Preseason Schedule For Revs

Los Angeles Galaxy: 3/27, 3/31

The Revolution will start off facing the Los Angeles Galaxy in two games within a four day period on their preseason schedule. The Galaxy will likely be looking to get Chicharito and company rolling together. They have two LA Galaxy II players coming up to join the first team for the scrimmages. Defender Mauricio Cuevas and forward Augustine Williams will hope to make a mark on the team and the coach in a couple of weeks. The unsigned Galaxy draft picks, #16 pick overall, forward Josh Drack and second round pick, forward Preston Judd are to head there with them as well.

The team that calls the Dignity Health Sports Park home will end up bringing 29 players to these intra-MLS scrimmages. Thus far, the team has only signed 23 of those 29 to a first team contract. The team recently decided to mutually part ways with defender Diedie Traore their preseason squad list came out. This Galaxy team may not look like much to train against but the prospect of winning a contract can push amazing things out of a player who’s not currently signed. Newly signed players like Ireland national Derrick Williams, Panamanian Carlos Harvey, and veteran MLS player Oniel Fisher will be looking to show the team why they were brought on.

The March 27th match will be on Spectrum Sportsnet in LA, unknown whether it will be broadcast on local channels at 10 PM EST. The March 31st match will be on LAGalaxy.com at 10:00 PM EST. Check back here later for updates on the preseason TV/Streaming schedule.

Los Angeles FC: 4/3, 4/10

The Revolution will be facing Los Angeles Football Club next after the first two LA Galaxy games. Both games against LAFC will be played at the Banc of California Stadium. In between the two LAFC games, there will be a game against Seattle. I find this to be an important break, as these will be the final games to close out preseason. The break will allow both teams to look at tape and come back with their “regular season ready” team.

The only team that actually plays out of Los Angeles proper, currently have 25 players signed to the team. In preseason, LAFC have had their unsigned 2021 MLS SuperDraft picks. The two forwards Daniel Trejo and Alvaro Quezada looking to prove they can provide depth. Battling in positions where Carlos Vela, Diego Rossi, and newly signed Corey Baird rule the roost. CC Uche, defender out of Ohio State will be looking to show his worth. He’s up against Tristan Blackmon and homegrown Tony Leone in the center back position. They also have Raheem Edwards in preseason, who they selected in the Re-Entry draft in December. Edwards can play left wing or wingback alike, he will battle against Marco Farfán and Diego Palacios for a depth position.

With the last LAFC game being the final game before preseason, it seems likely that we’ll get to see the true squads for both teams in a rematch after a week. Carlos Vela and Diego Rossi being let loose to show their full power. No streaming information yet. April 3rd game at 2 PM EST, April 10th game time still up in the air.

UPDATE

LA Galaxy II 4/7

Instead of the Revolution facing the Seattle Sounders, it looks like the Revs will also take on LA Galaxy’s affiliate team, LA Galaxy II. For the Revolution II players playing up to the first team, this game will likely be a last effort to show their dominance over USL League One level players. If they prove they can step up to the plate, they’ll play in the next game against LAFC.

The Galaxy II currently are building up their squad for the 2021 season. They have two players currently playing up with the LA Galaxy first team, Mauricio Cuevas and Augustine Williams. Those two will likely need to prove themselves for the first team contract in those first games with the Revolution. Galaxy II only currently have nine players contracted, most of which signed up to the second team this year. Their training videos show otherwise, so it’s likely they have trialist players up from the LA Galaxy youth teams.

I don’t see the Revolution putting out too heavy of a team, especially since Bruce has said they’ll keep a core of the Revs II players on preseason. Arena will be able to put out the players who may be struggling in camp to get them some confidence before the final game.

Outlook on Revs Preseason Schedule

Overall, this preseason schedule is a great way to get the season started off. A huge point of notice is the fact that we won’t be playing Eastern Conference teams. This can only help the squad to find their abilities against teams that are often top of the league.

The LAFC games will be the one’s to watch. LAFC will look to test the Revolution in their first match with some not-so-regular formations and players. The second game will be the true showing of their power and prowess on the ball, once they find their starting eleven. Not to say that the LA Galaxy games won’t have their worth, but they’ll be the games where Arena will play out the entirety of the preseason squad. He’ll give the players brought in from Revs II the chance to shine in front of him in those games.

The Revs preseason squad is a great mixture of talented soccer players. Drafted Revolution II player Francois Dulysse along with five other Revs II players join the now 24 first team players after Edward Kizza was announced recently. Highly anticipated Jon Bell (#AnnounceJonBell), Connor Presley, Colby Quinones, Joe Rice and Maciel are the Revolution II players joining the squad. For me, the players I think that will show their worth are Maciel, Quinones and Rice. Rice has shown the ability to make great saves down in USL League One, it will be good to see him get time against MLS-level squads.

First Team Players Playing For Their Spot

It will be good to see Kaptoum, Mafla, DeLaGarza, Boateng and Edwards Jr. to get a chance to show their abilities as well. Wilfrid Kaptoum has been seen in preseason as showing up in a big way. Mafla and Buksa have just gotten to camp and need to quarantine. Mafla will need to show up big time to beat out Jones for the left back position during preseason. DeLaGarza has already proved his worth to Arena, as Bruce gave him the contract in the first place, but A.J. is here to help bring a championship to New England. Emmanuel Boateng is a speedy winger who can rival Teal Bunbury’s ability on the ball. The battle of that position will be an interesting one in the end. Earl Edwards Jr. may be the third (or fourth?) string goalkeeper in this camp. For Earl, he will need to prove that he deserves to stay up with the Revolution first team. Challenge Brad Knighton for the backup keeper position in the depth chart with great play against a good team. If not, does Joe Rice replace him on the first team? We will see.

Update

Earl Edwards Jr. has gone through arthroscopic knee surgery and will be out for four to six weeks. So, it looks like the battle in preseason will be Joe Rice and Brad Knighton. Definitely tune in to see if Rice can prove himself against a veteran goalkeeper like Knighton. Send out your love and care to Earl in his recovery to help it go faster for him.

Above all, I’m just glad to see a preseason schedule out so I can be excited to cover soccer again! March 27th can’t come fast enough.