Revolution enter offseason of uncertainty

The New England Revolution have placed Jay Heaps on the list of protected players for Friday's expansion draft, a positive sign for the team's future. Heaps, Michael Parkhurst and left backs Avery John and/or James Riley are keys to the Revolution's 3-5-2 formation, an alignment essential to the team's identity.

Heaps, though, should not have been in position to attempt the Revolution's fifth penalty kick against Houston in the MLS Cup. Heaps has now failed three times in penalty shootouts, previously having shots saved in the U.S. Open Cup and Eastern Conference championship game in 2004.

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Sunday's miss in the MLS Cup final was the third time Jay Heaps has failed in a penalty shootout for the Revs.

The MLS Cup game Sunday in Frisco, Texas, was the fifth time in three seasons a Revolution match has been decided by penalties. Clint Dempsey, who declined to be among the first five penalty takers, also missed in the two '04 shootouts. Both Dempsey and Heaps have since practiced penalties and both are said to have improved. Dempsey's strength on penalties is his power, and he believed a right ankle sprain robbed him of that. Heaps' best asset on penalties is his unwavering courage, but he has neither the technique of a Steve Ralston nor the power of a Jeff Larentowicz or Khano Smith.

Ralston was also ruled out of the Revolution's top five kickers because of injury. Larentowicz, who converted the deciding kick against Rochester in the U.S. Open Cup in August, and Smith would have been good bets to convert, or least to have launched a rocket of a shot.

But there was little margin for error in this penalty shootout, and after Pat Noonan's blast off the top of the crossbar, the Revolution's fate was practically sealed. Had Noonan scored, the Revolution would have had a 4-3 edge, following Matt Reis' save on Brad Davis. That would have placed extraordinary pressure on Brian Ching, who took Houston's fifth shot, and absolved Heaps from being in a do-or-die situation.

The Revolution now carry a difficult burden into next season. A year ago, the Revolution had little spark in the MLS Cup, losing 1-0 to Los Angeles in extra time; but they qualified for the Champions Cup and went into the offseason knowing they had to start preparing to meet LD Alajuelense and that they had a good chance of returning to the MLS Cup.

This time, the Revolution are facing a less certain future.

Though the Revolution concluded the season as probably the MLS' best team (they were 7-1-3 since Sept. 2, including playoff games), they have little to show for it.

In the 2005 MLS Cup, Ralston was the Revolution's only field player more than 30 years old. This season, the team's 29-man roster included eight players who will be in their 30s next season.

The Revolution, who have played in three MLS Cups in five years, could be nearing the end of a cycle. Jose Manuel Abundis, who expressed his displeasure about not playing in the MLS Cup final, and Jose Cancela are likely to depart. Dempsey is seeking a transfer to Europe. Shalrie Joseph has been offered a move to Celtic FC. Noonan's contract expires, though he will likely return to the Revolution. Daniel Hernandez and Taylor Twellman have played outside the country previously and would not rule out a move. John and Riley were exposed to the expansion draft.

Revolution coach Steve Nicol based the team's 3-5-2 alignment on goalkeeper Matt Reis and central defender Parkhurst, who will both return next season. Parkhurst, who has dual Irish-U.S. citizenship, could make the move to Europe in a year or two. Until Parkhurst departs, though, the Revolution are almost guaranteed to continue playing with a three-man back line. The right side of the defense is set with Heaps and the left side is set with Marshall Leonard returning from knee surgery, along with Joe Franchino, John and/or Riley.

Andy Dorman has been groomed to fill Dempsey's attacking midfield slot. No one in the MLS can break down defenses off the dribble like Dempsey, but Dorman is a solid and sometimes spectacular alternative. Joseph is contracted to the MLS for two more years, and certainly deserves a chance to find fortune in Europe, though it might not happen for another year.

The Revolution also protected Ralston, so the right wing is set. But on the left wing, the Franchino-Smith relay system may have to yield to a full-time player. Both Franchino and Smith have performed well on the left, but neither is considered a 90-minute player by Nicol.

The Revolution attack struggled as Nicol failed to find a complement for Twellman after Noonan was injured. Noonan appears to have recovered after undergoing hernia surgery, though.

But Noonan was not the only Revolution performer to be excessively burdened by injury. Smith sustained a knee injury in the '05 playoffs but did not return to action until August. Hernandez injured an ankle in the fifth game and didn't return until September.

The Revolution also had an unproductive draft this year, for the first time since Nicol took over as coach. After hitting the jackpot with first-rounders Twellman ('02), Noonan ('03), Dempsey ('04), Parkhurst ('05), plus later-round choices Dorman, Joseph, Larentowicz, Leonard and Riley, the Revolution had little to show for the '06 draft.

So the challenges for Nicol next season are to regenerate the Revolution after a difficult MLS Cup loss, prepare for what could be a major transition after 2007, and compensate for a lost draft year by uncovering talent either from the collegiate system or elsewhere.

Frank Dell'Apa is a soccer columnist for The Boston Globe and ESPN.