With just nine games remaining in their regular season, the New England Revolution are well aware that time is running out if they are to rediscover their top form before the playoffs commence. Furthermore, with just five points separating second place in the Eastern Conference from sixth, securing a spot in the postseason is far from a forgone conclusion.
On Sunday, the Revolution play the first half of a home-and-home series with the Columbus Crew and Revolution coach Steve Nicol is well aware of the magnitude of the game. The Crew may be propping up the East, having one just once in 14 games, but Nicol is not underestimating Sigi Schmid's side.
"It's a huge game for both teams. For us, we need to get on the winning trail again and get the points. Nobody should make any mistake; Sunday is a really important game for everybody," said Nicol on Friday, comments which were corroborated by his captain, Joe Franchino.
"It is so close in the east and I am sure that (Columbus) will be saying that if they take these two games then they could be sitting where we are right now," Franchino said. "It is very important to perform in any game we play from here on. They are going to come in fired up and we have to be ready to go out and play."
Having picked up his fifth yellow card of the season against the Chicago Fire last Sunday, Franchino is suspended from the game and will join Clint Dempsey, who completes a two-match ban, on the sidelines. With Pat Noonan also likely to be missing with a hamstring injury, Nicol will be forced into changes to his staring lineup.
Avery John is likely to replace Franchino in defense, while Jeff Larentowicz is also a candidate to come in. However, with goals having been at a premium in recent weeks -- the Revs have scored just one in their last three games -- the Revs boss will also be keen to adopt an offensive mindset.
After two encouraging displays as a substitute in the last week, the enigmatic Jose Cancela may be rewarded with a starting berth. With Shalrie Joseph and Larentowicz in the center, that would see Andy Dorman revert to the right of midfield, with Steve Ralston on the other flank.
Up front, the candidates to partner Taylor Twellman are the rookie duo of Willie Sims and Kyle Brown, as well as Khano Smith, who still looks some way short of full match fitness. Sims is the most likely to get the nod for what would be just his second MLS start. Whoever does get the chance to impress, Nicol hopes that they will grasp the opportunity and help put an end to what has been a frustrating period for New England.
"There is nothing wrong with being frustrated about doing the right things and not getting the rewards but, as long as it is not carried into the next game, that it will not have a negative impact. It should spur you on to keep doing the right things and then get your reward. There are some people that haven't been happy to not be playing but now they will get a chance to show what they can do."
Meanwhile, Franchino is hopeful that his side will be able to take advantage of the possession it gets and turn it into goals against Columbus.
"We are beating teams with possession of the ball but they are just breaking on us and we are making silly mistakes. In the offensive third I think we are a little bit too slow. We have not been playing one- and two-touch to get the ball wide and open teams up. We haven't been getting goals but once we get one, hopefully we can go on a run.
"We have been working on that today -- we just have to start banging from outside. A pretty goal is pretty but any goal is a goal. We are pressing to get the goals but I think that is good, in that we are not going to lay back and we are ready to go out and get it. That is the attitude that we have."
The Revolution have not tasted victory since defeating Chicago at Toyota Park on July 8 but, despite going winless for seven weeks, still sit in third place in the East and know that a strong push at the end of the season can still secure a favorable playoff berth.
"We need to make sure that everything is put in perspective, whatever it is," said Nicol. "It could be a win, a loss, a bad performance. As long as we make sure they all have a good perspective on what is going then, with the type of players we have, we'll be able to understand it and keep it on the right track."
Andrew Hush is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
