4 days ago
Revolution hope Matt Turner's return can provide a push for playoffs. For Turner, it could mean regaining his place with USMNT ahead of World Cup.
The move might benefit both the Revolution and Turner, who lost his US national team starting place due to lack of club playing time, though it was hardly serendipitous. Turner had been preparing for a 40-game-plus European season but, instead, will compete for two and a half months of the MLS regular season, then go through an off-season lasting into February. As for the Revolution, their biggest failings have not been in goal — Aljaz Ivacic has eight shutouts this season, two short of Matt Reis's team record — but up front, as no forward has converted more than four times. Turner joins two attackers, Tomás Chancalay and Carles Gil, as Revolution designated players, though he likely will be tagged as Targeted Allocation Money-eligible next year.
Turner, who played for Fairfield University before joining the Revolution in 2016, could be inserted in the lineup Saturday against D.C. United, sporting director Curt Onalfo said.
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'Matt is a game-changer,' Onalfo said. 'He's one of these guys that can turn a shot that should be a goal into a save. We're continually looking to make our team better, and when we evaluated this scenario it was a no-brainer. We feel very fortunate that Matt will help us with more clean sheets, which gives us the opportunity to win games. [Turner] is also a winner. He'll be a really important part of our locker room.
'And in games, when you have those unfortunate moments, when the momentum is shifting, you need key leaders to step up and help change those moments and turn them into settling the team, and then pushing forward to get the results.'
Only 10 matches remain for the Revolution (6-11-7, 25 points) to rally from a 10-point playoff deficit. Riding a nine-match winless streak, they could use a spark — as well as improved chemistry and communication — but might have to adjust tactically, as strategy has been devised around Ivacic's ability to distribute.
'I know this club is going through some difficult moments this season, and I want to bring that winning mentality back and create relationships that will last a lifetime with the supporters and with the guys in the locker room,' Turner said. 'Of course, I back myself to help propel this team to win games, and I've been in late playoff hunts before —
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Matt Turner (left) retook control of his No. 30 with Revolution sporting director Curt Onalfo on Monday in Foxborough.
Mimi Murad/New England Revolution
Last month, Turner earned a $9.2 million transfer to Olympique Lyonnais, but he became available as financial problems affected Lyon's ability to pay salaries. Club president Michele Kang, who owns the Washington Spirit of the NWSL, adopted an austerity program in a deal that allowed Lyon to avoid relegation and remain in France's Ligue 1.
With the Revolution, Turner helped the team advance to three successive playoffs (2019-21), then
The team has mostly struggled since, though, and two supporters groups recently
'I can't blame the fans and the supporters' groups for being upset and being frustrated,' Onalfo said. 'We are frustrated. There's probably no one that is more frustrated than me as I sit at the helm. Our job is to continue to make the team better. We're doing that today, and we will continue to do that. The area that we have to get better in is we have to be better at home. It will help to have [Turner] in goal, assuming he starts the game.
'The way I look at it is, how do we channel that frustration and that emotion into something that's productive for everybody? That's my approach, and hopefully the fans can come this weekend with that mentality in mind so that we can get a win this weekend.'
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Frank Dell'Apa can be reached at
