FOXBOROUGH, Mass. \u2013 Whenever a popular coach departs, the accompanying emotions felt by his former charges are usually sadness, disappointment, and empathy. And that has certainly been the case with the Revolution in the immediate aftermath of Steve Nicol\u2019s exit earlier this week.<\/p>\n
But, with a new coaching regime all but certain to bring about more change, another emotion is beginning to creep into minds of the very\u00a0same players the former gaffer personally selected over the years: anxiety.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not that they aren\u2019t looking forward to the challenge of playing for a new coach. Certainly not. But, the\u00a0possibility that\u00a0the aforementioned change could dislodge some of Nicol\u2019s hand-picked players from the roster is one that has understandably crept into the team\u2019s collective psyche.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think a lot of guys are concerned about it,\u201d said fourth-year midfielder Chris Tierney. \u201cWhen the new coach comes in, he\u2019ll have his own style and whether you\u2019ll fit into it is always a question.\u201d<\/p>\n
And it\u2019s a question that, in all likelihood, will not be answered in the coming week or so. The organization\u2019s search for Nicol\u2019s successor is expected to extend through postseason training, with the hope that one will be hired before the November 23rd expansion draft.<\/p>\n
While that search continues, there\u2019s a palpable sense among some of the players, all of whom remain in Foxboro under the guidance of assistant coach Steve Myles, that they\u2019re effectively in limbo until the new head coach is named.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a little uncomfortable for the players right now because we don\u2019t really have (a head coach) evaluating us,\u201d said fourth-year midfielder Pat Phelan. \u201cWe don\u2019t know if we\u2019re going to be protected (in the expansion and re-entry drafts) or if our contracts are going to be picked up or where we\u2019re going to be next year.\u201d<\/p>\n
Those concerns are especially pertinent for seasoned veterans like Phelan, Tierney, and others who, over the years, appeared to have locked down their roster spots under Nicol. But with a new coach sure to institute new ideas and methods\u00a0in the player evaluation process, the prospect of seasoned pros having to prove themselves all over again is a daunting reality.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think all of our necks are on the chopping block as of right now,\u201d said Phelan. \u201cWhoever comes in, we have to start from square one and prove that we\u2019re worthy of being on this team.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, Phelan refuses to focus solely on the drawbacks. Although the comfort level that comes with playing for a well-liked and respected coach is no longer present, the scruffy center half is optimistic that a new coach may be just what the team needs to move forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cI see it as a good opportunity,\u201d said Phelan. \u201cI think things needed to change. I don\u2019t necessarily agree with the decision (surrounding Nicol\u2019s exit), but a fresh start can\u2019t hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n
A fresh start certainly can\u2019t hurt at all, especially for a team that only won five of its 34 contests in 2011. And while job security may be in the back of players\u2019 minds once Nicol\u2019s successor is named, Tierney believes that a new approach will not only invigorate the squad, but also erase any lingering sense of self-doubt.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone\u2019s going to look to impress when the new manager is named,\u201d said Tierney. \u201cHopefully, it\u2019ll give us a chance to re-set ourselves as pros and focus on the job at hand and going back to not having to prove ourselves again.\u201d<\/p>\n
Of course, that\u2019ll be much easier to do once a coach is named. But, for now, all the players can do is keep working toward the task at hand\u2013 even if the nerves remain somewhat frayed.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think everyone might be a little nervous about it,\u201d said Tierney. \u201cWe just want to get it figured out sooner than later who (the next head coach) is going to be so that we know what we need to do to stay on the team.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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