Forward thinking was very much the theme of the New England Revolution's media day on Tuesday. Though 2007 was described as the most successful in the history of the club, there was little desire among those present to discuss the club's latest MLS Cup disappointment. The pangs of regret remain but the time to look back has passed.
Instead, the emphasis was very much on looking ahead. In the short-term, that means a rematch of the last two championship games against Houston Dynamo, who will provide the opposition at Gillette Stadium on Saturday as New England open a season on home turf for the first time in their history.
Additionally, the longer-term plans of the Revs were noted as details were revealed of the organization's plans to develop its own youth system. Beginning later this year, two teams (under 15-16 and under 17-18) will be the first to participate in youth competitions in Revolution colors. The club plans to hire coaches as well as appoint a director of youth development.
Plans to develop the next generation of Revolution stars having been addressed, the focus returned to the season ahead, which begins with a little uncertainty for Steve Nicol's side. Though the Revolution return nine of the 11 starters from the MLS Cup Final and 15 of 2007's senior roster overall, the departure of Pat Noonan, Avery John, Andy Dorman and James Riley gives rise to a feeling that, in contrast to recent years where an established first-choice XI has been evident almost from preseason, this year's Revolution side remains a work in progress.
In keeping with the day's dominant topic, nowhere are there more questions than in the debate as to who will partner Taylor Twellman in the side's front line. Noonan has begun a new chapter of his career with Aalesunds FK in Norway and a group of young, unproven strikers is pushing hard to line up alongside the club's all-time leading scorer.
At the head of the line appears to be Abdoulie "Kenny" Mansally, a 19-year-old Gambian who, along with countryman Sainey Nyassi, signed for the Revs last summer after impressing in the FIFA Under-20 World Cup. His promise continued throughout preseason, during which he scored five goals in six games, to the delight of Nicol and his assistant Paul Mariner.
"We saw Kenny playing wide but we always felt he could play as a (central) forward," said Mariner. "He is very powerfully built and is very quick and strong. He's got a tremendous left foot and has a great eye for a finish -- he's very composed in the box for someone so young."
His potential is obvious, but Mariner is well aware that Mansally is far from the finished article and cautioned that a partnership to compare with the relationship Twellman enjoyed with Noonan is not something that will be instantaneous.
"What we have to remember is that Taylor played with Pat Noonan for so long and they were almost telepathic," said Mariner. "To try and make an instant impact as a front two is difficult. It takes time for most partnerships. It's an adjustment for Kenny and for Taylor as they get to know each other."
Mansally's preseason is reminiscent of the rookie form that was shown by Adam Cristman a year previously. A fourth-round pick out of Virginia, Cristman found the net five times in warm-up matches to justify the faith placed in him by his new coaches, who added another name to their growing list of impressive late-round SuperDraft picks.
Cristman appeared in 28 regular season games, making 14 starts, and his statistical line of four goals and four assists had him in the early discussion for rookie of the year. However, his injury-time strike against Kansas City on Aug. 2 would prove to be his last goal of the season, the length of which appeared to take a toll on the first-year forward.
Nagging injuries impacted Cristman's offseason and resulted in him missing out on the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament. Forcing his way back into the reckoning for Beijing is not out of the question, believes Mariner, who is challenging the 23-year-old to continue to build on the progress he made in his freshman year as a professional.
"(Cristman) just needs to keep working at his game," said Mariner. "He's not as naturally talented as some players but he has a heart like a lion and he's a fantastic team player. We saw that he had an unbelievable work rate when he was at Virginia -- I've never seen a player work harder in my life. We worked with him on his touch and on various aspects of linking up with other players and timing his runs. Slowly but surely he is getting there."
With Mansally set to be given the first chance to make a place alongside Twellman his own and Cristman next in line to replace him, the Revs other striking options may have to be patient as they wait for their chance to impress.
However, Kheli Dube, a Zimbabwean out of Coastal Carolina who Mariner calls "a very interesting player with a an eye for goal" and Duke alum Spencer Wadsworth, have shown in preseason that they have a chance to push for playing time later in the season. Furthermore, the imminent arrival of Argenis Fernandez, a 21-year-old Costa Rican striker, will offer a further option to Nicol.
As in previous offseasons, in recent months New England fans likely endured sleepless nights as they relived the nightmare of their side coming so close to winning a championship yet again. It might be unspoken, but a similar feeling lingers around Gillette Stadium too, as what might have been is constantly considered.
However, the time for reflection is gone, along with a number of the stalwarts that helped the Revs reach three consecutive MLS Cups. Before the real Revs youth movement begins, another one is already here and with it comes a collective eye on the future, starting with that rematch on Saturday.
Andrew Hush is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
