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Moore help for Revs New England primed for storybook retributionPosted: Monday April 07, 2003 8:21 PM
By Will Kuhns, Soccer America Preseason training is something for players to groan about, not coaches. Twice-a-day sessions full of fitness work and no meaningful games try a competitor's patience. Yet in Costa Rica, where the Revolution made its second extended trip abroad and concluded its spring with the CONCACAF Champions Cup series against Alajuela, it was Coach Steve Nicol who was getting antsy. "I wish the season would start," he said. "It seems like we've been in preseason forever. Let's get it going." Perhaps Nicol's sentiment reflects his long playing career in England, but more likely it is indicative of the team's attitude after losing at home in overtime of MLS Cup. New England likely will begin with virtually the same lineup it used against the Galaxy last October. There's one major addition: Joe-Max Moore. After three years with Everton in the English Premier League, his work permit expired, and he returned to the club he still leads in career points. Moore should take some of the scoring burden off of Taylor Twellman, who scored 47 percent of his team's goals in his first season in MLS. Although New England is viewed as a defensive-minded team that needs Moore's scoring help, the team finished second in team offense (49 goals) and last in team defense (49) last season. "[Moore's] overall game is a step up," Nicol said. "He's obviously one of the better players in the league. His touch is great, he notices what's going on around him and he has big heart. He plays full out all the time, whether it's match day or training day. [When you] see where he's gone and played, to then come back and give as much now as he has at any other stage in his career, it's quite an example." The Revolution almost had another archetypal leader in Peter Nowak, but the Polish midfielder decided to retire instead. That's left the Revolution looking for a senior international. Daniel Hernandez and Leo Cullen again are penciled in the center of Nicol's 4-4-2 formation as they were in the latter half of last season. "Daniel and Leo were quite instrumental in getting us where we got last year," Nicol said. "I have no problem putting Daniel and Leo in there, I just think it's good to have three guys fighting for two spots." The 2003 season is primed for the Revs to find storybook retribution - a chance to beat Los Angeles at its brand new stadium for the championship. The question is whether New England fans will accept anything less. "There will be no higher expectations than those of the players themselves," Nicol said. "They've been there once and they want to go there again. ... If you ask any team, they'll say their goal is to be in MLS Cup, but it's too early to talk about that. You want to start well, settle things down early and get in a groove as opposed to having a slow start and then always chasing after that."
AT A GLANCE
Pivotal: Joe-Max Moore. Without a new signing, he
could guide the offense. With one, he could post big numbers.
Roster
Avg. Age: 25.8 (8th youngest in MLS). Capped players: 9
(3rd in MLS). Head coach: Steve Nicol (MLS record: 12-10-1, 2 seasons). * Countries for which players have been capped (through March 25) are in parentheses.
Will Kuhns is a senior editor at Soccer America magazine.
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