Who is FC Dallas?
February 5th, 2008 . 9:27 am . By: GuestThe following was submitted by Skeeter Huffhines.
While digesting the results of the MLS Superdraft and trying to determine what Brek Shea and Eric Avila were and where they fit in to the big picture, I found myself contemplating another question… What is the big picture? This team does not yet have an identity under Steve Morrow. Despite having a former defender as head coach, the team is far from being a defensive power house. Their 37 goals last year were good for ninth best in the league last season, so the team is obviously not an offensive juggernaut. The fact that this team changed formations more then Blue Angles last year makes it impossible to even try to define what they are by formation or tactics. So perhaps the answer to what this team is can be found by investigating the individual parts of the side. Who Is ___ ?Kenny Cooper – His size suggests he is a target forward, but his style of play over the past 2 seasons suggests otherwise. Now that Ruiz has been traded, does this team have a target forward? Ricardinho – Is he a Striker? Is he a Winger? Maybe an Attacking Mid? Arturo Alvarez - He is left mid who struggles to cross… Or is he a left footed right mid??? Maybe he is a one legged striker? Dax McCarty - He is definitely a right outside mid… Except for when the left footed right mid is in the game, then I guess he is a central midfielder? Maybe a another holding mid? Anthony Wallace - Now there is the left midfielder of the future…or is he the left back of the future? Perhaps yet another holding mid? Adrian Serioux - That’s easy, he was brought in to be a central defender. But that didn’t work so well did it? That’s ok he looked very good at holding mid. Now if we can just decide where he ranks among the 8 holding midfielders on the roster. Drew Moor – He has always been considered a central defender. Except for last year when he became a right back. I guess we will figure out what he is when we figure out what formation the team will be playing? Maybe we will know something next season on this one. What conclusion have I come to? This is a Side without an identity because if is a roster of players who don’t have an identity. Morrow has only had one season to try to figure out what this mess is, he needs more time. I think it is folly to look to 2008 as a season for the Hoops to bring home some hardware. I if we can come out of 2008 and say this team is _________, then it was a successful season in my mind. And as for Shea and Avila. Well, Avila is an attacking mid, or a wing mid. And Shea is a left mid… except that he can definitely play central mid… or a left back… then again he does have the body of a central defender. Lets just add him to the pile of holding mids and call it good. Shea and Avila fit in perfectly. 6 Comments Comments RSS TrackBack Identifier URI Leave a comment |
excellent observation. Flexability is good but not at the cost of identity.
“Changed formations more than the Blue Angels”. That’s some good imagery right there. Keep it coming.
I’d fill in the blank with an expletive, such as the ones used in the beginning scenes of the movie “Major League.” On second thought, maybe I should refrain for predicting the future.
You’re definitely right about the “big picture” or lack thereof. My only quibble is that I think Dax is a true center mid. And, unfortunately he might be the only player that has great vision and the ability to exploit that vision with creative passing. He’s a guy I want on the ball as much as possible.
i actually like the idea of ricardinho at attacking-mid. he’s got speed, quickness and could be a goal scoring threat. also, from all the roster previews from bloggers, i don’t see dax starting anywhere. w/ 1 yr under his belt, he should improve even more so this season. w/ rocha, it makes it even more complicated. but, that would definitely bring out competition during training.
so far, it seems good…but not great.
I have a Blue Angel wrist watch thats broken but the hands or in the ritght posistion at lesast twice a day!
Teddy is right. Dax is our best option at attacking mid RIGHT NOW. He will be the Paul Scholes of FCD if only given the chance. Put him in the middle with Toja and Serioux or Richetti…and we become a creative offensive team immediately.