Monday Morning Gaffer: FC Dallas vs DC United
July 17th, 2007 . 10:50 am . By: Buzz Carrick
Wow, what a game. End to end action and exciting attacking soccer. A roller coaster of emotion for both sides as the game swung. That kind of comeback on the road against one of the stronger teams in the league is the kind of game a club can build on for the push to the playoffs. FC Dallas 3, DC United 3El BuenoCongratulations to Bobby Rhine on his 200th game for FCD. Oscar Pareja has long been considered the soul of this franchise, it that’s true then Bobby is it’s heart. No player has been a better servant to the club than Bobby over his nine year career. No player has give more day in and day out. No player has trained harder, worked harder, played harder, nor given more blood sweat and tears to this team. Not every player can be a superstar, someone needs to be the role player and Bobby has played more roles than should be possible; he’s started or subbed in as a forward, left and right wing, right and left midfield, attacking midfield, defensive midfield, central midfield, and right back. No player more deserve to finish their career with only one team on his resume that Bobby, and I forsee a long career as a color commentator awaiting him when he decides to step aside as a player. Everything you need to know about Bobby is in his quote about his 200th game… He talked about the team.
The FC Dallas injury report suckered us in. Prior to the game we have no idea Ricchetti was hurt and would not play. He wasn’t listed as injured on the game preview that came out on Friday from FCD and MLS. The player that was listed as doubtful, Marcelo Saragosa, turned out to be very probable as he not only started but played 90 minutes. Either those injury reports are worthless or FCD didn’t disclose the real situation for a key game. Either way I give them credit for hiding the real team from the opposition. Serioux looks strong and was moving well. But surely you wouldn’t call his performance wonderful? Well no, but that’s not important. What is important is that he was mobile, looked strong, played aggressively, and was active all over the back third of the field. His performance will get better as he plays into top form. But the future is looking better for the FCD back four which will likely be Gbandi, Goodson, Serioux, and Moor from here on out. And don’t call me Shirley. What can we say about Toja that hasn’t already been said. This performance only ads to his legend. FCD needs to buy him quick, before his price goes up even more. He seems to raise his game every week. He’s already up for Goal of the Week and now he’s been voted Player of the week, the first FCD to be named POW since Cooper last year.
This was the biggest come back in franchise history, coming back to tie down 0-3. The last time FCD scored three goals in the second half was in a 4-1 win over Colorado on July 29, 2006 at PHP. According to Elias Sports Bureau this was only the third 0-3 comeback in league history, both previously by the MetroStars who came back on Tampa Bay in 1996 and then on New England in 2003. Credit to Morrow and the team for staying positive and trying to recover. In recent times no FCD team would have been capable of that. FCD teams under Clarke and Jeffries tended to give up after going down a goal or two.
El Camino CentralFor the second straight game FCD rolled out in what looks very much like the traditional 4-3-3 with Rhine and Toja flanking first Ricchetti against Atlanta and in this game Saragosa. Credit again for the adaptability of the team and staff, but I really don’t like this shape for FCD. With a flat three in the middle and a high target with two wingers you end up with a bit of a hole in the middle of the field. This hole can be particularly big when Ruiz is playing as he doesn’t work back into midfield very much, nor should he. Instead both Rhine and Toja try and get forward into the space when FCD has the ball, see Toja’s first goal for a terrific example. The problem is that when Rhine and Toja go forward, this leaves the d-mid on an island and FCD is exposed to the counter. Saragosa is not quite fast enough (or fit enough after the injury?) to chase down and kill all those plays, it’s why you saw Serioux checking so far forward into midfield to try and kill those moves. Particularly in the first half Moreno took full advantage and punished FCD. So give me the double anchor with Toja as the attacking mid (4-2-3-1), I like that shape much better. If Morrow really thinks the flat three is important, then put a pure a-mid behind the front line to fill the hole (4-3-1-2) Coming off the injury, I give Saragosa some credit for going 90 and putting in a solid defensive effort. He can break up plays and cause some trouble for the opposition flow, but he provides absolutely zero going forward. Far to often when FCD has the ball he is just standing and watching FCD play. Good role player to have backing up Ricchetti. But now that McCarty will be returning to the team, there is no need for Marcelo to be starting. No Tan BuenoIn the first half the number one FCD trouble spot was again evident. FCD dominated possession for 30 minutes but created chances. The midfield is fantastic but the front line is not getting it done. The entire first half FCD was getting the ball forward but no real scoring threat was created. DC had by far the more dangerous chances, which they proved by scoring twice. When the score was 1-3 for DC early in the second half, the corners stood in FCD favor 6-2. That means FCD is getting the ball into the final third and doing absolutely nothing with it. That’s not good enough.
I am now convinced more than ever, that Oduro just isn’t a starter level player at this point. His pace and energy early in the game just don’t create opportunity. He can’t finish well enough nor pass well enough. Off the bench late in games his skills are far more effective against tired opposition who have more trouble keeping up and don’t get back with as much numbers. FCD needs to recognize what a great tool he is as the 12th man and use him how he is most explosive. Until Cooper comes back, Núñez, Thompson, Rhine, or even Scott Jones would be a better starting option as the third winger. At this point Oduro might be Ngwenya 2.0, but he’s still in the sub phase, until he develops the one on one skills and finishing Ngwenya has finally developed in his fourth year Dom needs to stay as a Super Sub. 7 Comments Comments RSS TrackBack Identifier URI Leave a comment |
Scott Jones!?! But agreed on Oduro…deadly off the bench. Nunez is obviously buried real deep in the dog house. I guess at this level everyone not named Beckham has to play at least some defense.
Cai, sometimes one takes a point further than one needs to to make a greater effect. No I am not advocating Jones start. I am just emphasizing the point that Oduro is that valuable off the bench.
i went to that game Saturday and it was f’n awesome. it was fun pissing off those DC fans. almost got in a fight about it after the game, but thats a diffferent story. I think Birdman has earn his chance to start, but he may be better off the bench. either way, still my favorite player
I too am a big Fan of Bird-man, but after watching the last half-dozen games, I have to agree with Buzz. He is still a fantastic late game sub when down or up at the end of games. I think our forward situation is reaching critical mass, a move just has to be made to fix the final third of the field. The rest of this team is too strong to let poor forward pay wreck the whole thing. From what I saw from Richardino against Tigres, he is nothing more then a project with lots of potential. We need something now!
Buzz, any new on Denilson or other possible DP help?
Yes, stay tuned.
Ricardinho is about as much of a project as Toja and Richhetti were.
Richardinho is the last forward on the depth chart so don’t get too excited about him playing. He’s here to develop but he’s not close to the finished product or ready to have any impact at the MLS level. Like Oduro he is fast but that’s about it. Right now if we need fast we put Dom in.