Revs sign Honduran midfielder, tweak formation

• by Ridge Mahoney  @ridgemax, Feb 19, 2008

[MLS WATCH] Not many Latino players have flourished in New England since Steve Nicol took over as head coach six years ago, yet he's always been on the lookout for the right player to fit into his system. A scouting trip he took last month to Central America has yielded one new player.

The signing of left-sided Honduran international midfielder Mauricio Castro has been announced. He may join the team during its training trip to Bermuda. The Revs thumped Bermuda, 6-1, on Saturday, and the teams will meet again Wednesday.

Gambian teenager Kenny Mansally scored a hat trick and also drew a penalty kick as the Revs beat a Bermudan team lacking Revs midfielder Khano Smith, who set up Mansally for the first two goals. Adam Cristman, Spencer Wadsworth and Amaechi Igwe each scored a goal and Steve Ralston contributed two assists.

Trialist Javier Delgado played the first 60 minutes at left back and Chris Albright took the right corner as the Revs played a 4-4-2 formation in their first preseason match. The Revs have used a three-man back line as their basic defensive alignment for the past few seasons but traded for Albright in the offseason, perhaps with the intent of switching to a four-man back line.

Smith may face a battle for playing time with Castro, 26, who comes to MLS from CD Olimpia of the Honduran first division. He's also played for smaller clubs Hispano (2005-07) and Universidad (2004-05). Or Nicol may move Castro inside and shift Ralston back to right mid, where he has played most of his career. Ralston finished the 2007 season in the middle after Nicol benched Andy Dorman, who has since left the club for St. Mirren in Scotland.

After finishing its stint in Bermuda the Revs will head to Mexico and New Orleans in March. A trip to the resort city of Cancun will include a match against Apertura champion Atlante. In Louisiana the Revs will play Honduran club Marathón once and the local USL club, New Orleans Shellshockers, twice.