Strikers of gold: Revolution bargains pay off
FOXBOROUGH - The Revolution have compiled the best record in Major League Soccer in the first half of the season, despite playing all but 56 minutes without Taylor Twellman. But Twellman is set to return for tomorrow's US Open Cup game against the Richmond Kickers in New Britain, Conn.
"Taylor will start," coach Steve Nicol confirmed after the Revolution reserve game yesterday. "It would be the same as playing here [in the reserve match] but the Open Cup is more important."
Twellman missed the first seven games of the season following knee surgery, sustained a severe ankle sprain after scoring against Chivas USA in his first game back May 11, and didn't return until the 79th minute of a 2-1 victory over Toronto FC Saturday night. Twellman was with the team on a Gillette Stadium practice field while the Revolution reserves fell, 2-1, to the reserves of Toronto FC, but was not considered for action.
The Revolution (9-4-3, 30 points) took calculated, questionable risks in failing to re-sign Andy Dorman and Pat Noonan, who were tied for second on the team with seven goals last season. But the team hardly expected to be without Twellman, especially after it refused to let him depart for Preston North End following a transfer offer of $3.5 million.
Contrary to expectations, the striker position has remained a Revolution strength. Adam Cristman and Kheli Dube played key roles in Saturday's game, then were replaced in the second half by Kenny Mansally and Twellman.
Mansally and Twellman were slated to start for the Revolution this season, but Twellman was injured during warm-ups before the season opener.
"We've got options," Nicol said of the forward position. "The ideal situation is you have four guys who can play there. We're fortunate we've got that."
Cristman has four goals, matching his total of last season. Dube has been among the league's revelations, the leading scorer among first-year players with four goals. Mansally scored twice in 10 games before departing for World Cup qualifying with The Gambia.
Steve Ralston has emerged as the Revolution's leading scorer, his two goals against Toronto FC increasing his total to six for the season. Ralston has even filled in at striker briefly, scoring in the late going of a 1-1 tie with New York June 18.
The Revolution have gone the bargain-basement route for forwards, possibly encouraged by their experience with Twellman, who earned the league minimum while leading the league in scoring in 2002. Cristman signed a developmental contract, then earned a raise to about $31,000 annually last year. Dube is playing on a developmental contract (about $15,000 annually) but could be due for a full-time contract.
"It's a possibility," Nicol said of Dube's contract. "We're thinking about it."
Dube's status could depend on the fate of Argenis Fernandez, who is likely returning to play for Alajuelense in Costa Rica. Though Dube, who played for Highlanders in Zimbabwe before having a successful collegiate career, could earn a significant raise, he is reluctant to sign a standard four-year contract because it would limit his options to transfer.
"He clearly deserves it," said Patrick McCabe, Dube's agent. "He was slated to be a reserve and he has fought his way into the starting lineup and become an impact player. He has the respect of his teammates and other players, and also of other coaches, who are kicking themselves for not drafting him.
"Nobody did their homework on him. He was [the 2007 Big South Conference] player of the year but he was not invited to the [player] combine. That's the politics of the combine - there are guys like him who are left out every year.
"It's tough to make an impact in the MLS in your first year, especially for a striker, because the defenders are so athletic and strong. His preparation of playing in Zimbabwe helped him cope on this level, with the speed of play and the bigger, stronger players. And, remember, he has worked very hard to get where he is."
Tyler Rosenlund (13th minute) and Abdus Ibrahim (85th) scored for Toronto FC and Geoff Walker (31st) scored for the Revolution in the reserve game.
