Nicol doesn't fiddle, keeps Ralston in middle
FOXBOROUGH - Steve Ralston was effective in a midfield playmaking role for most of the game in a 3-2 loss to the Columbus Crew last night. Ralston went the distance in a 2-1 loss at Chicago last Saturday, his first full game at the position since his collegiate days.
"Wherever I am asked to play, I have no problem doing it," Ralston said. "If they want me in the middle I am happy to do it."
Revolution coach Steve Nicol was satisfied with the lineup change, Ralston moving into Andy Dorman's central position, Wells Thompson going to the right wing.
"[Ralston] got balls in the box," Nicol said. "[Thompson] was solid from start to finish, he worked behind the ball and he looked dangerous, he got balls in the box."
Ralston moved to the right wing in the late going, after Dorman replaced Thompson.
"We wanted to mix it up and give it a different look," Nicol said.
Ralston, who played at Forest Park Community College and Florida International University before the joining MLS in 1996, might have become one of the better US-born setup midfielders, but switched to the right wing with the Tampa Bay Mutiny, which had Carlos Valderrama in midfield.
"Who's to say?" Ralston said. "Or, I might have been out of the league. We had Carlos at Tampa Bay and he's one of the best in the world. I had just come out of college and I was happy to play anywhere, and it was great playing with Carlos. If I had gone to another team, I might have been out of the league."
October best
The 22,295 attendance set a record for a Revolution regular-season home game in October. The previous high was 21,335 for a 2-1 win over the MetroStars Oct. 2, 1999, at Foxboro Stadium.
Return man?
Joe Franchino is recovering from ankle tendon surgery and could rejoin the team for training next month. Franchino played in three games as a substitute and was declared out for the season in June. "I hope to join the team soon, even though I can't play," Franchino said after viewing a Revolution practice last week. "I have to take it slow but I went for a 5-mile run the other day and the doctor says I could train with the team in a month." . . . Defender Avery John expects to return to action against Toronto FC Saturday. John sustained a knee strain while being fouled by New York forward Juan Pablo Angel in a 2-2 tie Sept. 22.
Frank Dell'Apa can be reached at f_dellapa@globe.com. 