Personnel wise it's been a disastrous couple of days for the New England Revolution. Rajko Lekic is off in Denmark, Monsef Zerka has signed in India, Milton Caraglio is off in Chile, Re-entry Draft pick Danleigh Borman is in South Africa, and now news out of Columbia has told us that one of the Revs "big" offseason signings has changed his mind and will not suit up for Jay Heaps in Foxborough.

Now that we've had a few days to examine things from every angle and formulate responsible judgments, I feel the time has come for a measured and well thought-out reaction to the Jay Heaps hiring. And no, it's not an unintelligible exclamation of frustration.

I still have plenty of reservations about Jay's lack of experience, and also about his leadership style.

Photo credit: Chamber Images
Good afternoon! It's do-or-die time for the Red Bulls, up at Gillette Stadium, as they visit the Revolution (7:30pm ET, MSG), with the always-up-for-Red Bulls-killing Shalrie Joseph in fine form. To say that both teams need the points today is as massive an understatement as anyone can make.

Welcome to the New England Revolution vs. Chivas USA live game thread! Tonight's match features a Revolution squad that could possibly be described as resurgent given their recent string of positive road results. They face a Chivas USA squad that, although inconsistent this season, has had the Revs' number in recent years, including a 3-0 result at the Home Depot Center in April.

Welcome to the New England Revolution vs. DC United live game thread! It's been just three days since the embarrassing 3-0 drubbing the Revs endured against Philadelphia at home on Sunday, and things have gone from bad to worse in Foxboro as a result. There was a fan protest in the Fort that evening and Benny Feilhaber will be suspended from today's game after receiving a red card ejection against the Union.

You remember that famous 1999 World Cup victory, don't you?

Watch:

And it has cast a long shadow, as Associated Press Writer Nancy Armour points out:

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) -- Lauren Cheney was just 11 during the 1999 World Cup,
watching from the stands and imagining what it would be like to be on that field with Mia Hamm and Michelle Akers and Julie Foudy and Brandi Chastain.

What is it about the U.S. National Team, or soccer in America in general?Every time the eyeballs of the sporting nation set upon the sport, something tends to go wrong.Let's consider Spain's 4-0 evisceration of the U.S. Saturday afternoon at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough another one of those false springs and letdowns.

Hey all you Twin Citians,
Come hang out with a bar full of USA fans for a friendly match.
-Sat Jun 4
USA v Spain - 3:30pm CT
Venue: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough MA
We will get a chance to see how the team is looking right before they start the Gold Cup next week.

In what may be their last real opportunity for relaxation for quite some time, a lot of the players are taking advantage of the morning off by enjoying some time by the pool. No regeneration, no hydrotherapy. Just reading books and magazines or just chilling out before departing for Foxborough later this afternoon.

You have a chance to see how they get ready for moments like this
Have you ever wondered what goes in the mysterious 'closed-door training session' that takes place the day before virtually every international match played around the world? Even here at the MNT Blog we can only be vague about the details - did you ever notice there are very few photos from that day?

STARTERS
More than 33,000 tix have already been sold for USA v Spain in Foxborough on Jun 4. Not bad at all.
STORY OF THE DAY
Grant Wahl of Sports Illustrated with a big story on the rise of Real Salt Lake from absolutely terrible, to toast of the country.

The New England Revolution are set to take on newly-minted Eastern Conference rivals Houston Dynamo at Robertson Stadium this evening. Neither team is a huge fan of the other and their clashes tend to be chippy and contentious affairs.

The key for the Revs today is going to be setting the tempo early and containing Brad Davis.

VERY SPECIAL INTRO
Kosuke Kimura of the Colorado Rapids writes in the New York Times today asking for our help in his native Japan.
STARTERS
Frank Dell'Apa of the Boston Globe reports that the rumored USA v Spain friendly in early June looks likely to be played at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough.

The Boston Globe has reported New England's Captain, Shalrie Joseph, has been dismissed from the squad's Orlando training camp along with teammate Kevin Alston. Both players featured in Friday's 2-0 win over the University of Central Florida, but have not appeared in training for the past two days.

By IAN HOLLIDAY

After missing the playoffs for the first time under Steve Nicol last season, the Revolution enters the 2011 season with more questions than answers.

The Revs have been in transition since Taylor Twellman first sustained the head injury that would eventually end his career midway through the 2008 season.