FRISCO, Texas -- The New England Revolution concluded their on-field preparations for Sunday's MLS Cup with a one-hour session at Pizza Hut Park on Saturday afternoon. After the light session, Steve Nicol reported a clean bill of health for his squad, leaving him with some tricky decisions to make regarding who starts the game.
The main areas for Nicol to decide on regard the make-up of his midfield. Clint Dempsey has trained all week and reported Saturday that his ankle 'feels good', but his lack of competitive action during the playoffs will surely mean that he is not ready for 90 minutes. Should Nicol opt to use him against a tiring Houston Dynamo defense off the bench, Daniel Hernandez will likely start in the center alongside Shalrie Joseph. If Dempsey does get the nod, Hernandez will be on the bench and Andy Doman will slide back.
After a hesitant start last Sunday against D.C. United, James Riley was impressive on the right and could get the nod ahead of Steve Ralston. The veteran is fit again but has not played since limping off against Chicago two weeks ago in the conference semifinals. Furthermore, Nicol may look to utilize Riley's more natural defensive skills against the threat of Houston's Brad Davis. Riley would also be capable of playing at full-back in a 4-4-2, should Nicol need to veer from his usual 3-5-2 formation, as he did last week.
Throughout their postseason run, the Revolution have shown an ability to adapt to what is happening around them. Down against Chicago, Nicol introduced Pat Noonan to make a game-winning contribution. Versus D.C., a formation change helped stem the flow of the opposition's attacks. Nicol is confident his side can react positively to what challenges face them on Sunday, though hopes that it is the Revs that are posing bigger problems to Houston.
"We want to start the game well and get possession of the ball but, if that doesn't happen, then we have to show some patience until we turn it round," said Nicol. "If we pass the ball well then we will make chances and we will score goals. If we don't then the number of chances we have will be limited. It's really about how we possess the ball. Patience will always come into it."
Nicol spoke earlier in the week about different types of finals, saying that some can be end-to-end from the first whistle while others are dominated by defenses stifling attacks and midfields canceling one another out. Looking ahead to this game, while he said what he would like to happen, Nicol admitted that he has few clues as to how the game will play out, particularly in the opening minutes.
"I am sure that neither (Dynamo head coach) Dominic (Kinnear) or I know exactly how it is going to start," said Nicol. "What we will be ready for is anything they throw at us. We certainly want to put them under pressure straight away and we will be shocked if they don't want to put us under pressure. We have to be ready to handle any way it starts."
New England will face a Dynamo side that offers differing types of attacking threat. Dwayne De Rosario is capable of winning a game on his own with a piece of outrageous skill or a visionary pass. However, it seems certain that the flanks are going to be from where Houston seeks to inflict the most damage as Davis and Brian Mullan play in crosses for the aerial threats of Brian Ching and Paul Dalglish.
"Are they dangerous at set pieces? Yes, they've got some big guys that attack the ball. I think the most important thing for us is to take care of our own business. Are we aware of certain players who can hurt us? Yes and when we do lose the ball they need to be taken care of," said Nicol.
Matt Reis could be in the firing line from the dangerous Dynamo offense and the Revolution goalkeeper is prepared for a busy afternoon, though he does not go into the game with any pre-determined thoughts about how he will deal with whatever comes his way.
"You just kind of react," said Reis. "You get into good spots and then react. If I can come out and get them clean then that is going to help our team out a lot. If I can't then I have just got to react to it. I will play the game the way it needs to be played and not try to go above and beyond what I need to do. That's when you can get in trouble."
In 233 minutes of MLS Cup soccer, the Revolution have failed to score a single goal. To win a championship, of course, that drought has to end. Nicol joked about one possible scenario for banishing the scoring famine, before making clear that what has gone before in previous finals will have no bearing on this one.
"We're going to play four up front!" he exclaimed. "No, that's just one of those things that has happened previously and we are not even thinking about that. The good stuff or the bad stuff. Sunday is a new game on a new day and we are going to go forward and try and score goals."
The road to their previous two finals saw the Revolution ride the crest of a late-season wave in 2002 and then, three years later, lead the standings from start to finish. On each occasion, the side fell short at the final stage. This year has seen the Revs stay with the pack during the regular season, before finding their best form in the playoffs. A veteran of both of the previous finals, Jay Heaps hopes that this year's method has a more happy ending.
"We have been set on wining this whole thing from the start of the season and, if we don't win it then we will have fallen short of our goal," said Heaps. "That's why we will give it everything we have."
Andrew Hush is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
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