Revolution set to take on Dynamo in home opener
New England Revolution midfielder Matt Polster protects the back end, attacks the front and manages everything in between.
Polster’s proficiencies in all three areas of the pitch explains why he appeared in 28 games with 24 starts last season and was one of six regulars to log over 2,000 minutes.
Polster started and played 90 minutes in the Revolution’s dramatic 1- 0 victory over Charlotte FC in the season opener on Feb. 25 at Bank of America Stadium. He will likely make his second start in the home opener against the Houston Dynamo on Saturday night (7:30) at Gillette Stadium.
“He stays healthy and he plays his position the way he should,” said Revolution head coach Bruce Arena. “He is a real important piece to our team and the starting point is how he organizes our team in the midfield.
“How he defends out of that position and how he gets the ball off his feet in the right spots. When he does that, he becomes a really important player on our team.”
Polster was listed as a fifth defender in Arena’s starting lineup card against Charlotte. While that was technically inaccurate, it did accentuate Polster’s reputation as a stout defensive midfielder. But Polster also notched a career-high three chances created in the offensive zone, a stat that emphasizes his crossover capabilities.
“I am not a defender, I play defensive midfielder but the flow within the midfield is a little different,” said Polster. “Carles (Gil) drops deep sometimes and that allows one of the other midfielders to take that role up a little bit higher.
“If we can combine in the midfield off it, it allows me to roam. But for the most part they want me in that pivot role where I am defending and making sure that I am shaping the back four.”
The Revolution have a solid nucleus on the back line protecting the cage for second-year goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic, who recorded his eighth career clean sheet against Charlotte. But the Revolution had an untimely habit last season of giving up last-minute goals that either cost them the lead or lost the game.