Monday Morning Gaffer: FC Dallas vs Toronto FC
September 10th, 2007 . 11:05 am . By: Buzz Carrick
Ugly win yes, but three beautiful points. All the pieces are coming back into place and the new edition is starting to show off. Toronto FC 0, FC Dallas 2El Bueno (The Good)It was a great idea to give Denilson the PK Thompson earned. Nothing gets a guy integrated into the team like scoring a goal, even if it’s a PK. Danny Boy even gave Thompson a thank you slap of hands afterward. Good team camaraderie with the high paid Denilson and the low paid Thompson. I liked Denilson’s penetrating passes behind the D, that’s something that has been missing this year. He’s certainly got some vision. It’s one reason I would really like to see Denilson played centrally as the a-mid in the 4-2-3-1; the other reasons are his reading of the game, his composure, and ability to hold off opposition on the dribble. I’d also like to see him drop10 lbs and get into top match fitness. Not that he’s fat or anything, he’s just not in tip top game shape. I like that lean sunken cheek look on players.
Nice shutout for Sala and the D. The lateral quickness is starting to return for Dario and his game is coming back to top form. I know TFC hasn’t scored in some time now, but when a keeper is coming off injury and the entire defense is trying to regain confidence it’s good to get the clean sheet. TFC did get more chances than I liked, but FCD should be able to build some momentous off this game. Another game or two and I think Sala will be back to the game changing keeper FCD fans grew to love. There is such a big difference between being healthy and being 100% in top form and that top form is rapidly approaching. I think the world of Ray Burse and his potential, but if you think FCD can win MLS Cup with Ray this season you’re crazy. FCD desperately needs Sala’s experience, confidence, and leadership in the back for the playoff run.
I keep saying this but another impressive high level tactical shift mid-game when Dax came in and FCD shifted to the more pure 4-3-3 of Dax on Ricchetti’s right and Toja on his left. That’s a formation I like better than the weird 4-2-2-2 that FCD has used in the last two games. It gives Toja and Dax, more freedom to get forward and makes FCD more dangerous. In fact Dax should have scored in the 71st minute. I think he was a bit shocked to get the ball at his feet. Maurice Edu is showing why I had him rated as the #1 player in last year’s draft pool. The sky’s the limit on him. Tough as nails, great touch, good passer, can take defenders on the dribble, and pops up in advanced position to get an odd goal here or there. El Camino Central (Middle of the Road)Ricchetti’s the man, but should he really be captain already? With this starting 11, Drew Moor should have been captain. Moor has more FCD tenure and has been a starter longer than anyone else in this 11. Ricchetti, Serioux, Toja, and Denilson are all to new to the organization. In my opinion no first year player should be captain. I would have said Sala should have been captain, but I a not a fan of the keeper as captain. I still believe Toja is not 100%. Mainly because I still see some limited movement from him. the biggest missing piece of his game is the trailing runs behind the forwards. Late in the game he popped up a few times, but the truly dynamic box to box midfielder is missing. I’m fully confident we’ll see that return soon however. Drew Moor is really trying to be a outside back. There’s a large tactical load going forward on the outside backs in Morrow’s system and I can see Moor trying to fill the role. He’s overlapping, trying to play forward in combination, supporting Alvarez on the outside line. It’s not good enough yet, but I cen see the mental adjustments taking place. It takes some time to develop the instincts to play the outside back spot correctly and I do see progress. No Tan Bueno (It’s Not Good)Hey Canadian TV clowns, Just cause FCD lists four mids and two forwards on the team sheet doesn’t mean FCD changed systems and is now playing a 4-4-2. It’s the same mutated 4-2-3-1 as last game, Ricardinho plays very high and advanced which mutates the shape. Call it a 4-2-2-2 if you like, but the important point is that the overall tactical nature of FCD has not changed. Did you once see Denilson or Alvarez run the line in to the corner and cross? No, cause they are not wide mids and it’s not a 4-4-2. The outside backs do the down the line job, in theory, for FCD. Passing out of the back has to be better. To many balls are won by the defense only to be played right to the opposition. Toronto, like most teams in MLS, defended FCD high in the midfield to congest the play though the center. The idea is to force FCD to play over the top and try to get behind the defense since the Red Stripes don’t have any fast strikers. I think it’s part of why Ricardinho played so high next to Abe, to try and take advantage of that and open the middle a bit.
There were not enough opportunities for Dallas and too many for TFC. In fact shots was equal, and at home that should never happen. Fouls were also equal, another bad sign for FCD which usually means not enough intensity from the Hoops. TFC’s pressure was part of it, which caused an inability by FCD to hold the ball up top and wait for the mids. As discussed with Toja, perhaps the mids were not getting forward enough. But I also would have liked to have seen more penetration from Denilson and Alvarez. Alvarez arguably had the weakest game in about a month.
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We’ll definitely take a much needed win.
Tough one next week though.
I agree a field player is best suited for being captain. I didn’t have a problem with Richetti because his maturity and leadership are very obvious when watching this team. I think the captain should not be a player struggling to handle his own positon such as Gbandi and Moor. As I have watched the team this year it’s clear to me it’s Richetti controlling the midfiled and Goodson is providing the leadership/communication for the backline. I think the captain has to come from one of the dominant players/leaders of this team so it’s pretty much down to Ruiz, Goodson or Richetti and Richetti was the only one playing Saturday. Good call for Steve on this one, IMO.
Richetti is not a “nice guy” out on the pitch, but the real streetfighter of the team. This team has several guys who just play better in a barely contained rage. I love Ruiz when he is really po’d – like he was in Seattle. Richetti as captain is fine w/me.
Agreed with Hank.
Richetti may only be in his first year, but he is vastly experienced, level-headed and clearly the boss of the midfield. It wasn’t his best performance against Toronto, but of the players available he was definitely the right choice for captain.
We played a desperate team fighting for its survival – frankly, a game Dallas teams have lost in the past.
I’m not going to hail this as a victory that indicates we’re going to win the league, but it sure is a sign they are composed enough to win the games they have to. Now if they can just figure out how to handle the Big Games…..
The captain should be the player that everyone on the team follows and respects. If thats Richetti in his first year, then so be it. If its the GK on a gimpy knee, then thats ok with me.
Buzz, is Maurice Edu eligible for the US Nats or will he play for another National Team? Does he fit with the US squad if it werent for the nepotism currently existing on the team and bench?
TT, Edu is an American.
I may have misheard it, but I was only a few rows behind the Dallas bench and it sounded like Steve and Oscar were not too thrilled with Richetti early in the game.
Seems to me like a lot of Toronto’s most dangerous times came when they attacked from the flank. They caught Wags napping a couple of times.. Wags is fairly fast but Wynne is a rocket.. fortunately he is a rocket out of control. I do give Wags credit for that great link up with Denilson that lead to McCarthy’s shot. That was class stuff. Would have been an awesome goal.
There were many times in the game where I said to myself “Thank goodness they’re crap”.. any other team would have profited from our defensive mistakes and the result may well have been different. We really missed Goodson, and his aerial presence because our team had virtually none.
There were some nice touches from Denilson and Ricardinho.. Toja was almost back to his normal self… but Arturo had a bad game. He had a few decisions go against him, but he was not as fast or fluid as he can be.
Sala pulled off a few big saves, but he was definitely limping at certain points in the game and the limited kicking ability was giving me serious heart failure.
While there were some nice touches here and there, all in all I wasn’t very impressed. We’ll need to seriously tighten up the holding midfield / defense and add some bite and finishing to our attack if we’re going to be successful.
Let’s not forget, three games in eight days (again) including a 1500 mile trip to play on a very hard surface. If we can get the pieces clicking down the stretch, it could be a great run for FCD and fans.
I have thought since the first game that I saw Pablo play in person that he should be the captain. It is obvious that he is the leader of this team on the field. My second choice would be Goodson.
I think Ricardinho looked great for the second straight match. Once he breaks the seal and puts one in the basket, he will go on an Alvarez like tear.
Buzz,
Who makes that PK decision? Is that something that is game planed for prior to a match? Does the coach bark out who he wants to take the kick from the sidelines, or do the players on the field make that decision?
Skeeter, with some teams it’s the coach. In FCD’s case I am fairly sure the players make the decision on the field.
Buzz, you have to agree that this team has not been top notch the last 3 or 4 league games when compared to earlier in the season. I see you as our inside man for our team, and I ask of you to mention the weaknesses of this team the next time you talk or interview SM.
FCD continues to be… 1. Vulnerable in the opening 10mins 2. We are not scoring as many goals as we should even with all our offensive firepower 3. SM and the team need to anticipate and study their opposing team better b/c many teams have been able to shut us down and FCD rarely shuts anyone down, but they sure did it during SuperLiga. I don’t want you to tell him how to do his job, but just remind him of our flaws because if we don’t get our act together then the following will occur “FC Dallas is starting to fade” –Goal.com.
I agree with Skeeter that the first game I saw Ricchetti I knew he would be captain. Surprised it hasn’t already happened but I figure Morrow doesn’t want to dump on Ruiz. Sala and Toja are getting better but aren’t tip yet. The overtime game didn’t do any favors to Arturo. He will be fine by the next game. Really looking forward to when evryone starts making dangerous runs when Denilson has the ball knowing he sees them and will get them the ball.
Buzz, you have seen four central defenders and four outside defenders. What are your optimum pairings even excluding a better player for someone who fits in better with the others?
Alejo, Agree completely with your assessment. The last month or so has not been great for many reason.
Peg, right this minute I will take Gbandi, Goodson, Serioux and Moor. If it were the beginning of the season I would do something different, but there’s not really time to mix it up now.
Everyone else, my criticism of Ricchetti is not based on him, it’s based on how players who have been here prior to him might (and probably do) react to the choice. There is a club seniority/respect issue IMO. Altough it’s not a massive issue, Morrow is a new coach after all so a newish captain isn’t that big a deal probably.
Buzz, I would agree with youon the captaincy but it is obvious with Ricchetti that everyone listens to him and takes direction from him. That kind of respect is what makes a captain. Ruiz wears the armband but watch who really leads, who talks to the refs etc. Because of that I believe they already feel he is captain.
Richetti is clearly the choice of captain over Moor for all the reasons stated by everyone else above. Really there is no question. He has considerably more of a presence on the field, more attention from teammates, more respondant with the referees, and much more experienced than Moor. Plus as stated, Moor is still learning his position and not where he needs to be. That is a HUGE reason to have someone else as captain. Moor is good, but he is still very young, and Pablo is clearly a leader. Maybe in the future for young Drew.