With healthier Noonan, Revolution aren't hamstrung
FOXBOROUGH -- If Pat Noonan had not strained his right hamstring playing for the Revolution in a CONCACAF Champions Cup game on a warm February night in Bermuda, he likely would have had his usual strong start to the MLS season, performed for the US in the World Cup, and would be able to approach contract negotiations from a position of strength.
Instead of traveling to Germany, and challenging for the league scoring title and a spot on the All-Star team, the forward has spent much of the year recovering from injuries. But Noonan now appears to be going at full speed for the Revolution, who continue their stretch run against Chicago at Gillette Stadium Sunday.
Noonan has gone the distance in three successive matches, grueling 1-1 duels at Kansas City and Chivas USA and last week's scoreless draw against the Wizards. Though Noonan's presence did not lead directly to major offensive breakthroughs, his positioning and ability to maintain possession have made a notable difference.
``I have not been sharp enough in the final third," Noonan said yesterday. ``I can be better there. But I am getting my fitness back. It is not easy for anyone coming back from injury. I was playing 60 minutes a game and now I am back to 90."
In his first three MLS seasons, Noonan proved to be among the most durable and spectacular of Revolution forwards, scoring 34 goals in all competitions, despite often being dropped into a midfield setup role.
Noonan's physical problems started noticeably affecting him during last year's Gold Cup. Noonan displayed his value to the US team, which won the event on penalty kicks over Panama, but he returned to the Revolution at less than half speed. In fact, Noonan is on a 20-game scoreless drought, though he did convert once in the playoffs last year.
``I am not worried about that, I am just worried about winning games," Noonan said of the goalless streak. ``Whoever scores the goals doesn't matter. It's just as important setting someone up to score as putting it in the back of the net.
``[The goal] will come."
Revolution coach Steve Nicol had been closely monitoring Noonan since he had to replace him early in a 1-0 loss at D.C. United June 3.
``I would be lying if I said I wasn't," Nicol said. ``He had to come out of that game and I was certainly concerned at the time. It was that push to get into the World Cup squad. When you are doing that, you are going to be intense and going at full throttle every day. You are trying to get into the squad every day and, eventually, your body tells you something.
``[Noonan] is creating chances and putting himself in position to score. But putting the ball in the net is an art -- it's actually more than an art, sometimes it just doesn't happen. If he wasn't putting himself in position, it might be a problem. But he is getting stronger and quicker every day."
Noonan's recovery also coincides with upcoming contract negotiations.
``I will play it by ear. If they want me back, they will show interest," Noonan said of the Revolution. ``They have shown interest before. But I will wait and finish out the season and then worry about coming to terms or seeing if there is interest overseas."
The Revolution's Clint Dempsey is a finalist along with goalkeeper Kasey Keller (Borussia Moenchengladbach) and Brian McBride (Fulham) for the Honda Player of the Year award as the best US performer. The winner will be announced Oct. 3 . . . Ricardo Phillips, who performed for the Revolution last season, scored in the 20th minute as Panama defeated Peru, 2-0, in an exhibition in Lima Wednesday night.
