Revs @ Houston Preview

Nearly nine years ago, as soon as I stepped onboard my warship, my new coworkers made it clear to me the evilness of the number 71. Most of the people I served with over the next five years didn't take as positive an outlook as I did. Much of their angst was directed towards the ship, whose hull number was CVN-71. I chalked it up to silly superstition, but I did notice the number 71 popping up in a lot of places. However, that's mostly because it's a relatively high prime number. I also realized the Nostradamus prophecy of "floating city 71" sinking at the start of the millennium was a silly rumor spread through gullability after I heard the same thing repeated by people from other aircraft carriers, with their hull number replaced with ours. Needless to say, I thought those people just needed an object to focus their discontent. Our number just so happened to be 71.(click title to read more)

That all changed with MLS Cup last November. Taylor Twellman's extra time goal seemed to end the team's championship drought. That sense of euphoria was ended 71 seconds later as Brian Ching haded in a deflected cross to tie the game up and send it on to penalties, the Revs eventually losing. A few days later, I sent out an e-mail to some of my former shipmates (I can call them "shipmate" now and not worry about being taped up and thrown in a laundry bag). The overwhelming response I got was "now you see!". As I type this, the Red Sox are having maybe their best season ever. What's their magic number? Yup, it's 71. I fear the worst.

The Revs come into this game on quite a roll. Since they lost the opener (while they were undermanned), the team has only dropped four points in six games. This trip to Houston will be their last road game for over a month. Three points would be nice, but any amount of points would be a victory in this one. Houston lost to Toronto midweek, where they were run ragged. However, they had an extended layoff before that game and will be fit.

For New England to take away points, they have to contain Houston's strikers. Brian Ching is one of the best target forwards in the league. They have also recently picked up Joseph Ngwenya from Columbus who appeared out of sync with his new club against Toronto. Hopefully, the two day break isn't enough time to resolve that situation. Houston has one of the strongest midfields, where this game will probably be won. If Joseph can exert his dominance, the Revs should be in good shape. If Dwayne De Rosario can control much of the action, New England's in for a long night.

I'm curious to see who gets the start up top next to Twellman. Adam Cristman has allowed Pat Noonan ample time to heal, and scored his first ever goal last week. Noonan may keep his role off the bench until the Revs return home. This may be the last game US coach Bob Bradley will evaluate before he decides on his Gold Cup roster. Guys like Micheal Parkhurst and Matt Reis are on the bubble and can't afford a bad game (although Reis wouldn't be called in to be a backup). Twellman may be a lock for that team, so resting Noonan to ensure he's 100% for Taylor's upcoming absence may not be a terrible idea.

MLS teams usually have a letdown after an exciting performance, but the Revs can gain some distance from their competitors with a win. A win would give them 17 points, which is 71 in reverse. That's good luck, right?


Projected Revs lineup:

Reis
Heaps
Parkhurst
Riley
Ralston
Larentowicz
Joseph
Smith
Dorman
Twellman
Cristman


Other previews:

Game Guide
Revolutionsoccer.net
Boston Globe
Boston Herald
Royal Gazette
MLSnet