FOXBORO - How do you replace the 14 goals, seven apiece, that Pat Noonan and Andy Dorman provided?

Who do you pair with the most prolific goal scorer in the 12-year history of the franchise?

Good question.

"It'll be by committee," related the greatest goal scorer in Revolution soccer history, Taylor Twellman, of his striking partner up front as the 2008 MLS season begins in Foxboro Saturday evening (7:30) against the two-time defending league champion Houston Dynamo.

Will it be second-year man Adam Cristman, the formidable (six-foot, 180 pounds) 23-year-old forward who scored four goals in limited duty (28 games, 14 starts) last season.

Will it be Mkhokheli Dube, the 24-year-old Zimbabwean, a first-round draft pick by New England this year who scored 52 goals in 76 collegiate matches. Will it be Abdoulie Mansally, the 19-year-old Gambian, signed last fall as a "youth international" player , who led New England in scoring during the preseason with five goals in six matches.

Cristman was the second-best goal scorer among MLS rookies last season. He is a strong target forward and due to his physical strength, is tough to knock off the ball. The former Virginia All-American plays like a linebacker.

"Kheli" Dube played with the Highlanders in the African Champions Cup, was a member of the Professional Development League 2006 national championship Michigan Bucks and scored 11 goals in 17 matches at Coastal Carolina College last year. He is very skillful on the ball.

"Kenny" Mansally may have been the preseason surprise, a lithe 5-10, 160-pounder who represented Gambia in the Under-20 World Cup and scored two goals in four matches with the Revolution reserve team last fall. He plays with pace and has an attacking mentality.

Last year Noonan (now with Norway's Aalesund FK) was regularly paired with Twellman, but he was scoreless in the first 10 and final 12 matches of the 2007 season. Dorman saw his playing time diminish after midseason and he signed with St. Mirren of the Scottish Premier League.

"It's always good to add some new faces," said New England coach Steve Nicol of the candidates up front. Until a breakthrough player emerges, Nicol might have to go with the hot foot of the moment, "it's certainly something we need to address."

Twellman has 91 goals in 156 matches over six seasons with the Revolution, the 28-year-old being fifth on the all-time MLS goal-scoring list. He was third among MLS point producers last season, having reached the 75-goal mark faster than anyone in MLS history.

"Losing a guy like Pat (Noonan), he and I had a good understanding," said Twellman of finding and developing chemistry up front in New England's 3-5-2 format. "Hopefully, we'll score some goals.

"Whoever plays up top has to be a target and score some goals, hopefully it'll be all of us. It's not just one of us, on any given day, we have to do our jobs." Nicol isn't tipping his hat, but has been particularly impressed by the speed, skill and, hopefully, goal-striking skills that Dube and Mansally have brought to the pitch. "Mansally has good touch and Kheli (Dube), he's scoring goals, he's got pace. They've certainly got the ability.

"Getting on the field is the key. Learning well and getting the experience, we're hopeful."

New England scored 51 goals during 30 (14-8-8) regular season matches in 2007, being shutout five times, being limited to one goal in nine matches,. Moreover, only once did New England string together more than two straight wins.

A new season, new players (Chris Albright on defense), new positions (Steve Ralston inside at MF) and a new partner for Twellman.