Where did we leave off last year? Consistent regular season saw the team nestle comfortably into the second spot in the Eastern Conference. Simple playoff run saw experience and solidity trump New York and Chicago. Loose approach in MLS Cup didn't yield benefits, as the side lost to Houston for the second season in a row.
Arrivals: DF Chris Albright (Los Angeles), MF Mauricio Castro (Olimpia, Honduras), FW Argenis Fernandez (Santos, Costa Rica)
Departures: DF Avery John (unattached), MF Andy Dorman (Saint Mirren, Scotland), FW Pat Noonan (Aalesund, Norway)
Assessing the front office moves: The traditionally-dormant front office made a couple of moves during the offseason, grabbing Albright in exchange for allocation money and signing Castro (Honduras) and Fernandez (Costa Rica) from South America. But those players didn't completely fill glaring needs at the back or in the attacking third. One wonders where exactly in the power structure the player transfers fall apart because this team needed more fresh blood than it got during the off-season. Give management a pass on Dorman, who didn't want to stay and cashed in with St. Mirren in Scotland, but place the blame on Noonan's departure on the needlessly generous contract management bestowed upon him last offseason after an injury-riddled 2006. Noonan's decision to walk when the team tried to correct itself this off-season made sense for all parties involved.
The squad: The departures of two probable starters and a key reserve in Dorman represent the most significant squad changes under the Nicol regime. The departures would be more worrisome but for the spine of the squad (GK Matt Reis, DF Michael Parkhurst, MFs Shalrie Joseph, Jeff Larentowicz, and Steve Ralston, and FW Taylor Twellman), which ranks as the strongest in the league. But the depth in the squad is nearly non-existent at this point and there are serious question about who will partner Twellman up top in Noonan's absence. Abdoulie "Kenny" Mansally, the Gambian U-20 forward, has the inside track over Adam Cristman to earn that berth. The team would probably be served best by acquiring another midfielder to cover the wide right berth as Wells Thompson goes through the ups and downs of full-time starting duty as Ralston pulls the strings as a playmaker. Castro should take over from the infuriatingly inconsistent Khano Smith on the left flank. If the Revs go with three at the back, either Albright or Jay Heaps will have to play out of position on the left or drop to the bench.
Key player: Michael Parkhurst
Most likely to drop out of the starting XI: Kenny Mansally
Off the bench: There's not much to write home about after Joe Franchino, returning after missing last year with a knee injury, Smith, and Cristman or Mansally. The team has high hopes for top draft pick Rob Valentino, but he's still recovering from a torn ACL. Doug Warren could play for a game or two if Reis gets injured.
Outlook: It's foolhardy to bet against Steve Nicol and Paul Mariner. This team, on paper, has less talent than the ones that have preceded it. Key additions haven't materialized as hoped, but Twellman and company have a way of patching over the cracks. The only thing that will keep the Revolution from challenging for a third consecutive MLS Cup berth is a spate of injuries, particularly if Parkhurst or Twellman gets hurt. Dorman and Noonan represented the cushion and the extra that the team just won't have heading into the 2008 campaign. But the bare bones of this team are the envy of most teams in the league and should be enough to finish second in the Eastern Conference with some comfort. One thing to watch: this is a small squad that will fight on many fronts this season (SuperLiga, CONCACAF Champions League, U.S. Open Cup). How will the team cope with the strain?
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