Thursday is here, so it's time to answer some more questions from the mailbag. Once again, it was stuffed with good questions and comments. I'll touch on some of the topics I've missed here, on twitter @NESNsoccer during the week, so keep an eye out for them. As always, keep those questions coming!
This is a non-Premiership question, but are the Revolution stuck in Foxboro forever?
— Chris, Waltham, Mass.
Hi Chris, and I appreciate the local support. The Revolution may or may not be stuck in Foxboro forever. If you’re asking specifically about the long-rumored move to Somerville, Mass., don't hold your breath.
The Revs are waiting for the state (Massachusetts) to pony up funds for the massive project to expand the Green Line into Somerville, before committing to partly-financing and building a soccer stadium. The state won't move on that issue before 2012 (at the absolute earliest), meaning the extension will not be finished before 2015 (again earliest). It takes a year or so, to actually build a facility, so we're looking at 2016-17 before the Revolution kick a ball anywhere outside of Foxboro.
That timetable assumes a political consensus exists to expand public transportation and pay for construction costs (it doesn't), a smooth approvals process and construction without delays or cost overruns. We both know how things work around here. Go ahead and send in your deposit now for Revolution season tickets at Gillette Stadium for the 2018 season.
What should I have for dinner?
— Nathan, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Eat Ribs. It helps.
Do you see many similarites between the criteria for players at both the Red Sox and Liverpool FC, such as their age, attitude, and financial gains in the future?
— John, Dublin, Ireland
John, what an excellent question, though a tough one to answer. The teams are it different historical moments. I guess we can look at recent recruitment policy to shed some light.
Liverpool hasn't won the league in over 20 years and is still trying to return to the level where it can realistically challenge for the title. In short, it's a rebuilding period in the club's history. You recruit a different type of player during these times. The players they've added since last year are generally not at the top end of the transfer (regardless of the fee itself) and salary market.
The Reds have also blooded youngsters from their system, which is crucial to the mix. Martin Kelly, Jay Spearing, Jack Robinson (and Raheem Sterling in the coming years) will become keys to the club’s success in 3-5 years; maybe sooner. It will be interesting to see the type of player Liverpool recruits to add to the core of academy youngsters, Luis Suarez and the British signings Kenny Dalglish has brought in since his return to the throne.
The Red Sox, on the other hand, are at that championship level and have been for a number of years. They are trying to sustain success, while transitioning from one era (the playoff-caliber teams of 2003-09) to the next (2011 and beyond). They've developed a core of players in their farm system that have become keys to their success. I’m talking about Kevin Youkilis, Dustin Pedroia, Jon Lester, Jonathan Papelbon and others. They’ve added to that core by bidding at the top end of the free agent and trade market (John Lackey, Adrian Gonazalez and Carl Crawford). This trend will continue in the near future. The Sox will add one or two young players from within and a star from another team to sustain their success of the last decade. Again, that's a great question.
How much of an impact you believe Sebastián Coates will make this year? Enough to trouble the established three at the back? Or he'll be filling in on cup matches and the like until he builds up a body more suited to the EPL?
— Andrés Stein, Montevideo, Uruguay
Hola, Andres. If you asked a week ago, I would have said it would be minimal in the short term –- before the new year -– with him gradually increasing his workload as the season progresses. Daniel Agger's injury has changed all that. I see Coates going straight into the team and your countryman will get a run of games that will answer your question.
If he regains his Copa America form, he stays in the team. Coates will play league and cup games (barring injury) and you will see his development skyrocket. It is similar to what you saw with Arsenal's Jack Wilshire last fall. He was nervy at the start and an England starter by the spring. Generally, when a young player moves to a new country and goes straight into the team -– as with Coates -– it leaves little time for homesickness, loss of confidence and other factors that hinder success. Playing first-team games forces them to settle, adapt and integrate quicker than they otherwise would. Agger's injury could do just that for Coates. Physically, he's ready to compete in the EPL. When he adds more grown-up weight, he just might dominate.
Dont you think that Nathan Eccleston's has a right to air his bizarre comments? The view he may have expressed on twitter may not be wise if you are trying to market a football club in America, but his view, if I understand it correctly, is shared by many people world wide … So my question is, why the big HOO-HA?
— Stephen Bekker, Johannesburg, South Africa
That’s a good and provocative question, Stephen, with a simple answer. He's got every right to express his views, no matter how bizarre or outside of the mainstream they may come across to some.
The flip side is that he must own the comments and accept whatever result comes of them. If Ecclestone is fined or sanctioned by LFC, so be it. If his team, friends or family confiscate his mobile phone and break his thumbs, he has to accept responsibility and learn from the experience.
The big hoo-ha (and how big was it really?) is that his comments are far outside of the mainstream here in the US and the club has American owners. Also, the timing of his tweet -– on the 10th anniversary of the attacks -– was ridiculous. He would be foolish to expect those comments to go unnoticed and unpunished. Like it or not, he is a Liverpool player and represents the club with every ball he kicks and every tweet he sends.
That’s all for now. Thanks for the questions and please keep them coming.
Photo courtesy of Flickr/enciclopediapt
