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| Friday, September 14, 2001 24:18 EST |
2000 New England Revolution at a glance
[SportsTicker]
Division: Eastern
Stadium: Foxboro Stadium, Foxborough, Mass.
Soccer capacity: 22,385
Investor/Operator: The Kraft Family
Head coach: Fernando Clavijo
1999 record and finish: 11-21 (29 points), fifth place in East
1999 offensive ranking: 10, (38 goals, 1.19 per game)
1999 defensive ranking: 9, (53 goals, 1.66 per game)
Top returning scorer: Ivan McKinley (4 goals + 4 assists = 12 points)
Key returning players: John Harkes, Mike Burns, Ted Chronopoulos, Dan Calichman, Leonel Alvarez
New players of note: Mauricio Ramos, Eduardo Hurtado, Wolde Harris, William Sunsing, Juergen Sommer
Key departed players: Joe-Max Moore, Walter Zenga, Giovanni Savarese
Outlook
For the second time in as many years, New England replaced
its coach late in the season. Former goalkeeper Walter Zenga, the
first full-time player/coach in MLS history, was replaced by former
Liverpool star Steve Nicol on an interim basis. However, the highly potent
strike force of Joe-Max Moore and Giovanni Savarese was not enough for
New England to avoid an extended midseason losing streak and finish out
of the Eastern Conference playoffs for the third time in four years.
New England enters the 2000 season with many new faces, including new head
coach Fernando Clavijo, a defender on the 1994 U.S. World Cup team. Gone
are Moore (Everton in England) and Savarese (Perugia in Italy). Newcomers
Eduardo Hurtado (MetroStars) and Wolde Harris (Colorado) are expected to
replace the nearly 70 percent of the goals that were scored by Moore and
Savarese in 1999. Hurtado and Harris, who have combined for 73 career
MLS goals, should be the starting forward tandem, but look for Jamar
Beasley to see plenty of action. Also, 22-year-old Costa Rican William
Sunsing, a left-footed player, can play midfield or forward.
Veteran midfielders John Harkes and Leonel Alvarez return along with
defenders Dan Calichman, Ivan McKinley, Ted Chronopoulos and Mike Burns.
Rookies Rusty Pierce and Shaker Asad impressed Clavijo during MLS Spring
Training 2000 and could push some veterans for starting positions. Jeff
Causey, who took over as the starting goalkeeper after Zenga departed
late last year, should receive the starting nod over former Miami netminder
Scott Budnick. However, former Columbus 'keeper Juergen Sommer is
probablt the club's long-term starter once her returns from a knee injury.
Players to watch
This team's success begins with playmaker
Maurico Ramos, an offseason acquisition from Tampa Bay. Newcomers Eduardo
Hurtado and Wolde Harris also will play key roles in the success of the
Revs. Defender Dan Calichman is the defensive leader of a veteran group
that includes Ted Chronopoulos and Mike Burns. Injury-plagued Imad Baba hopes to play to the level that so many have expected from him since the 1996 Summer Olympic Games. Young, talented Jamar Beasley and Johnny Torres provide depth up top.
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