Caleb Porter heading into Year Two: Arriving in Jan. 2024, Revolution head coach Caleb Porter faced an uphill battle in his first season with New England. A tricky schedule -- involving games in both MLS and CONCACAF Champions Cup -- set the Revolution back in early 2024, and the team never recovered.
Yet after experiencing one of the more challenging seasons in recent club history, Porter and his revamped roster are back in 2025 ahead of the Feb. 22 season opener in Nashville.
Numerous changes to the roster (a wide-ranging an offseason rebuild) has the two-time MLS Cup winner feeling optimistic.
"It was my 11th preseason, and it was probably one of the most enjoyable preseasons I've had," Porter said at a Thursday press conference. "It's a great group of guys - a really talented group - and they really enjoy being around each other. That is really key, the chemistry, and the spirit in the locker room is excellent. Obviously, we're only four weeks into this, so we still need time to put the pieces together, but I'm really enjoying the progress that we're making."
The 49-year-old coach highlighted the team's increased level of depth -- and the ensuing squad competition -- as one reason he foresees a better finish than 2024.
Looking to the what will likely be a make-or-break season for his current project in New England, Porter is clearly optimistic about the Revolution's chances to get back into the playoff picture.
"I know how to win, I know what I need. I'm not scratching my head on that and wondering," he explained. "I know what it takes. I've had two teams that have done it. It doesn't mean that I'm going to do it the exact same way with this group, but I'm very bullish on the fact that we will be successful and I think we have the group that can do it. It's just taking time to put it together. But every day with this group has been fun, it's been enjoyable, it's been exciting.
"I've been like a kid in a candy store. There have been moments every day where I go, 'This team is a whole different team,'" he added. "If you look at the games, in every game, I've been happy with portions of every single game that we've played in preseason. Obviously, we've played good teams as well, so it didn't hurt to get some wins. You saw last year in preseason, we couldn't even get a win in the preseason, so at the end of the day, it's just a much different group - the mentality the talent, the athleticism, the youth, how hard they train, the joy that they bring every day in training.
"It's going to be really fun to work with them," he concluded. "I'm loving my job."
It's a striking series of statement from a coach whose job security appeared to be under threat for much of the previous year, and who will most likely find himself on the hot seat if there are early struggles in the coming months.
New England will begin the MLS season on the road in Nashville next Saturday (kickoff at 8:30 p.m.) before opening at Gillette Stadium on March 1 against Eastern Conference powerhouse Columbus Crew (kickoff that week will be at 7:30 p.m.)
Trivia: Though it took decades for FIFA to officially confirm it, the first World Cup hat-trick in history was scored by Massachusetts native Bert Patenaude (helping the U.S. to eventually finish third in the 1930 inaugural edition of the tournament). What country hosted that first World Cup?
The United States defeated Finland 6-1 in the team's first game of the 4 Nations Face-Off on Thursday. The U.S. will face Canada on Saturday in Montreal at 8 p.m. Earlier on Saturday, Finland will play Sweden at 1 p.m.
Tonight, the Boston Fleet will face the Sceptres in Toronto at 7 p.m.
On this day: In 1980, the United States men's hockey team gave an early glimpse at its true potential at the Lake Placid Olympics, blitzing the defending silver medalist Czechoslovakians 7-3. Having managed a 2-2 draw against the favored Swedes in the opener, Herb Brooks' team notched a win with six different goal-scorers (Buzz Schneider the only skater to score multiple goals).
Daily highlight: The turning point for the U.S. against Finland came right at the start of the third period. Two goals in 11 seconds gave the Americans a definitive hold on the game.