So that’s it for 2007. Well almost, there’s this little post season trip to Trinidad for some Hislop organized games. We’ll count that as the start of 08 though, so it’s time for some post season grades. We’ll start with the coach.
| Player |
Grade |
2007 Note |
Now what? |
| Arturo Alvarez |
A- |
Fantastic break through year, started scoring goals and became dangerous, earned an A. Then he had the playoff red mist and got the -. |
Consistency is the name of the game. Don’t drift in and out of games, try to bring the same focus each match. Continue the defensive improvement. |
| Ray Burse Jr |
A+ |
From 3rd string to first string in one season. We knew he had talent, but not he’s be ready this soon. |
Win the job outright. Work on positioning, focus, and hands. |
| Sebastian Botero |
C |
Not sure what we expected but we didn’t get a lot. At this point I rate him behind Pitchkolan. |
He’s cheap and young, so he’s got time to continue to improve. Take a step forward this year or it may be a short career. |
| Kenny Cooper |
B |
You can’t blame him for the injury by any means, but when a player is a MVP for the team you can’t give him an A for effort. |
Get the body and mind right. Win Comeback Player of the Year. |
| Andrew Daniels |
B |
Solid first season for a project player making the switch from F to D. |
Continue to make strides. Time to start challenging for some PT here and there. Get 5 or more starts. |
| Michael Dello-Russo |
C |
As versatile as he is and as smart a player as he is, there’s just wasn’t enough speed or athleticism to make the lineup much. |
I’m afraid time is running out, if he makes the team in 08 it’s going to be because he won a shot at playing. Prove you have a role kid, or time’s up. |
| Densilon |
F |
Are you kidding me? |
Please. |
| Chris Gbandi |
B+ |
Solid year, but not as good as the bar he set in 06. |
If he’s back, mental consistency is the name of the game. Bring it every game. |
| Sandi Gbandi |
B |
Sandy didn’t see any time with the first team, but did make some good reserve starts. Not enough improvement over the course of the season to challenge for first team time. Needs to find his position with FCD. |
Sandy’s running out of time to make an impact due to age. He needs to show some upside this winter or he’s about out of chances. |
| Clarence Goodson |
A- |
Defensive MVP clearly, but the tendency to get hurt or sick at bad times gets him the minus. |
Out of contract, if re-signed he needs to toughen up. FCD needs a vocal leader and director of traffic, can Clarence be it? |
| Shaka Hislop |
D |
Second choice to start the year, he got hurt and retired. The legs were shot before the year started. |
Improve the golf game. |
| Abdus Ibrahim |
Inc |
Came in late, couldn’t play for the first team, never saw him in reserves. |
He’s 17, protected, and has immense upside. At this point just seeing him play will be nice. |
| Scott Jones |
B+ |
Reserve MVP, great season as far as that goes. Has a big bag of game, but sometimes makes poor decisions. No first team PT is a bad sign. |
Out of Developmental time, does he have enough to make Morrow’s roster? |
| Dax McCarty |
A- |
Dax became the player we expected in 07, but the midfield is clogged and he wasn’t able to own a spot all year. Immense talent is on display. |
Start (almost all) 30 games, anything less would be a failed season. |
| Roberto Mina |
Inc |
Injured all year. |
Will he be back? If he is, stay healthy or the career might be over. |
| Drew Moor |
B+ |
FCD’s best pure defender IMO, cost a season of development as a center back by filling in at right back, did a serviceable job. |
Move back to the middle. Dominate. |
| Dominic Oduro |
B- |
Speed? Yes. Effectiveness? No. |
Study tapes of Ngwenya, put it together, score goals. |
|
Aaron Pitchkolan
|
B |
Everything a coach could ask for. Played two positions, discovered his future is probably as a center back. Great worker, great locker room guy. |
Improve this winter, make Alex Yi surplus to requirements. |
| Bobby Rhine |
A |
The consummate team player. A dream leader in the locker room. Fights to the bitter end when on the field. Are the skills declining? Sure. But he was FCDs best player in Game 2 of the playoffs. |
Come back, be a leader, spot start, sub in. Win hearts and minds. |
| Ricardinho |
C |
It was always gonna be almost impossible to live up to the hype and he hurt his game by trying to do to much. Deficiency in the tactical area was a surprise. |
Stop coming deep into midfield. Play a simple game and show us the skills we know you have. Play smarter and more with the head up. |
| Pablo Ricchetti |
A |
What a find this was, so much of what he does goes unseen. Tremendous leadership and a great teacher. Unselfish on the field and tireless worker. Only the injury keeps this form being an +. |
Come back, stay healthy, wear captain’s arm band. |
| Carlos Ruiz |
C |
For $400,000 a forward needs to be a 15+ goal scorer in regular season. He wasn’t. Took too many games off and was never really fit. Some games he was worth every penny, too often he wasn’t. |
Get fit, sign cheaper… or enjoy LA. |
| Dario Sala |
B |
Great first half of the year. Lost his mental sharpness when he was injured, never really got it back. Still showed in the playoffs he can be a top tier keeper. |
Get healthy and get the confidence back. Show up and keep the younger Burse on the bench with your play. Otherwise it might be a change of scenery for Dario. He’s still good enough to start in the league. |
| Marcelo Saragosa |
A |
Was having a great year right up until he was injured. I have no doubt he would have played through it had he not been sacrificed for Denilson. |
He better be rewarded for taking one for the club. Come back in and continue to be a locker room favorite, continue to spot start and role play. A starting spot might even be available. |
| Adrian Serioux |
B- |
The surprise injury set the tone wrong, and then the center back play left a lot to be desired. The end of the season run in the midfield provided a glimpse of what a great player he could be for FCD. |
Keep that midfield job, make every believe trading ROB for you was a good move. Continue to be the bull dog providing much needed toughness. |
|
Abe Thompson
|
B+ |
Abe once again did everything asked of him. Spot starter, scored some big goals. If only he could lock down a starting job. Wonderful team player, everyone is better next to Abe. |
Get quicker, change nothing else. |
| Juan Carlos Toja |
A |
Masterful signing, wonderful addition, well deserved MVP award. Only the slight slump at the end of the year keeps this from being an A+. |
Enjoy the new contract. Play great. |
| David Wagenfuhr |
B |
David is as he as always been, a solid role player who can come on the field in three spots if need be. Had the same season he always has. |
Stay humble, play for the same relatively cheap number, and continue to get to play soccer for a living. I think David would make a great youth coach some day, hopefully not yet. |
| Blake Wagner |
C |
Inconsistency in his game kept him from getting much PT. Not quite mature enough or soccer smart enough… yet. |
It’s go time kid, here comes the first team job. Time to grab the bull by the proverbial horns. |
| Anthony Wallace |
B |
We got to see a little of Wallace and he showed us something. Improved in training all year. |
The midfield is crowded, time to start making someone sweat out their PT. If Wallace doesn’t make 10 starts next year the season will be a failure for him. |
| Chase Wileman |
B |
Late addition, has some game. Still a project at best. |
For all intents and purposes next season will be his rookie year. |
| Alex Yi |
B+ |
Showed he can start. Showed he can’t stay healthy. |
If somewhere else, stay healthy. If here, stay healthy. Stop getting hurt, that’s it. |
So, when is the “things to improve for next eyar” article coming out?
good stuff although I, personally, would have given AA a solid “B”. pretty spot on with everyone else.
Buzz,
After . . . what is it now? . . . about 6 months of reading your articles (after discovering this EXCELLENT website), I’ve come to respect your evaluations the most. Everything you wrote makes sense to me.
I did have a question . . . being an admitted “Toja fan,” (as well as a newbie this year)I’ve been trying to understand just how much he actually “slumped” towards the end. People, inlcuding all of the TV annoucers, it seemed, kept harping on the fact that “he hadn’t scored a goal since July 14th.” Big Soccer has a survey on “what happened to Toja?” Nevermind the time he lost because of the injury, you confirmed a question I asked previously that after Denilson arrived (and with Ricchetti out injured), Toja was playing a deeper midfield role where he wasn’t supposed to be scoring. Here, you called it a “slight slump.” I’m just curious, I guess. I do think he and the whole team need to work on coordinating their passing –I learned to hate watching “ping pong” soccer when the ball was being bounced around the field, back and forth between teams, even.
Anyway, my question, I guess, is was Toja’s “lack of peformance” exaggerated by media and discussions boards? What’s the accurate picture? Thanks!
P.S. Can’t wait for the next season? What do you all (meaning all of the fans here) do in the “soccerless months” between the seasons?
BOFA, coming soon I promise.
Hutch, thanks.
It isn’t the lack of scoring form Toja that makes me say he was in a slump. He scored when he played the higher attacking position.
Instead he was in a slump IMO because of Denilson. Toja was asked to make adjustments to his game to compensate for the Brazilian. Once Denilson went out of the lineup, Toja was slow to adapt his game back to what he was doing before.
His effectiveness post Denilson arrival dropped off because he was not only playing deeper but player differently. His possession dropped off, his connecting passes weren’t as good, he was holding too long, and he wasn’t getting into as many dangerous positions as before. He was playing more conservatively. Most alarmingly, perhaps from the ankle, he stopped those darting explosive trailing runs into the box and gaps.
as for what to do in the winter… keep reading 3rd Degree. We cover the team year round.
Thanks for the explanation. I see what you’re saying, and I noticed it, too. I wondered if it were the ankle or something else? Tactical directions from the coaches or inability to sprint as fast? Holding back so Denilson could make those runs? No one seemed very accurate with their possession and passing. However, doesn’t matter at this point, because all of the guys, I guess, can rest up, have fun at the Hislop tournament, and get ready next year (wherever that migt be for some, I guess).
I will definitely keep reading — thanks!!!
I have appreciated your analysis all year long. “Relatively speaking” I agree with all of the rankings and the analysis that you provided. I do however believe these are the midterm grades and that the the second half grades were not averaged in. In addition, since this Professor does not believe in “Bell Curve Grading”, I would have graded almost everybody exactly 1 letter grade lower than your grades. At the end of the day professional sports is about results, and this team was a let down across the board. While I agree with Toja getting an “A” for his midterm grade, he did slump the second half and failed the final exam which would have certainly pulled his grade down. The same is true for almost everyone on this team (nice first half, questionable second half and failed the exam) If there was an All Star game for the second half of the season, I am not sure anyone from FCD would have garnered a spot. I think the whole team should receive progress reports, and have them signed by their parents.
Buzz, you list Ricchetti, Saragosa and Serioux as all being keepers and players who should start next year. With all three being very defensive minded midfielders, I can’t see all three being out there together. Unless…. Ricchetti could play right back in MLS. Supposedly he did in Spain and we do have an enormous hole there. Do you think he could play there or do we need to move one of the three (Pitch and Wallace also play that position)
To Pea Sized Hail . . .
LOL! (Being a former teacher/current “mom”)Loved your comment and analysis/metaphor!
Buzz,
To add on to Pegasus’ thought… you also say that Dax should be starting nearly every game next year… at what position?
Buzz,
Great analysis. I agreed with most of the grades. I have just a couple questions. I heard Bobby will be retiring have you heard anything different? Your suggestion was to come back be a leader and sub. Also, why did we keep Hislop on the roster for so long? Are the fans the only ones that could see he wasn’t fit or good enough to be in the goal? Thanks for another great article.
Peg & Quills, the instructions for next year are on an individual basis and are not instructions for the entire team. They are what in theory a coach might tell them their goals should be for next year. A “here what you need to work on and what you should target for next season” kinda thing. Not every player will achieve the goal I set for them, some in fact will fail.
BIU, Hislop was off the roster after he retired midseason. Also he had a guaranteed contract, FCD had to negotiate a deal to get him to retire. Which is why they are playing in the Hislop retirement tournament in Trinidad.
My sources say Rhine wants to play at least one more year. It will either be with FCD or with someone else, RSL perhaps.
Let’s see 6-8 need to stay healthy, 4-6 need to earn playing time and several just need to get better. Very insightful stuff here.
Pea Sized Hail is correct. Your grades are too high for the end of season. No player played at an all star level after the break. This team was not playing well at the end of the year and were fortunate to make the playoffs.
IMO: keep Rhine if he wants to play. He and Pablo were the only ones really showing passion during the summer swoon. You can’ coach passion.
how bout taking burse to a “B-” for allowing 3 goals in about 50 minutes of play at Houston…you really can’t give the rookie speech becasue it the second year in the league and he has performed much better before (i.e. Coumbus)
i love toja, hope he stays!
Buzz, you didnt answer the question about having 3 SIs playing the d-mid position. I’m interested in that answer cuz they dont fit. we all know Denilson is gone and having another SI spot available would be gold to bring in a defender (i heard Dani Alves is unhappy, j/k)
why does it seem that FCD always has a logjam at holding mid? cant we ever get a logjam at forward or attacking mid?
TT, well for one Saragosa is about to get a green card.
But more importantly I didn’t answer it because I am going to talk about it in my “What FCD should do” off season stuff… in a week or so…
tease.
sorry.
3rd degree: great analysis. i’d like to see a list of contract dates for each player if you have the info available.
friscofan: you forgot to acknowledge about the balls-out playing, talent & dedication of dax mccarty. NEVER discount this guy. lucky #13.
what about sandy gbandi
I can’t wait for the “What FCD should do” column. The holding midfield position is my favorite and I am a big fan of the three we have on the roster, but I can’t see tying up 3 SI spots covering one position. What to do? IMO, Pablo has to be back and should be named captain.
Spot on Buzz, thou i think Morrow did find a way to beat houston with 11 men
FCD Hoops, any contract info I have can be found in the “Roster Dance” feature on the top left menu.
Hey, no insult to Sandy. Just a mistake in leaving him off. I will add him.
I think Alvarez should have gotten a C maybe a B. He was not productive throughout the season, he had flashes of good soccer. Also I think that if you are a professional soccer player you should be able to play the ball with both feet. Not being able to complete a pass right footed or being able to shoot in front of goal at least is a problem. Nunez could do both!
i think the problem was that Nunez ALWAYS shot with both feet no matter where he was on the field or point in the match.
funny how nunez won a starting spot on first place chivas and not dallas…granted they didnt make it past the first round, but perhaps you can seewhat i’m talking about here
These comments about Nunez bring up a good point. What is it that we expect from our Attacking Mids. I thought that we wanted them to be firing away. That is what Nunez, Denilson, Ricardinho and Alvarez do. The part that confuses me is that I hear people saying that they want them back on Defense and that they shouldn’t be shooting so much. Sure they need to make passes to open players and hustle back, but their primary role is to fire away. Since Nunez left, Dallas could not score and did not have as many shots. Shots not only score goals, but also create secondary opportunities and force the defense to play accordingly which tends to open up the wings and other spots on the field.
“…and don’t let the owners pick any more DPs.” I thought the selection of Morrow over Hyndman voided the notion of Hitchcock running the show?
And what was Clarke’s grade last year? An A or B+, I assume, since Morrow’s campaign was a step backward in almost every measurable category. Soehn should be thankful he doesn’t coach in Dallas. We fire coaches for his type of performance.
So where is the bar set for Morrow next season? Does he face the same ‘MLS Cup or your fired’ ultimatum as Clarke?
As always…great work on the site. Just playfully argumentative here…
Steve, the selection of Morrow means Hitch IS running the shows in terms of coach. Morrow is his guy. Picking Schellus would have meant Dan Hunt was running the show.
I didn’t have a grade on Clarke last year. IIRC Clarke was out by the time I did grades.
Doh..stupid. Must be my medication. But to my other point, please do clarifyyour take on the selection of Denlison. You infer Morrow was not behind it…although his contract structure seems to have been a wise move. And I would be interested in your eventual take on expectations for Morrow for 08.
The behind hate scene info that comes to me in trickles indicates the Denilson signing was driven by one of the Hunts… Dan I believe. Morrow did of course agree to it, but I don’t lay it at his feet.
As for Morrow, he is Hitch’s picked guy. So as long as Morrow keeps making the playoffs and Hitch keeps is still in change, I think Morrow is safe.
Now if the Gm changes, all bet’s are off.
Buzz,
Maybe I missed it or it’s coming later but what is SM’s grade for this year and what are your final thoughts on all the moves he made throughout the year? Thanks….
Aaron
Truth, SM grade was at the very top of the list.
eddie j, Nunez did not win a starting spot at Chivas. he rode the pine or was the 84th minute sub most of the time he was there. the preferred midfield was
Sacha-Marsch-Nagamura-Mendoza
with the forwards as
Galindo-Razov.
Even Anthony Hamilton and Laurent Merlin came into matches before Nunez and John Cunliffe started the last few games of the season ahead of Nunez.
hardly the focal point of that team there.
hey two tone…who started the al important home game for chivas in game two of the playoffs against KC…Nunez…..seems like they must value him highly if they are going to start him, especially for that game.
go do some more homework
either they valued him or they didnt have another warm body to kick the ball as hard as he could into the stands. any goals scored by King Ramon? Who didnt start the first game and played only 20 minutes? who was subbed with 2o minutes left in the decider as the team was behind in the series?
homework done. or at least i already knew that before i posted that your King Ramon sucks.
An A for AA is way too high. After the first few games watching him my thought was “this guy sucks” – then he proved me wrong by scoring some unbelievable goals with his only working soccer peg (the left one. I think he donated the right one to charity or keeps it in his locker for special occasions) – then in the last half of the season he started to suck again. He gives the ball away WAY too often – and the red card in Houston – that single move deserves a grade drop all by itself.
I think a solid B would be fair – he does have quite a bit of potential and a ton of talent. Just needs to play smart and not go completely invisible during long stretches of the season. He doesn’t have to score all the time, but there were games when you didn’t even know he was on the field.
No arguments with anything else here. I’ve enjoyed the articles and the (sometimes) witty banter – looking forward to the updates during the winter.
AA can run across the middle of the field and shoot with his left peg, what other talent does he have? Btw, the league figured that out and he like Toja did nothing the second half of the season.
From what I could tell from the Dynamo Video when Alvarez was down in the corner with Davis it appears that his peg is able to kick two balls at a time.
[...] how the league works. For further background that went into this piece you can read both the Final Season Grades and What We’ve Learned About Steve [...]