# 2012 New England Revolution season

The 2012 New England Revolution season was the team's seventeenth year of existence, all in Major League Soccer. The team opened its season on March 10 at the San Jose Earthquakes and concluded on October 27 at Montreal Impact. New England's first home league game was March 24 against the Portland Timbers.

## Overview
### Offseason

The New England Revolution had plenty of turnover during the offseason after finishing in last place in the Eastern Conference the prior year. The Revolution fired longtime coach Steve Nicol after 10 seasons with the club, and hired former long-time New England Revolution defender Jay Heaps to replace Nicol. Heaps had most recently worked as the color commentator for Revolution broadcasts on Comcast SportsNet New England and 98.5 The Sports Hub.

### Preseason

The New England Revolution started training camp in Arizona culminating with a scrimmage against the PDL club FC Tucson which the Revolution won 2-1. New England then returned home for a few more weeks of training along with two scrimmages against the Boston College Eagles of the NCAA, both of which ended in Revolution victories.
The Revolution then returned to Arizona in order to participate in the 2012 Desert Diamond Cup. Their successful preseason continued with 3 consecutive victories over the Los Angeles Galaxy, New York Red Bulls and Real Salt Lake in order to advance to the Desert Diamond Cup championship game. The Revolution lost the final to the Galaxy, 4 - 2 in a penalty shoot-out.

### March

The Revolution opened the regular season on March 10, 2012 all the way across the country to San Jose, California to face the San Jose Earthquakes. A first half mistake by Revolution captain Shalrie Joseph was converted into a goal by Chris Wondolowski. New England was never able to recover from that mistake and ended up losing their season opener 0-1 to San Jose. One week later, the Revolution traveled to Kansas City, Kansas in order to take on Eastern Conference favorites Sporting Kansas City. Revolution defender Stephen McCarthy was sent off on a controversial tackle in the 14th minute. The Revolution, who were suffering from numerous injuries to their defense corp was unable to survive 76 minutes with only 10 men and ended up losing 0-3 to Sporting Kansas City.
New England had their home opener on Saturday March 24, 2012 against the Portland Timbers at Gillette Stadium. The Revolution came out of the gates fast with a score by new striker Saër Sène in the 1st minute. They were able to shut down the Timbers for the rest of the game and get new head coach Jay Heaps his first MLS victory with a 1-0 result. Once again, the Revolution traveled cross country to Carson, California to face the Los Angeles Galaxy on March 31, 2012. Once again the Revolution scored early off a cross from Shalrie Joseph to rookie Kelyn Rowe for the first goal of his MLS career in the 10th minute. The Revolution attack continued and lead to another goal by Chris Tierney in the 13th minute and added one more to their tally off a Saër Sène goal in the 65th minute. The Galaxy were able to break through and finally score one off the foot of Robbie Keane in the 78th minute, but the Revolution held on to record their 2nd victory of the year, 3-1 over Los Angeles.

## Squad
### Roster

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | USA | Matt Reis |
| 2 | DF | GER | Flo Lechner |
| 3 | DF | USA | Tyler Polak |
| 5 | DF | USA | A. J. Soares |
| 6 | MF | USA | Michael Roach |
| 7 | MF | USA | Blair Gavin |
| 8 | DF | USA | Chris Tierney |
| 11 | MF | USA | Kelyn Rowe |
| 13 | MF | GUM | Ryan Guy |
| 14 | MF | URU | Diego Fagundez |
| 17 | MF | GAM | Sainey Nyassi |
| 18 | MF | USA | Juan Toja |
| 19 | MF | USA | Clyde Simms |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 22 | MF | USA | Benny Feilhaber |
| 23 | FW | USA | Blake Brettschneider |
| 24 | MF | USA | Lee Nguyen |
| 25 | DF | USA | Darrius Barnes |
| 26 | MF | USA | Stephen McCarthy |
| 27 | FW | HON | Jerry Bengtson |
| 30 | DF | USA | Kevin Alston |
| 34 | GK | USA | Bobby Shuttleworth |
| 39 | FW | FRA | Saër Sène |
| 40 | GK | USA | Tim Murray |
| 80 | FW | COL | Fernando Cárdenas |
| 92 | FW | FRA | Dimitry Imbongo |
| 99 | MF | USA | Alec Purdie |
Last updated: September 5, 2012. Source: Official Roster

### Squad information
## Player movement
### Transfers
#### In

| Date | Player | Position | Previous club | Fee/notes |
| December 12, 2011 | Clyde Simms | MF | D.C. United | 2011 MLS Re-Entry Draft |
| January 12, 2012 | Kelyn Rowe | MF | UCLA | SuperDraft, 1st Round |
| January 12, 2012 | Tyler Polak | DF | Creighton University | SuperDraft, 2nd Round |
| July 5, 2012 | Jerry Bengtson | FW | CD Motagua | Transfer |
| August 1, 2012 | Blair Gavin | MF | CD Chivas USA | Trade |
| | Florian Lechner | DF | Karlsruher SC | Free transfer |
| | Björn Runström | FW | Hammarby IF | Free transfer |
| | Dimitry Imbongo | FW | TSV 1860 München II | Free transfer |
| August 27, 2012 | Juan Toja | MF | Aris Thessaloniki | Allocation |

#### Out

| Date | Player | Position | Destination club | Fee/notes |
| November 23, 2011 | Alan Koger | FW | unattached | waived |
| November 30, 2011 | Monsef Zerka | FW | FC Petrolul Ploiești | | Option declined |
| December 1, 2011 | Ryan Cochrane | DF | San Antonio Scorpions FC | Option declined |
| December 1, 2011 | Franco Coria | FW | Chacarita Juniors | Option declined |
| December 12, 2011 | Kheli Dube | FW | Chicago Fire | 2011 MLS Re-Entry Draft |
| December 12, 2011 | Otto Loewy | DF | unattached | waived |
| December 12, 2011 | Andrew Sousa | MF | Boston Victory S.C. | waived |
| December 31, 2011 | Milton Caraglio | FW | C.S.D. Rangers | contract not extended |
| January 31, 2012 | Rajko Lekić | FW | Lyngby BK | Free transfer |
| January 31, 2012 | Pat Phelan | MF | SJK | Option declined |
| March 5, 2012 | Zack Schilawski | FW | Carolina Railhawks | waived |
| March 5, 2012 | Ryan Kinne | FW | Connecticut FC Azul | waived |
| May 4, 2012 | Kenny Mansally | MF | Real Salt Lake | waived |
| June 27, 2012 | Björn Runström | FW | unattached | waived |
| June 27, 2012 | Jeremiah White | MF | unattached | waived |
| June 27, 2012 | John Jairo Lozano | DF | unattached | waived |
| August 1, 2012 | Shalrie Joseph | MF | CD Chivas USA | Trade |
| August 6, 2012 | José Moreno Mora | FW | unattached | waived |
| August 10, 2012 | Zak Boggs | FW | unattached | retired |

## Squad statistics

| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | Major League Soccer | Major League Soccer | U.S. Open Cup | U.S. Open Cup |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| 1 | GK | USA | Matt Reis | 27 | 0 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | GER | Flo Lechner | 9 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | USA | Tyler Polak | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | COL | John Lozano | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | USA | A.J. Soares | 30 | 1 | 30 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | MF | USA | Michael Roach | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 7 | MF | USA | Blair Gavin | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | USA | Chris Tierney | 28 | 2 | 28 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | COL | José Moreno | 8 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 11 | FW | USA | Kelyn Rowe | 31 | 4 | 30 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 13 | FW | GUM | Ryan Guy | 23 | 1 | 23 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | MF | URU | Diego Fagundez | 21 | 2 | 20 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 15 | MF | USA | Jeremiah White | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 17 | MF | GAM | Sainey Nyassi | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | MF | COL | Juan Toja | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | MF | USA | Clyde Simms | 29 | 0 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | MF | GRN | Shalrie Joseph | 18 | 1 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | MF | USA | Benny Feilhaber | 30 | 3 | 29 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 23 | FW | USA | Blake Brettschneider | 18 | 2 | 17 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 24 | MF | USA | Lee Nguyen | 31 | 6 | 30 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| 25 | DF | USA | Darrius Barnes | 14 | 1 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 26 | DF | USA | Stephen McCarthy | 28 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | FW | HON | Jerry Bengtson | 13 | 2 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | MF | USA | Kevin Alston | 31 | 0 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 32 | FW | SWE | Björn Runström | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | FW | USA | Zak Boggs | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 34 | GK | USA | Bobby Shuttleworth | 8 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 39 | FW | FRA | Saër Sène | 25 | 11 | 25 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| 40 | GK | USA | Tim Murray | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 80 | FW | COL | Fernando Cárdenas | 28 | 2 | 27 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 32 | FW | FRA | Dimitry Imbongo | 9 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 99 | MF | USA | Alec Purdie | 6 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Updated to match played September 25, 2012 Source: New England Revolution 2012

## Competitions
### Desert Diamond Cup
#### Standings

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | L | D | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | New England Revolution | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 3 | +4 | 9 |
| 2 | LA Galaxy | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 3 |
| 3 | New York Red Bulls | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | −2 | 3 |
| 4 | Real Salt Lake | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | −2 | 3 |

#### Matches
### Major League Soccer

Kickoff times are in EDT.

#### Standings
##### Eastern Conference

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Sporting Kansas City | 34 | 18 | 7 | 9 | 42 | 27 | +15 | 63 | MLS Cup Conference Semifinals |
| 2 | D.C. United | 34 | 17 | 10 | 7 | 53 | 43 | +10 | 58 | MLS Cup Conference Semifinals |
| 3 | New York Red Bulls | 34 | 16 | 9 | 9 | 57 | 46 | +11 | 57 | MLS Cup Conference Semifinals |
| 4 | Chicago Fire | 34 | 17 | 11 | 6 | 46 | 41 | +5 | 57 | MLS Cup Knockout Round |
| 5 | Houston Dynamo | 34 | 14 | 9 | 11 | 48 | 41 | +7 | 53 | MLS Cup Knockout Round |
| 6 | Columbus Crew | 34 | 15 | 12 | 7 | 44 | 44 | 0 | 52 | |
| 7 | Montreal Impact | 34 | 12 | 16 | 6 | 45 | 51 | −6 | 42 | |
| 8 | Philadelphia Union | 34 | 10 | 18 | 6 | 37 | 45 | −8 | 36 | |
| 9 | New England Revolution | 34 | 9 | 17 | 8 | 39 | 44 | −5 | 35 | |
| 10 | Toronto FC | 34 | 5 | 21 | 8 | 36 | 62 | −26 | 23 | |

##### Overall table

Note: the table below has no impact on playoff qualification and is used solely for determining host of the MLS Cup, certain CCL spots, and 2013 MLS draft. The conference tables are the sole determinant for teams qualifying to the playoffs
| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | San Jose Earthquakes (S) | 34 | 19 | 6 | 9 | 72 | 43 | +29 | 66 | CONCACAF Champions League |
| 2 | Sporting Kansas City | 34 | 18 | 7 | 9 | 42 | 27 | +15 | 63 | CONCACAF Champions League |
| 3 | D.C. United | 34 | 17 | 10 | 7 | 53 | 43 | +10 | 58 | |
| 4 | New York Red Bulls | 34 | 16 | 9 | 9 | 57 | 46 | +11 | 57 | |
| 5 | Real Salt Lake | 34 | 17 | 11 | 6 | 46 | 35 | +11 | 57 | |
| 6 | Chicago Fire | 34 | 17 | 11 | 6 | 46 | 41 | +5 | 57 | |
| 7 | Seattle Sounders FC | 34 | 15 | 8 | 11 | 51 | 33 | +18 | 56 | |
| 8 | LA Galaxy (C) | 34 | 16 | 12 | 6 | 59 | 47 | +12 | 54 | CONCACAF Champions League |
| 9 | Houston Dynamo | 34 | 14 | 9 | 11 | 48 | 41 | +7 | 53 | CONCACAF Champions League |
| 10 | Columbus Crew | 34 | 15 | 12 | 7 | 44 | 44 | 0 | 52 | |
| 11 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 34 | 11 | 13 | 10 | 35 | 41 | −6 | 43 | |
| 12 | Montreal Impact | 34 | 12 | 16 | 6 | 45 | 51 | −6 | 42 | CONCACAF Champions League |
| 13 | FC Dallas | 34 | 9 | 13 | 12 | 42 | 47 | −5 | 39 | |
| 14 | Colorado Rapids | 34 | 11 | 19 | 4 | 44 | 50 | −6 | 37 | |
| 15 | Philadelphia Union | 34 | 10 | 18 | 6 | 37 | 45 | −8 | 36 | |
| 16 | New England Revolution | 34 | 9 | 17 | 8 | 39 | 44 | −5 | 35 | |
| 17 | Portland Timbers | 34 | 8 | 16 | 10 | 34 | 56 | −22 | 34 | |
| 18 | Chivas USA | 34 | 7 | 18 | 9 | 24 | 58 | −34 | 30 | |
| 19 | Toronto FC | 34 | 5 | 21 | 8 | 36 | 62 | −26 | 23 | |

##### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
| Pld | Pts | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD |
| 34 | 35 | 9 | 17 | 8 | 38 | 44 | −6 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 22 | 15 | +7 | 2 | 13 | 2 | 16 | 29 | −13 |
Last updated: October 25, 2012 Source: MLS Results Pld = Matches played; Pts = Points; W = Matches won; T = Matches tied; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal difference

##### Results by round

| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 |
| Stadium | A | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | H | A | H | H | H | A | A | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | A |
| Result | L | L | W | W | L | L | L | W | L | W | D | L | W | D | D | D | W | L | L | D | L | L | L | L | L | D | W | D | D | L | L | L | W | W |
| Position | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 16 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 14 | | | | | | |

### U.S. Open Cup
## Miscellany
### Allocation ranking

New England is in the #19 position in the MLS Allocation Ranking. The allocation ranking is the mechanism used to determine which MLS club has first priority to acquire a U.S. National Team player who signs with MLS after playing abroad, or a former MLS player who returns to the league after having gone to a club abroad for a transfer fee. A ranking can be traded, provided that part of the compensation received in return is another club's ranking. New England held the #1 position until they selected Juan Toja, which dropped them to the bottom of the order.

### International roster spots

New England has 8 MLS International Roster Slots for use in the 2012 season. Each club in Major League Soccer is allocated 8 international roster spots and no New England trades have been reported.

### Future draft pick trades

Future picks acquired: *2013 MLS SuperDraft Round 2 pick from D.C. United; *2013 MLS SuperDraft Round 2 pick from Chivas USA. Future picks traded: None.