NORFOLK, Mass. - After finishing the final indoor training session at Fore Kicks in Norfolk, Mass., last week before shipping off to Bermuda, New England Revolution head coach Steve Nicol declared himself happy with his charges as they embark on a trip mixed with business and pleasure.
"I think we're in the swing of things already," Nicol said after putting his squad through its paces.
With the Revolution in training for a couple of weeks before departing for Bermuda, the team was itching to extend themselves past the indoor work, consisting of drills, sprints and a scrimmage.
"They want to do more than they can at this point," Nicol said. "We have to be careful in what we let them do."
Nicol has to balance his side between finding fitness and maintaining it with an eye to a four-game slate that lies ahead for the team in Bermuda.
On Wednesday, the Revolution is scheduled to take on Dandy Town FC, a local semi-pro club. A contest with the Bermuda national team is slated for Feb. 18, while the Revolution is set to play the home leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal tie with Costa Rican side LD Alajuelense at the National Stadium on Feb. 22. The trip finishes with a match against the Jamaican U-23 national team on Feb. 25.
The latter two matches are scheduled for Internet radio, accessible at www.revolutionsoccer.net.
While Nicol has fitness doubts over Khano Smith and Steve Ralston for the Bermuda trip, he has added multiple SuperDraft picks to his stable of potential options for the trip.
As the new professionals settle in, Nicol believes that they have shown the progress necessary to harbor hopes to make an impact in the first team at some point this season.
"The rookies are good," Nicol said. "They're fitting in well. We're pretty happy with how everything is going. So far, everyone has shown they are capable of playing at this level."
Kyle McCarthy is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
