August 27th, 2007 . 9:46 pm . By: Buzz Carrick

I can get you what you want, I can. I can get you anything, you just have to talk to me, you have to trust me. You can trust me, ’cause I’m your priest, I’m your shrink… I am you main connection to the switchboard of the soul. I’m the magic man… Santa Claus of the subconscious. You say it, you think it, you can have it. – Lenny Nero

Today I can tell something is different, something has changed. It’s in the air.  I can’t decide yet if it’s good or bad. 

Because today was the first day in ten years of covering FC Dallas that anyone has ever asked for a credential for me to go inside the fence and watch FCD training.  Not sure if my pen, pad, and camera was a big enough give away but after explaining who I was there were no issues.  Still weirded me out though.  This is not your father’s MLS.

The PHP security guy had no idea who I was of course.  I am sure my ego will recover eventually. *sigh*

It was hot as heck with the sun out, 100+.  The clouds helped a little but it’s blistering when the clouds part.  It’s almost like even the sun is more focused today.  Dan Hunt promised me that a tent with a mister is in the plan for the future, probably more for him than me. It would be nice to not be covered in sweat and stink when there is a press conference after training.

News Notes and Observations

- In case you missed it Denilson signed and he’s out and about on the pitch today wearing the #10.  He made a joke in the press conference about the team telling him #’s 2, 3, and 10 were available to he said ten would be just fine.  Joke being of course it’s the prized number.

Instant Scouting Report (Just Add Water): Denilson. Seriously? You don’t need a scouting report from me on Denilson.  What I can tell you that you may find interesting is that he looks quite fit.  I was expecting a Mina like, sitting on the sofa for six months, pudge. Instead I see a fit and healthy player.  Not match fit mind you, that’s a different state of affairs.  Denilson didn’t struggle with the pace of the work he was asked to do and was up to it all session.  He was a little winded toward the end, but didn’t noticeably drag.

- I got a better look at Sebastian Botero today.  Upon further review I wouldn’t read all that much into his signing.  He’s a project really, which explain why he’s on the developmental roster and wearing #24.  Think of him as a solid extra draft pick FCD just picked up.  If he sees much of the field in the next year it will be a real steal.

Instant Scouting Report (Just Add Water): Sebastian Botero.  He reminds me of Pitchkolan a little, lanky and tall.  Good energy and above average range, but not as athletic as I hoped.  Feet aren’t terrible, but he’s not in the Ricchetti mold, more of a effort and tenacity kind of midfielder.  A better Ted Eck? Sure.  Better than Pitchkolan? Hum, I’m not sold yet.  He does looks quite fit and should be playing for the reserve right away.

- Alex Yi trained and looked good.  He says he’s ready to go and is (or will be) cleared to play.

- To my un-trainer eye, Juan Toja looks about 60% to me.  He was doing agility and movement stuff with one of the trainers, but I didn’t see a willingness to push off hard on the ankle.  I will go out on a limb and predict two more weeks and a return to training around USOC time, with a return to the field for the Toronto game on the 8th.  That’s just a guess mind, don’t quote me.

- Roberto Mina and Michael Dello-Russo were all out doing various levels of rehab work. 

- Kenny Cooper is also rehabbing, he tells me he is not quite pain free, but is much improved.

- Drew Moor was really pushing the intensity today.  He’s become more vocal as the season has gone on.  It was noticeable today.

- What a change in Ray Burse over the last month.  Just looking at the way he carries himself you can see it, particularly on the field.  Confidence is an amazing thing.

Training

Not a telling session in terms of anything tactical really.  It was more of a show off and intensity session.  Warm up, jog, stretch, some possession games, and a bigger shooting gallery.  Players love that shooting gallery drill but it’s not useful in terms of learning much about tactics.

Lineup Prediction

Since it’s a week till any game action and there was nothing to look at today, I figured maybe I would do a little prediction about the lineup down the stretch run if everyone gets healthy.  Some positions are locked down fairly well, some are perhaps up for a battle; the second center back next to Goodson looks to be wide open for example.

4-2-3-1 Version 1: Denilson as the attacking mid.

This formation pushes Toja back next to Ricchetti is his originally intended position.  Listening to Morrow I think this is the primary shape Morrow will want attempted for the playoff run.  Making it to this set up will depend both on Toja and Cooper getting healthy or Ricardinho playing quite well.  Unfortunately it may mean less playing time for Dax McCarty in October.

4-2-3-1 Version 2: Denilson as a wing.

Which you are more likely to see in the early stages as Toja returns from health and perhaps as Cooper is not ready yet or Ricardinho not showing.

Morrow seems to be a firm believer in the hot hand, so all this is subject to change of course.  And it hasn’t ceased to blow my mind that Alvarez is at this point a dead solid lock, or as much of one as anyone else.  Couldn’t be happier for the kid.

Thought of the Day One

A quick note on MLS emergency keepers: they are assigned by a list.  For example any team with two keepers on their roster would be lower priority than a team with three.  In essence teams are “punished” for not carrying three keepers.  So if a team with three keepers needs the emergency keeper they would get him before a team with two would.  If two teams with the same number of keepers needs the emergency keeper, he gets assigned on some other factors including points per game.  Point being that FCD would be low on the list.

Because it looks like they are not going to sign another keeper and will just go with the two they have, Sala and Burse.  For reserve games FCD will use the emergency keeper if he’s free, if not a short terms local signing.

Which also means it’s very likely Chase Wileman will get that last open developmental spot, that is of course if Ruiz doesn’t get his green card and allow FCD to add Denilson without moving a player.

Thought of the Day Two

So how do they add Denilson and open a SI spot?  Good question.

One way, as mentioned, is to really push for that Ruiz Green card.  That would solve a great many problems, but I wouldn’t hold my breath for it if I were you.  Green cards are funky things and despite the hopes of the team, I don’t think it can be counted on. feel free to cross your fingers though.

Which means someone is going to be moved.  That someone is going to be Saragosa.  If Cooper was healthy I might buy a case for Ruiz being out.  But Cooper isn’t healthy and Ruiz is heating up.  Serioux is a brand new Morrow add, and he’s hurt anyway.  No one in MLS no matter how dumb trades for a hurt player.  Ricchetti is the other brand new Morrow signing but we’ve seen from the games he has missed just how important that is.  He’s not going anywhere.

Which leaves Saragosa. Marcelo is a solid player who has contributed a lot to the team this year.  Good guy in the locker room and in training, he’s even tried to raise his game of late.  But look at the formations above, he’s just not in there.  Heck there’s likely not room for Dax McCarty who’s been out playing Saragosa lately.  So as much as he’s a great player for the team to keep, it just becomes a no brainier that it’s Saragosa that’s almost certainly going to be moved.

But you had probably already guessed that.

Categories: Practice Observations.

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