The New England Revolution arrived in Bermuda yesterday and wasted little time getting down to serious business with a late practice session at the National Sports Centre (NSC).

The touring US Major League Soccer (MLS) side consists of 24 players, three coaches and a technical director.

“I have never seen the team take any match lightly,” warned Revolution spokesman Brad Feldman.

“Our guys like to compete. I think even though our guys come from all over the hemisphere they are organised defensively and have a very structured system or pattern which emphasises a lot of quick one-touch passing with the occasional long ball to the front runners or target men to lay it off and maximise our ability to score.”

Accompanying the MLS side to Bermuda are Trinidadian international Avery John and Uruguayan Jose Cancela. Revolution's recent Brazilian signing Jose de Abreu Oliveria could not make the trip as the player's immigration papers have yet to be finalised, said Feldman.

“The pitch (at the NSC) is first class and we appreciate being able to have access to it and there's no question about it. . . it's absolutely a carpet,” he added. “We are very content and happy to be here playing in much warmer conditions than we have been used to over the past week or two.

“Everybody is pleased with the weather, accommodation and the training facilities.”

Members of tour organisers Setplay, including former West Ham striker Clyde Best, were on hand to greet the visiting team upon their arrival at Bermuda International Airport yesterday.

The Revolution begin their brief two-match tour of the Island's shores tomorrow night at the NSC when they take on Dennis Brown's local Select XI, comprised of players perhaps on the fringe of breaking into the national team.

Revolution then close out their stay with another run out against Kyle Lightbourne's national squad at the NSC on Thursday night.

“The purpose of the trip is really two-fold,” said Feldman. “One is to get good competition and we believe we will get that against the Bermuda select and national team and to also get some good pre-season training in.

“We've been training indoors which is one of the disadvantages we face playing in New England. It's still snowing in Boston and so we have to go out of market to train outdoors. And today's training was the first one on natural grass without a roof over their heads since we started training four weeks ago.

“So it was very liberating just to be outside on a softer surface for the coaches to be able to evaluate the players in a natural playing environment.

“And even though the players legs might be a little tired from the trip, it's important for the technical staff to get in a training session today and make the most of our time here.”

The New England-based team have been on the threshold of advancing through to the MLS Cup final for the past two years in a row, only to come up short at the penultimate hurdle.

Former Liverpool legendary player Steve Nicol is head coach of the Revolution and he is assisted by former Ipswich and England International striker Paul Mariner.

The US touring side have scheduled an early morning training session and a late afternoon mini-football clinic for today at the NSC.