Player Focus: Agudelo's Impact at New England Revolution

When Juan Agudelo was traded to the New England Revolution from Chivas USA last month coach Jay Heaps knew they were getting one of America’s brightest young attacking prospects.
 
Since his breakthrough season with the New York Red Bulls two years ago Agudelo has been anointed as the USA’s rawest young forward and someone who could lead the national team's frontline for a generation.
 
His equalizing goal in a friendly with Argentina two years ago made him the youngest player to score for the US national team, with trials at Celtic, Stuttgart and Liverpool following. But no such move has materialized and Agudelo has been moving within MLS, perhaps a victim of the league’s trade-and-draft transfer model, traded twice in the last 13 months.
 
The ability and potential of New England’s latest signing is undoubted, but Heaps and the rest of the Revolution probably didn’t expect Agudelo to be this good this soon.
 
Revolution general manager Michael Burns spent weeks scouring American and international markets for a forward to revitalize his side’s attack. He eventually landed on Agudelo, securing the USA international’s services for an undisclosed amount of allocation money.
 
Indeed, Agudelo’s impact on the Revolution has been profound, boosting a somewhat stagnant frontline and propelling his new team on an impressive run of form that has included wins over Houston, Toronto and the LA Galaxy.
 
“He does everything for the team,” says Heaps. “He does all the little things that don’t get noticed as much. Right away players buy into what he’s doing. His ability round the box, he’s really crafty and he’s really got good body control.”
 
Heaps’ assessment highlights what the former Red Bulls and Chivas USA forward does for his teammates, rather than what he does himself. And indeed the addition of Agudelo has freed up the Revolution attack, particularly Diego Fagundez, who has been in inspired form of late.
 
In terms of pure shots on goal and chances created per game statistics, the effect of Agudelo on the Revolution’s frontline has been minimal.  In the three games with Agudelo New England have averaged 10.3 shots on goals, compared with 9.8 without him. A similar rise in average chances created per game can also be noted, with 7.3 with Agudelo and 6.7 before his arrival at Gillette Stadium.
 
But while a rather insignificant increase in productivity in attack might not be a factor in the Revolution’s improved form with Agudelo in the side, Heaps’ side appear a more efficient outfit since signing the 20 year old.
 
With Agudelo as part of their frontline New England’s final third pass accuracy has dramatically improved. Before the forward’s arrival the Revolution was averaging 66.5 final third passes per game, compared to 85.7 since. Subsequently, their final third pass accuracy has risen from 54.4% to 70.6%.
 
The USA forward himself has improved his efficiency since making the switch, upping his pass accuracy from 73% at Chivas USA to 86.3% at the New England Revolution.

 
Agudelo might have made his name as a goal scorer but his influence at New England goes beyond his obvious threat in attack. Despite playing only three games, starting just two of them, Agudelo has already fulfilled a number of roles for the Revolution. Only once has Heaps deployed him in his preferred frontman position, instead using him across his attacking line, freeing up space for teammates Fagundez, Jerry Bengston and Lee Nguyen.
 
Using a heat map to plot where Agudelo has operated on the pitch for New England (see above), it’s clear to see how Heaps has used him as support for a designated striker, even asking him to track back into the left back position to help out with the defensive side of the game.
 
As previously alluded to, Fagundez appears to have benefitted most from the addition of Agudelo to the Revolution roster, having scored three times and notched two assists in his last three appearances. When Agudelo drifts out to the left, the Uruguayan drifts out to the right to exploit the free space, and vice versa, to create a fluid and dynamic frontline.
 
Sunday’s game against MLS champions LA Galaxy presented something of a litmus test for the new-look Revolution. A rampant 5-0 victory over the league’s marquee team was the result, suggesting New England with Agudelo will be a formidable force for the rest of the season as they look to secure a play-off spot.
 
Heaps might’ve known what Agudelo could do when he signed the forward last month but now, after just three games, he’s seen it for himself.