Pros

Dorman relishing starting role By Andrew Hush
April 5, 2006


For all the praise that was, rightly, directed towards the defense of the Revolution following Saturday’s win in LA, the performance of the side’s midfield should not gone unmentioned. On the flanks, Steve Ralston and Joe Franchino turned in workmanlike displays to ensure that the Galaxy was not able to exploit the open spaces of the Home Depot Center.

Andy Dorman

In between the two veterans were Shalrie Joseph and Andy Dorman, whose partnership in the center broke up attack after potential attack on what rapidly became a frustrating night for the home side. With the importance of Joseph to the team well-known, his less-celebrated engine room partner, Dorman, often flies under the radar. Not that bothers the man himself, as long as he is on the field:

“I like playing in the middle with Shalrie, he’s a great player. As long as I keep getting a chance, I’ll get more confident and, hopefully, keep playing well.”

Dorman is in his third full season with the Revolution, having been plucked out of Boston University with the 58th overall pick of the 2004 SuperDraft. Used predominantly in his first two years as a substitute, the Englishman, who once played for Wales Schoolboys, is now relishing the opportunity that he has been given to start in a run of games. Dorman’s neat passing style is a nice compliment to the flair of players such as Ralston, Taylor Twellman and Clint Dempsey and his tireless running covers more ground than most.

Dorman also has an ability to pop up with important goals and assists in his repertoire, though he admits that maintaining defensive stability was uppermost on his mind last weekend:

“We had the lead and were trying to hold on to it. The fitness levels maybe aren’t quite there yet, whereas, if it had been later in the season, we might have had a good go at trying to finish off the game. With the formation that we played it’s more important to sit in and hold the opposition and get the ball when it comes back out to give it to Taylor, Noons and Clint to attack with.”