NEWS & NOTES
PRESEASON TRAINING HEATS UP AS DOUBLE SESSIONS BEGIN
After the first week of preseason training consisted almost entirely of fitness work, the intensity is expected to rise this week as the team begins double sessions and incorporates ball-work into training while the morning sessions will still focus primarily on conditioning, the afternoon sessions are typically reserved for passing drills and small-sided scrimmages, allowing the veterans a chance to regain their sharpness and providing the rookies and trialists with their first opportunity to impress the coaching staff with a ball at their feet.
FAMILIAR FACES RETURN TO FOXBOROUGH
While the Revolution’s roster has seen more turnover this offseason than in years past, there are still plenty of influential players returning to the Revs in 2010 in total, there are 17 players currently in preseason training camp who finished the 2009 season on the Revolution’s roster headlining that crop of players is 2009 MLS MVP finalist Shalrie Joseph, back for his eighth season in New England also back with the team in 2010 is the club’s all-time leading goal scorer, Taylor Twellman, and starting goalkeeper Matt Reis, although both are currently recovering from injuries a strong crop of young returnees is highlighted by Kenny Mansally, Sainey Nyassi, Kheli Dube, Pat Phelan and Chris Tierney, while second-year defenders Kevin Alston and Darrius Barnes will be aiming to build on strong rookie seasons.
WITH A FEW NEW FACES SPRINKLED IN
Joining the returning veterans in the Revolution’s 2010 preseason training camp is an exciting mix of newly-acquired veterans, 2010 MLS SuperDraft selections and non-roster invitees all together, there are seven players currently training with the Revolution who were not on the club’s roster at the end of the 2009 season acquired via trade from the Colorado Rapids in January, veteran defender Cory Gibbs and goalkeeper Preston Burpo are in camp, as are three of the Revolution’s 2010 draft picks – Zack Schilawski (who has already been signed), Seth Sinovic and Zak Boggs joining that group is non-roster invitee Rylan Hawkins, a goalkeeper from Washington, and Reinaldo Navia, a Chilean forward who is on trial from Feb. 8 – 10.
FULL 2010 SCHEDULE UNVEILED
Major League Soccer recently announced its 2010 regular-season schedule, a slate that sees each of the 16 teams play a 30-game schedule beginning March 25 and ending October 24 for the first time in league history, each of the league’s 16 teams will play a balanced schedule, meeting each of the other 15 teams once at home and once on the road the 2010 MLS schedule features a two-week break from June 11 – 25, which aligns with the group phase of the FIFA World Cup after opening the season on the road against the LA Galaxy on March 27, the Revs will travel to the Nation’s Capital to face rival D.C. United on April 3 before kicking off their home slate against Toronto FC on April 10 the Revolution’s full 2010 schedule can be found here.
REVS NAME STEPHEN MYLES ASSISTANT COACH
The New England Revolution has hired Stephen Myles as the club’s assistant coach, and the Sheffield, England, native joined the team for his first training session on Monday, Feb. 8 Myles, 48, comes to the Revolution from the David Beckham Academy in Los Angeles, where he had served as the assistant director of competition since 2005 he also spent the last two seasons coaching the LA Galaxy’s Under-16 team in the club’s youth development academy.
ALSTON SET TO JOIN U.S. NATIONAL TEAM FOR EL SALVADOR FRIENDLY
Kevin Alston has been invited to join the U.S. Men’s National Team for training camp ahead of the upcoming friendly against El Salvador on Wednesday, Feb. 24, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. this is Alston’s second consecutive call-up to the U.S. National Team following his participation in the first training camp of 2010 from Jan. 4 – 23 the 21-year-old defender will report on Feb. 10 to U.S. Soccer’s National Training Center at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., where the team will stay until departing for Tampa on Feb. 21 Alston will report back to the Revs on Feb. 25.
REIS UNDERGOES SUCCESSFUL KNEE SURGERY
Matt Reis underwent successful surgery on his left knee on Thursday, Feb. 4, in a procedure called quadriceps tendon debridement the 34-year-old goalkeeper underwent rotator cuff surgery on Dec. 1, and has been rehabilitating since then while Reis’ expected rehabilitation time for his knee is 8-12 weeks, he is expected to be sidelined for approximately the next 12-16 weeks in total while he continues to rehabilitate his shoulder the Revs recently acquired veteran Preston Burpo from Colorado, and he is expected to be the team’s opening-day goalkeeper while Reis continues his rehabilitation.
REINALDO NAVIA JOINS REVS ON TRIAL
Chilean forward Reinaldo Navia has joined the Revs for a three-day trial, which will see him train with the Revolution on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week Navia, 31, began his career in 1996 with Chilean club Santiago Wanderers and has enjoyed successful stints with a number of Mexican clubs, including Tecos, Club América, San Luis and Atlas he most recently appeared for Santiago Morning in Chile in 2009 in 40 appearances for the Chile National Team, Navia has scored 10 goals.
REVOLUTION WAIVES AMAECHI IGWE
The Revolution has waived defender Amaechi Igwe, who spent three seasons in New England after being drafted by the club with the 12th overall pick of the 2007 MLS SuperDraft Igwe made a total of 22 regular-season appearances with the Revolution in 2008 and 2009 – including 11 starts – while he also made one postseason appearance in 2008.
