Looking to provide a spark in the midst of his team's draining midseason schedule, coach Steve Nicol shifted veteran Steve Ralston from the right wing to a playmaking role in the center of the park. The move revitalized the 33-year-old Ralston, but marginalized Andy Dorman, who had to that point been a central figure in the midfield engine room.
"The stretch we had in the middle of the season, we had eight games in 22 days or something stupid, and [Dorman's] all about late runs into the box and a lot of his game is physical, so he took the brunt of it more than the rest," said Nicol. "So when that run goes and we want to keep the ball, then that's why we made the change. It's just unfortunate."
But despite seeing limited action over the past few months, the Welshman took the demotion in stride and has impressed coaches with his maturity.
"You're always looking for good people and good pros, and obviously when somebody's been playing as regularly as he had, and then to not play him, it's not easy for anybody," said Nicol. "It's a tough one. But he's handled it just great. He understands why we made the decision we did, and he's been nothing but a great pro."
His teammates echoed that praise.
"It's a coach's decision," said Matt Reis. "Andy is a great professional player and he's handled it very well. And it's a numbers game. It doesn't mean Andy's not a good player -- he's a great player and he could definitely go on and play really well for whatever team he goes on and plays for next."
Dorman's contract expires at the end of the year and Nicol revealed that his departure is certain. After seven years in Massachusetts -- first as a Boston University standout, then with the Revs -- he looks likely to head to Europe, where his Welsh citizenship opens up significant opportunities.
"He will be gone next season, unfortunately," said Nicol on Saturday. "He's out of contract. ... We've made offers. He's declined."
GETTING IT WIDE: One of the dominant veins of conversation this week amongst the Revolution players and coaches is the necessity to get Khano Smith and Wells Thompson in Sunday's final.
Getting the ball out wide, according to Nicol, might create some space for the forwards to get through the stingy Dynamo backline and allow Smith and Thompson to provide the service necessary to put a few goals in the net.
"We want to get the ball down the flanks and get balls into Taylor and Pat in the box," Ralston said.
But Houston head coach Dominic Kinnear said his side will look to pin the Revolution wingers back in order to blunt the threat. Revs defender Michael Parkhurst urged his teammates to not stray too far forward and lose track of Dynamo wingers Brad Davis and Brian Mullan.
"It's important to watch the wide guys too," Parkhurst said. "[Brad] Davis puts in a great ball."
CONTROLLING THE JUKEBOX: Matt Reis and Shalrie Joseph are charismatic veterans who play vital roles for the Revolution, and their influence also extends to the music that fills New England's locker room before and after matches.
"Yes, definitely," said Avery John. "Shalrie is the DJ for the Caribbean and Matt Reis is the DJ for America."
Sunday's MLS Cup Final will be no exception.
"Yeah, Matt plays his own music," said Joseph on Saturday. "You can tell tomorrow he's going to have his own music for like 10, 15 minutes and then we're going to switch it up. I mean, we all enjoy each other's music at the end of the day. We give each other BS about it, but we let it be."
Reis' selections typically represent domestic tastes, while Joseph's tunes reflect his old stomping grounds in Grenada and Brooklyn.
"We listen to rap -- now we've got Jay-Z's "American Gangster" pounding, and some Caribbean," said Joseph. "Avery brings a little bit of calypso here and there and Khanie brings his Bermuda music, so we've got everybody just putting in a little flavor of their own."
Charles Boehm and Kyle McCarthy are contributors to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
