It’s time to talk about the Revolution’s sorry scoring

A month and a half into their 29th season, the Revolution’s problems are mounting.

Let’s start with goal scoring. Though the lineup includes Carles Gil, possibly the best playmaker in MLS, the Revolution have converted only five times in seven matches, three of those finished by Gil.

A 2-0 loss to New York City Saturday night left the Revolution with a 1-5-1 record and the least-productive offense in the league.

So, what happened to the Revolution attack? Have opposing teams simply figured out how to defend Gil, or are the failings elsewhere?

Maybe it’s a combination.

The solution will involve adding a forward, or two. Last year, the Revolution roster seemed overstocked with strikers. The only ones left are Giacomo Vrioni and Bobby Wood, having shed Gustavo Bou and Justin Rennicks, apparently without lining up replacements. Vrioni and Wood have performed below par this season, and the only alternative is Tomás Chancalay, whose best position is the wing.

After the NYCFC loss, Revolution coach Caleb Porter indicated he is seeking reinforcements, but the team probably should have moved quicker. Porter did not recognize the lack of depth when he was hired in January.

Management failed to anticipate the difficulty, erring on the side of caution after using buyouts on two former national teamers — forward Jozy Altidore (United States) and goalkeeper Tomáš Vaclík (Czechia).

Complicating evaluations of the Revolution attack is the anomaly of the team’s production during the Champions Cup, Chancalay and Vrioni finishing among the top scorers in the competition. The demands of the tournament detracted from the Revolution’s league performances, but also might have served as an indication of the team’s scoring potential.

In MLS play, though, the Revolution are simply not clicking. And often it is a matter of self-destructing.

Against NYC, the Revolution threatened to open the scoring but were stopped by former Harvard goalkeeper Matt Freese. Early in the second half, Vrioni and Chancalay mistimed a combination, leading to a counterattack that led to the decisive goal.

Playing at Yankee Stadium, the smallest field in the league, turnovers can be fatal. And NYC is good at capitalizing on misplays, waiting for an unforced error, then catching foes off guard.

Once a team’s direction veers off course, it can be difficult to right the ship. Players overcompensate, trying to do too much, or what coaches call “thinking too much,” and issues add up.

Porter has attempted to get his club on track by simplifying things, and that paid off in a 1-0 win over Charlotte. But it might not be in the Revolution’s nature to play conservatively, which requires combining cynicism and tactical sophistication.

The fouls committed numbers from Saturday’s game provide an illustration: NYC 18, Revolution 12. Yet NYC was issued only two cautions, the Revolution three. And that’s along with a non-call that left Revolution midfielder Matt Polster with a gash on the bridge of his nose following a clash with James Sands.

This doesn’t mean the Revolution should become more physical — just smarter about when, where, and how to commit fouls.

As far as expecting breaks on refereeing decisions, the Revolution can probably forget it. Gil continues to be targeted by hard-charging opponents, who realize taking him out can shortcircuit the Revolution offense. The Philadelphia Union showed the way in last year’s playoffs, in a game refereed by Pierre-Luc Lauziere. You might think that would have left Lauziere compromised regarding the Revolution, but there he was, directing the NYC game. Again, you can’t count on the refs, or the league, to make the right call.

In any case, the Revolution got themselves into this predicament, going back to the Bruce Arena era, when they were set up as an all-out attacking team. The squad’s decline late last season indicated Arena’s style of play required his coaching touch, plus the back-line support of players such as Brandon Bye (injured) and goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic (transferred to Chelsea).

But, lacking roster flexibility, the Revolution were pretty much stuck going into this year, and Porter’s hiring occurred too late for him to make decisive moves.

Eight months remain in the season. The return of Bye and winger Dylan Borrero (knee), plus the addition of a striker, should help. One or two moves could change the dynamic.

Take set pieces. The Revolution seldom make foes pay for fouling, despite Gil’s free-kick proficiency. Adding Bye and a physical forward could tilt the field in the Revolution’s favor. The Revolution were at their best in 2021, when they set league records, and a key to the success included 6-foot-3-inch striker Adam Buksa.

“I’m not trying to be condescending, but we need to score more goals, we need to concede less goals, we need to do the basics better, pass better,” Revolution defender Henry Kessler said. “We need to do everything better.”

Kessler’s evaluation applies to most struggling teams. But in the Revolution’s case, finishing a few more chances would go far.