Frank Dell'Apa

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Jan. 31, 1998 – Revolution select Johnny Torres with No. 5 pick in MLS draft

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Johnny Torres had a strong career with the Revolution, totaling eight goals in 88 appearances before being traded in 2001. Coach Thomas Rongen revamped the Revolution for the ’98 season, building the team around experienced players. Torres (now a Creighton University assistant coach) fit in well with the veterans. But a lack of chemistry proved costly as the Revolution failed to advance to the MLS playoffs.

The ’98 draft included other players who would go on to play important roles with the Revolution, including No. 1 pick Leo Cullen, who the Revolution would acquire from Miami in a trade for Torres in 2001. Also, there were Daniel Hernandez (second round), Joe Franchino and Matt Reis (third round). Several others went on to have success in direct confrontations with the Revolution: Tyrone Marshall (No. 9 pick), Wade Barrett (No. 10), Pablo Mastroeni (second round).

Below is my 2/1/1998 Globe story: [Read more…] about Jan. 31, 1998 – Revolution select Johnny Torres with No. 5 pick in MLS draft

Jan. 30, 2015 – Revolution acquire Agudelo on free transfer from Stoke City

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The New England Revolution were hoping Juan Agudelo would provide the goal or goals to make the difference if they returned to a final. And Agudelo did just that, scoring twice against FC Dallas in the 2016 U.S. Open Cup. The Revolution had neglected to shore up the defense, though, and so were routed, 4-2, by FC Dallas.

Agudelo scored six goals in the final eight matches (all competitions) last season, also displaying impressive playmaking qualities. Agudelo has yet to fulfill his enormous potential. But his strong finish to the 2016 season, and callup to the U.S. national team, indicates this could be his time.

Below are excerpts of my story from the 2/10/15 editions of The Boston Globe: [Read more…] about Jan. 30, 2015 – Revolution acquire Agudelo on free transfer from Stoke City

Jan. 29, 2006 – Taylor Twellman hat trick, U.S. 5×0 Norway

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Taylor Twellman seemed to be hitting his stride as an all-around striker under the guidance of Revolution assistant coach Paul Mariner, and he started the year strong. But Bruce Arena went with Brian Ching for the World Cup team, naming Twellman as an alternate.

There probably was not a better pure goal-scorer than Twellman in his generation. In his Revolution career, Twellman scored 101 regular-season goals in 174 games; 10 goals in 21 post-season games; seven in 10 U.S. Open Cup matches; plus one in five Champions Cup games. Twellman finished with six goals in 30 U.S. appearances.

We can’t know how many goals Twellman might have ended up with had he remained healthy, or how successful he would have been had the Revolution accepted a $3.5 million transfer offer from Preston North End in 2007. [Read more…] about Jan. 29, 2006 – Taylor Twellman hat trick, U.S. 5×0 Norway

Jan. 28, 1930 – Atlantic Coast Soccer League proposes all night games

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Jan. 28, 1930 – After Atlantic Coast Soccer League meeting in New York, league announces it will change name to American Soccer League. Also, proposes scheduling game parallel to baseball season. “The battle against adverse weather conditions means financial suicide,” according to The Boston Globe story. All games to start at 8 p.m., made possible by “the installation of floodlight systems in all parks.” Dave Scott of Boston was named vice-president “to represent New England interests in the league”

TODAY IN NE SOCCER HISTORY

Jan. 27, 2005 – Joe-Max Moore announces retirement

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The Revolution built their original team around defenders Mike Burns and Alexi Lalas for their first MLS season in 1996. But the Revolution did not have a proven scorer on the roster until Joe-Max came along midway through the first season, contributing 11 goals in 14 games. Moore struggled with injuries, but clearly believed the Revolution were building an MLS title-contending team when he returned for 2005 preseason. The site of the minicamp workout is not stated in my story (below) in 1/28/2005 editions of the Boston Globe, but I believe it was on the turf at the Gillette Bubble/Field House, which proved to be a risky surface for veteran players.

MOORE MAKES CALL: NO MORE

Revolution forward Joe-Max Moore, the team’s last remaining member from the inaugural 1996 MLS season, announced his retirement yesterday, less than two weeks after reinjuring the medial collateral ligament in his right knee during a minicamp scrimmage. [Read more…] about Jan. 27, 2005 – Joe-Max Moore announces retirement

Jan. 26, 1980 – Tea Men 3×14 Atlanta Chiefs

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The New England Tea Men struggled to a 2-10 record during the North American Soccer League indoor season, playing home games at the Providence Civic Center before an average 3,249 attendances. In this match, David Byrne scored five goals and former Brown University star Fred Pereira added three. South African Pat Wasmuth and Billerica’s Peter Simonini faced 61 shots in goal for the Tea Men.

This would be the team’s final season in New England before moving to Jacksonville. Stadium dates were probably the Teas’ greatest obstacle to success. On Jan. 22, 1980, the Tea Men reached an agreement for home games to be played at Schaefer Stadium. But conflicts with the race track forced several games to be scheduled on Monday – meaning the team would often have Saturday-Monday dates for a week. Yet, their final two games drew 25,132 and 17,121 crowds five days apart in late August. The move south would not be announced until November.

TODAY IN NE SOCCER HISTORY

Jan. 25, 1942 – Eusebio da Silva Ferreira born in Lourenço Marques, Mozambique

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Eusebio had a strong New England connection, partly because of the region’s Portuguese population. Eusebio probably could have had success in the Boston area similar to Pelé’s in New York, but circumstances worked against him.

The first soccer game at Foxboro Stadium matched Eusebio’s SL Benfica against Sporting CP on June 16, 1972. Eusebio did not score the first goal at the stadium – Sporting’s Mario Mateus Marinho converted in the sixth minute – but he equalized in the 43rd minute and broke the deadlock in the 80th minute of a 2-2 draw. The match drew a 24,396 crowd and organizers were encouraged enough to schedule a rematch a week later, this time attracting more than 25,000. For perspective, the Boston Red Sox were playing a 12-game homestand from June 9-21, crowds ranging from 8,860 to 21,682.

I never quite understood why a promoter did not follow up with another Benfica-Sporting match in the area. I talked about it with former Patriots’ announcer Gil Santos, who did the PA duties for the Benfica-Sporting games in ’72, but he did not have an answer, either. [Read more…] about Jan. 25, 1942 – Eusebio da Silva Ferreira born in Lourenço Marques, Mozambique

Jan. 24, 2008 – Revolution draft Dube, Chris Tierney; lose Noonan to Norway

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Two excellent pickups for the Revolution, the day after losing Pat Noonan to Aalesund FK. Dube totaled 14 goals in 72 regular-season games, 18th on the Revolution scoring list. Tierney’s 214 regular-season matches rank him No. 4 on the team list.

But the Revolution were unable to compensate for the loss of players such as Andy Dorman and Noonan, the team’s demise accelerating. Below es excerpt from my story for The Boston Globe 1/24/2008 editions:

Noonan leaves Revolution for Europe

Pat Noonan became the second Revolution player to depart for Europe on a free transfer this winter, joining Aalesund FK in Norway yesterday. [Read more…] about Jan. 24, 2008 – Revolution draft Dube, Chris Tierney; lose Noonan to Norway

Jan. 23, 1926 – New Bedford Whalers 2×3 Boston Wonder Workers

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Jan. 23, 1926 – New Bedford Whalers 2×3 Boston Wonder Workers

Boston moved into second place in the ASL as Johnny Ballantyne, Bobby Blair, Bill Westwater score. Blair went on to total 36 goals in 33 games. Stevens and Mike McLeavy converted for the Whalers, Stevens going on to lead the league with 44 goals in 39 games. Many of the players in this match had been high-level performers in Scotland, Ballantyne causing controversy by “jumping” his contract with Partick Thistle to move to Boston in 1924. Ballantyne returned to Partick Thistle from 1929-35 and played for Queens Park Rangers in 1935.

Ballantyne’s goal in this game was “accidently” knocked in by Shaw, according to The Boston Globe account. [Read more…] about Jan. 23, 1926 – New Bedford Whalers 2×3 Boston Wonder Workers

Jan. 22, 2010 – Revolution acquire Burpo and Gibbs, lose Larentowicz

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Jan. 22, 2010 – Revolution acquire Preston Burpo and Cory Gibbs from Colorado in exchange for Jeff Larentowicz and Wells Thompson

This deal was set up after Larentowicz decided to play out his contract. And it did not work out well for the Revolution. Larentowicz had proven to be a fundamental piece of the Revolution midfield, and one of the last remaining connections to the successful teams of the recent past. But the Revolution were unwilling to meet his price. At the time, we calculated that Larentowicz would have needed to stay nine years with the Revolution to earn what he was going to make in four years by leaving. [Read more…] about Jan. 22, 2010 – Revolution acquire Burpo and Gibbs, lose Larentowicz