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Over on ESPN FC, Jeff Carlisle offers his take on the Revs selecting Andrew Farrell with the No. 1 overall pick in the MLS SuperDraft.

Writes Carlisle:

INDIANAPOLIS -- Andrew Farrell knows where he stands. The New England Revolution may have made him the No. 1 pick in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft, but he knows he still has a lot to prove.

"Today is the highest moment, the top guy," he said after his selection. "But on Monday, I'm just the rookie. I've just got to go back and start working again."

Fortunately for Farrell, his versatility and experience growing up abroad should all stand him in good stead and allow him to be an impact player. The University of Louisville defender lived in the U.S. for the first five years of his life, but his parents, Hunter and Ruth, were Presbyterian missionaries and moved the family to Peru, where they lived for 10 years. While he was unhappy to leave the U.S. at first, playing soccer eased his assimilation to a new country whether it was in the street, the playground, or with his club.

Click HERE to read the full piece.

After trading for the No. 1 pick in the MLS SuperDraft on Wednesday, the Revs selected defender Andrew Farrell from Louisville.

The 5-11 Louisville standout anchored the Cardinals' defense, which allowed just 0.62 goals per game in league play. He finished the year tied for third on the team with four goals and nine points.

“We’re very pleased to add Andrew to the Revolution,” General Manager Michael Burns said. “We believe he is the best player available in this draft class and proactively made the deal with Toronto to move up the draft order so we could ensure he was available when we picked. We’re looking forward to getting him into camp with us and getting him acclimated to the Revolution. We believe he has a very bright future with our club and in this league."

Farrell, 20, started all 44 games which he played the last two seasons and earned Big East Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2012.

In addition to Farrell, the Revs also picked:

-- F/M Donnie Smith (UNC-Charlotte) – 21st overall
-- F Luke Spencer (Xavier) – 23rd overall
-- GK Luis Soffner (Indiana) – 36th overall

“Overall, we’re pleased with our draft and we believe we addressed a few areas we were looking to improve,” General Manager Michael Burns said. “With Andrew, we added who we believe was the best available player in this draft class. With Donnie, Luke and Luis, we’ve drafted players who we believe can add depth and versatility to our club. Donnie and Luke give us options on the wings as well as up top, while Luis gives us talented depth in goal. We look forward to getting them into camp next week and beginning to work with them.”

For more on the Revolution, check out their website.

The New England Revolution Wednesday traded its No. 4 pick in Thursday's MLS college draft to Toronto FC in exchange for the Canadian club's top selection and allocation cash.

The Revs said the deal will allow them to make their highest draft pick since 2002, when the team selected striker Taylor Twellman with the No. 2 overall pick.

The MLS draft will be begin at 12 p.m. ET at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, with the first pick televised live on ESPN's SportsCenter.

The Revolution failed to make the playoffs in 2012 after ending a disappointing campaign with a 9-17-8 record.

Major League Soccer unveiled its full 2013 schedule on Wednesday.

The Revolution will open the 2013 slate at Chicago on March 9 ( televised nationally by NBC Sports Network). Following another road game in Philadelphia (March 16), the Revs will open their home schedule against Sporting Kansas City on March 23.

The Revs full 2013 schedule can be found here on team’s website.

The Revs open training camp on January 17, and will make two training trips to Arizona during preseason camp.

For more on the Revolution, and information on tickets, visit the team’s official web site at revolutionsoccer.net.

The Revs announced Thursday that they signed Portuguese central defender Jose Goncalves on loan with a purchase option from Switzerland’s FC Sion.

Goncalves, 27, most recently played for Swiss Super League club FC Sion.

“We’re pleased to add Jose to our squad,” Revolution General Manager Michael Burns said. “We’ve been open about our desire to add another defender this off-season. With experience throughout Europe’s top leagues, we believe Jose will come in and be a positive addition to our club’s defense.”

"What a great start to the New Year,” Goncalves said. “I’m happy to play for the Revolution and start a new career chapter in Major League Soccer. The entire organization, along with my new teammates, was very welcoming when I came in November to see the facilities and meet with everyone. It was great to see how the club was run and only further supported my decision to come to New England. I’m ready to join my teammates and to start the hard work to make it a successful 2013 season. I also look forward connecting and to become a productive member of the New England community."

The New England Revolution announced Friday that they have signed Braintree, Mass. native Scott Caldwell as a Homegrown player.

Caldwell, who has trained the last two summer’s with the Revs, played the last four seasons at Akron.

“We’re very pleased to add Scott to our roster as our second Homegrown player signing,” General Manager Michael Burns said. “He’s had a very successful college career at Akron and he’s played very well when we have had him in with our first team during his college breaks. We look forward to integrating him with the first team on a permanent basis when the team reconvenes in a month for the 2013 preseason.”

“I am excited to play for the team I grew up watching. Having grown up watching Mike Burns and Jay Heaps, it will be cool to work under and play for them,” Caldwell said. “I know it will be a lot of hard work, but I hope to contribute to the team. It was always my goal to play for the Revolution and I am so happy it is finally happening.”

Caldwell is a two time All-American. In 88 career games at Akron he scored 20 goals and had 22 assists.

Once again the New England Revolution will be offering holiday ticket packs – four- and six-game ticket packages.

Both of the plans include the choice of one of four special gifts -- stainless steel coffee tumbler, adidas winter hat, adidas fan scarf, adidas ClimaLite training shirt (available to six-game pack purchasers only).

For more information about the Holiday Packs, go to revolutionsoccer.net/tickets.

The Revolution picked two veteran MLS players in Friday’s Stage 2 of the 2012 re-entry process, choosing LA Galaxy forward Chad Barrett in the first round (fourth overall pick) and Colorado Rapids defender Hunter Freeman in the second round (23rd overall selection).

“With Hunter and Chad, we’ve chosen two players who have a lot of MLS experience,” General Manager Michael Burns said. “Should they decide to continue playing in MLS, we believe they can have a significant impact on our squad. We also expect their professionalism and leadership will have a positive impact in our locker room.”

Freeman, 27, has played in Colorado (2005-06, 2012), New York (2007-08), Toronto (2008) and Houston (2011), and has made 126 appearances with 110 starts.

Barrett, 27, has scored 42 goals and added 27 assists in 192 career appearances with Chicago (2005-08), Toronto (2008-2010) and LA (2011-12).

The Revolution announced Tuesday that they traded midfielder Benny Feilhaber to Sporting Kansas City in exchange for allocation money and Sporting KC’s first-round pick in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft and its second-round pick in the 2015 SuperDraft.

Feilhaber played in 52 games with the Revs after being acquired in April 2011 through the allocation process. He scored five goals and added nine assists for the Revs.

“We've been working on several options with Benny for a few months and we feel this trade with Kansas City is the most beneficial outcome for the Revs,” Revolution General Manager Michael Burns said. “This move allows us greater roster flexibility in both 2013 and beyond.”

If there's one word that sums up the 2012 season for the Revolution, it's this one: transition.

From Jay Heaps' taking the coaching reins to the trade that sent longtime captain Shalrie Joseph to the West Coast, it was a campaign that contained no shortage of surprises, both welcome and unwelcome.

Although the end result didn't send them back to the playoffs, there's no doubt that the Revolution fully expect to return to the postseason in 2013 after a three-season drought.

Before they do, a number of questions need to be answered. Here are the top five going into winter:

1. Can Saer Sene repeat his 2012 success? It's hard to a find a player on the roster that exceeded expectations more than Sene. Brought in following a preseason trial, the French forward cashed in with an 11-goal season, the most scored by a Revolution player since 2007. The key to maintaining -- or even elevating -- that level of production is to keeping him comfortable. Heaps tinkered with sliding him outside, but it's clear Sene was at his best in a central position. Should he and Jerry Bengtson find a good rapport up top, another double-digit goal total should be easily attainable.

2. Are the additions of Andy Dorman and Kalifa Cisse enough to stabilize the midfield? The front office wasted little time addressing its most pressing need: the central midfield. With the re-acquisition of Dorman, the Revolution get a proven presence who can play anywhere in the midfield. By adding Cisse, a proven ball-winner, the club may have found the linchpin they've lacked since Joseph was shipped to Chivas USA. Perhaps the most important aspects of the signings: Both players bring a wealth of experience, something the 2012 team desperately needed in the middle of the park.

3. Has Benny Feilhaber played his last game in a Revolution uniform? The signs certainly seem to suggest so. Following a disappointing 2012 season (1 goal, 2 assists), the front office will certainly take a hard look at bringing back the club's highest-paid player for a third season. While there's no denying Feilhaber's talent, the fact is he may be better served on a veteran club where the attacking duties don't fall so heavily on his shoulders as they did in New England.

4. Is Bobby Shuttleworth ready to assume the starting goalkeeper duties? It might have been a small sample size, but the fourth-year keeper did little to hurt his near-term future during the 2012 season. In seven games, he posted three shutouts and kept his GAA to a miniscule 0.71. More than that, Shuttleworth's confidence increased noticeably with each start. While Matt Reis remains one of the league's better goalkeepers, Shuttleworth has shown that he's ready to inherit the starting job for good in 2013.

5. Which position does the front office need to target during the offseason? Now that the central midfield has been addressed, the front office should turn its attention to the center of the defense. While AJ Soares and converted center back Stephen McCarthy performed admirably during their sophomore seasons, the fact is that many of the mistakes made inside the Revolution box were often the byproduct of inexperience. With that in mind, it wouldn't be surprising to see the club shop around for a veteran center back to help stabilize the defense next season.

In the final installment of our four-part positional outlook, we’ll take a look at the forwards: Jerry Bengtson, Blake Brettschneider, Diego Fagundez, Dimitry Imbongo and Saer Sene.

Overview: When the Revolution unveiled Jay Heaps as head coach last autumn, one of the talking points of Heaps’ introductory press conference was his desire to see the team attack. So it came as no surprise that Heaps and general manager Mike Burns set out to find a goalscorer -- post haste.

During an offseason scouting trip in Colombia, they discovered Jose “Pepe” Moreno, a prototypical target striker who, at first blush, looked like the avatar for the new, attack-first Revolution. Weeks later, the club announced that they had signed Moreno, and gave him the prestigious No. 9 jersey.

Then, an unexpected twist developed. Days after the announcement, the Colombian press reported that Moreno was hesitant to join his new club in the U.S. That he wanted to remain with his former club, Once Caldas. Clearly, something was afoot.

While the Revolution front office scrambled to find answers, the club signed 25-year-old French striker Saer Sene following a preseason trial. Sene, who spent the previous season with the Bayern Munich reserve team, came via free transfer, and with little fanfare. With their Plan B on board, the club signed another striker -- Blake Brettschneider -- for good measure.

Eventually, Moreno arrived -- albeit weeks late, with little explanation -- but required additional time to adjust to his new surroundings and heal his injured ankle. That’s all Sene needed to establish himself as the team’s true No. 9.

In the Revolution’s home opener, the French forward scored the Revolution’s first goal of the season, and never looked back. All told, the flashy forward netted a team-high 11 goals, the most since Taylor Twellman’s 16 in 2007. Although a torn ACL suffered in September would sideline him for the final two months of the season, his showing was good enough to be named team MVP.

While Sene set the tone up top, Moreno never fully acclimated to his new surroundings. Injuries, as well as inconsistency, continued to plague him before the club waived goodbye to the enigmatic striker in August.

But, the club wasn’t satisfied with Sene as their only goalscoring threat. In July, they signed Honduran striker Jerry Bengtson to a Designated Player deal.

Bengtson, a four-time goalscoring champion in the Honduran first division, wasted no time making an impression by scoring in his Revolution debut. But in between regular call-ups to Honduras, along with the lineup shuffling due to a rash of injuries, he struggled to find the form that warranted his hefty price tag.

Weeks after Bengtson was brought on board, the club added another French striker -- Dimitry Imbongo -- to shore up the depth up top.

After Sene’s season-ending injury, Homegrown Player Diego Fagundez was called upon to partner with Bengtson and Imbongo. The technically sound teenager scored a remarkable goal against Chicago in the home finale, but was primarily used as a late-game substitute in 2012.

Outlook: If there’s one area where the Revolution appear to be settled the most, it’s up top. Sene’s first season in Foxborough gave Heaps the goalscorer he craved when the topic of the attack came up last autumn. Then there’s Bengtson, who showed glimpses of his potential down the stretch. A full preseason should allow the Honduran striker to rediscover his form. With that in mind, expect Bengtson and Sene to partner up for First Kick 2013. Fagundez will likely resume his role as primary option off the bench, but figures to get more time in the midfield, where he appeared the most comfortable. Meanwhile, the futures of Brettschneider and Imbongo are murky at best, as both struggled to establish their roles on the roster.

Bottom line: While the Revolution may be in the driver’s seat with the forward line, it wouldn’t be surprising to see more forwards added via the college drafts, international scouting trips and/or preseason trials. As Heaps showed during the 2012 season, his squad can never have enough forwards -- and that’ll be especially true if Bengtson receives multiple call-ups from Honduras for World Cup qualifying next year.

In the third of a four-part series examining the Revolution's positional outlook and offseason concerns, we’ll take a look at the midfielders: Fernando Cardenas, Andy Dorman, Benny Feilhaber, Blair Gavin, Ryan Guy, Lee Nguyen, Sainey Nyassi, Alec Purdie, Michael Roach, Kelyn Rowe, Clyde Simms, Juan Toja.

Overview: Perhaps no truer statement can be said about the 2012 season than this one: The Revolution’s success rested heavily upon how they performed in the middle of the park.

During the first half of the season, the team adopted a possession-oriented approach, gaining positive results along the way. Veteran Shalrie Joseph resumed command at center half, while the capable Clyde Simms served as his lieutenant. With the middle of the park secured, the Revolution accomplished what they’d so often failed to do in recent years: dictate the tempo.

From there, the Joseph-Simms combination allowed the wingers -- namely, Lee Nguyen and Benny Feilhaber -- to stretch the field and force the opposition to leave a number of passing lanes open. And open passing lanes left the team with many more options, especially on the buildup.

Possession wasn’t the only area where the new and improved midfield delivered. With first-year head coach Jay Heaps emphasizing team defense, Nguyen and Feilhaber followed suit, dropping back and providing cover. Joseph was a workhorse as well, while Simms often served as a fifth defender.

However, as the season progressed into the summer months, Joseph’s work rate began to wilt. Heaps took notice, and didn’t hesitate to bench the popular, eight-time MLS All-Star. Yet, even though the key was Joseph, the Revolution traded the face of the franchise away on Aug. 1. Predictably, it didn’t get much easier after that.

Without Joseph, the midfield was overrun and the team was torn apart by weaker opposition. Simms struggled inside of Joseph’s former role, while the creative Feilhaber was curiously assigned to the defensive midfielder role. Another outside midfielder -- Ryan Guy -- was paired with Simms, but no matter the combination, the same poor results ensued. Goodbye, possession style. Hello, route one ball.

However, the once the pieces began to fit together, the midfield began to regain their bearings in the final weeks of the regular season. They closed out the campaign with a two-game win streak, including a rare road win in Montreal, thanks in large part to Simms’ deployment as a defensive cog, rather than a freelancer.

Outlook: There’s no shortage of question marks hovering over the midfield, and the addition of Dorman only adds more. Will Dorman inherit the attacking midfielder’s spot, with Simms taking up permanent residence at defensive midfielder? Or is that spot reserved for a healthy Juan Toja? And how does the Dorman signing impact Blair Gavin, who showed promise in his brief, late-season cameo? What about Benny Feilhaber? No question: Heaps has a number of decisions to make before First Kick 2013. Meanwhile, there are fewer questions on the wings. Nguyen was a revelation, and looks like a lock on the left. On the right, rookie Kelyn Rowe showed promise, while Cardenas flashed glimpses of his full potential off the bench. Guy became the quintessential utility player this season, and his value cannot be understated.

Bottom line: If the Revolution are going to make another leap next season, they need a strong spine. In other words, they have to find a way to fortify their form at defensive midfielder. Simms filled the role admirably after Joseph was jettisoned, but he might only be a temporary fix. If they want to re-establish the possession game, they won’t be able to do it without a true ballwinner. They may have that with Toja, but it’s unclear that he can remain healthy for an entire season. As for the top of the midfield diamond, it appears Dorman is the answer, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see him and Feilhaber slide in and out of that role. Out on the wings, the Revolution could use more speed, as neither Rowe nor Nguyen is particularly fast. Meanwhile, Feilhaber must rediscover the form that ticketed him for regular national team duty. Otherwise, he may become one of the priciest bench players in club history. Look for the Revolution to stick with what they’ve got at the central midfield spots, but don’t be surprised if they select an outside midfielder with pace in the SuperDraft.

In the second of a four-part series examining the Revs' offseason concerns, we’ll take a look at the defenders: Kevin Alston, Darrius Barnes, Florian Lechner, Stephen McCarthy, Tyler Polak, A.J. Soares and Chris Tierney.

Overview: For all the preseason talk about attacking and sharpening the offense, the most improved area of the field in 2012 turned out to be the defense.

Of course, few would have banked on that happening. Sure, the Revolution signed veteran center back John Lozano to act as a pillar in the rear. And yes, they drafted Tyler Polak high in the second round. But between injuries and inexperience, neither player featured as often as many expected.

A series of knocks to Lozano forced some serious improvisation -- namely, sliding second-year midfielder Stephen McCarthy to center back, a position that McCarthy had never played at the professional level. Despite some early growing pains, the 2011 second-round pick brought an imposing presence to the rear, and used his height (6-foot-5) to outduel his opponents in the air. By mid-season, the job was his, as Lozano had his mid-season option declined.

Pairing with McCarthy for much of the season was fellow second-year pro A.J. Soares. The 24-year-old center back helped smooth the rough edges by developing an immediate rapport with his new line mate. Though, as the season progressed, Soares encountered some struggles, which opened the door for veteran Darrius Barnes to reclaim one of the center back spots. Injuries plagued Soares and McCarthy in the latter portion of the season, but Barnes’ presence provided stability inside the heart of the defense.

Out on the wings, Kevin Alston brought speed and savvy to the right back’s spot. On the opposite flank, Chris Tierney was his usual steady self at left back. While Alston avoided the injury bug by and large, Tierney picked up a lingering knee injury down the stretch, forcing Alston -- who played left back in college -- to slide into Tierney’s role for the team’s final eight games. The reassignment showed a different side of Alston -- a player who added greater width, not to mention sharper crosses, even on his “weaker” left foot. Polak saw the bulk of his action in Reserve League, yet never truly emerged as a contender for additional first-team minutes.

Meanwhile, Flo Lechner provided welcome experience to the back line. The versatile -- and vocal -- defender flashed some moments of brilliance during the middle of the season before the injury bug bit him as well.

It may not have gone according to script, but all things considered, the Revolution's defense performed admirably. While injuries forced numerous lineup changes, the back four rarely veered off course, and cut down the goals-allowed total from 2011 (58) by 24 percent in 2012 (44).

Outlook: The picture is certainly promising, one year removed from a disastrous 2011 season. The partnership between Soares and McCarthy helped anchor the Revolution's defense, while Alston and Tierney have both proven their worth out on the wings. However, the general inexperience in the middle may have the organization searching for a veteran center back. Polak appears to be the future at left back for now, but a disappointing rookie campaign saw his stock drop, especially with Alston’s surprising form on the left. Tierney is the club’s set piece specialist, but only by default, as free kicks and corner kicks were an obvious problem area in 2012.

Bottom line: Bet on the Revolution to look for a veteran center back, and perhaps a speedier option on the wing. A defender who’s good in dead-ball situations would be a plus, especially in light of the ongoing set-piece struggles. The college drafts may also produce a few more options in the rear, especially with the fourth and 21st overall picks at the Revolution’s disposal.

The Revolution announced the signing of Welsh midfielder Andy Dorman on a free transfer from England’s Crystal Palace. After playing four seasons with the Revolution from 2004 through 2007, Dorman will return to New England for the upcoming season.

The Revolution originally drafted Dorman in the fourth round (56th overall) in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft.

“We’re very pleased Andy is rejoining us,” Revolution General Manager Michael Burns said in a press release from the team. “Andy was a tremendous player and a consummate professional when he was first beginning his career. Now with his experience at a very high level in Britain, we’re looking to him to provide not only an added attacking presence, but also veteran leadership on and off the field.”

Dorman made 112 regular-season appearances with the Revs, scoring 17 goals and adding 18 assists.

"I’m really excited to be coming back to Boston,” Dorman said. “It was my first professional club and a place I always look back at with great memories. I owe a lot to New England, for giving me the chance to play professional soccer and the opportunity to play in the UK.

“I spoke to Jay quite a lot over the past couple of months and he was a big reason I decided to come back. I was really impressed with everything he said about the team and his plans going forward. I was really impressed with everything he said about the team and his plans going forward. And from everything I saw last year the team isn't far away. A lot of the games last year were tight and hopefully next year we can come out on the right side of those games.

“I hope I can add a bit of experience to the team. There're a lot of young players and if we can get a good blend of youth and experience, it will put us in a good position for next year.”

Ninth place wasn’t the finish Jay Heaps envisioned when he took over the Revolution’s head coaching reins last autumn. No question.

But the 2012 season wasn’t a complete bust. Not only did the Revolution improve in the goals scored (39), goals allowed (44) and home record (7-4-6), but they nearly doubled their win total (9) from 2011.

Yes, the Revolution regained a considerable measure of respectability as a result. But, there’s still
plenty more to accomplish before the club becomes a contender again.

With that idea in mind, we’ll be looking at each position and examining which areas need to be addressed during the winter.

In the first of a four-part series, we’ll take a look at the team’s goalkeepers: Tim Murray, Matt Reis and Bobby Shuttleworth.

Overview: For the first time in nearly a decade, the Revolution found themselves with a bona fide goalkeeper controversy on their hands in 2012.

The season started with Reis as the firm starter, and he certainly played like one in the first half of the season. Through 16 games, the veteran keeper posted three shutouts and stopped 50 shots, bringing the club within two games of.500. But after a pair of shaky performances at Toronto (June 23) and vs. Seattle (June 30), Heaps decided to make a change.

Enter Shuttleworth. Even though the fourth-year keeper only saw action when injuries forced Reis to the sidelines, Heaps believed that it was time to give Shuttleworth a shot, regardless of Reis’ health. On July 8, the 25-year-old keeper stepped in and made three saves en route to a 2-0 win, while Reis watched from the bench. However, Reis was handed back the starting job two games later, and news only got worse for Shuttleworth, who suffered a sprained left knee in late July.

Then, for the final five games, Heaps went back to Shuttleworth, who closed out the season with back-to-back shutouts and finished 2012 with a 0.71 GAA -- more than half of Reis’ 1.44 GAA.

Meanwhile, third-string keeper Tim Murray was once again limited to reserve league action. He went 0-2-1 with a 2.33 GAA in three appearances. Even though he was elevated to second-string keeper in the wake of Shuttleworth’s mid-season injury, he has yet to make his first-team debut.

Outlook: After serving as the backup for three years, Shuttleworth asserted himself in 2012 and showed why he’s capable of taking over between the sticks.

Prior to the season, Shuttleworth seemed especially hesitant inside his box, and failed to provide much of a vocal presence. But in 2012, he made a considerable leap forward -- one large enough to give his head coach the confidence to hand him the reins, even with a healthy Reis at his disposal.

While that’s good for Shuttleworth, it may also spell the end of the road for Reis as a member of the Revolution. In an ideal world, Heaps would retain both keepers and allow Shuttleworth more seasoning with Reis serving as a safety net. But with the club unlikely to offer Reis an extension, it doesn’t look promising that both will be back in 2013. Meanwhile, Murray may be back given his price tag, and could compete for the second-string spot next season. Then again, it’s entirely possible that the front office may search for a veteran keeper to help Shuttleworth along in his development.

Bottom line: It may be too early to say who’ll start between the sticks in 2013, but all signs point to Shuttleworth. Granted, Reis remains one of the league’s best keepers. However, the mid-summer trade of Shalrie Joseph has shown that Heaps isn’t afraid to part ways with a proven veteran. That said, chances are that Reis walks during the offseason, while Murray stays to compete for the second-string spot should the team bring in another candidate during the offseason.