Revs still potent even without Dempsey

Editor's note: This is the second of 13 MLS team previews by ESPNsoccernet for the 2007 season.

2006 record and finish: 12-8-12, 48 points (second in Eastern Conference)

Key additions: F Adam Cristman, D Gary Flood, M Amaeche Igwe, M Ryan Solle, M Wells Thompson.

Key losses: F Jose Manuel Abundis, F Kyle Brown, M Jose Cancela, F/M Clint Dempsey.

Key questions facing the team:

Rich Schultz/WireImage

Andy Dorman is expected to fill the void left by Clint Dempsey.

1. Who will replace Jose Cancela and Clint Dempsey?

Cancela was the team's most technical player and was used as a spark off the bench. Dempsey had been a Revolution starter since the second game of his rookie season in 2004. Cancela was among the Revolution's best-ever free kick specialists and Dempsey was not only a midfield driving force but also an effective goal scorer who could also play forward; both had the ability to break down defenses with individual moves. There is $4 million worth of good reasons why Fulham FC paid an MLS transfer fee record for Dempsey.

2. Can the Revolution win the big one?

Joe Franchino, Daniel Hernandez, Jay Heaps, Steve Ralston and Taylor Twellman have been on the losing side in three MLS Cup finals, and Franchino and Heaps can add a 2001 U.S. Open Cup final defeat. The Revolution have played in every conference championship game since 2002 but have yet to prove themselves in the title.

3. Will Pat Noonan regain his form?

Noonan's injury problems began when he was training with the national team a year ago and cost him a trip to the World Cup. Noonan recovered in time for the playoffs but was injured again during national team camp in February and just announced that he will undergo sports hernia surgery that will keep him out for around three more weeks.

Biggest X factor: The Dempsey transfer fee.

The Revolution became the first team to benefit from the MLS change in transfer policy, earning $2.64 million for Dempsey's move to Fulham. The Revolution can use $500,000 of the fee to find a replacement for Dempsey and the remaining money for other competitive purposes. How the Revolution allocate these funds could set a standard for the league. Nicol hoped to acquire Liverpool's Robbie Fowler, but likely will have to settle for a lower-profile striker.

Breakout player to watch: Andy Dorman.

Several Revolution players (Dempsey, Twellman, Shalrie Joseph) have attracted $1 million-plus transfer bids and Noonan and Ralston played a part in the U.S. national team's World Cup qualifying campaign last year. Dorman could be the next to attract a European club's interest, partly because of his British heritage but mainly because of his emerging skills. Dorman showed promise last season, covering an exceptional amount of ground in the midfield and scoring six goals. Dorman could well step into Dempsey's role as a full-time attacking midfielder this season.

Outlook:

Nicol has transformed the Revolution into one of the better attacking teams in the MLS. The Revolution's 3-5-2 alignment requires some tricky balances between offense and defense, and the Revolution led the MLS in goals-against average (1.09 per game) but struggled to score as key attacking players were missing because of injuries and national team commitments last season.

The Revolution will continue to go forward, though that places pressure on the back line, with Matt Reis playing as a South American-style goalkeeper and Michael Parkhurst setting a standard for sophisticated defending in the middle. The Revolution have a combination of battlers on defense (Jay Heaps, Avery John, James Riley) and midfielders (Dorman, Franchino, Joseph, Hernandez, Jeff Larentowicz) who can quickly transition from defending to attacking.

The Revolution's fortunes will depend on finding another strike partner for Twellman should Noonan falter, and also on the development of Khano Smith or Wells Thompson to provide left wing balance for Ralston. First-round draft choices Thompson and Igwe and other newcomers should help reinvigorate the Revolution.

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