FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – With regards to bolstering the club’s depth, the New England Revolution seem more active now than they were when the MLS transfer window was open.
On Monday the Revs made a move for the second time in as many weeks, this time bringing in Tony Taylor, a former United States U-20 and U-23 national team forward, via weighted lottery. The signing of Taylor follows last week’s trade acquisition of forward Andre Akpan in a move that sent Saër Sène to the New York Red Bulls.
Despite adding another attacking presence to the mix, the Revolution, who have also expressed interest in USMNT standout Jermaine Jones, are still working the wire, hoping to add more before rosters are frozen on September 15.
“I think that we’re adding young players,” coach Jay Heaps said on Wednesday. “But at the same time we’re looking to continue to add as well. It’s always important to add strength to your team. We feel like we’re getting better across the board when we add players like that.”
Taylor brings the ability to play up top as a striker or use his blazing speed along the wings, an area where Heaps and others feel he may be most useful to the club.
“He’s a good player,” said Kelyn Rowe, who crossed paths with Taylor on the US U-23 squad. “He’s very fast. He gets up and down that wing. I think he’s going to be very beneficial to us, to get that real winger.”
Said Heaps: “I see him probably at a wider position, as another forward or a second striker, right underneath a target striker. His versatility and his speed are top-notch for us.”
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Prior to coming to New England, Taylor played professionally in Portugal and Greece, netting 14 goals over the past four seasons of play. Heaps feels that with his prior experiences, the 25-year-old who was raised in the Jacksonville, Florida, area will not need too much of a crash course in learning about life in the MLS.
“Everyone is different,” said Heaps. “Having some international experience helps. I think he understands our league because he grew up watching our league.”
Taylor is expected to meet with the coaching staff on Wednesday and join his new teammates at training on Thursday.
