Sounders Saturday scouting report: New England Revolution

To illustrate the vast difference in the current state of the Western and Eastern Conferences of MLS, we only have to look at the tables for each. The Colorado Rapids lead the West with 27 points and an 8-2-3 record, while the Philadelphia Union lead the East with 18 points and a 5-3-3 record. At this point, the Union wouldn’t even be in a playoff spot in the West. It’s still early in the season, but that’s still a vast difference in quality.

State of the Sounders: A glimpse at life after Dempsey?

The New England Revolution, who the Sounders visit on their first of two East Coast matches in four days on Saturday, currently sit in eighth place in the East with 13 points. They’ve only won two matches all season, both of which came at home, against the New York Red Bulls and the Chicago Fire. The Revs were boosted by the last-minute signing of Kei Kamara after the forward’s antics at Columbus had him essentially forced out.

So what can the Sounders expect from their next opponent?

Key players: This is a team flush with attacking talent, but none of it has really produced much so far this season. But if new signing Kamara can gel with Lee Nguyen, one of the league’s most creative players, the goals could start going in with a vengeance. Kamara scored five goals in nine appearances for Columbus this season, so I’ve no doubt that he’ll start scoring them for his new team very soon.

Biggest weakness: The Revs are tied for the most goals allowed so far this season (24), so they might just be the kind of weak defense the Sounders need to get their goal scoring back into a groove. Goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth is currently in a wretched run of form, and Sounders fans should expect Jordan Morris to terrorize him for 90 minutes on Saturday.

Injury report: According to MLS, as of earlier this week the Revolution had four players listed as injured. Only forward Charlie Davies is listed as officially out with an abductor strain. The only other significant injury listed as of Wednesday is center back Jose Goncalves, who is listed as questionable; he has played 10 of the Revolution’s matches so far this season.

Set piece threat: Even though it often seems like MLS has a shockingly high number of set piece goals, the Revolution are one of the highest-scoring teams from set pieces in what feels like a sea of them. Five different players have scored from corners or free kicks, and defender Chris Tierney scored a scorching goal directly from a free kick against NYCFC. Seattle’s center backs can’t be caught sleeping when those set pieces start flying into the box.

Spenser Davis also covers the Sounders for Sounder at Heart.

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