It usually takes a bit of time for transfer business to percolate during the close season in New England as the Revs cull through their list of targets, scout them thoroughly and sign them. Not this year.
As other teams sorted through their 2012 rosters, the Revs made decisions on current players, invited potential signings to train with the team and started to build for 2013. The arrivals of Andy Dorman and Kalifa Cissé over the past week increased the options at Jay Heaps' disposal.
“As soon as we were mathematically eliminated from the playoffs and while we were still focused on our remaining five games, certainly part of our attention turned to the offseason,” Revolution general manager Michael Burns told MLSsoccer.com in a phone interview. “We had some players in during the regular season to get a look at them and project ahead to 2013. We feel pretty good at this point to have added players like Andy and Kalifa before Dec. 1, for sure.”
The caliber of players in question made the decision to move quickly even easier. Burns said the Revs wanted to secure pacts with Cissé and Dorman as soon as possible to confirm their arrivals in time for next season.
“With Andy and Kalifa, whether it was November, May or June, we felt these were two guys that we wanted to add,” Burns said. “So we did.”
With two midfielders already in tow for next year and an influx of players potentially en route through the re-entry process and the MLS SuperDraft (four selections) in the next two months, the Revs must carefully weigh their next step. Both Burns and Heaps said recently they want to supplement the squad further with an emphasis on moving from back to front.
The recent arrivals, however, allow them to plot the next move carefully to ensure they add to their current group wisely in the days and the weeks ahead, according to Burns.
“I wouldn't say we're comfortable, but we feel like we've made some steps forward already with these two additions,” Burns said. “Now if another player comes along that we think makes sense to sign, we'll certainly pursue it. But we also have in the back of our mind that we have two re-entry drafts in December and a college draft in January. We want to be smart in how we go about the next signing and the timing of the next signing.”
