Injuries: Noonan (natch) and Parkhurst (damn!)

By: Sabin | March 14th, 2007

In addition to the Revs making mincemeat of 3rd division teams, some other news came out of — or prior to — Mexico today: Pat Noonan and Michael Parkhurst stayed home in Boston to tend to some injuries.

Today’s Boston Globe puts a decidedly positive spin on their injuries, showcasing the fact that James Riley and Adam Cristman got a chance to play. And maybe that’s because the Revs camp doesn’t seem overly worried about the injuries:

“We don’t really know exactly the extent [of the injuries],” [Steve] Nicol said of Noonan and Parkhurst. “But they are problems that can be solved. It’s not a situation of these being long-term; we are pretty confident they will be sorted out pretty soon. But they are two important players for us and we would rather have them playing and at 100 percent.”

Personally, I was worried about Noonan this year. Last year’s Revs did a fine job working without him, but with so many new players in and about the camp this season, I had hoped Noonan would be that grounding presence Taylor Twellman seems to need up front. If Nicol can be trusted, though, it seems that the new guys are doing just fine, though need some experience:

“The biggest thing I can say about them is we would have no problems in playing them, put it that way,” Nicol said. “At the present time, we are not saying, ‘This guy has to be playing.’

Nicol also seems impressed with Riley (who I’ve always felt confident in when he came on last season): “Obviously, we are confident he can do the job,” Nicol told the paper.

On a personal note, I’m really excited that instead of playing Daniel Hernandez in the back of a 4-4-2, Nicol chose to move Riley to the center and maintain his favored 3-5-2. I think that bodes well. In order for that formation to succeed, the midfield has to be strong — in this case Khano Smith, Shalrie Joseph, Jeff Larentowicz, Steve Ralston (Wells Thompson 68), and Andy Dorman (Joe Franchino 75). If he’s sticking with it — and the new additions he’s made — I have to think we’re going to see some good things this season.

More later.