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The Revolution face a familiar foe to kick off the 2008 MLS season. |
“We’re trying to get ourselves ready to start the season, it’s not a revenge thing,” Revolution coach Steve Nicol said of Saturday’s season opening match against the Dynamo. “We’re trying to beat them as we would any team we’re playing.”
The Revs actually scored first in the MLS Cup game last Nov. 18, when Taylor Twellman buried a header off a feed from Steve Ralston. But Houston came back to score two second-half goals to continue the Revs’ 0-fer in title games.
“Obviously with the three straight Eastern Conference Championships, there are some disappointments,” said Revolution COO Brian Bilello. “Certainly going in to 2008 it will be our No. 1 priority to win MLS Cup this year.”
The club did get one hex off its back, winning its first title ever after taking the US Open Cup with a 3-2 victory over FC Dallas.
“We took home first major title,” Bilello said. “And that’s something we’re very proud of.”
Still, the Revs entered yet another preseason with same lingering questions that have followed them for three years. They finally get their first chance to answer those questions Saturday against Houston at Gillette Stadium – the first time the Revs have ever opened the season at home in their 13-year history.
New England embarked on a preseason barnstorming tour through Bermuda, Mexico and New Orleans and finished the exhibition slate with a 4-1-1 record, albeit mostly against lesser competition. The final match – a scoreless draw with Honduran club Marathon – was the most disappointing.
“Our preseason wasn’t exactly what we wanted,” said Revs’ goalkeeper Matt Reis, “but a lot of guys know that once the season starts, it’s a whole different ballgame.”
Nicol, for one, doesn’t put much stock into the preseason contests.
“Preseason games are exactly that,” he said, “whether you win them or lose.”
What the preseason was useful for, was getting some of the new players acclimated to the team, both on the field and off. Some of the newbies, like veteran defender Chris Albright, are used to the demands and expectations of MLS.
Others, like first-year defender Rob Valentino, Honduran midfielder Mauricio Castro and Costa Rican forward Argenis Fernandez, will have to learn quickly, as all three are expected to assume major roles left by the departures of Pat Noonan, Andy Dorman, James Riley and Avery John.
“Our coaching staff spent more time this offseason traveling trying to replace players and fill the void,” said Revolution Director of Soccer Mike Burns. “We feel like we have players who will add to our team. We are always actively looking, whether it’s internally through trade or internationally somewhere else. With the number of games we have this year, it’s important we try to get the best 28 players possible.”
The extra games Burns refers to are the ones the club will play in SuperLiga, the U.S.-Mexico club tournament featuring a $1 million grand prize for the winner. The Revs are one of four MLS teams participating in the event and will host a pair of group play matches at Gillette Stadium to open the tournament.
“It’s going to put the best of the Mexican club teams against the best of MLS club teams,” Bilello said.
But first the Revs have to face the best MLS team the past two years, one the happen to be all too familiar with.
Saturday Game Notes:
The Revolution will be without both Joe Franchino (hamstring) and Wells Thompson (heel bone spur) due to injury and Khano Smith because of national team duty (Bermuda)…The Revs had opened their season on the road the past 12 years…This is the first time since 2002 New England will start the year with a game in March.
Revolution Projected Starting Lineup:
Goalkeeper: Matt Reis
Defenders: Amaechi Igwe, Michael Parkhurst, Jay Heaps, Chris Albright
Midfielders: Mauricio Castro, Shalrie Joseph, Jeff Larentowicz, Steve Ralston
Forwards: Taylor Twellman, Adam Cristman
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