TUCSON, Ariz. – Kelyn Rowe has always been most comfortable operating centrally, but with 2014 MLS MVP finalist Lee Nguyen holding down the central attacking midfield spot for the New England Revolution, most of Rowe’s playing time in recent years has been on the wing.
But this preseason the Revs are trying something a little different.
In the Revolution’s first two Desert Diamond Cup matches against Real Salt Lake and Sporting Kansas City, Rowe has started deeper in the midfield alongside holding midfielder Gershon Koffie, playing in what head coach Jay Heaps called “an attacking No. 8 position.”
It’s a different role for Rowe, but one which plays to his strengths in many ways. It highlights his vision, and an ability to survey his options and pick out a pass over distance.
“It’s a position that we think, with Kelyn’s strengths, he can definitely play,” Heaps said on Monday as the Revs kicked off their final week of preseason prep. “He’s someone who can change the game from there. He’s a penetrator and he’s able to serve the ball over distance, so he fits that role really well.
“It was a matter of using this offseason and preseason to really have him commit to the role.”
Committing to the role was never an issue for Rowe, who bought in from the start. He played in a similar spot during his youth days and while there will be an adjustment process at the professional level, it’s a challenge Rowe is taking on with a full head of steam.
“I’m a little farther back than what I’m used to, but I like it,” said Rowe, who picked up an assist on Michael Gamble’s opener against RSL. “I like being able to attack as well as defend. I think guys like Koffie and Scotty (Caldwell) have really helped me out talking-wise. I like playing back there.”
One of Rowe’s biggest strengths in that deeper role is his ability to hit the home-run pass. With a single cross-field switch or killer through ball, Rowe can turn defense into attack and unlock a backline.
But the biggest challenge for Rowe may be deciding when to utilize that skill, because there will be times when the risk is worth the reward, and there will be other times when the simpler ball is the better ball.
“It’s all about simplifying it,” Heaps said. “Kelyn doesn’t have any issue receiving the ball; it’s just a matter of what the risk-reward is once he gets it in a little deeper position. Sometimes the simpler ball in that scenario is better, and I think Kelyn is learning that really well.”
“You have to be a little safer,” Rowe said. “You have your moments when you can take chances, play a couple long balls – which I like doing – but there are times when you can’t take on two or three guys and lose it, because there are only one or two [defenders] behind you. It’s just about playing a little safer and a little smarter.”
Rowe’s first two preseason appearances in a deeper-lying role have also shown a different side of his defensive abilities; the 24-year-old midfielder has been cutting out passing lanes, breaking up attacks, and getting stuck in on tackles through the middle of the park.
“I love it,” Rowe said with a smile. “It’s a little different getting stuck in when a guy’s running at you, rather than a defender who’s receiving the ball on his back foot; tactically you can’t get stuck in because someone might be running in behind you. That’s a little bit different, but I absolutely love it.”
By all accounts Rowe’s preseason turn in a box-to-box central midfield role has been a success, and the experiment will likely continue as the Revs finish off their preseason slate this week against the Houston Dynamo (Feb. 24) and a yet-to-be-determined opponent (Feb. 27).
But Heaps is hesitant to label Rowe strictly a central midfielder, because his ability to play effectively on both the left and right wings is also a boon for the Revolution’s varied and dynamic attack.
“The key is the versatility of Kelyn,” Heaps said. “We’re trying it now and seeing how it works and really giving it a good effort to get him minutes there. But we also still see him as a number 10 or as a winger, as well. We really want to see him in that (central) role for a while just to build relationships.”
