Practice Observations: Goodbye
November 26th, 2007 . 3:14 pm . By: Buzz Carrick
It’s a bit cold today but clear and beautiful. It’s a wonderful day to be back training after a week or so off for the team. Today is also the day Oscar Pareja said goodbye to the players and staff. What a run it’s been. Unfortunately there are a lot of players missing… News Notes and Observations- Wallace and Ibrahim are gone with the U20s. - I finally got someone, Morrow in fact, to confirm Alvarez was at Bordeaux. But he’s back in the US now. FCD gave him permission to go on trail. - Alvarez and McCarty have left to join the U23s. - Bobby Rhine, David Wagenfuhr, Kenny Cooper, and Carlos Ruiz are all out on personal business which is an excused absence. All four are expected back tomorrow. - After the T&T trip, Cooper is going to go train overseas this winter. FCD is going to be picking up his option, so he will be back next year. - Adrian Serioux is here but he’s inside doing some rehab work with trainer Josh. Adrian does come out for Pareja’s goodbye speech - Roberto Mina trained with the team today for the first time in ages. Morrow says his knee is healed. But man is Mina overweight, he’s bigger than Nhleko used to be. The next couple months are going to be very difficult for him in recovery as he’s also going to have to drop some serious pounds. - Marcelo Saragosa is still in Brazil but he’s going to meet the team in Trinidad. - Chris Gbandi is out on personal business, but he is not going to be joining the team in Trinidad. - Morrow says two trialists are (perhaps) going to join FCD in Trinidad. No word yet on their names. - David Wagenfuhr has re-signed for 08. - Scott Jones blew out a shoe today in training. He borrowed one of Coach Ferruzzi’s so I guess they wear the same size. Funny to watch him running in mismatched shoes. - Nice day by Chase Wileman, he’s playing with more confidence. - Dello-Russo was also looking good today. He’s got a intensity in him I have not seen before. Maybe he knows he’s got to make the senior roster. - Drew Moor was notably more vocal today. One can’t help but wonder if in Goodson’s absence he has taken it upon himself to try and step up as the defensive leader. I also think FCD protecting him in the expansion draft may have boosted his own sense of value to the team. Guest PlayersThere are four guest players with the team today. Two of whom may be going to Trinidad. 1. Jamie Watson. Jamie was let go by RSL apparently and since he is from the Dallas area wants to take a shot at catching on here. He had a nice day today for a first session with the team. 2. Kenny Burch. Kenny is a player I liked in college, he’s a big strong physical center back with not horrible feet. 3. & 4. Two goalkeepers, both 91s. One of them already plays for FC Dallas Youth, the other is a contact of Nestor (FCD’s part time keeper coach) who they are trying to get into the FCD Youth teams. Catching up with MorrowI didn’t really interview Morrow today, just asked him a bunch of stuff you see above. We again talked tactics and off season plans, but like before none of it can be used in this space. I do have one more note from Morrow to add at the bottom of this page. TrainingA long jog and warm up proceeded some touch and move type drills and some possession games. After that was a 40 minute scrimmage with the player available. Yellow (playing both ways): Ricchetti & Mina Green won 3-1. Thought of the DayAgain today Morrow mentioned to me the possibility of playing three at the back in 2008. In fact Morrow is going to give it a run while in Trinidad. Morrow mentioned both a 3-5-2 and 3-4-3. Quite frankly three at the back is something I never thought Morrow would seriously consider. I advocated a 3-5-2 last year as I think it’s a better formation for the Texas heat. Five mids let’s you better hold possession in midfield and makes the opposition chase. It’s also hard for the opponent to play through the middle and forces them to run wide and long. In essence it would help tire the opposition out in the heat. Outside of your own requirements in young, fit, rangy wide wings, it’s also an easier shape for your own players. A tactical breakdown of both formations and how FCD personnel might fit into such a shape is for another day. But it makes the Trinidad trip a bit more interesting to see how FCD takes to the shape and who fits in what spots. 20 Comments Comments RSS TrackBack Identifier URI Leave a comment |
Thanks Buzz. Crying shame we’re losing Oscar, but good for him. I’d like to blame HSG for not paying him enough to stay, but this is a career step up, and he will be very valuable to the kids on our U17 National team. Which of course won’t help FC Dallas.
Sadly, not surprised by news about Mina.
Didn’t think he’d ever play here again, and still might not. Wouldn’t be the first pro athlete to eat his way out of a job.
And his extra weight certainly won’t help keep him injury-free.
Thanks for the report! I’ve only really known the club this season, but just from this short amount of time — from watching the games and watching the players interact with Coach Pareja at practices — I can tell that he will be missed. But it sounds like he is taking a great assignment.
Interesting news, otherwise. Any idea if Alvarez might receive an offer, or was the try out not a success? Glad that he and Dax are at the U23 training!
With so many players injured or at trainings (or gone), it will be very interesting to see who plays in the games in T&T. I’m hoping that the Blog provides LOTS of video.
Thanks for the update Buzz! I have always really liked Dello-Russo, glad to hear he is playing well and intense. I have to say I disagree with you about him not being a good athlete! He always seems one of the fittest to me.
As for Oscar, it truly is a sad day to see him go, but it has to be said he is off to possibly bigger and better things. FCD will recover from this huge loss!
Hey Buzz!!!! What day is it?!?!?!
Man, I am really bummed about Papi leaving while also excited at the prospect of him training the youth of America on a national basis.
Where is Super Dario?
practice sounds like a huge waste of time, but then it is the off season
Buzz,
Steve Goff is reporting FCD representatives at a scouting combine in Argentina along with agents and reps from other MLS teams (DC, RSL, KC).
Any details on this?????
Is Hitch down there?
Sounds interesting.
FC Up, Sala was at training working out with all the keepers. Burse as well.
Stan; Morrow, Pareja, and Ferruzzi are all here. So if someone is in South America scouting it’s not someone that works on their coaching staff. I doubt Hitch would do any scouting. I will ask Morrow when I get a chance. FCD does work with some people down there so it may be some representative they hired is doing some scouting.
Any news on where Ricardinho will be next year? I would love to see him back i feel that he gives us a great boost of the bench much like Oduro. I’m glad to see Drew stepping up now that Goodson is gone we will need him to especially if we will be playing 3 in the back.
Cai, Oscar leaving is not about the money. He has NEVER been about the money….
KD, you mis-read my note. Or more likely, I mis-wrote it! He’s leaving to further his career, as he should. Great for him…not so much for us. I’d love him back as head coach some day.
Steve Goff is also reporting the specific location of Cooper’s overseas training this winter: Man U…
Cai.. Ok.. As for him returning someday…You and me both..
Buzz, do you know what group they are taking down to T&T? If FCD signs Jamie Watson would they have to trade of his rights, would he still be on the dev roster? I just don’t know what to think if he can’t make the RSL roster.
David, I don’t know what group it is they sue. But it’s the same one that helped them sign several of the players they have now.
Watson I believe was released by RSL. I don’t think he would require a trade.
I like Wags as a person and all, but re-signing him is a mistake.
Buzz in regards to the GK that have been training one of them is not 91’s he’s older and has a bit more experience, he’s played in USL I believe. I know him personally that’s why I say that. But thanks for the report.
My apologies Andy, I was just repeating what Morrow told me about the keepers. Please feel free to give us the particulars on your friend, name age, experience, etc.
Just wondering if you made it to the practice today? The Blog lists the two lineups for the scrimmage they had today. . . both used 3 defenders. I like the lineups and formations (from what little I still know about these things).
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