FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Bruce Arena’s first half-season in Foxborough was as much about analyzing the state of the New England Revolution roster as it was about success on the field. Given 26 games in all competitions to assess the squad, Arena identified several areas of need and then went about addressing those needs throughout the offseason.
Perhaps the most glaring requirement was experience and depth at the left back position, prompting Arena to make a pair of additions in Alexander Büttner and Seth Sinovic, a duo that brings a combined 22 years of professional experience to New England.
Last season featured something of a revolving door at left back. Edgar Castillo offered experience at the position, but injuries limited him to just 20 games and kept him sidelined through the season’s critical stretch run. DeJuan Jones (10 starts), Brandon Bye (two starts), and Jalil Anibaba (three starts) deputized, but none are left-footed. Jones, who featured at left back in the playoff meeting with Atlanta, is naturally an attack-minded right winger.
Büttner and Sinovic, both left-footed and both natural left backs, address that issue directly.
“It’s very important,” Arena said when asked about adding experience on the left side. “We think we need to have eight or nine good defenders in our backline, and from what I’ve seen of preseason, we’re going to be able to do that.”
The 30-year-old Büttner, signed with Targeted Allocation Money in early November after a 12-year career playing for some of Europe’s biggest clubs, projects as the early favorite to start at the position.
“He’s a left-footed player, which has been rare for our team,” Arena said of Büttner. “It helps give our team a little bit more balance in the attack. Alexander Büttner is a very experienced left back, he’s a good passer – something we didn’t have out of that position consistently last year – and hopefully he adjusts to MLS. He’s very capable of having a real solid season for us.”
While there will be an adjustment period to life in MLS as this is Büttner’s first foray outside Europe, he should slide seamlessly into the Revolution’s tactical setup. An attack-minded left back who enjoys overlapping runs, he’s already feeling comfortable through the first three weeks of preseason.
Although they’re yet to play a preseason game – the Revs will kick off their slate against the LA Galaxy on Monday, Feb. 10 – Büttner said he’s noticed throughout training sessions that New England often tuck their wingers inside.
“That’s my job, to go over (the wingers),” Büttner said. “That’s the style I’ve played before, so for me it’s really good that we play this formation.”
Büttner will have competition for playing time, however, as Sinovic brings 10 years of MLS experience to the Revs, including one MLS Cup and three U.S. Open Cup titles won with Sporting Kansas City. All told he’s made more than 240 MLS appearances, including 20 during his rookie season with the Revolution.
Regardless of who sees the majority of the playing time at left back, Büttner and Sinovic provide the Revs with more depth at the position than they’ve had in years.
“Competition’s a big thing for (Arena),” said Sinovic. “I know he wanted to have a couple guys deep in most, if not all positions, and left back was no different. Obviously Alex has a lot of experience and is a very talented player, and I’m excited to work with him and compete with him, because I think that competition brings out the best in every player.”
