Quality Of Life: 2011 Season 25%

Yes yes y'all it's time for a they latest installation of TDIF's New England Revolution Quality of Life Index, lets get right into it...

B-B-B-Bennny, Beeeeeeenny, Beeeeennnyy and the Reeeevvvvvvsss

What can we say that hasn't already been said?  The Revs finally lucked out and didn't get screwed over by the returning US National Player Allocation Order.   We all were on the edge of our seats for a  few days while we waited to hear if Chivas would take him or pass, then Philly was up.  Philly and Chivas both passed and Benny landed squarely in lap of the Revs.  This was a no-brainer decision, we had to take him, he helps fill a need and really got the Revs fan base fired up.  While he hasn't totally wowed us yet with the few games he has under his belt we're still excited.  PLUS 20









Wait... The Front of the Jersey Doesn't Say 'Revolution' Anymore?

Well well well, looky what we got here the Revs finally picked up a sponsor.  About damn time.  It's not a flashy brand or anything but we got it.  This basically means money for almost nothing and if what we have speculated in the past about the budget His Royal Highness Kraft bequeaths on the lowly soccer playing peasants, we need it.  Now the question is how much and what will it be used for, better marketing? a Designated Player? orange slices for everyone?
PLUS 10



PSYCHO!!

Tramp Stamp?

Wow the Revs signed an attacking player... like people had been asking for... for a few years... and he's not 38... thank you, what took yous so effin' long? "Psycho" Rajko Lekic comes to the Revs from Danish side Silkeborg IF.  He's looks good on paper and we like what we've seen so far including a pretty nice goal against Sporting KC.

We want more though, and we're hoping that with the upcoming transfer window we will see another piece of the puzzle come in to help get Lekic some service, service he desperately needs.  Lekic's outburst against Nyassi during last weekends match against the Colorado Rapids definitely shows his intense passion and well maybe where he got his nickname from.  Some people thought it was over the top but we don't, Nyassi needed the criticism and someone dishing out criticism is might be what this team needs to light a fire under their collective asses. PLUS 15

The Season So Far

Draw vs. LA Galaxy
Win vs. DC United
Draw vs. Portland
Draw vs. Vancouver
Loss vs. Real Salt Lake
Loss vs. Houston
Win vs. Sporting KC
Loss vs. Chivas
Tie vs. Colorado

The team is better than last year.  The team's results are not yet good enough for us though. We'd love to see some consistency in the line up, i.e. less injuries, as well as some better cohesion between the team.  The time for the team to "gel" was in the pre-season and maybe the first few games of the season.  The Revs still needing to "gel" in the middle of the season is starting to get old as well as the use of that as an excuse. Our new system for rating the season is perhaps the most un-arbitrary number we've put out on these posts, 3 points for a win, 0 points for a tie, -3 for a loss.  Yes I am sure someone has done this somewhere else but I don't care. MINUS 3 (For comparison NYRB is +9)

Ousmane Dabo Finally Plays His 1st League Match...

...and ends up back on the injury list... He looked good while he played and the team looked better with him,  but his situation is getting worrisome as we had feared was possible in the past here and here, oh and here. MINUS 7 (I like you Ousmane, I really do... don't take it personally)

Revs vs. Red Devils

Well the Revs announced that they would be playing an international friendly against Manchester United and the world was happy, flowers were coming up, war was stopping, cats and dogs were friends.  Then the Revs announced that for the first time in recent history (ever?) that this international friendly would NOT be included in the season ticket package.  Apparently the price or our package doesn't reflect the added price that bringing in an opponent like ManU would require.

It's still a big heaping pile of bullshit. I am not going to rant anymore on this one, did enough already here and here.  Sales for this match have topped 35,000 and the lower bowl is "almost sold out", except for the Fort where the supporters groups have been given a longer window to try to sell tickets to their members.

I'll leave you with this thought on it, the die-hards the ones who make the atmosphere, sing chant and scream their hearts out, travel to great lengths to support their team, will have small numbers.  These are the people you screw over by not including this in the season ticket package and by doing so the Revs have shot themselves in the foot by alienating one of their best game-day marketing tools.  In my own small group there were probably a good 20 or so of us that were planning on going prior to the news that it wasn't included, now there is 2.  MINUS 18

Stoli, and Tim Murray loaned to FC New York

We learned that the Revs loaned Ilja Stolica and goalkeeper Tim Murray to USL Pro side FC New York last month. It is a multi-month loan and either player may be recalled at any time.  We feel that Stoli is getting the short end of the stick here, and we'd would like to have him still with the team especially seeing as how his friendship with fellow Serb Marko Perovic has been good for Perovic.  We have inquired with the team to see if this helps clear cap space or not but we will have to wait for an answer until Mike Burns returns from his current scouting trip to Europe. PLUS/MINUS 5

Final Thoughts

It's been an interesting season for the Revs for sure and overall some good things have happened and the team has started to make moves that we've been asking for for a long time.  Everything isn't all rosy but there have definitely been improvements made both on and off the field.  It's looking better being a Revs fan these days although there is still a lot to be desired... for the first time ever though the QoL Index hits positive numbers.

OVERALL: PLUS 17 (+/- 5)
LAST QoL: MINUS 23