If I Was F.C...

We use the term mess, and it is completely accurate for the glut of midfielders on our roster. The Revs have way too many players in central midfield, while not having enough players out on the flanks. We could supply defensive midfielders for half of MLS. Our distinct lack of an attacking midfielder limits our options, but our impending allocation should fill the hole.

John Harkes
"The Influential Captain"
At this point in his career, he shouldn't be more than the 5th or 6th midfielder on a squad. Unfortunately, he's a probable starter for this squad. I'm not so sure he warrants a starting place, but he'll be slotted into the center of midfield barring any drastic changes. Harksie is a solid, hustling type of player. This squad has too many of those. He'll be workable if we keep the ball away from him. If our offense has to go through Harkes, we're sunk.

Joey Franchino
"The Underrated Hustler"
Joey is a man made on his industry. He's a defensive midfielder by trade and practice, an attacking midfielder when forced. He slotted in behind the strikers late last season, but this is not his niche. Franchino is best utilized as a pest in the defensive midfield. An Alvarez-Franchino pairing in the defensive midfield would be optimal in the 3-2-3-2 preferred by Fernando. If Joey goes down, the Revs are in major trouble.

Leonel Alvarez
"The Grizzled Veteran"
Leonel is the key cog in defensive midfield and one of the first names on the team sheet. If Harkes is dropped from the side (a 50-50 proposition), Alvarez is likely to take the captain's armband. Durability is the question with his age. He's 35 and has a lot of miles on those legs. There's a possibility of a Harkes-Alvarez platoon during the season, as it would make the most sense for all involved. Alvarez's greatest asset is his tremendous game experience. He's rarely tricked and brings guile to the midfield.

Ted Chronopoulos
"The Left Winger"
One of those "I almost was a full-time U.S. International" players. Injury problems and general loss of form killed that idea, and Chrono has been firmly focused on Revolutionary affairs for three years without International distractions. Chrono is ever present in the Revs midfield. We repeat that Chronopoulos is not a defender. His value to the team is on the left wing, putting in solid crosses 95% of the time. Ted's one of the best left mids in MLS, and the Revs surely must get him the ball in the 2001 season.

Imad Baba
"The Unappreciated One"
It's very unlikely that Imad will be back, and I'm not sure he's even wanted. Last spotted on trial with Westerlo in Belgium, it's unlikely that he'll stay with the team if he does return to MLS. A likely destination would be Dallas, as it is near his home and has a dearth of wingers. Baba will be missed for his ability to add width to the Revolution midfield and the ability to score goals in the clutch. He will not be missed by fans, as his general inconsistent play drove many crazy.

Shaker Asad
"The Future"
Shaker had a nice offseason, as he tallied four goals in four matches during a P-40 tour of Argentina. Asad is a central midfield player who has good ball/passing skills. He saw very little time on the field for the Revs in 2000, but look for that to change in 2001. He may split time with Allnut and Franchino at the #10 spot for at least the start of the season. Due to his roster exempt status, Shaker will be here for a while. That bodes well for the Revolution.

Yari Allnutt
"The Old New Boy"
Yari Allnutt is a seasoned professional who has been the best player for the A-League champion Rochester Rhinos for the past three years. He'll add some talent and inventiveness to the midfield. He is especially good at getting forward both on the flanks and centrally. Until our midfield allocation is filled, he will see some time at playmaker. His final spot should be as a replacement for Baba. His pace is not staggering, but he can hit a decent ball.

Mauricio Ramos
"The Bolivian Bust"
I'm not sure why we're wasting our time and breath on his play. It's been horrible, and he's likely gone at the first opportunity. If he stays the whole season, I'll be mighty surprised. Unfortunately for Mauricio, if he stays, he won't play. This is a lose-lose situation for all involved. His foreign spot may be taken by trialist Dario Sierra who is with the team in Costa Rica.

Carlos Parra
"The Thug"
There isn't a whole lot to say about Carlos. He's not worth a full MLS roster spot. He's in competition with Johnny Torres and Chaka Daley for worst Revolution player since Year One. I'm not sure why he's still on the roster, but the good money has him in possession of incriminating photos of the Kraft family.

Johnny Torres
"The Tweener"
JT was inexplicably resigned during the offseason. Yes, he really is a midfielder. You mean his great striking skills made you think he was a striker? Hardly. If he wasn't just resigned, we'd expect JT to end up in the A-League. He's not going to improve, so why bother keeping him instead of Tsakiris?

Jamar Beasley
"The Big Brother"
Jamar Beasley has been our hope for the future for three years now. It's time to step it up. He's listed as a striker, but in truth, he's a wing midfielder. He should pick up the slack for the "loss" of Imad. His speed is his ticket to success. His ball skills need improvement, and his Torres-like striking skills have landed him as a wing midfielder. Jamar has considerable talents, but you have to wonder if it's time for a change of scenery for the older Beasley. If he can't find solid starting time by midseason, then he'll be gone by this time next year.

Shaun Tsakiris
"The Unknown"
Shaun Tsakiris is an experience midfielder at the Youth International level, amassing 24 caps for the U-20's and playing in the 1999 FIFA Youth World Cup. He's a central midfielder. He's 5'7" and weighs 155lbs. I've never seen him play so I don't really know how he plays. The rumors have him being a more advanced midfielder. He's likely to stick on the roster, although playing time will be scarce.

Pitchside came up with this depth chart for the Revs midfield in 2001.