Just Who Is New England’s Greatest Rival? Part I

As we lead up to our second print issue of TDIF, we felt it reasonable to post some of the articles from Issue 1. In this feature article Scott McCullough takes a look at the Revolution's biggest rivals. Part 2 will be included in the second issue of TDIF Print which comes out March 8th. Join us to kick off the New England Revolution season, get your copy of TDIF Print and stick around for music from The Black Cheers and Jason Bennett and The Resistance. All of this happens at Baseball Tavern more info here

Part I - A look at some of the worst of enemies throughout the Revs’ 18-year history.

Scott McCullough

World soccer features some legendary rivalries.  In the plethora of leagues throughout the world, many of the best-known matches are local derbies, while other notable clashes are based solely on history, religion, culture, or other conflicting ideologies.  Regardless of the reasons behind various derby matches, such encounters can bring out the most passionate support from fans at the grounds to others watching on TV’s around the world.  These matches are generally considered to be amongst the most exciting fixtures each season.

Balanced? Balanced?! We Don't Need No Stinkin' Balanced Schedule

More in conference means more/better away options

So the big announcement coming out of MLS Cup this weekend was the change from a balanced schedule to a conference based schedule with the addition of Montreal into the league next year.

What does this mean for the Revs? We'll play 7 of the Eastern Conference teams 3 times, and 2 others twice,so we are at least getting a home and away for all our in conference rivals.

As for western conference teams we will play them all at least once, whichever team we don't play at home this year we will play at home next year.

MLS and FOX Stifling Our Rivalry

For what will be the third year running MLS has decided to move New England's away date at New York to a weeknight game (Now June 10th a Friday night instead of June 11th a Saturday).  They will tell us that is is because it is what their broadcast partners want, and they have no control over it.  Whose league is it? It's not the Fox Soccer Channel League, it's not the ESPN2 We'll-Get-Right-To-The-MLS-Match-Of-The-Week-Right-After-This-College-Volleyball-Game-Ends Soccer League, It's Major League Soccer.  MLS has final say on the schedule and when games will be played.  I could care less about pissing off the networks, but the league should care about pissing off it's fans.