So what exactly is going on with Toja? If he hurt? Is it just fitness? Whatever it is he’s not performing at top level and so much of what FCD is doing in the 3-5-2 is dependent on him. He’s gotta get better or FCD will need to change something.
Being somewhat familiar with the behind the scenes goings on during a soccer telecast (several years ago, in my home country, I was involved with the televising of soccer games on a regular basis) I have been appalled by the quality, or lack of, of the production of recent FC Dallas games as well as some of the other MLS games.
I feel so British this morning. FC Dallas coach Steve Morrow has been linked to the Walsall FC job by the Daily Star.
The skies are threatening today a bit but there’s never more than a slight sprinkle for about five minutes. It’s RSL this weekend, a team with so many Burn connections it’s hard to really hate them.
I feel that predicting ties is about as safe a bet in soccer as it is in baccarat, so I don’t do it very often. So I’m going to point to last week’s all-nil pillow fight as further evidence of my massive genius. I really am just that impressive.
On the heels of an embarrassing loss, at home to a depleted Revolution, FC Dallas traveled to San Jose and helped break in the “Quakes” nifty, cozy new stadium. A refreshing surprise to see a properly sized pitch in a temporary home and the intimate setting made for a nice atmosphere for a town that deserves to have their MLS franchise back.
Dallas, on the other hand, after 11 years also deserves something and this current form and condition of the team is not it.
Well that wasn’t the most entertaining game I’ve ever seen. Not the worst either though. Sometimes early in the season you get games like this where the defense is starting to click and the offense is in meltdown.
An ugly word in American sports culture is becoming an apt descriptor of the current state of affairs in Major League Soccer: parity. Last year’s MLS Cup champs Houston Dynamo and last year’s Supporter’s Shield winners DC United have a combined ten points through a combined twelve games; that’s the same number of points last year’s expansion team Toronto FC have through their first seven games. Among casual observers and rabid fans alike, these results have created a bit of confusion, as it nearly impossible to ascertain who are the good teams and who are the bad.
The Earthquakes are coached by Frank Yallop and will run out a 4-4-2 formation, which he has preferred in his time coaching in MLS and has been used by the team in every game this season. Yallop’s reputation took a bit of a hit after the LA fiasco, but he remains one of the top coaches in the league and does a fantastic job of evaluating talent coming out of college and developing young players. These characteristics make him an ideal coach for an expansion franchise. The backline is a flat back four, focused on organization rather than allowing the outside backs to run up the flanks.
FC Dallas goalkeeper, on loan to the Portland Timbers of the USL, has been named to the USL-1 team of the week. Of note were the six save made against Portland’s rival Seattle.