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David Beckham is the most recognizable designated player in Major League Soccer. (David yip/File/Reuters) |
Soccer Notes
The trend in Major League Soccer is for teams to go for older, high-priced, high-profile players. The Revolution, though, are going for younger, cheaper unknowns.
The latest designated player to join the league is Claudio Lopez, 33, an Argentine forward signed by the Kansas City Wizards Saturday. The other DPs are New York's Juan Pablo Angel, 32, and Claudio Reyna, 34; Los Angeles's David Beckham, 32; Chicago's Cuauhtemoc Blanco, 35; and D.C. United's Marcelo Gallardo, 32.
Revolution coach Steve Nicol is not ruling out a top-level veteran addition. But, so far, the Revolution appear to be going the opposite direction.
"[Lopez] has all the experience in the world," Nicol said yesterday. "He has played at the highest level and he will do nothing but help that team.
"All these guys coming in, they all have great résumés, that's for sure. What they have to do is take it on the field, and that's one thing we have to wait and see. Clearly, [Lopez] can play and he has a fantastic pedigree."
Last year, Nicol recruited 32-year-old Robbie Fowler (Cardiff City) but he has been wary of older players such as Joao Pinto, 36, who was being considered by Toronto FC last month.
The Revolution have two more preseason games scheduled, against reigning Honduras champion Marathon in New Orleans Friday and Sunday. Unless their personnel situation changes drastically before the MLS opener against Houston March 29, the starting forward alongside Taylor Twellman will be either Adam Cristman, 23, a fourth-round draft choice who scored four goals last season, or Kenny Mansally, 19, who leads the team with five goals in four preseason matches. Mansally could become the first native of Gambia to become a starter at the full professional level in the US.
"Ideally, most people would prefer younger players," Nicol said. "Kenny is young and he wants to score goals. He is a perfect foil for Taylor."
Two newcomers are expected to join the Revolution for training in New Orleans: Honduran midfielder Mauricio "Pipo" Castro, 26, and Costa Rican forward Argenis Fernandez, 20. But the Revolution are still seeking depth following the departure of four regulars from last season.
"We want to bring in more players, absolutely," Nicol said. "It does get harder [as time goes on] but we're not going to sign any Tom, Dick, and Harry. We want someone who will help us, who will fit in, and all the other things. It's not a case of just getting yourself a body."
The Revolution have become more selective in their search for experienced reinforcements since the brief stints of defender Steve Howey ('04) and forward Manuel Abundis ('06).
Doing their level best
The Revolution started preparing for this season five years ago during a preseason trip to Costa Rica. Though the team had trained in Latin America since 1998, the players received something of a culture shock when they lost to LD Alajuelense, 4-0, in the opener of the 2003 CONCACAF Champions Cup. The Revolution showed they belonged in the tournament by rallying in the second game of the aggregate-goal series, scoring the first three goals, though they fell after surrendering a penalty kick and losing two players to red cards.
So the Revolution's adventure in the Yucatan last week can be conceived as a part of the team's assimilation process into international competition. Their 4-1 win over Pioneros de Cancun indicates improvement over a year ago, when they converted a late goal in a 1-0 win over Pioneros. The Revolution then lost, 1-0, to Atlante in Playa del Carmen Thursday.
"I think it's perfect, that's what we want," Nicol said of the level of competition in the preseason schedule. "We want teams to push us and test us. They make us think and put us under pressure.
"There is no point in sailing through the preseason, beating teams 7- and 8-nil all the time. The competition against Atlante was great, it gives us a guide to where we are.
"Three or four years ago, we wouldn't have been able to compete with these teams. But, as a whole, we've gotten better. It's confidence. We realize what we can do."
The Revolution met Alajuelense in the 2006 Champions Cup, this time tying (0-0) in Bermuda and losing (1-0) on a last-minute free kick in Costa Rica.
"When we played them again, they had a completely different attitude toward us and we toward them," Nicol said. "But we were in the middle of our preseason. If we play [in tournaments] later in the season, it will make a huge difference."
The Revolution's next meeting with Atlante could be in July during the SuperLiga. The Revolution are also likely to play in the Champions League in August and September. They are hoping to stage two games in the SuperLiga, an eight-team tournament involving MLS and Mexican teams, at Gillette Stadium in July.
Jolts for colts
Atlante fell to 2-4-3 in league play with a 3-2 loss to Cruz Azul in Cancun Sunday night. The Potros de Hierro have lost leading scorer Giancarlo Maldonado (knee surgery), but goalkeeper Federico Vilar (suspended for the Cruz Azul clash) returns for Thursday's game against CD Saprissa in the Champions Cup. Atlante had also outmaneuvered the Revolution in bidding for Costa Rican national team defender Gabriel Badilla, but the deal apparently fell through, as Badilla will be performing for Saprissa in Cancun . . . Of the departed Revolution players, Andy Dorman has fared the best, scoring the winning goal in a Scottish Cup game and twice converting tying goals for St. Mirren. Defender Avery John failed to catch on after a trial with Dundee FC in Scotland. Pat Noonan has been starting for Aalesund FK in the Norwegian preseason and defender James Riley for the San Jose Earthquakes in preparation for the MLS season.
Frank Dell'Apa can be reached at f_dellapa@globe.com
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