October 1st, 2007 . 3:03 pm .
By: Buzz Carrick
It’s “go” time and FCD is a mess. It’s not one thing going wrong but a whole handful. It’s to late for radical formation changes to a 4-4-2 or a 3-5-2. It’s also too late to play someone into the first team who we haven’t seen all year like Daniels or Wagner. The roster is frozen so no players can come in, what Morrow has is what he has to play with.
So how does Morrow right the ship? Here’s how.
| Top Ten: Ways to “Fix” FCD |
| 1 |
Drop Denilson |
It’s over. He’s a bust. At this point there just isn’t enough game left in him to make a difference, or time to find the hidden diamond. The pace and fitness are just not there. Is it possible FCD is just not tactically advanced enough to make him useful? I suppose it’s possible, but I don’t buy that. Nothing has shown me Danny has the ability to beat a player on the dribble anymore and the passing is not working either. FCD is having to compensate tactically for him, and that’s never a good sign. There are three regular season games and the USOC final left prior to the playoffs, there is no reason to play him in any of those games. If he behaves he can sit on the bench. |
| 2 |
Balanced up top |
Unless Cooper proves he is 100%, it’s gotta be Ruiz carrying the load. But in order to use Ruiz there has to be someone else up top with speed. One dimensional teams go nowhere once people figure them out, and FCD has been figured out. The “defend high and tight and make FCD play over the top” play book has been distributed league wide now. While Abe Thompson works hard and makes it easier for Ruiz, he doesn’t stretch the defense and create chaos. Speed does that and in this team speed means Oduro or Ricardinho. At this point I’d say Oduro has earned it. |
| 3 |
Free Toja |
Unless FCD finds a magic second scoring threat, then it’s just Ruiz and that’s not enough. Someone from midfield will have to contribute goals and that someone is Juan Toja. Toja is at his best when he has a free role in midfield. It doesn’t necessarily need to be as that high midfielder, but that’s where he is able to get in behind Ruiz and do some damage. He’s the only player capable of link play. He’s absolutely vital to FCD and needs a free hand. Making him cover a specfic part of the field is counter productive. |
| 4 |
Stick with a shape |
Stop changing formations. Morrow doesn’t care to talk technical shape and likes to talk about method, tactics, and system. That’s nice, but when you change shape all the time players don’t get a chance to be comfortable with your system. At this point of the season it’s not about some fancy piece of tactics that will win a game or two, but is instead about comfort and confidence. I don’t care which shape, pick one and play it here on out. |
| 5 |
4-2-3-1 |
Ok, so I lied. I do care which shape. Of the various 4-3-3 shapes Morrow has used this year the one I like the most was the 4-2-3-1. Two players in front of the back four for balance, a free attacking mid, two wingers who can help push the defense back and add some high width (particularly important against NE), and lots of variations in support of the lone forward. This is the shape that made Alvarez look like Leonel Mesi, it lets multiple people run off Ruiz, it requires a bit less out of the outside backs, and it closes space in midfield. |
| 6 |
Serioux for Saragosa |
FCD was 6-1-3 in league play and 7-2-5 overall when Saragosa started. Why? My theory is four fold. 1. The second defensive mid in front of the back four tightens up the center channel and makes it difficult for teams to play on the break through the middle. 2. Saragosa was better than McCarty at being in a position to let Ricchetti have a simple, nearby outlet. Thus means Ricchetti forces play less and makes fewer passes to the other team. 3. Dax gives the ball away more than Saragosa because of his desire to do more with it. Saragosa played simple (and admittedly sometimes ineffectively) 4. With a second d-mid Ricchetti gets forward a little more and links play a little better. My point? Play Serioux in that spot next to Ricchetti. He’s the closest thing to Saragosa in game and actually has more range and plays tougher. Yes I know Dax is the assist leader, but sometimes you get into games like the playoffs and experience and toughness is worth a great deal. Use Dax off the bench when down on the scoreboard to get dangerous balls on frees into the box. FCD can’t win many 4-3 games, they need to keep the score down. |
| 7 |
Play Yi |
Since I just moved Serioux up, someone has to play center back with Goodson. I’m advocating Alex Yi get the nod. In all competition Yi has a better goals against average than Goodson, Serioux, and Pitchkolan. FCD has a not to shabby 9-6-0 record when Yi starts. Alex is also taller and quicker than the others and is a more physical defender than all but Serioux thus Yi’s a better one for one replacement for Adrian. Does Yi make mental mistakes, most notably when passing? Yes, but at this point someone has to play and he’s the best option. With both Ricchetti and Serioux in front of him, that should help the passing options. |
| 8 |
Gbandi Loyal |
Yes, fans are mad at Gbandi for the red card in LA. But he took the blame with his team and with Morrow, and that should be rewarded by going back to him. In the formations that Morrow has FCD play, only one outside back has enough going forward to make the shape work and that’s Gbandi. Support on the wings, ability to play in combination, penetration to the end line, ability to cross and shoot are needed. Gbandi is the only one with that on this team from the outside back. Rhine is the closest thing to that at right back, but the defensive problems won’t make up for it. I think Wagner getting the start against Houston indicates Gbandi comes right back into the team. |
| 9 |
Cooper Healthy |
He doesn’t have to get back to starter shape, just back contributing. Even if it’s just off the bench having someone else who can score is going to make this team better. If he’s in the lineup… great, if off the bench… great. FCD needs a scoring threat in both locations and at this point I will be ecstatic to get either from Cooper. Everything about the kid says he will yet factor this year. |
| 10 |
Pick 11 |
No more rotation, it’s time to pick an eleven (starting with the USOC Final) and stick with it. No more experiments, no more trying guys out, no more “this could work” tests. It’s time to stop playing for the future and what could be, it’s time to play the cards you’re dealt and play for now. Whoever Morrow goes with this week needs to be the starting eleven for the rest of the season, period. It’s important to remember that the best team is not always the best eleven, but it’s time to let a set eleven jell together and work out the kinks. Comfort and confidence are king. Players need to know who will be where and how they will work together. |
So there it is… that will fix it. Or maybe not, but it’s at least a plan.
Which means this is my team for the stretch run. Play them and stick with them, MLS Cup or bust.
| Ruiz |
| Oduro |
Toja |
Alvarez |
| Ricchetti |
Serioux |
| Gbandi |
Goodson |
Yi |
Moor |
| Sala |
Categories: Top Ten.
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I am not if its the Morrow “throw it out and see if it sticks” lineup as much as it has been suspensions and injuries that have caused the lineup changeups.
Yi is like glass. Love the guy but c’mon stay healthy for longer than a game or two. I agree completely with your suggested lineup and most of your “fixes”.
Yi fragility it a concern. Hopefully he could hold it together.
but… but… Ruiz is out for the next two games
When Yi goes down, is it Moor at CB and Rhine at RB again? Or does Wallace figure?
Hopefully Yi would make a difference. But I am not so sure. He is not a very vocal player. There is no organizer in the back. Against the top 5 teams in the league (NE, DC, NY, Hou, CHV), Dallas have allowed 24 goals in 12 games, and 15 in the last 5 played against them.
Strangely enough, the only two shutouts against that group came when Pitch and Goodson were paired on the backline.
It would probably be Pitch.
The major problem is with the coach.
1.He has no business bringing these two
useless out of shape brazilian into the
team in the middle of the season.
2.Why Oduro and Thompson are allways
on the bench when they are suppose
to be our future strikers?
3.Did the coach realized that the substitutions that he made late in the second half was fruitless because the 8 other players were too tired to keep up?
4. Oduro is speedy,full of energyand very aggressive,why is Denilson having more playing time over him?
this time i give buzz carrick a 10
Go Yi! I believe his hamstring is going to be a chronic problem but he’s better than he was back in July. Let him play. What is the hold up anyway? Great suggestions!
morro will not do that forget it. Buz Carric you know hem very well he will not play Richetti and seriouxin on de midle he doasent know very much like you do about sistem how to make this teame better if he does why this is much more wors than collin clarck and you cant hide that iven do you dont want to tell no body this
I totally agree with the Yahoo Serioux to holding midfield plan, but why has everyone written Alvarez’s name in the lineup in pen? What has he done in the last 6 games? He had a nice little run in July and early August, but the Alvarez “book has been distributed league wide now”. The guy is back to his old form of disappearing on the pitch while carrying around his big bag full of NOTHING. The fact that he is incapable of using his right foot is disgusting. I would rather see Dax on that right side.
I can’t honestly say I disagree with any of those suggestions Buzz.
Great stuff, as always.
The only point I disagree on is Alvarez starting. I don’t know if you put Dax, Denilson or even Ricardinho into his spot but I don’t think he’s been very productive at all the last 2 months or so.
The season is starting to resemble an old Twlight Zone; “Be Careful What You Wish For”. Agree on all points, but have my doubts that Denilson will be benched. Saragosa is needed, I agree. Overall, a very well thought out piece.
[...] really could almost put Dallas and New York in the same boat as KC. Dallas fans are exploring ways to fix their club, even though I feel it is probably three games too-late for [...]
I disagree about Gbandi. Sit him down. He clearly had not heard the message. One bad decision after another this year. Not all resulting in red cards, of course. But I haven’t seen him play consistently smart all season.
“A man’s gotta get his mind right.”
I don’t care who goes back there. Wags? At least we know he won’t leave the team playing short for 65+ minutes.
Ruiz is out for at least 2 matches. Good, let’s give the armband to someone more stable. Ricchetti? Serioux? Someone who can/will keep his head. That may help to keep the rest of the team focused.
Everything else looks good. Wish there was a way to get Dax more minutes, though. He’s had an overall very good season.
How we doin’ Buzz? I have a small request. Can you or one of the many contributors to 3rd Degree post the final verdict by the MLS committee regarding the “Clark” incident, so that all of us can post our reaction(s) towards that verdict. Thnx if possible.
Buzz, all of what you have said is valid. However, I think ‘you put the wrong emPHAsis on the wrong syLLAble’ so-to-speak. My suggestions: (1) Pick starting 11- this will help to force the team to play a certain shape/formation; (2) Pull Dax out of defensive midfield and put Serioux in his place along side Ricchetti- solidifying the defense because defense is what is going to make or break FCD come playoff time; (3) Put Yi and Gbandi back into the backline- tinkering with the defense in this part of the season is retarded, and if Gbandi pulls another stunt trade is ace! Denilson is sort of a red herring at this point IMO. No more musical chairs. Live or die by the best 11 on the field. I agree with your line-up selections.
Denilson must go. Nothing personal but he has wrecked the team’s chemistry. He must leave Frisco Immediately. Marketing an out of shape player as the team’s savior has backfired. This move is almost as bad as the Hislop move. Domonic and Ghabi must play. Also, why did our captian dye his hair? To draw attention to himself? Act like a captian Carlos. Team first-Carlos 2nd.
Agree with this…especially the dump Denilson part. The team went to crap after he started. A few neat tricks does not help the team out much.
BUZZ CARRICK IS THENILSON GONNA MAKE $8OO,OOOONLY FOR 9 GAMES THIS SEASON? IF IT IS LIKE THIS MORROW DID WORS THAN COLLIN CALARCK WHIT SHACKA THE NILSON IS JUST LOKING FOR MONEY HI I NOT INTERESTED BEENG HERE NEXT SEASON HE DOASENT CARE LIKE HE SAID IS NOT THE AND OF THE WORLD HI IS ARROGANT
Denilson’s base contract is $800,000. Since he only signed for the last third of the season his contract is prorated. I don’t know the exact percentage, but it’s at least half.
It is not Denilson’s fault that the Dallas defense let the last opponents score on almost every time they get close to the goal.