Revs get back to work, eye return to MLS Cup

NORFOLK, Mass. -- The New England Revolution ended last season wondering how a once promising campaign ended in such a downward spiral.

The Revs started the process of putting 2008 in the rearview mirror and preparing for 2009 as training camp opened on Monday morning.

"For us, it was a long offseason in the sense that we thought we finished the year on a down note," Revs defender Jay Heaps said. "In the same breath, it's nice to get back here, see the guys and get that focus again."

Heaps and his teammates will need that focus as the team tries to improve on last season's Eastern Conference Semifinal Series exit to Chicago and return to a fourth MLS Cup Final in five years.

Most of the core is back, though replacing Michael Parkhurst and Khano Smith remains high on the team's agenda. Twenty-six of the 27 players on the training camp roster are in camp this week; Kheli Dube will arrive soon soon after tending to personal matters back in Zimbabwe.

Revs boss Steve Nicol said the assembled players were happy to return to training and ready to return to business.

"It's good to get back and get on with it," Nicol said. "It's nice to have a break, but it's nice to start again. We just want to get back to work."

Fitness training dominates early training sessions. Nicol and his coaching staff set up drills focusing on running and strength training rather than tactical and ball work to open camp.

"Every player dreads it," Heaps said. "It's just part of the game. But if you have to do it with anyone, Stevie and Paul [Mariner, Revolution assistant coach] are the best to do it with."

Nicol and Mariner played the game at the highest level and approach the preseason program with that experience in mind. The necessary game fitness arrives without burning players out, according to Heaps.

"They have a good sense about the length of the season," Heaps said. "They've never overdone anything in terms of fitness. They know exactly what players need. That's what the young guys are starting to learn. It's not going to blow you away, but it's going to get you to the point where you're ready for the season."

Heaps embraces the Revs' training method because both players and coaches approach the work seriously while enjoying themselves at the same time. Heaps said the combination has made the Revs one of the fitter teams in the league.

"It's light in terms of having a few laughs and having a good time," Heaps said. "It's light in terms of everything that we're doing. It's not blow everything out early. That's been a huge success for us. Last year, we had some injuries, but the three or four years before that, we peaked at the right time."

One key injury -- Steve Ralston's broken fibula -- crippled New England's playoff hopes last season. After rehabbing his leg during the offseason, the Revs' captain said he's back and ready to go.

"I haven't felt it at all," Ralston said.