The Revolution never quite settled in during the '05 MLS Cup and they felt like the visiting team last year in Frisco, Texas, Houston Dynamo followers filling nearly half the seats at Pizza Hut Park. When the Revolution take on the Dynamo in the MLS Cup Sunday, they plan to treat it like a home game.
"We've been here before," Ralston said. "Everyone is not so amped up and excited. We have 10 days between games and it's hard to stay completely focused for that long, so we broke it up with some fun in practice and a day off. Now we are concentrating and getting ready for the game."
Not only are the Revolution not having to deal with jet lag, they have few injury concerns.
"In all the years I've been here, this is the best the team has been health- and injury-wise," Ralston said. "At this time of year, we've had guys banged up and battered and bruised."
Last year, Ralston was among the questionable, missing the conference championship game and two weeks of training, then returning for the MLS Cup. After Ralston played 120 minutes, Revolution coach Steve Nicol did not consider him to be in shape to attempt a penalty kick, the Dynamo winning the shootout.
Though several Revolution players were clearly below par, they set the pace against Houston in last year's game, the Dynamo adjusting by switching to a 3-5-2 alignment in the second half.
"We thought it was going to happen last year," Ralston said. "But it can be a cruel game sometimes.
"We plan to put them on their heels again, if we can. The first part of the game, everyone will be pumped up and it will be hectic, but then we have to settle down and play our game. Houston has a great team and they have been playing so well lately. There is no way we can be overconfident and [Nicol] wouldn't let us be, anyway. We haven't won anything, yet, so there is no reason to be overconfident."
Ralston moved into a playmaking role, which has reinvigorated his career and changed the look of the Revolution midfield.
