited up in the MLS Cup final.

Jones will be shielding a solid back four from his defensive midfielder role. He has much more free reign given the ability of the back four. The defense did lose A.J. Soares, but his spot will be filled by veteran Kevin Alston. Andrew Farrell will move inside to central defense with Jose Goncalves creating one of the most athletic center back pairings in the league. Chris Tierney finishes off the back four after a superb 2014 season where he scored a goal in the MLS Cup final.

The real quality of this team is in the midfield that is unchanged from last season. Scott Caldwell partners with Jones after winning the job in the second half of 2014. American Soccer Analysis states that Caldwell dribbled past more opponents than any other Revs player, which fits well with his role.

Lee Nguyen developed into an MVP contender who showed a high level of finishing ability. Nguyen and Jones have been held out of preseason. After duty with the USMNT, Jones had sports hernia surgery that will likely sideline him in the early part of the MLS season. Nguyen is expected to be ready this weekend, if the match happens.

Although Jones and Nguyen are the engines for the team, the midfield is deep in New England. Teal Bunbury and Kelyn Rowe will have big roles. Daigo Kobayashi and Diego Fagundez have been impressive in the preseason. Steve Neumann, who was protected in the Expansion Draft over Patrick Mullins, can slide back into the midfield if needed.

The forward ranks will be manned by familiar faces. Charlie Davies and the returning Juan Agudelo will split time. Agudelo, still just 22, should get the majority of the playing time.

Coach Jay Heaps has been able to get the most out of his players after the dismal losing streak. The hardship should be behind the five-time runner-ups. That means high expectations and anything less than a championship would be a disappointment. The question becomes are those high expectations from outperforming their true abilities and is a regression likely? Also, injury and national team call-ups are likely to make it tougher for Heaps and company this season.

2015 prediction: 16-9-9, 57 Points, Second in the East

Douglas Smith is a soccer writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @DFresh39, “Like” him on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google.

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