The Revolution have some heavy history hanging over them as they prepare for their third straight MLS Cup appearance. But the team's losses in 2002, '05, and '06 do not seem relevant to Wells Thompson, who joined the Revolution this year.
Thompson took over at right wing in the last month of the regular season, allowing Steve Ralston to move into a playmaking role in central midfield. Thompson has gradually become more effective in his defensive challenges, as well as offensively with crosses and penetrating runs.
In the Revolution's 1-0 win over Chicago in the Eastern Conference final last Thursday, Thompson's cross found Taylor Twellman, whose bicycle-kick goal made the difference as the Revolution qualified for the 12th MLS Cup next Sunday in Washington.
The Revolution will play Houston, which beat Kansas City, 2-0, in the Western Conference final last night. Houston beat the Revolution on penalty kicks in last year's MLS Cup.
Though Thompson represents a break from the past, he also brings a hint of continuity with his uninhibited dribbling unbalancing opposing defenses, something the Revolution have lacked since Clint Dempsey departed.
"Wells tries to run past players, and [Ralston], because of his experience, is more about using his guile, so he plays around players," Revolution coach Steve Nicol said yesterday. "But it's the same end product - they get the ball in the box. It's the same thing that happened with Clint; we have to try and help him do that in the right area of the field. We didn't want Clint doing flicks and tricks and all the other stuff standing on the edge of our [penalty area], we wanted him doing it up the other end. And that's where we want Wells to do it.
"He enjoys doing it and it sucks everybody in and they feed off his energy. It gets our team going. He's young and fresh and, along with that, there is that unpredictability going forward that defenders don't like."
The Revolution have already won their first title game this year, beating FC Dallas for the US Open Cup Oct. 3. The final was played at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas, where the Revolution lost in the last two MLS Cups; this time, they took a 3-2 victory, their third goal scored by Thompson.
Thompson's performance helped convince Nicol the time was right to modify the Revolution lineup. Ralston had made brief appearances in central midfield and Thompson had started several games on the right wing when Ralston missed games on international duty and with illness. But Thompson, who turns 24 Nov. 25, showed against Dallas he could make a difference offensively, storming forward to finish after a Pat Noonan-Twellman counterattack appeared to be breaking down, and defend adequately.
The Revolution then changed their all-out attacking philosophy in their playoff opener. Thompson played his part in a 0-0 tie against New York Oct. 27. When the Revolution returned home a week later for Game 2, Thompson was given the green light to advance, and he continued to against Chicago.
"I never in my wildest dreams thought I would be here now," Thompson said after the conference final. "I didn't know if I would be drafted [out of Wake Forest], much less be playing for an MLS team."
Thompson knows enough Revolution history, though.
"It's not over," he said. "It's great to win the Eastern Conference, but our goal is the MLS Cup. The last thing we want to do is come up short again."
The Revolution took two days off and will return to training today. "Probably because we played on Thursday, the playoff scenario doesn't seem to have gone as quickly," Nicol said. "There seems to be plenty of time to rest and for training."
Frank Dell'Apa can be reached at f_dellapa@globe.com.
