Opinion: New England Revolution’s Goal Drought and Poor Form Put Caleb Porter on the Hot Seat

After three matches in the 2025 MLS season, New England Revolution fans are still searching for reasons to “trust the process.” The team remains the only franchise yet to score a goal this year, extending a winless streak that dates back to September 28, 2024—a staggering 164 days without securing three points.

Despite head coach Caleb Porter’s insistence that it’s too early to panic, frustration is mounting. The Revolution have regressed significantly over the past two seasons, going from fifth place in the Eastern Conference under Bruce Arena in 2023 to finishing 14th in 2024 in Porter’s first year at the helm. Last season, the team failed to secure a win until April 6, but at least managed to score in each of its first three games.

Caleb Porter’s Reputation on the Line

Porter arrived in December 2023 with an impressive résumé, having won MLS Cups with Portland (2015) and Columbus (2020). However, his recent track record is far less inspiring. He hasn’t led a team to the playoffs since 2020, when the Crew lifted the title in a season shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic.

To reshape the squad in his image, the Revolution signed 14 new players ahead of the 2025 campaign. This roster overhaul was designed to address last season’s failures and align with Porter’s tactical vision. However, the departures of Dave Romney, Emmanuel Boateng, and DeJuan Jones—all key contributors—left gaps that have yet to be properly filled. Notably, Will Sands, acquired in the trade for Jones, has yet to make an impact.

Among the newcomers, Ignatius Ganago and Leo Campana were expected to bolster the attack, but their performances so far have been inconsistent. Brayan Ceballos has been a rare bright spot in defense, earning praise as the team’s top performer early in the season. However, these individual efforts haven’t translated into results, with the Revolution struggling to find the back of the net or secure points.

Patience Wearing Thin

Porter has urged fans to remain patient, acknowledging the challenges of integrating so many new signings while facing strong opposition early in the season. However, patience is in short supply. MLS Season Pass analyst and former Revolution striker Taylor Twellman has pointed out the team’s alarming form, emphasizing that New England is the only team in MLS yet to score in 2025 and has recorded just one win in its last 13 matches, dating back to the previous season.

With each passing game, the pressure on Porter intensifies. If the Revolution fail to show improvement in the coming weeks—especially against a brutal schedule—the front office may be forced to take action.

Brutal Schedule Could Seal Porter’s Fate

If things weren’t already dire, the Revolution’s upcoming schedule offers little room for optimism. Their next four matches include:

📌 NYCFC (A)

📌 New York Red Bulls (H)

📌 FC Cincinnati (A)

📌 Atlanta United (A)

With three of those games on the road against tough Eastern Conference opponents, New England could realistically go winless through the first seven weeks of the season. If that happens, Porter’s position could become untenable.

The last Revolution coach dismissed due to poor results was Brad Friedel, who was fired on May 19, 2019, after a slow start and a failure to qualify for the playoffs the previous year. At the time of his dismissal, the team had just two wins in seven games and was let go after 12 matches. Soon after, Bruce Arena took over and led the club to an immediate turnaround, securing a playoff spot in 2019.

Time is Running Out

The clock is ticking for Caleb Porter. This is the roster he assembled, and now it’s up to him to get the team firing. If the offensive struggles continue and the team remains winless, ownership may have no choice but to pull the plug before the season spirals out of control.

For now, Revolution supporters have no choice but to hope for a turnaround—though history suggests that hope is rarely rewarded when it comes to this club.

Do you think New England can recover before it’s too late?