Assistant Revs coach Paul Mariner had an illustrious playing career in the old English First Division and also earned 35 caps playing on the English national team. Now in his fifth season with coach Steve Nicol, Mariner’s name is ultimately the first one that is brought up when a head coaching spot opens up. Today after practice, Mariner and ASN talked shop.

ASN: You were a top center forward in England for years. Are there any Revs players where you see traces of yourself?

Mariner: Portions of all the players. The industry, the hold-up play, the attacking, the aggressiveness – with and without the ball. Ones that put their body on the line to score goals. It’s a conglomeration to be really at the high end, it’s a conglomeration of all those attributes.

I’ve said this not only to the professional players, but all the young players that I work with: If you can hold the ball – in the middle third of the field – you’d be a multi-millionaire. Just holding the ball. If you look at Peter Crouch for example, he’s not the greatest player in the world, but he holds the ball, he keeps the team playing. So therefore, if he keeps the team playing in the middle third of the field, then he’s going to get more chances to score goals. And that’s why it came together working with Stevie [Ralston], and predominantly working closely with Sainey [Nyassi]. That’s what I try to say to him. If you want to score goals – you’re already scoring goals, but you want to score more goals – the simple thing you can do to keep your team playing is hold the ball up. Number 1 – that is so important. Because if you can’t get across the middle third – some teams can get across the middle third and into the attacking third by intricate passing – well, that’s all well and good, but there are simpler ways of doing it. Players can help strikers, can help the midfield and the back four by holding the ball.

ASN: So, do you think the forwards’ holding skills are the reason they’re the most heavily fouled team in the league?

Mariner: To be honest, I never really look at that. We look at, well, the words we kept using to the ref last week was “fairness.” We just want the referees to be fair to our strikers, as fair as to the opposition strikers. We just want a fair crack of the whip. Our guys do get knocked around a little bit, and the reason they get knocked around a little bit is they’re inexperienced, and they’re still trying to find the right time working with the midfield players – when to make the run and when not to make the run. And at the present moment the defenders are stuck to them, so therefore it’s more of a fight situation when they get the ball to their feet, rather than having a comfort zone where they’ve created some space for themselves. So, it’s all part of being a young player, it’s all part of the development of young players.

ASN: Designated players. What are some of the advantages and some of the disadvantages of bringing in a DP to this team, specifically?

Mariner: Well, if we’re ever fortunate enough to find a DP, it’s the quality, hopefully, that the DP will bring. We feel that we’ve got a lot of quality in the middle, down the backbone of our side. To come in and enhance the team, bring some people into the stadium, it’s a very difficult slot to fill. We get players through email and DVDs all the time, but it’s a mix, you’ve got to be very, very careful who you bring in, and what type of player, and will they gel with the other players.

ASN: How important is that gelling?

Mariner: It’s of paramount importance. Absolutely paramount. I mean, every single team, whether you’re talking NFL, NBA – you name it, whatever team it is – if they’ve got good chemistry between the group, then they’re usually successful.

ASN: Okay, so what are some of the disadvantages of bringing in a DP to this particular team?

Mariner: Well, just the opposite of what I’ve said. If it’s the wrong player, if the player’s not mobile, if they can’t handle the league, if they don’t fit in – in the dressing room, financially, and also personnel-wise. So, it’s a conundrum for the coaching staff to try to find and bring in that right player. It’s so important that player is able to play in the MLS. Obviously, people have different perceptions of the MLS, but it’s a very difficult league to play in.

ASN: The transfer window opens up July 15 for about a month. Are you looking around?

Mariner: Always. Always looking, always. It’s just the nature of the beast with any professional sport. We’re not just looking to this season, but looking to future seasons, players’ contracts – when they’re up, when they’re not up.

ASN: Are you trying anyone out?

Mariner: It’s possible, it’s possible. Not as we speak now, but it’s possible.

ASN: The loss last week to Real Salt Lake. [This loss ended the Revolution’s seven game unbeaten streak.] With all that heat [90s], why didn’t you use your third substitution?

Mariner: We thought the unit out there was functioning okay. We changed the system to 3-5-2 to try and press the issue. The 5 and 2 that were out there are predominantly the attacking players, the ones that will try and get the goal. We thought they were the right players to try and get us that goal. It just didn’t happen. I think there were other factors. I don’t think it had anything to do with using the third sub.

ASN: How do you and Steve Nicol work together?

Mariner: It’s amazing. We’re hand in glove. We have the same thoughts, we have the same ideals and philosophy about the game, the way we like to see it played. On issues of team selection or players, we often disagree, I mean we have heated discussions, but generally we usually come out right on the same page. So, it’s a great working environment because as a head coach he gives me carte blanche to say what I want to say and bring ideas to him, and he’ll see some through and we’ll work it out. It’s a great working environment.

ASN: So you’re happy here.

Mariner: Yeah, I’m very happy here.

ASN: And you plan on staying here?

Mariner: I love where I live, I live downtown in Cambridge. I wish the commute wasn’t what it was, but it’s a great place to live, it’s a wonderful part of the country. I love this country, and Cambridge is a vibrant place, but you don’t know in football. You just don’t know what’s around the corner. I might get fired, I might get a job offer from someone, so you just don’t know. But at the present moment, I’m happy here.