Consistency is something the New England Revolution has been struggling to find for several years now, but tonight, for the first time this season, the Revs will have it. Head coach Jay Heaps has named a lineup unchanged from last week's draw against Houston, which marks the first time in 2012 he's been able to run out the same lineup two games in a row.
Clyde Simms is once again out, precluding him from making a storied return to RFK stadium where he spent six years of his professional career. Ryan Guy remains at defensive midfield in his place, and will have an incredibly difficult job ahead of him trying to contain guys like Branko Boskovic and Dwayne De Rosario in the middle. Shalrie Joseph will again support him in the middle, providing the steel and savvy on the ball to win possession and use it intelligently.
Defensively, Stephen McCarthy gets the start again next to A.J. Soares despite another defensive lapse last Saturday that cost the team an extra two points. The newly-minted center-back has had several promising performances, but still struggles with the concentration and positioning aspects of the game.
New England's bench features several options for Heaps should the game require adjustments, including the speed and trickery of Cardenas and Fagundez, the size of Moreno, and defensive cover from Darrius Barnes.
Lineups
Revolution: Reis; Tierney, McCarthy, Soares, Alston; Nguyen, Guy, Joseph, Feilhaber; Brettschneider, Sene
Bench: Shuttleworth, Moreno, Rowe, Fagundez, Barnes, Cardenas, Purdie
United: Hamid; Korb, McDonald, Jakovic, Woolard; Najar, Kitchen, Boskovic, DeLeon; De Rosario, Salihi
Bench: Santos, Wolff, King, Saragosa, Neal, Dudar, Willis