New England Revolution 2023 MLS season preview: Tactics, predicted XI, predictions
By Chris Smith
The New England Revolution are eyeing up a return to the MLS Cup Playoffs in 2023.
After winning the Supporters' Shield and setting an MLS single-season points record in 2021, the Revs totally underwhelmed last year, finishing 10th in the Eastern Conference and missing out on the Playoffs by six points.
However, in Bruce Arena, they have the grandmaster of Major League Soccer as head coach, while there's enough talent on the roster to fire the Revs right back up the standings this season.
So, here's everything you need to know about the New England Revolution ahead of the new MLS season, including tactics, key players, and predictions.
How did New England Revolution perform in 2022?
- Regular season: 10th in Eastern Conference
- MLS Cup Playoffs: Didn't qualify
- US Open Cup: Round-of-16
New England Revolution transfer activity
Transfers in
Player | Former Club | Fee |
|---|---|---|
Dave Romney | Nashville SC | $525k |
Latif Blessing | LAFC | $400k |
Jack Panayotou | Georgetown | Free transfer |
Bobby Wood | Real Salt Lake | Draft |
Josh Bolma | Maryland | SuperDraft |
Transfers out
Player | Club Joined | Fee |
|---|---|---|
Wilfried Kaptoum | UD Las Palmas | Free transfer |
Ismael Tajouri-Shradi | Omonia Nicosia | Free transfer |
Clement Diop | Atlanta United | Free transfer |
Edward Kizza | Pittsburgh Riverhounds | Free transfer |
A. J. DeLaGarza | LA Galaxy | Free transfer |
Jon Bell | St. Louis CITY SC | Expansion Draft |
Emmanuel Boateng | - | Released |
Brad Knighton | - | Retired |
Bruce Arena: Tactics and style of play
Arena started out playing the same 4-4-2 diamond that brought so much success in 2021, but with key players like Matt Turner, Adam Buksa, and Tajon Buchanan all departing for Europe, it quickly became apparent the shape didn't fit the personnel.
With that, Arena switched to a 4-2-3-1 and though they still didn't do enough to make the Playoffs - owing largely to a poorly timed three-game losing streak right on the home stretch - there were signs of improvement.
This is Bruce Arena we're talking about, so things won't be complicated. In 2023, expect the Revs to get the ball wide often and deliver lots of crosses into the box, while most of the intricate work will run through Carles Gil.
New England Revolution predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Petrovic; Bye, Kessler, Farrell, Jones; Polster, Blessing; Borrero, Gil, Bou; Vrioni.
Who is New England Revolution's key player?
Carles Gil
As mentioned above, Gil is the man in the middle who pulls the strings and makes things happen for the Revs.
Without him, it's easy to see them becoming a very dull and predictable unit that make themselves hard to beat and obsessively cross the ball into the box.
However, with him, New England are able to hang with any team in MLS and carve any opponent open at will. That's just how good the former MVP winner is.
If the Revs can keep him fit for a full season, they'll be battling around the Playoffs line.
New England Revolution 2023 season prediction
Arena has a lot of work to do if he's to finally make everyone well and truly forget the likes of Turner, Buksa, and Buchanan. Djordje Petrovic has been inspired in goal, but we're yet to see any of those outfield icons truly replaced.
If Gil stays fit for the whole season, there's no doubt the Revs will improve on their 2022 showing. But will that be enough to get them back above the Playoffs line? It just seems to be too big an ask at present.
Will New England Revolution qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs? No