Dorman star-crossed

Revolution coach Steve Nicol and three of his players will be with the MLS All-Star team to play Celtic FC in Commerce City, Colo., Thursday. But the team's leading scorers, Andy Dorman and Taylor Twellman, will not participate.

Shalrie Joseph, Michael Parkhurst, and Matt Reis were selected as starters -- the most of any team in the league -- in a vote of coaches, fans, general managers, media, and players. Nicol and commissioner Don Garber then chose seven additional players, none from the Revolution.

Why not Dorman or Twellman, who have scored seven goals apiece this season?

Nicol said he strived for balance, to bring in backups to complement the starters. Nicol also considered the demands of playing internationally (Twellman performed eight times for the US from June 7-July 2) and the fact the Revolution will be playing their third game in a 13-day period against Houston Sunday. Twellman has played 21 games for the Revolution (including a US Open Cup match) and the US this year.

"In the case of Andy, it's really because in the first 11, two attacking midfield players had been picked, [Dwayne] De Rosario and [Christian] Gomez," Nicol said yesterday. "At the end of the day you look to have a rounded squad. If there are injuries or something happens in the game, you need to be solid in the back, in the middle, and up front.

"I told Taylor when he came back [from the Copa America in Venezuela] that he had been away six or seven weeks and he needed to spend some time at home and get settled again and, if there are any call-offs or injuries, I would take him. He understands. He wants to play, but he understands that we are looking out for him, first of all, and it benefits us [the Revolution] because he is a player we need to be settled so he can do what he does best."

But Dorman's agent, David-Ross Williamson, believes his client should be on the team.

"There is no rationalization under the sun, moon, and stars -- biased as I am -- for him not being on the team," Williamson said. " Res ipsa loquitur -- the thing speaks for itself -- he is the leading midfielder in the league in minutes played, goals, and total points."

Nicol and the Revolution All-Stars will travel to Denver tomorrow and return Friday.

"Had it been a free week, the game played on the weekend, there is a possibility there would have been more of our players on the team," Nicol said.

Nicol considers this as much a competitive match as an exhibition. The other time Nicol coached an MLS selection, the team was hastily gathered, then went to Spain for a 5-0 loss to Real Madrid two years ago.

"We want to win the game, but that is icing on the cake," Nicol said. "We want to give a good account of ourselves. The game will be on in Scotland and wherever else and we want to show what we are capable of and the quality of the players we have. I think that's important."

Dorman surpassed his career-high goal total as the Revolution (7-3-5, 26 points) took a 1-0 win over the New York Red Bulls Saturday in a showdown for first place in the Eastern Conference, making a sparkling run from midfield onto a Joseph through ball, scoring in the 38th minute. Steve Ralston also was credited with an assist on the play, his league-record 115th in a 12-year career.

"Not many do what he does . . . Gomez at D.C., maybe, makes that late run from the middle of the park," Nicol said of Dorman. "It's tough to defend. You can drop off so he can't make that run, but if you do it gives him space to run. It's a Catch-22.

"It's tough [for defenders] to pick up and he set himself up perfectly."

Dorman has replaced Clint Dempsey, who departed for Fulham FC on a $4 million transfer after last season. Dempsey broke down defenses with dribbling and strong runs with the ball. Dorman has more of a one-touch, perpetual-motion style.

"He is world-class," defender Jay Heaps said of Dorman. "He is great in the locker room, he is hard-working, he never complains. He's our ace in the hole. He doesn't need to dribble three defenders, but he can get to balls behind defenders.

"[Pat] Noonan and Twellman, or whoever is up front, do a lot of the battling. And when [Dorman] is on his game, he finds those holes. Two or three times, he makes runs off the forwards and when he makes that wide run it's tough to stop."

Frank Dell'Apa can be reached at f_dellapa@globe.com.