FRISCO, Texas -- After the New England Revolution held a light training session on Saturday afternoon at Pizza Hut Park, Steve Nicol confirmed that he would have a full squad from which to choose his starting lineup on Sunday. On Friday, left back Avery John missed the majority of training with a left leg complaint but the Trinidad & Tobago international took part in the entirety of Saturday's session.
Nicol said he would inform his players of the starting 11 at dinner on Saturday evening and admitted that, with 28 players to choose from, selecting the men who will be asked to win the club's first MLS Cup had not been easy.
"There were some tough decisions, absolutely, but it's kind of a good and bad situation," said Nicol. "Obviously there are going to be some people who are disappointed. That's the rotten part."
One man who is on the bubble for selection is Steve Ralston. The veteran midfielder missed last Sunday's Eastern Conference Championship win at D.C. United with a right leg contusion, and though he has trained fully all week, he does admit that he is not sure he is quite at full match fitness.
"I feel good," said Ralston. "Am I 100 percent? I don't know, but I am getting treatment every day and hopefully tomorrow I will feel even a little bit better. I'm close."
No worry: Matt Reis shrugged off suggestions on Saturday that the thought of Guillermo Ramirez's MLS Cup-winning goal for the Los Angeles Galaxy last year at Pizza Hut Park will play on his mind on Sunday. Though he admits that his mind still flashes back that moment, he is focused on looking forward.
"It is going to be completely different," said Reis. "Every situation that I face will be different to last year. Of course, coming out here, even when we play FC Dallas, it's in the back of your mind but we want to write a new chapter this year."
Each of the Revolution's previous two final appearances have gone to extra time and seen the side fail to score on either occasion. Though he does not believe past games will have a direct impact on Sunday's match, Reis would like to see his side get on the board early, and furthermore, has no desire to be involved in a penalty shootout, despite his prowess in that aspect of the game.
"I think the key for us is to get an early goal. When we have done that over the years we have been a hard team to beat and that would definitely help us. I have never liked going to penalties. We'll cross that bridge when we get there."
All about relaxing: The Revolution arrived in Frisco on Thursday and, with the exception of training sessions on Friday and Saturday and the media availability that followed each one, have had little to do ahead of Sunday's final. Defender Jay Heaps admits that he likes to rest as much as possible at the team hotel. When he is not catching some z's, there are a couple of ways the energetic defender chooses to pass the time.
"Personally, it's just a matter of calming down," said Heaps. "Someone like myself, who is ready to go, I run on a lot of fuel so it is good to calm down and get to the hotel room and watch some movies or play cards. It's a matter of being around the guys and not getting anyone too excited. Around the pregame meal is when we really start to talk about the game."
Gotta wear shades: The Revolution's training session on Saturday took place almost exactly 24 hours before Sunday's game is due to be played. The Pizza Hut Park playing surface was bathed in sunlight at its outset, before shadows crept across the field which, by the end of the practice, was almost split between light and shadow.
Asked if the moving sun could have an impact on Sunday's final, Nicol gave a typically blunt answer.
"I think you're overthinking it," he said. "The only thing it might do is mean I can't see!"
Andrew Hush is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major Leagua Soccer or its clubs.
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