New York City Football Club are at home to New England Revolution on Saturday.
For this edition of 'The Away End' presented by Berkeley College & Rennert International, we spoke to Senior Staff Writer & Editor for the Revs, Jeff Lemieux.
Hi Jeff, thanks for speaking with us. How long have you been working for New England Revolution?
I started working for the Revs almost right out of college in 2008, so Iâm currently in my 15th season. For a kid who grew up a diehard Revs fan, itâs kind of crazy to think about, honestly.
What would you describe as your highlight during that time?
Thereâs no question that last yearâs record-setting regular season and the first Supportersâ Shield in club history has to top the list, but the magical run through the second half of the 2014 season â ultimately leading to an Eastern Conference Championship â was also incredibly memorable. Winning the first leg of that series at Red Bull Arena with 1,250 traveling supporters in the stands was something Iâll never forget.
New England currently sit 7th in the Eastern Conference. How would you evaluate their season so far?
Things are starting to come together after a difficult start to the season, exacerbated by a spate of injuries and a demoralizing loss in the Concacaf Champions League.
As the squad has gotten healthier, the schedule has settled into a more regular rhythm, and the newer pieces have settled into the group, the Revs have looked a bit more like the team that was so good last season. They havenât lost since April, and although theyâve played to six draws in that stretch, they would match the longest unbeaten run in club history (11) with a positive result on Saturday.
If you were to identify the Rev's dangerman who would that be?
The obvious answer is the reigning MLS MVP, Carles Gil, who once again leads the league in chances created (64) and has bagged seven goals and 11 assists in all competitions. Heâs the definition of a dangerman. But Iâd be remiss not to mention newcomer Dylan Borrero, who arrived two months ago and has been electric from the first moment, scoring a pair of goals in his last three appearances. He went off injured at halftime of last weekendâs draw with FC Cincinnati, but appears to be healthy and available for Saturdayâs trip to NYC.
What do you think will be the decisive factor in Saturday's game?
Can the Revs limit Taty Castellanos? The Revs have had their presumptive first-choice backline available just six times this season, but that should be the group we see on Saturday afternoon at Yankee Stadium with NYC native Henry Kessler recently back in the mix. Castellanos scored both goals in the Revsâ 2-0 loss the last time they visited The Bronx, and they know that limiting his opportunities in and around the penalty area will be key to keeping their unbeaten run alive this weekend.
And finally, for any of our fans that may be in Boston for a game in the near future, are there any spots you'd suggest they check out?
Iâd typically direct visitors to the North End, but Iâm not sure I want to tell New Yorkers to come to Boston for Italian food. With that said, Iâd suggest taking a leisurely stroll through Beacon Hill. The narrow cobblestone streets and dim antique lanterns make for a charming vibe.
