They may have clinched a playoff spot a week ago, but the New England Revolution are in no mood to ease up and head to the nation's capital this weekend keen to continue their impressive recent form by toppling the Eastern Conference champions, D.C. United.
Victory at RFK Stadium will also keep alive the Revs' chances of catching second-placed Chicago and securing home-field advantage for their Eastern Conference Semifinal Series against the Fire.
"We want to try and get past Chicago and have the second game (at home) and, whilst that is still within our grasp, we'll be doing everything we can," said New England coach Steve Nicol on Thursday. "I think it is important that you win games going into playoffs. Losing them can put a wee bit of doubt in players' minds."
With D.C. having already clinched home-field advantage for as long as they progress in the postseason, Saturday's encounter could be a dress rehearsal for the Eastern Conference Championship. However, Nicol is focused only on finishing the regular season as strongly as possible and refutes the suggestion that by winning against Peter Nowak's side on Saturday, his side will gain a psychological advantage ahead of a possible November matchup.
"That's a hypothetical," said Nicol. "In the playoffs, anything can happen and, as far as we are concerned, we're not even thinking about that. We just want to try and get ourselves ahead of Chicago and the first step to do that is playing D.C. That is the only thing we have on our minds. Trying to figure out things down the line that might not even happen is not worth wasting our time on."
Nicol has some decisions to make regarding his starting lineup. Certain absentees are the injured Shalrie Joseph and James Riley, though both men have been working out on their own at practice this week. Pat Noonan, who will have sports hernia surgery on Monday and hopes to be able to feature in the playoffs, and Avery John, who is on international duty with Trinidad & Tobago, will also be missing. Daniel Hernandez is with the squad but will not start, having only returned to training this week after ankle surgery.
Available following suspension is Joe Franchino. The Revs skipper will return to the lineup, though whether he plays on the left side of defense or midfield, or in the center of the field, is not so certain. Jeff Larentowicz missed training on Thursday, but Nicol said he will play, leaving Franchino and Andy Dorman as the likeliest to partner him.
Given his side's opponent and the fact they are on the road, Nicol could be tempted to play Dorman centrally, a position in which he excelled last week against Colorado, and Franchino wide in place of Khano Smith, whose defensive capabilities would surely be scrutinized early and often by D.C. In this scenario, Tony Lochhead would likely start in John's place in defense.
A third option was hinted at in Thursday's training session, where Dorman and Clint Dempsey supported Taylor Twellman in a 3-4-3 formation that did not include new signing Jose Manuel Abundis. Nicol acknowledged the look, which included Smith on the left and had Steve Ralston playing, at times, almost as a right-back, was 'just something we tried.'
Regardless of the personnel he picks and how they line up, Nicol knows that his side is in for a tough game, even against a D.C. team that has won just two games in MLS since July 15.
"They've got weapons and we have to be on our toes defensively against them. In the time I have been here, every game we have played against D.C. has been one that both teams want to win and give 100 percent in," Nicol said. "I am guessing that whether there was anything on the game or not, it would still be the same and I don't think Saturday will be any different."
Nicol's comments were echoed by Matt Reis, the Revolution goalkeeper, who pointed to one man in particular as being United's offensive spark.
"For me, it all keys on Jaime (Moreno). He has always been their catalyst and a guy that you have to really watch out for," Reis said. "I have always said that if we can contain him, then we'll have a really good shot at winning."
Reis has been the beneficiary of the Revs' improved defensive form of late, which has seen just three goals conceded in the last 458 minutes of play, one of which was a last-minute penalty by the Rapids' Kyle Beckerman a week ago. The veteran netminder puts the improved defensive showing down to the greater continuity New England has had in its team selection as key players have returned from injuries.
"As a team we have really got better in terms of our overall consistency. For a while, we would play one good game then one bad game. I think that we finally got healthy after a stretch of games where people were coming and going," he said. "Everything has mellowed out and calmed down and got everyone working together. With three at the back we really have to shift and slide and cover each other while the midfielders in front of us have to help out too."
Andrew Hush is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
