New York City Football Club travel north this weekend as they take on the New England Revolution.
For this edition of 'The Away End' presented by Berkeley College & Rennert International, we spoke to Sam Minton, site manager, for the Blazing Musket.
Hi Sam, thanks for speaking with us. How long have you been watching the Revs?
I have been covering the Revs since 2016.
What has been your highlight following the team?
My highlight during that time has to be the Supporters' Shield Run of 2021. It just seemed no matter the situation, New England was able to find a win. It was really special to be able to witness that season up close.
What were your thoughts on the 2022 season?
The 2022 season was the opposite of 2021. Everything seemed to go wrong for the team and at times they couldn't buy a win. While it might have seemed like bad luck, New England struggled with injuries and also the loss of Adam Buksa. The highlight of the season was the acquisition of Djordje Petrovic. After Matt Turner left for Arsenal, it seemed like the Revolution would take a step back in net but New England somehow improved. Petrovic got off to an amazing start and he has maintained this momentum at the start of the 2023 season.
What are your hopes for the 2023 season?
The hopes for the 2023 season are for New England to get back into the MLS playoffs. After missing the playoffs in 2022 just a year removed from winning the Shield, making it to the postseason is the bare minimum for this side. It is also a season where fans in New England will be hoping that Dylan Borrero and Giacomo Vrioni can come into their own after arriving in the middle of the 2022 season. Borrero has been impressive with a goal and was called up to Colombia's National Team squad for recent friendlies. The same can't be said for Vrioni who has struggled so far this season.
What do you think will be the deciding factor in Saturday's game?
I think the deciding factor for Saturday's game will be Carles Gil. It might seem like the obvious answer but he displayed just how important he is to the team in New England's recent win over D.C. United. Moments after coming into the game, he served a beautiful ball to Gustavo Bou who went on to score the game-tying goal. Gil missed the Revolution's 1-0 win over Nashville SC on Mar 18 and featured as a sub in the 2-1 win over D.C. According to Bruce Arena, Gil is as healthy as any other player on the team. If he is able to start, allowed to roam free, and make an impact, the Revolution should secure the win. If NYCFC is able to shut Gil down and limit his impact, they have the potential to secure points on the road.
And for any fans that might be in Boston for the game are there any spots you'd suggest they check out?
The stadium is out in Foxborough so if you are looking for something around that area I recommend Mick Morgan's for a place to grab a bite or something to drink. At Patriot Place (an outdoor mall located outside of Gillette Stadium), I would recommend Citizen's Crust which has some amazing pizza and also give you cool pizza scissors or Wormtown Brewery if you are looking for a place to chill prior to the game. Finally, if you are looking for any soccer merch, check out WeGotSoccer in Wrentham which is only 10 minutes away from the stadium. I get all my jerseys from there.
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