Foxborough, MA -- (Sports Network) - The New England Revolution have been to the Major League Soccer championship the past three years and four of the past six, but haven't been able to get over the hump and lift the trophy yet.

This past year's loss to Houston - which has won the last two league titles - was arguably the most heartbreaking for the team to endure.

"We are just devastated right now. There is not much to say, we are all feeling the same thing," Revolution captain Steve Ralston said after the game at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. this past November.

"They've all been tough (losses in the MLS Cup finals) but I think this is tough just because it was our opportunity," Revs defender Jay Heaps said. "I wish I could put it into words how tough it feels."

Now that the Revolution have had an offseason to get over the loss, it's back to the drawing board.

"(The team's mindset) is pretty much as it's always been," Revs coach Steve Nicol said. "Obviously we are disappointed with the way it finished but we have good players and good people with a good attitude and the desire to do well. That hasn't changed any, we still have all those things."

There will be a few changes to the Revs usually consistent roster heading into the '08 season, however.

Gone are the team's second and third leading scorers from a year ago - Andy Dorman and Pat Noonan - to overseas transfers. Both scored seven goals for the Revs in '07.

"Obviously it's disappointing," Nicol said. "We tried to get something done with both guys. Andy was out of contract and chose to go tryout in Europe. We made him a decent offer but he decided he wanted to try over there (with Scottish Premier League side St. Mirren). Pat, we wanted to just reconstruct his deal in a different way and because of that we didn't pick the option up. That gave him the chance to walk and he chose to do that. He got an offer from Norway and chose to go pursue that as well."

Defender James Riley was also lost in the expansion draft to the San Jose Earthquakes.

New to the squad is MLS and U.S. international veteran defender Chris Albright as well as Honduran winger Mauricio Castro and Costa Rican forward Argenis Fernandez, to name a few.

"We'll move on," Nicol said of losing players in the offseason. "We've brought in Castro from Honduras, I think he is going to be a good signing for us. We have Fernandez coming in, a young Costa Rican guy, he's only 19. We have a Gambian, Kenny (Mansally), who we really like as a prospect as well so we've moved on."

The team's leading scorer and one of the league's top strikers, Taylor Twellman, is also back after having a move to England's second division blocked by the league and/or the Revs this offseason. That could create an awkward situation for the Revs, but Nicol is adamant that Twellman will continue to be the player he has been in the past in MLS, where he has scored 91 career goals which is good for fifth all-time.

"The one thing you have with Taylor is he wants to play and score goals," Nicol said. "Of course he is disappointed (that his move was blocked) but he's also a professional and he knows what it's all about. He knows the game is full of ups and downs and that didn't go the way he probably hoped it would. But once he steps on the field he is a great pro and he wants to score goals."

Beside Twellman up top this year will probably be either second-year pro Adam Cristman, who scored four goals in his rookie year, or the surging Mansally, who has played well this preseason.

The team will be solid in net as usual with veteran Matt Reis between the pipes.

"He has bags of experience," Nicol said. "I would be surprised if there weren't a huge majority of coaches in the league that would like him between the sticks."

The addition of Albright at fullback strengthens a back line that also features U.S. international and reigning MLS defender of the year Michael Parkhurst in the middle with Heaps on the other side.

"I fit in well," said Albright, who came over in a draft day trade from the Los Angeles Galaxy. "They are all good guys. We have fun but at the same time when we step onto the field we know how to put the work in. That's what has separated this team the last few years. That's what I've always seen from afar."

The midfield will feature two of the best middle-of-the-field defenders in the league in the 6-foot-3 Shalrie Joseph and 6-foot-1 Jeff Larentowicz. Joseph is pivotal for the Revs on both sides of the ball. He usually marks the opposition's top attacker while still being able to contribute when his own team is in the offensive third. Larentowicz is an underrated player who does the dirty work that allows Joseph to have such an impact.

"Jeff has a huge standing on this team whether he plays well or badly or we win or lose," Nicol said. "Jeff is a big influence on our team, I don't expect it to be any less this year than it was last year."

MLS original Ralston, who is the league's all-time leader in assists, will man the attacking midfield role. He also has the ability to play on the right side if need be.

"It's pretty much as it was with Larentowicz and Shalrie Joseph and Ralston and we are kind of looking that way again," Nicol said. "We are flexible (with Ralston). It is great to have a choice on where you play him. Will he play in the middle? Yes. Will he play wide? He might play wide as well. It's good to have options."

The front runners on the wings are Khano Smith and second-year pro Wells Thompson, although Castro is pushing for playing time.

"Khano is in possession (of a starting position)," Nicol said. "Castro has to knock him off. Competition is great. Smith has been working real hard in the preseason because he knows there is a guy breathing down his neck. It's a great competition and its something we try and have all over the field."

The Revolution will prove if they can rebound from yet another playoff disappointment when they kick off their '08 campaign on March 29 by hosting the Houston Dynamo in a rematch of their last two MLS Cup losses.

"Determination to get back (to the MLS Cup) is kind of a made up thing early on," Albright said. "I think these guys approach every season the same way, they work hard. I don't think they are now working harder, they have always worked hard. Those second places are just a result of things not going their way in four games."