goalkeeper, left back, central midfield and forward probably top the list -- and can't bank on the in-house options and a surprise or two to paper over the cracks once again. After watching key players like Clint Dempsey and Andy Dorman slip away at the end of their contracts without spending the money to adequately replace them, the Revolution will have to splurge to reinvigorate the core of the team and avoid a slide into rebuilding mode. Finding a way to keep Steve Ralston in the fold and ensure he and Taylor Twellman see some quality time on the field wouldn't hurt, either.
WHAT WAS THE TEAM'S BEST MOMENT IN 2009?
Two 1-0 road wins in Houston and Seattle played a major part in the season's best streak, a 5-1-2 run during July and August. Even with those signature wins to accentuate the tidy run of form, the best moment probably occurred when Jeff Larentowicz's thunderbolt of a free kick hit the back of net at Crew Stadium in the season finale to seal an eighth consecutive playoff berth.
WHO SHOWED THE BIGGEST IMPROVEMENT OVER THE COURSE OF THE SEASON?
Rookie fullback Kevin Alston already knew how to submit a dogged defensive shift when he arrived for his first MLS campaign, but he spent most of the season trying to figure out how to complement his blistering pace with more incisiveness going forward. As the season wound to a close, Alston made more of an impact in the attacking third while consistently shutting down opposing wingers in his own half. Another season's worth of development on his service could turn the former Indiana star into a U.S. national team candidate.
WHAT RESERVES ARE MOST READY TO CRACK THE STARTING LINEUP?
Pat Phelan might not count as a true reserve after starting 13 MLS matches in 2009, but the Wake Forest product will have a larger role to play next season with Larentowicz expected to seek employment elsewhere after an impressive 2009 campaign. Phelan doesn't possess Larentowicz's bite, but his understated and effective performances showed he offers a steady, reliable option next to Shalrie Joseph if required.
WHAT AREA OF THE TEAM NEEDS THE MOST IMPROVEMENT?
No prizes for guessing that the Revs need an infusion of new attacking options heading into 2010. New England mustered just 33 goals on the campaign and hit a new club-record nadir in the process. Too often this season, injuries, particularly with Ralston sidelined, transformed New England's usual possession game into a more direct and predictable bit of fare toward the front two.
"The fact that we made the playoffs was an achievement in itself," Revolution coach Steve Nicol said. "You can look at it in a whole host of ways, but if you stick 15 goals on top of this team, we could have been in the final."
Integrating Ralston and Twellman back into the side -- if they can remain healthy, which isn't a given after the past two seasons -- won't fix all of the problems. Outside reinforcements will be required to establish some imaginative depth to compensate for Ralston's absence and provide fresh competition in the wide areas and up front.
"That's easy for me to sit here and say to you, but it's another thing to go out and identify and get a guy on a loan or a transfer to get him into our team," Revolution vice president of player personnel Michael Burns said as he outlined his side's need for new attacking blood. "Our objective this offseason is to get some attacking players into our team, for sure."
-- Kyle McCarthy
