2007 Stingrays Season Preview

With warm weather finally upon us, spring (and by extension, soccer, of course) has indeed arrived.

Therefore, let us look ahead to the promise of warmer temps and later sunsets, as the following is a preview to the sunny days and warm summer nights of Stingrays soccer in ‘07.The ‘Rays, coming off a 6-8-2 record (20 points) in the New England Division of the Premier Development League, look to improve upon their 3rd place finish.

Despite narrowly missing the playoffs by four points last year, the team hopes to build on a foundation of returning veterans in an attempt to catapult the club to their first playoff appearance since 1998.

That being said, the team should have no problems finding the back of the net, after scoring 39 total goals (2nd-best in the division) in 2006.

Last year’s goal scoring efforts, led by the Rhody Ram tandem of Dawid Badecki (7 G, 2 A) and Danleigh Borman (7 G, 2 A), will both be returning to the team this year. Although the club will be without the services of assist leader Jeffrey Gonsalves, (selected 40th overall by Toronto FC in the 2007 MLS SuperDraft), another Rhody Ram duo of Geoffrey Cameron (4 G, 1 A) and Lukasz Tumicz (4 G, 2 A) will be returning to the club’s potent midfield corps. Steady veteran Alonso Villasenor (CCRI) will be returning as well, and should be able incorporate his leadership abilities into a team which has, by and large, little turnover from the 2006 season.

The defending corps will see the returns of their two primary players in Matthew Britner (Brown) and Callum Bissett (URI), with key contributors Mario Aceta (Iona) and Adam Howart (URI) returning as well. Last year’s defenders did well to shut down opposing teams, as they helped the club post five shutout wins in ’06.

The goalkeeping situation appears, on paper, to be a two-man duel of returning keepers. David Semenza (Brown) and Brendan Fitzgerald (Duke) will both be back in goal for the ‘Rays this season. Semenza saw the bulk of the goalkeeping chores for the ‘Rays last year, going 5-7-2 with an even 2.00 GAA in 14 appearances. However, look for his understudy to stoke the fire of the keeper competition after going 2-1-0 with a spectacular 0.80 GAA last year in limited action.

Of course, with the club recently conducting tryouts to scout additional local talent, there will, no doubt, be fresh faces sporting the royal blue and white on the Pierce Field pitch this season.

There is no question that manager Mario Pereira has an eye for such talent, as he has seen two recent ‘Rays (the aforementioned Gonsalves and Nico Colaluca in 2005) jump to the ranks of MLS during this offseason alone.

So fear not, Stingray fans – the Saturday night soccer at Pierce Field this summer will sure to be just as entertaining as years past, as the ‘Rays begin their quest to achieve playoff glory in a matter of days.

Sunday Morning Striker: 2006 EC Final – The Remix!

At 6:55pm ET, Sunday Morning Striker plopped his tired self on the couch, ready to devote the next two hours of his life to the national telecast of Revs-United match.

Ok…so with minutes until the match, espn2 was showing the NCAA men’s volleyball tourney game between Pepperdine University and (deep breath) Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW).

The game’s about to begin wrapping up. Revs-DC United at 7:00…right?

Wrong.

7:01pm ET…Still no soccer…

7:11pm ET…In-game break during Pepperdine-IPFW. Oh, thank you, Steve Bunin (ESPN anchor) that you haven’t forgotten about the entire reason why SMS even reclined on the couch rather than shooting hoops in the driveway, enjoying the current spell of beautiful weather the Southeastern New England region was basking in!

(At this time, SMS deliberately walks out in protest and meanders into the kitchen to pour a glass of carbonated beverage.)

7:13pm ET…Pepperdine-IPFW volleyball at match point…SMS is not amused.

7:17pm ET…ESPN finally cuts to DC for the match….SMS is visibly frustrated, according to Chris, Official Brother of SMS.

At 7:23pm ET…Finally! Soccer, as advertised! Congratulations to the awkwardly-acronymed IPFW for upsetting Pepperdine. The both of you took 23 minutes of SMS’s time that he can never retrieve.

Anyway, the match was finally underway seconds later, as the Revs took the opening kickoff on the newly-sodded RFK Stadium baseball field/pitch.

Early on, DC inhabited the Revolution end, with limited success. Passes found their way back and forth between DC players, but there was little threat on the Revolution goal.

The Revs found a small glimmer of offensive opportunity early when Khano Smith stole a Bobby Boswell ball, spun a few DC defenders, and fired a limping dog toward DC keeper Troy Perkins.

DC countered minutes later on a Ben Olsen strike on Matt Reis, who coolly trapped the ball with Velcro-like grip.

DC’s Fred (yes, just Fred) was a hell-bent, one-man offensive, as he tried to bob and weave through the Revolution defense, often to no avail. In the 21st minute, he charged the Revolution end and laced a wicked shot on Reis, who once again smothered the low-caliber bullet. The Revs dismantled the Brazilian rookie many times thereafter, despite his best efforts to crack through the stalwart New England back line.

In the 27th minute, a DC corner kick found itself right to the doorstep of an unmarked Cristian Gomez, who launched a good shot that was deflected out of harm’s way by Reis.

For New England, a great chance to take the opening salvo materialized when Andy Dorman whipped a left-footed cross to Taylor Twellman, who powerfully headed the ball into the waiting clutches of Troy Perkins during the 32nd minute.

All was quiet for the remainder of the first half for both sides. Neither club seemed to launch the overpowering, quick-paced attack that would be necessary to stymie either side’s elite keeper. At the end of one minute of extra time in the initial frame, the match appeared to be headed down a one-way road to a goal-less yawn.

Any appearance of said goal-less yawn was quickly dismissed, as the Revs wasted no time launching their offensive attack in the dawn of the 2nd half. At 8:24pm ET, Shalrie Joseph booted a hanging pass to the cradle of Twellman as he broke through the box and fired on Perkins, who deflected the ball away to an onrushing Dorman, who steered the ball toward its intended destination for a 1-0 Revolution lead in the 46th minute.

The Revolution lead did not last long. In the 49th minute, at 8:28pm ET, DC’s Jaime Moreno and New England’s James Riley drag raced into the New England box after the ball, where Riley stiff-shouldered Moreno out of the play. Referee Terry Vaughn called a foul on Riley, and awarded DC the penalty kick. Moreno took the kick himself, and blasted it right as Reis guessed the opposite, thus giving DC the quick equalizer.

Play got “chippier” (Eric Wynalda’s words) after the teams were tied at 1. With both clubs battling to create offensive opportunities to secure a potential second goal, the intensity of the proceedings began to pick up steam.

Then, in the 59th minute, Joseph slide tackled the ball away from Olsen, who hit the grass hard, but bounced right back up. Although replayed showed that Joseph clearly got a piece of the ball, Arbiter Vaughn surprisingly took exception to the tackle, and flashed the red card to Joseph for the hard tackle. As Joseph pleaded his case in stunned disbelief, the Revs knew they were doomed to play out the remaining thirty-plus minutes one man down.

To the Revs credit, they did not back down. The navy and blue hunkered down and played their trademark brick wall defense, suffocating the unimaginative DC attack numerous times. In the waning minutes of regular time, DC was denied repeatedly of any quality scoring chances. But, with four minutes of extra time added, the Revs knew that DC would not go quietly.

As the final seconds slowly melted away, DC pressured with an all-out assault in the New England half. Moreno sent in a high chip toward Olsen, who vaulted himself to head the ball that just clanked off the crossbar.

Finally, with one last chance to take the match, DC frantically sent the ball into the box, as Luciano Emilio whipped a sure-fire header directly on net. Unfortunately for Emilio, Reis made an all-out, full extension right paw save, thus preserving the valuable road point for the Revs, as the match ended soon after, 1-1.

Stat of the Match, Part 1: Since walking onto the RFK Stadium field during last year’s 2006 Eastern Conference Final, DC United have combined to score four goals.

Stat of the Match, Part 2: Since walking onto the RFK Stadium field during last year’s 2006 Eastern Conference Final, Taylor Twellman has scored six goals.

Stat of the Match, Part 3: Total minutes played by 2007 First round SuperDraft pick Wells Thompson: 158

Stat of the Match, Part 4: Total Minutes played by 2006 First round SuperDraft pick Leandro deOliveria: 0 (SMS note: de Oliveira was waived last summer)

Stat of the Match, Part 5: 2007 goals against average for DC United keeper Troy Perkins (2006 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year): 2.00

Stat of the Match, Part 6: 2007 goals against average for Revs keeper Matt Reis (Runner up, 2006 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year): 0.80

Stat of the Match, Part 7: Stretching back to the 2006 season, the Revs are 7-3-2 in their last twelve matches.

Sweet Play of the Match: Is there any question? Matt Reis’ sprawling acrobatic save on Luciano Emilio’s threatening header in the dying seconds literally saved the game for the Revs. In crunch time, there are few athletes more clutch than the bald brick wall. For his spectacular saves throughout the match, the gods smiled in approval, as Reis was awarded Honda Man of the Match honors.

Sour Play of the Match: Little debate here as well. When ref Terry Vaughn pulled the red card from his chest pocket for Shalrie Joseph’s tackle on Ben Olsen, everyone but DC fans and players objected to the call. Joseph was clearly playing the ball, and solidly dispossessed Olsen of the ball. Yes, the tackle was hard, and Olsen fell to the pitch, but the red was completely unwarranted. Even the soccer oracle himself, Eric Wynalda, spoke of the unfairness of the call at length for minutes thereafter, even stating that the call made him personally angry. Fair to say Mr. Vaughn will not receive a Christmas card this year from Wynalda…or SMS, for that matter!

Could a soccer version of Randy Moss find his way to New England? The Patriots traded for a high-profile football player in Randy Moss this past weekend and the news has the gears turning in the mind of SMS. Could a high-profile soccer player also be on the way as well?

The Pats seemingly opened their wallets in acquiring the troubled wide receiver, (with the help of some creative restructuring of Tom Brady’s contract) which may (unlikely) or may not (likely) influence the Revs to do the same for a marquee player. SMS wonders aloud if said marquee player is on the Revs radar, and whether the Revs have the money to afford said player radar. That being said…

All Points Bulletin: It is day number 173 since the Designated Player Rule was enacted by MLS: Do you know where your designated player is?

Where’s the beef? During the offseason, the Revs extended the contract of Daniel Hernandez for a reported $200,000 for the 2007 season. As of May 4, 2007, Hernandez has spent exactly zero minutes on the field for the first team, as he nurses a strained groin. Granted, injuries do occur, and Hernandez cannot be faulted for being injured.

But viewing the situation purely from a business angle, if the $200,000 figure is accurate – MLS doesn’t disclose salary figures – then Danny has thus far, earned $31,250.00 for sitting on the bench. By comparison, Andy Dorman reportedly earns $30,000 for the entire season. So, during the first five games of the season, Hernandez has already “outearned” Dorman, even though the Englishman has scored three goals thus far.

The Revs, to their credit, have opened up the checkbook for Twellman, Noonan, and Reis. Yet, one of the most unheralded and valuable players on the team plays on grossly underpaid, while the money streams in for injured non-contributors. Why Hernandez’s pact was extended after an injury-plagued season, while Dorman made peanuts after excelling in ’06, is beyond the comprehension of SMS.

The soccer gods did not chortle: Taylor Twellman wore the highlighter bright boots again, and went goal-less for the first time since April 7 vs. Chicago.

Where’s the (smidgen of) hype? Can SuperDraft ever rival the fervor to which its NFL counterpart incites? Probably not. But that shouldn’t stop the PTB at MLS from trying.

ESPN did a commendable job covering this year’s MLS SuperDraft. It even devoted a full hour to the less-than-entertaining proceedings (compared to the mega-popular NFL Draft) before cutting off its broadcast prior to the final first round pick (13th overall). It’s a good base; now MLS needs to find its own version of the zany, yet insightful Mel Kiper, Jr.

MLS did its best to get outspoken/opinionated Wynalda to cover its SuperDraft proceedings this year, and while it was an admirable attempt to infuse some color into the event, MLS would have been better served by inserting 3rd Degree Burn publisher/college soccer guru Buzz Carrick as part of its broadcast tandem. Carrick annually dispenses his top 10 prospects, forwards, keepers, mids on espn.com – so why not invite him to the party? SMS understands that SuperDraft is an entirely different animal than the NFL Draft. Mock drafts, draft day trades, and analysis of picks 1 through 255 are all spoken on ad infinitum.

After a thorough investigation, SMS has determined that, after a weekend’s worth of NFL Draft viewing, MLS needs its own Mel Kiper.

Vintage Jay Heaps…on the hardwood! One thing you can always count on from The Worldwide Leader in Sports (ESPN, to the lay person) is their vast library of sports footage, famous and obscure. Early in the first half, viewers were treated to video of Jay Heaps playing Duke basketball back in the mid-1990s. Unfortunately, one of the clips showed Heaps clanking a foul shot – to which SMS was not pleased.

Red card, Yellow card, Game Ball: Wynalda returned during halftime to administer his broadcast booth justice with his mega-popular halftime segment. Kudos to Wynalda for devoting 2/3 of the feature to MLS (game ball to KC’s Curt Onalfo, yellow card to Houston’s Dwayne De Rosario) this time around, rather than international soccer, although the game ball to Dirk Kuyt of Liverpool was not, in the mind of SMS, appropriate during an MLS telecast. After all, do NFL halftime features spotlight CFL action?

Joe Franchino sighting: SMS cracked a joyful smile when the name of the former Revolution captain resounded through the ESPN airwaves at 9:05pm ET. Although initially taken by surprise (there was no prior mention of Franchino’s return from his leave of absence in the days leading up to the match), SMS was thrilled to see the grisly vet take the pitch late in the match in order to help secure the point from DC. SMS would like to welcome you back, Joey!

US Women’s National Team Player Feature: According to the US Soccer 2006 Women’s National Team media guide, “Tasha” or “TK” as she is nicknamed, “loves to travel and meet new people.” Natasha Kai became just the fourth player in WNT history to score in her first two caps during the 2006 Algarve Cup tournament. In addition to her goal-scoring skills, Kai is also somewhat of a collector – of tattoos. The 23-year-old forward already has twelve of them, to which SMS surmises would even impress fellow tat addict Travis Barker of Blink182 fame.

Join us again early next week when SMS shall provide unprecedented first-hand insight of the Revs-Fire match on Sunday. SMS refuses to be at the mercy of local cable affiliates in his reliance of Revolution coverage this weekend – he will be there in person instead. Take that, media moguls!

Interview with US WNT Midfielder Carli Lloyd

The US Women’s National Team will arrive in Foxboro this week for its upcoming international friendly vs. Mexico on Saturday afternoon. The squad, who remain unbeaten in regulation time in 39 consecutive matches, was recently awarded the number one spot in the FIFA Women’s World rankings.

Saturday’s match will mark the first in a series of friendlies and send-off matches during the coming months in preparation for the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup in China, which will take place in September.

While the team was flawless in last month’s Algarve Cup (4-0-0), one player who unquestionably made a name for herself during the tournament was midfielder Carli Lloyd. The 24-year-old New Jersey native, previously held to one goal in 24 caps, went on a goal-scoring rampage by tallying four goals in four games, helping her team capture its fifth Algarve Cup title, and in the process, earning herself the tournament’s Top Scorer and MVP awards.

In anticipation of her first game action since last month’s remarkable performance, I posed a few questions to the acclaimed midfielder.

BRIAN: Is the mental approach different with respect to these friendlies different than the approach taken toward major tournaments like the recent Algarve Cup?

CARLI: “Not in my eyes, because I prepare for every game like it’s an important game. At tournaments, you know that you are playing to win a group, or the tournament, and maybe have several games over a period of days, but the approach to the individual games should not change.”

BRIAN: During your second career game with the US WNT, you broke your wrist vs. this Mexican team. Will that incident enter your mind at all when facing them again on Saturday?

CARLI: “We’ve played Mexico a few times since then so it won’t cross my mind. When it happened, I just wanted to hit that shot so hard that I lost my balance. I think I hit a few birds in the trees behind the goal. It was just a fluke thing, but it sure hurt.”

BRIAN: You had one career goal prior to the Algarve Cup, then scored four in the course of four games during the tournament. How are you able to explain the sudden flurry of goals?

CARLI: “I wasn’t doing anything different to prepare for the Algarve Cup. I’m kind of young and new to the team and it just took a little time getting used to the speed of the play and the whole National Team environment. It takes everyone different amounts of time to adjust and to break through. I had confidence in myself and stayed focused, and kept working hard, and I felt that I would find success scoring at some point, hopefully sooner than later. Now, I just have to keep it going.”

BRIAN: Besides the World Cup, which international tournament is the most exciting to you and your teammates?

CARLI: “I haven’t played in that many tournaments, but the CONCACAF Qualifying Tournament last fall was pretty exciting. I just remember the way I felt, I was a bit nervous, and it was a big deal. We had to qualify for the World Cup, then play for the regional title. We also like the Algarve Cup because of the level of competition.”

BRIAN: The team was recently given the number 1 ranking in the world by FIFA. Do you think that ranking kind of puts a bull’s eye on the team as opponents now have that extra incentive to beat the best team in the world?

CARLI: “I think it does, but even if we were not ranked number one we would still be the team everyone wants to beat. It’s always difficult for the USA. Teams are getting better, the competition is tougher and everyone wants to take us down. As a country, around the world, everyone wants to beat America in every sport, but we like that challenge.”

BRIAN: Given the recent news of the WUSA’s return next year, how excited are you about the prospect of a top tier women’s professional league returning to the scene?

CARLI: “I think it’s really exciting, especially for all the players who don’t have the opportunity to play for the National Team right now. For young kids to be able to watch a women’s league can only continue to increase the popularity of the women’s soccer and we can continued to serve as good role models. It will also create opportunities for new players to play for the National Team, which will only make us stronger. I am especially excited as I didn’t get a chance to play in the WUSA.”

Game 1: Boy(s) Meet World

So much for adding to that 500 franchise goal mark the Revolution has so prominently featured on its official website.

The Revs, who mere months ago sent Chicago packing after eliminating them for the Eastern Conference semi-finals last October, were shut out by a Fire club that pocketed an early goal in the 4th minute and never looked back, taking the 1-0 result from the boys in blue.

New England amazingly started three rookies (Adam Cristman, Gary Flood and Wells Thompson) to kick off the 2007 season, due in large part to injuries to Shalrie Joseph and Michael Parkhurst. Minutes into the game, they already had their backs to the wall early on after Fire defender Logan Pause Swiss-cheesed the New England defenders and found himself in the right place at the right time by shimmying a weak shot just out of the reach of Revs ‘keeper Matt Reis.

From there on out, it was a parade of missed chances for the Revs, who came oh-so tantalizingly close to equalizing on ensuing occasions.

Minutes after the Pause goal, Andy Dorman would send in a cross from the right wing that Taylor Twellman, normally exceptional on headers, uncharacteristically ricocheted just wide of the net. Later in the first half, Dorman would again send in a bouncing cross that missed not one, but two Revs players, as Cristman and Twellman, as if choreographed, both simultaneuously missed getting a heel on.

In the 2nd half, Twellman rocketed a shot that just pounded off the crossbar and high into cold Chicago air. Later, it would be Fire keeper Matt Pickens who withstood a couple of shots from Dorman. Twellman would be robbed by Pickens after making a smothering save on TnT’s free kick in the 81st minute.

The Revs, seemingly snake-bitten after coming up short more times than Susan Lucci at the Daytime Emmys, lowered their heads in defeat, and conceded their first match of the season to their bitter Eastern Conference rivals.

*Steve Nicol threw his young charges to the Fire without hesitation, by starting Cristman up front with Twellman, Flood at right back, and Thompson at midfield. After Pause’s early goal, a sequence in which Flood looked somewhat tentative, all three rooks held themselves fairly well. Cristman seemed to find himself in the mix on a handful of scoring opportunities, while Thompson admirably flowed through midfield traffic to find open space, as well as locating goal-crashing teammates.

*Although the rookies played well, the game itself reeked of 2006. Missed chances, early holes, and the accompanying goose egg must have given Revs fans flashbacks of many of last year’s matches. However, to Nicol’s credit, the substitution of Flood, a defender, for Arsene Oka, a midfielder who also moonlights as a forward on occasion, may have raised a few eyebrows – in a good way. Obviously, Nicol was playing for the equalizer – duh – but did so in a refreshingly unconventional way by threw an untested, but exciting, rookie into a pressure situation, instead of going the safe route by inserting a veteran sub.

*Call it Year One of a Youth Revolution. Despite the 0-1 ending, the fact that four Revolution rookies all made their MLS debuts was exciting. Cristman, Thompson and Oka all had impressive preseasons, and it was fantastic to see each get their chance in a heated (figuratively), early-season match in frosty Chicago. Flood, called into a starting gig with Michael Parkhurst injured, did a good job to bottle up the Fire attack after the Pause goal, and dispersed some very fancy feeds. Although much too early to cast judgment, the supplemental pick could very well be a fine defender in this league before long. Don’t let the score distract you; this was a very encouraging preview of coming attractions.

*Somebody must have dropped the ball on the regional TV coverage because Revs fans in RI faced the same result as the Revs Saturday night: they were shut out. With TV38 – a station unavailable to Cox subscribers in RI – now carrying Revs games this season, the expectation was that there would be an arrangement made between the club, TV38, and Cox to ensure that the game would be available in Little Rhody. Oh, it was – some 21 hours after the final whistle. Cox showed the game on Cox Channel 3 on Sunday night at 7pm, which technically, did illustrate that Cox3 was indeed able to work out an arrangement with TV38. Unfortunately, the caveat that the game be broadcast live was apparently overlooked.

*They say that the best-officiated games are the ones in which you don’t notice the arbiters. This truism was certainly applicable to Saturday night’s match, as referee Baldomero Toledo oversaw a well-officiated match despite the tenacious air between the two teams. Credit is especially due for calling the dodo bird six-second rule on the Fire after Pickens held onto the ball well beyond the allotted six seconds a keeper can seize the ball for. The call gave the Revs a free kick in the 81st minute at a very opportune time.

*The question begs to be asked: When will the Revs get a home date for the season opener? A trend that is quickly becoming steeped in tradition, the Revs have now opened the season on the road every year since their inception. One has to wonder what the motives are behind this rather alarming statistic that keeps the Revs on the road once the season commences. Surely, this can only reinforce the theory that the Revolution has indeed become the unofficial stepchild of MLS.

*The Revs outshot the Fire 18 to 11, but were outdone by one in terms on shots on goal, 6 to 5. Nevertheless, this was a game that the Revs could have not only easily tied, but won, had they capitalized on just a couple of their numerous chances. Overall, the game was encouraging on many different fronts (tactics, rookies, solid chances), and should be no cause for any Revs player or fan to hang his or her head on.

Revs Sign Reis to Contract Extension

The New England Revolution has announced that starting goalkeeper and MLS All-Star Matt Reis has been signed to a contract extension, ensuring the former UCLA Bruin will guard the Revolution net for the foreseeable future. Terms of the deal were no disclosed, per MLS policy, but the deal guarantees Reis will be in the familiar navy and red next year, as his contract was to set expire upon the conclusion of the 2007 season.

The extension marks the third major signing by the club since the end of the 2006 season. Pat Noonan was re-signed back in November and Taylor Twellman was rewarded with a 3-year extension back in January.

With three of its key players locked in beyond this year, the Revs continue to invest in its own home-grown talent, rather than signing unknown quanitities from other clubs.

The Long Road Back

It was supposed to be another good year for Marshall Leonard in 2006. Coming off of his best season yet in 2005, one in which he started a career-high 25 games and chalked up his first MLS goal, the former Virginia Cavalier was poised to continue his success the following year.

Then, soon after his first action of the season in a mid-April match vs. Kansas City, it all came to a crashing halt.

During an early-season scrimmage vs. Boston College on April 24, Leonard was on the lower Gillette Stadium field when, while reversing his direction, he felt a sudden pop in his left leg. His Achilles tendon had ruptured.

That evening, he underwent reconstructive surgery to repair the injured tendon. The injury, which typically sidelines an athlete anywhere from 6-8 months, was indeed serious enough for the Revs to place him on the season-ending injury list, which effectively ended his 2006 season. For all intents and purposes, the remainder of what was to be a promising season for the Revolution midfielder would be limited to a very long road of recovery and rehabilitation.

Unable to practice and work out with the rest of the club for the majority of the season, he slowly worked his way back. He began to train with the team toward the end of the 2006 season, “but only at 50%”, according the 5th year veteran. “I was just able to run, just do practice drills. But I couldn’t realistically look forward to playing.”

After the season, Leonard was determined to come back fit, and stronger than ever in 2007. He committed himself to an arduous off-season workout plan in an effort to step back onto the field as quickly as possible. “Over the off-season, I really worked out alot. A buddy of mine was pretty much my personal trainer throughout (the off-season). So, I’m ready to go out now. I’m fit.”

It wasn’t until the 2007 preseason – nearly year after the injury occurred – that he was able test his newly-repaired Achilles in game action. Since then, he has no concerns about his Achilles heading into the season.

“My Achilles feels fine, I’m fit, and I’m feeling really strong. Hopefully, it’ll be ok. It’s a day in and day out process for me.”

After months of recovery and regaining fitness, Leonard is eager to be back on the field with his teammates tonight versus Chicago.

It’s unquestionably difficult for a player injured for an extended amount of time to thrust himself back into the starting lineup. However, the present odds seem to be favoring Leonard. Joe Franchino’s recent leave of absence from the team leaves the club thin at left midfielder. Leonard coincidentally took over the left wing duties when Franchino was injured back in 2004, and may be in prime to position to reclaim the same spot just as the season is about to start.

Of course, Leonard may have to battle speedy newcomer Amaeche Igwe, another player who may help fill the void in the midfield left by Franchino’s departure, but Leonard isn’t concerned. “The coaches know what I can do on the field. It’s basically just (a matter of) getting back on the field.”

Nevertheless, Leonard’s more focused on the important thing: being healthy enough to contribute.

“It’s good to be back and be healthy, number one. It’s good to be back with the team. And I’m looking to get back onto the field and produce as well. I’m feeling 100%.”

Suffice to say, it’s been a long road back for the low-key and likeable Leonard.

2007 New England Revolution Season Preview

It’s that time of year again: the obligatory season preview. A time in which sportswriters break out the clown outfits, shove all of our credibility into the garbage disposal, and formulate comical preseason prognostications.

Disclosure made and door opened to future ridicule, the New England Revolution, come off a season which saw them tantalizingly close to capturing their first MLS Cup. The club’s primary objective: shed the label of MLS Cup bridesmaid. With the offseason departures of superstar Clint Dempsey (Fulham) and Jose Cancela (Toronto FC), returning to the playoffs – nevermind the MLS Cup – will be about as easy as getting Quentin Tarantino to direct a sequel to The Little Mermaid.

After losing these two critical pieces of past glory, Steve Nicol went reached into the toy box affectionately known as MLS SuperDraft and pulled out a handful of shiny new gadgets. In the first round, he “shockingly” (Eric Wynalda’s word) traded up to select Wake Forest midfielder Wells Thompson. Less than an hour later, Nicol selected U-20 defender/midfielder Amaeche Igwe with the 12th overall pick. Both players are much coveted left-sided players, giving the Revs added midfield depth on the left wing and left back slots. Nicol may have also found a pair of potential diamonds in the rough in Virginia forward Adam Cristman and Wake Forest midfielder Ryan Solle, both of whom are members of the US Men’s National Team Under-23 squad.

It’s hard to measure a team’s regular season chances of success based on its preseason results. The Revs obliterated everything in their path this winter by outscoring their hapless opponents 20-3 en route to a 6-0-0 preseason finish. Yes, Nicol’s boys looked solid, even if it was primarily at the expense of lower level clubs. Of course, the squad won’t be as breathtakingly brilliant against regular MLS competition during the course of a seven month regular season. Nevertheless, it is encouraging to see the rookies – especially Cristman (5 goals, 4 assists) – rise to the occasion during the late-winter/early-spring tilts.

This, of course, is without mentioning the very players who brought the Revs to The Dance in recent years. Taylor Twellman had a fine 2006 season (11 goals, 5 assists) and will look to enhance his reputation as one of the best forwards in the league. At 27, not only is he in the prime of his career, but his foreseeable future here is also secured after signing a 3-year contract extension during the offseason. Andy Dorman hopes to ride the same wave of success he surfed atop last year, and an encore performance may just earn him his first true MLS “payday.” Keeper Extraordinaire Matt Reis will look to continue his superb defense of the net, after being snubbed of MLS Keeper of the Year honors last year. Shalrie Joseph has the Foxboro Faithful hoping that his contract frustrations will inspire him to an even more elevated level of play – one that may lead to even more international attention. The backline of Avery John, Michael Parkhurst and Jay Heaps anchored an exceptional defensive unit in 2006, and aim to uphold their brickwall defense in 2007.

Of course, should all of these hypotheticals materialize, the team would probably be Supporter’s Shield owners by July, breeze through the postseason, and finally catapult themselves to keepers of the elusive MLS Cup.

However, the rosiest of pictures is always painted with bright strokes before a single kick is ever launched. So with the warm and fuzzy feel-good optimism out of the way, let us return to cold reality and discuss the following potential ruts in the proverbial FieldTurf that threaten the aforementioned proposition.

It’s no secret that Pat Noonan’s ability to stay healthy is critical to the Revs attack. When he and Twellman are both on the pitch, the only duo capable of scoring more often is Rico and Sonny on Miami Vice. Conversely, without the snake-bitten Noonan, the offense seems to sputter, and the team often transforms into a defensive and cautious shell of its former self. Unfortunately, the Revs have seen the latter circumstance more than the former recently, with Noonan’s nagging injuries refusing to go quietly into the night. So whichever sick and twisted Chicago Fire fan has the Pat Noonan Voodoo Doll, stop it. Just stop it. Adding to the bleak picture is the team’s apparent “curse” of winning an MLS Cup only help to darken the picture of the club’s fortunes.

Aside from the supernatural, the combination of two important international tournaments this summer (Copa America and Gold Cup) will more than likely require separate US squads for each. Potential candidates for these squads include Twellman, Ralston, Parkhurst, Noonan, and Reis. Avery John could also be called to the Trinidad & Tobago team for Gold Cup action. This summer’s Under-20 World Cup in Canada will mean Igwe will be absent from the roster for a spell. Adding to this list of potential may also include U-23 service call-ups for Cristman and Solle should there be any call ups for that squad this summer. Throw in the obligatory unpredictable injuries into the mix, and it’s very possible that the starting elevens in June and July could be vastly different than the ones employed in April.

Despite the influx of new faces via the draft, as well as last year’s late-season additions (Miguel Gonzalez and Arsene Oka), the inescapable fact remains that the club’s battle-tested performers are only getting older. Steve Ralston, the newly-minted captain, has been the king of consistency and longevity during his time with the club. But how much longer can he keep it going? Have we seen the last of the recently-departed Joe Franchino? His return to the club uncertain at best; each game he misses only dminishes his chances of ever contributing to the club again. John will be 32 in June and Heaps will be 31 in August.

Although the recent transfusion of young blood has many optimistic of the club’s success in the future, it will be no short order to find adequate replacements for the aging veterans who have guided the team’s fortunes during the past five years. This season may be Year One of a fast-approaching changing of the guard for this veteran-driven club.

Lastly, to what degree will Dempsey and Pepe’s departures affect the club? Their absences will be strikingly apparent until reasonable replacements can be found. Without the World Cup superstar and the Argentinean supersub, the growing pains of an offense adjusting to a midfield without them may linger throughout the season. The Revs must find suitable replacements quickly, or tailor their attack accordingly, if they wish to remain competitive. Otherwise, there may very well be a goal-scoring drought warning in effect for Route 1 this summer.

So now that the good and the bad have been discussed, what type of a season can Revs fans reasonably expect? Well, without further ado, here is a prediction: 2nd place in the Eastern Conference, and an accompanying playoff run. DC United will finish ahead again for the second year in a row.

Do the Revs have the talent to make another MLS Cup appearance? On paper, the answer is yes. On the pitch, the answer is no. There are simply too many variables working against another repeat appearance for the navy and red contingent, most notably the losses of Deuce and Pepe.

With that, it is time for me to slip the noose over my head. See you in DC come November!

Other flimsy predictions:

2007 record (W-D-L): 14-10-8, 52 points (2nd place, Eastern Conference)

Reserve Team Record: 5-3-3

Team MVP: Taylor Twellman

Golden Boot: Taylor Twellman

Best Defender: Michael Parkhurst

Rookie of the Year: Adam Cristman

Supersub: Wells Thompson

MLS All-Stars: Parkhurst, Twellman, Joseph, Reis and Ralston

First Rev to take out David Beckham: Shalrie Joseph

Toughest match: October 6, at Chicago

First goal: Pat Noonan, at Chicago (April 7)

First red card: Shalrie Joseph, at FC Dallas (April 29)

First clean sheet: April 14, vs. Toronto

First mid-season departure: Shalrie Joseph, to Celtic FC

Next player to be at the center of a transfer rumor: Michael Parkhurst

Most Interesting Non-Chicago Game: May 19 at Houston

Midnight Riders Meet the Coach 2007

It was a scene straight out of a sports fanatic’s dream. You step into the offices of your favorite team. Once inside, you ascend upon two grand escalators and take a U-turn into an exquisite luxury suite filled with rows of fine wooden chairs neatly lined before a corresponding mahogany presenter’s pedestal. Upon arrival, you are politely welcomed and upon joining about sixty or so of your peers neatly seated. You listen to some of the questions posed by those around you. If you are just as curiously inclined, you ask the manager of your favorite sports team anything your heart desires about your favorite club. Anything.

Well, Revs fans (specifically the Midnight Riders, the team’s unofficial supporter’s club) young and old were treated to this very fantastical proposition Sunday afternoon – free of charge – as manager Steve Nicol took questions from the very fans who colorfully chide Freddy Adu with “Child La-bor!” chants. Needless to say, this was the type of affair that would certainly never take place at 4 Yawkey Way or One TD BankNorth Garden.

The questions, ranging from topics such as the much-razzed Gillette Stadium FieldTurf pitch, Clint Dempsey’s departure, the Reserve Team, were honest and unfiltered. Even a “when we get our own stadium” comment from Nicol himself drew a few skeptical smirks and smiles among the crowd. The gaffer’s answers were insightful, engaging, and even colorful, (when asked of his impression of rookie Wells Thompson, Nicol wittingly responded “I don’t do impressions”) which indicated a certain informal ease among Nicol and his club’s loyal supporters.

Say what you will about Nicol and his on-field tactics and managerial decisions, but give the man credit for facing the fans, many of whom posed very insightful queries, and responding to each question with more than the industry-standard one-line, blanket answer. How many professional sports managers or coaches would have the cajones to do the same?

Try picturing the evasive Bill Belichick in the same casual setting. You can’t either, can you? Ah, therein lies the beauty of this grand occasion. While I do not profess to know Mr. Belichick, I can tell you that Nicol has the outgoing personality of one you could have a pint of Guiness with. Again, you’ll be hard pressed to visualize Belichick in a similar position.

Call me a pipe dreamer if you must, but this sort of event is precisely what is missing from the modern sports landscape, one in which billions upon billions are pumped in by its very own fans, only to have these investments reciprocated with minimal team/fan interaction. The romanticism of fans engaging in casual conversation with members of their favorite team has been largely lost in many professional sports forums. That being said, a tip o’ the old glass to Stevie Nicol and the Revolution organization for providing a refreshing reminder of why their fans love their club.