Quality Of Life: Offseason 2012

With New England Revolution pre-season starting Monday, it is officially time for our Off-season 2012 Revolution Quality of Life Index. Since it's a new season we'll go over how the QoL works for those who forgot or the uninitiated.  If you are from the Boston area and read the Weekly Dig you will realize that I am 100% stealing this idea from them, so  don't tell me about how I am unoriginal and stealing and idea... I know.  Secondly, all numbers are absolutely arbitrary and decided by me and solely me. The QoL works on a PLUS/MINUS system and the total is at the bottom along with a link to the last QoL.


Front Office "Restructuring"




So with many clamoring for sweeping changes to be made in the Front Office after years of on and off the field decline, those sweeping changes happened.... well at least in the minds of Krafty JonBob... not so much to everyone else.

Yes they actually promoted Brian Bilello and Mike Burns.  I'm willing to give Bilello a little more wiggle room and time now that he has assumed the role that absentee club President Sunil Gulati once held.  However it's no secret that I do not care for Mike Burns and the fact that he now has more control over this team, a team that's fallen behind during his tenure, scares the shit out of me.  I still don't understand why the Krafts want to reward failure... not to savvy if you ask me.  MINUS 25



Oh and since I couldn't decide between Bowie and 2Pac you get both


Jay Heaps Hired

Jay Heaps has been saying the right things since he was hired in November, and it's nice to hear.  On the other hand this organization has always been good at saying what the fans want to hear... and we all know how their follow-through track record is.  Heaps to this point hasn't had a chance to disappoint us so we're not... yet.  While we still worry about his lack of experience we are cautiously optimistic to see what Jay can do, there is a lot riding on his shoulders. EVEN

Players Out

No one will be able to say that this team looks like last years team with the amount of players out. Phelan, Dube, Cochrane, Coria, Zerka, Lekic, Caraglio all gone. Apparently we're still negotiating with Lekic and Zerka.  We'd like to see Lekic come back but apparently the FO is playing the same games with players that they have in the past... you know fucking with them.  Lekic stated in a great article by L.E. Eisenmenger that he want to return but wouldn't without a guaranteed contract... and do you blame him after what happened to Ilja Stolica who helped convince Lekic to come here? The Revs not guaranteeing internationals who have moved their families here is wrong and a shitty move all around.

Further, the Revs have seemingly acted surprised when Caraglio's loan was up that the transfer fees were so high... take off your dunce cap, you knew all along and brought in a DP for the sake of having a DP to placate the fans... you were never going to keep him. Meet the new FO same as the old FO... while the clearing of most players is good, the poor treatment of Lekic and now clear DP Band-Aid for sore fans is leaving us feel worse... MINUS 10

New Jersey (The good kind, not the Shore kind (yes I know I've used that joke, piss off))

No more Patriots JR. kits yaaaaaaaaaaaaaay! I like these new jerseys... I want one, I think they are a new classic... Lots of hate from around the league... but well, haters gonna hate.... PLUS 10

Jay Miller, Nick Downing

After what was probably too long of a period to wait for this,the Revolution finally announced that Jay Miller has been announced as assistant coach.  Miller brings a lot of unique experience, but none at a professional level as many were expecting and desiring. The hiring is either outside the box thinking or they cheaped out.  I like what Miller brings and his resume includes coaching coaches more or less... which is a good thing for our inexperienced coach. The team also hired, former player Nick Downing as their first ever strength and conditioning coach... which makes you as why the hell didn't they have one before? PLUS 10

Colombians

Wow we signed some internationals before the season started... is that a first for the Revs? Maybe... or it's just been a long time since anyone has gotten off their ass and taken care of business with some urgency. The addition of Cardenas and Lozano appear to be solid moves.  As time has passed we are hearing many good things about Cardenas. Lozano has his detractors, although his most recent situation was not a good one and many think that he will turn it around in MLS. These are both potentially exciting players PLUS 20

SUPERDUPERAWESOMEFUNTIMEDRAFT!!!!

Hooray... we participated in a mandatory league event to acquire players.

Sarcasm aside Rowe and Polak look to be good draft picks, and while I do not anticipate them being starters right off the bat, I expect we see a lot of them this season.  PLUS 10

Final Thoughts

Well we certainly have seen a lot of changes so far this offseason. I'm not sure anyone has any idea what to expect, so I don't really have any insight for this one...

OVERALL: PLUS 15
LAST QoL:  MINUS 93