Competitive edge

While the New England Revolution added intra-squad scrimmages to their preseason training last week, the true test of where the team is really at begins this week. For the rookies, however, week two of preseason marked their first chance to impress against their new teammates.

Ilija Stolica has been offering encouragement and advice to the Revs' rookies. (Photo by CHRIS ADUAMA/aduama.com)

With most of the youngsters still trying to earn a contract, the training matches have been extremely competitive. Unsurprisingly those players show clear frustration when they make a mistake and do their best to get involved on both sides of the ball.

That attitude has proven contagious among the veterans as well, making for some spirited contests.

“Everybody’s at it, so that probably does give it an edge,” said Revolution Head Coach Steve Nicol.

For the coaching staff, that competitiveness has proven that the team has come into camp in shape and ready to play.

“It’s lively,” said Nicol “Everybody obviously is desperate to play.… It’s a different game indoors than it is outside, but everybody’s at it. Everyone looks keen and ready to go.”

And it’s not just the coaching staff paying attention. The team’s veterans are also keeping a watchful eye on the young players, hoping the new blood can help the Revs return to the playoffs.

“Every time you have a preseason, there is a fight for spots,” said veteran goalkeeper Matt Reis, who has been with the team since 2003. “Obviously, there are quite a few more spots open to be had. It’s not the same old Revolution that you’re used to so we need to really find those guys and get them integrated into the team and move forward. It’s a new beginning and it’s something we all need to be pushing for to make the playoffs.”

A couple of those guys are rookies Ryan Kinne and Andrew Sousa, a pair of players who grew up fans of the team and are anxious to impress some of the same veteran players they grew up watching,  not to mention Nicol.

“It’s been fantastic to play with the players,” said Kinne, a two-time First Team NSCAA All-American who played his college soccer for Monmouth University after growing up in Naugatuck, Conn. “A lot of players are new, but just to play under Stevie Nicol is an amazing feeling. He’s one of the all-time greats and a great coach. To come play for him is a dream come true.”

Sousa had the opportunity to pair up with Shalrie Joseph, a player he mentioned going into camp he was hoping to learn from.

“I’ve talked to [Joseph],” said Sousa, a Fall River, Mass. native and a product of Providence College. “The first few days we paired up together in the midfield and I was basically playing with him and just learning the way of the game.”

For both, the veterans have been supportive and helped ease the move to the professional level.

“They’ve made the transition easy,” said Kinne. “Everyone’s been welcoming. They’ve made it very easy for me so all I’ve had to do is go out there and play my game. It’s been a very easy transition thanks to the veterans.”

A few players in particular have been quick to offer the rookies advice.

“[Ilja] Stolica before the game [Thursday] gave me a little bit of advice,” said Sousa. “He said ‘have fun, do your thing.’ He was basically saying ‘you’re a good player, just keep it up and you’ll be alright.’”

For Kinne, fellow New England native and fourth-year midfielder Chris Tierney has been among the most helpful.

“Chris Tierney’s been very good [at giving advice],” said Kinne. “Zack Schilwaski’s also been great. Those two have been very helpful.”

That advice and encouragement, along with the two players’ already strong confidence in their own abilities, has the pair believing in themselves early on in camp.

“I think I’ve been playing really well,” said Sousa. “The first day was a bit hectic for everybody: first time playing with the ball, played 8 v. 8 on a big field, but I think I’m settling in well.”

Kinne echoed the same feeling.

“I’m doing well,” said Kinne, who has seen most of his time as an outside midfielder in the Revs intra-squad scrimmages. “I need to pick it up a little bit, but I feel like I’ve been playing well.”

While Nicol wasn’t ready to reveal too much on his assessment of the Kinne’s and Sousa’s performance, he appeared happy with what he’d seen so far.

“They’ve come in and obviously they’ve been looking after themselves,” said Nicol. “They look sharp. Again it’s indoors. They’ve looked good indoors. Once we get outside we’ll have a better idea, but certainly both have done real well at what they’ve done so far.”

The pair is among a group of five unsigned rookies hoping to earn preseason contracts this winter. That’s led them to assume a different frame of mind than fellow rookies A.J. Soares and Stephen McCarthy, who entered camp with contracts in hand. Suffice to say, Kinne and Sousa can’t afford to go unnoticed if they hope to find themselves on the First Kick roster.

“You’d think there definitely has to be a different mentality,” said Kinne. “Some guys are guaranteed, so they should be wanting to get into the starting XI, but they’re not fighting for a spot on the team, they already have one. Definitely fighting for spots is a big deal. If you don’t bring it everyday, the coaches will notice and they could cut you at any second.”

“There is a competitive atmosphere here,” said Sousa. “Everyone’s trying to get a spot on the team.”

While that attitude should serve the rookies well, they can take some relief in knowing Nicol has no intention of making cuts anytime soon.

“We’re not thinking about any of that at the moment,” said Nicol. “Basically, all preseason [they will be with us] I would guess. It’s unfair on them to be chopping someone after two weeks, particularly when we’ve been indoors. It’s not something we’re thinking about. Obviously, we do have to make some decisions, but at the moment we’re just seeing how everybody levels out.”

Outdoors will prove the real test. The team traveled to Orlando Monday and is set to begin their preseason schedule on Friday against the University of Central Florida.

“I’m definitely looking forward to getting into warmer weather, getting on some grass, and opening it up a little bit,” said Kinne.

The schedule gets more challenging on Wednesday, February 23^rd as the Revs take on F.C. Dallas. The decision to play other MLS teams this preseason is a bit different from past precedent, but Nicol believes from past experience whether the Revs play MLS teams or those from outside of the league it really doesn’t make a difference, especially now that teams face each other only twice over the season.

Nicol isn’t the only one holding that viewpoint, as Reis expressed similar sentiments.

“Before when [MLS had fewer] teams, you would play these guys three or four times in the regular season,” said Reis. “Now you’re just playing them twice. I think Stevie never really wanted to add more times because you’ll play them in the Open Cup, you’ll play them in other tournaments, so I think he tried to shy away from that [in the past].”

“I think now when you only play them twice it’s not that big of a deal and we just need quality games,” Reis added. “You’re not going to get that playing a college team or the under-17s. You’re going to get that playing against the MLS teams and international teams.”

While for the veterans, the excitement of playing an MLS team in preseason may not be there, it provides a unique opportunity to the rookies to get their first taste of MLS opposition.

“It’s definitely a good chance to get some experience against other MLS teams right away rather than just playing my teammates out here,” said Kinne.

“I’m looking forward to playing FC Dallas, especially, if I get to play,” said Sousa. “[It would be great] to see the pace of other teams in the MLS.”

With 28 players now in camp with and midfielder Osumane Dabo expected soon, along with two other signings in the works, finding playing time could be hard and those without contracts will need to make the most of what they can get. If anyone fails to impress, Nicol isn’t ready to rule out even more signings before the season starts.

“It will depend on who is available to be honest,” said Nicol. “If somebody is available that we think is better than what we’ve got, then we’ll bring him in.”