Steve Nicol insisted it was business as usual for the New England Revolution on Wednesday, despite the trade request made at the weekend by the club's captain, midfielder Shalrie Joseph.
Following the breakdown of negotiations over a new contract and with no resumption of talks imminent, Joseph has asked to be traded away from the Revs. However, the New England head coach does not believe the situation is having an unsettling effect on his squad, which trained at Gillette Stadium before flying to New Orleans on Thursday for a pair of matches.
"You've just watched training," said Nicol following his side's session. "It certainly didn't look any different today than it did four weeks ago so, I guess, no. It's part and parcel of professional sports. At the end of the day, it is what happens on the training field and the playing field that counts. All of the other stuff is good for (the media) to have something to talk about. For us, everybody just turns up and trains hard and plays hard."
On Wednesday, Joseph reiterated his desire to leave the club for which he has played since 2003. Although he has two years remaining on his current contract, the Grenada international wants to come to terms on a new deal which, he feels, would more accurately reflect his value to the Revolution.
"I think I deserve a lot better than what I am making now," said Joseph. "I am not saying I am the best player in the league but I think I should get compensation for my service for the Revolution and the MLS. What I am making now is a great paycheck but it is not what I think I deserve."
Asking for a trade is one thing for Joseph. Getting it is something totally different and Nicol was blunt in his affirmation that he has no desire to lose a player who, just a matter of weeks ago, he named as his skipper in place of Joe Franchino, who relinquished the role to focus purely on playing.
"Why would we want to trade Shalrie Joseph?" said Nicol.
Joseph, meanwhile, admitted that to be the leader of the side was, given the current situation, untenable.
"I am very disappointed because I was looking forward to being captain of the team and being a leader. I don't really need an armband to be a leader and we have great guys on this team that can lead like Matt Reis and Steve Ralston," he said. "This year, I was looking forward to being the captain of the Revolution but I don't think I can be right now."
While the two sides in the contract talks have reached something of an impasse, Nicol remains keen to focus on events on the field and Joseph remains very much a part of his plans.
"Everybody knows the situation," said Nicol. "There's nothing to add or take away. We've offered (Joseph) a contract so, obviously, we want him to stay but until anything changes, it's as normal. It's really straightforward. He has been made an offer and we're training. There are no frills around it."
Meanwhile, Joseph insisted that he would continue to give his all for the Revs until, he hopes, he is moved to another team in MLS.
"I just spoke to some of the senior guys and told them that, no matter what, I'm going to come in and it's not going to affect my practice," said Joseph. "I am still going to come in and work hard and give 100 percent and see what happens. We have still got a couple of weeks until the season starts. Hopefully, something can happen with my contract but, as I said, I am not going to change my statement -- I want to be traded. That is the way I feel."
Since last August, Joseph has been the subject of two separate transfer bids from Scottish champion Celtic FC, both of which were rejected by the Revolution and MLS, to his disappointment. Now he feels he could be valued more playing in another MLS market, although he admits there would be plenty he would miss were he to leave the Revs.
"I love playing in New England, I love the fans and I love the people but sometimes not all partnerships are meant to be and I think that I am not getting treated the way I deserve," Joseph said. "I just want to further my career somewhere else."
While in New Orleans, the Revolution will play two friendly games. On Sunday, Nicol's men will take on CD Olimpia of Honduras before facing the New Orleans Shellshockers (PDL) three days later.
Andrew Hush is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
