February 6th, 2008 . 3:37 pm . By: Buzz Carrick

I’m not into politics. I’m into survival. - Ben Richards

It’s a bit cold today, about 40, I think, when training starts.  I braved the cold, I say that like I don’t have a jacket, to hopefully get a look at the draftees playing some ball.  I was hoping for some more interesting stuff but today was all just running.  *sigh*  Still I’ve got a few notes though as there are a few small items of interest. 

No additional players have shown up to training since the sessions on Monday.  For a list of who is missing check Monday’s report.  You can also check the list of incoming trialists there to.

Numbers

First of interest for me is the numbers that were given to the new draftees. I’m a numbers guy you see.  All the current roster players are in their old numbers, for now.  Certainly some numbers may change as the roster is trimmed, but FCD doesn’t usually give real low numbers to rookies no matter how good they are.  No trialist is given a number until they sign.

Here’s the list of numbers:
#20 – Brek Shea
#24 – Eric Avila
#31 – Jamil Roberts
#32 – Ben Nason

New, Notes, & Observations

- A new trialist showed up today but wasn’t allowed to train cause he will need to pass a physical first.  Alí Manuel Manouchehri Moghadam Kashan Lobos is his name, seriously.  He’s a 21 year old Chilean / Austrian defender that goes by Ali Manouchehri more commonly.

- Morrow gave Serioux a couple days off coming out of the Canadian camp.  He’s done the same with anyone else coming out of a camp, Josh Lambo for example.  Drew Moor will get a few days off after tonight’s US/Mexico game. And McCarty, Alvarez, and Wallace will also get a few days when they finish U23 stuff.

- Morrow wanted Robert Malcolm to come in this weekend and play in the game FCD has set up, but something came up back home and he’s not going to make it. Morrow still wants to bring him in for a trial and discussion.  The discussion can be as important as the trail with a player who thinks they want to play here.  The realities of MLS in person are often enough to make them balk.  Morrow says Malcolm wants to play in the US and his agent contacted Dallas specifically with an interest in playing here.  Morrow checked up on him via his English contacts and got a good enough recommendation to bring him on a serious trial.

- Schedule notes.  The 3 pm session today is off, half the squad will come in for biodex and isokinetic tests..  These give the trainers a baseline of mobility and flexibility to gauge against if a player is injured during the year.  Tomorrow after noon is the first team session at the Michael Johnson center… or whatever it’s called.  Friday will be a morning session and then the other half of the squad will do their isokinetic testing.

Catching up with Morrow

On Serioux being healthy and in camp.

It’s good.  He did well in [Canadian] camp and he’s feeling good. I was just talking to him the other day about it and he feels like he’s finally over those [injury] problems.  The little surgery he had at the end of the season seemed to clear up the last of the little problems he was having with his knee.  So fingers crossed and I hope for his sake as well as he’s a great lad, a great player, a great character, and I hope he can have a fit and healthy preseason and we see the best of him this year.

Buzz’s Coach Speak Translator: This year you’ll see the real Serioux.

Where’s Saragosa’s green card at?

Somewhere with the US government.  [general laughter]

Like I’ve said before, despite of what people may think, the visas and green cards have nothing to do with me.  They’re not my fault, they’re not my issue.  It’s completely out of my hands, completely out of our organization’s hands as well. 

I’d love to get him for the start of the season, that would make life easier for me as well.  Hopefully we can do that and free up an international spot as well.  So we’re hopeful.

Buzz’s Coach Speak Translator: Who knows. It’s a mystery.

Did Nowak feedback change where you might play Dax?

I don’t think talking to Nowak has made much difference in my opinion.  I feel we know Dax very well as a player, we know his strengths. I think with the way we hope to play and the things we are going to work on in the preseason he can fit into a couple of spots.  I think he feels very comfortable in the middle, maybe even more of an attacking midfielder as well.  He always feels comfortable playing on the right as well.  So he’s one I will need to look at in a couple of spots through the preseason and see where he feels more comfortable.

Buzz’s Coach Speak Translator: We already knew Dax was good.

Who’s #1, Sala or Burse?

I think it’s a little bit early.  I gave both those guys my expectations going into preseason.  I see both of them fighting for the #1 spot.  It’s as simple as that.  I think it’s going to be a good fight through the preseason.  I think Ray had a very good second half of the season last year and showed his qualities.  I think he’s only going to get better and only going to improve. That’s going to come with experience as well.  Dario actually had his ups and downs with the fitness side of things as well.  I need him to show me through the preseason that he’s fighting hard and working hard to get fitter.  His fitness levels need to get better from where he left off last season.

Buzz’s Coach Speak Translator: Ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen your attention please.  In this corner, wearing red, from the city of the big shoulders, the number one contender.  In this corner, wearing white, the young upstart challenger. In a ten round exhibition for your entertainment.
So when the bell sounds prepare yourselves for the main event.  Let’s get ready to rumbbbblllllleeeeeee!

Any progress on a Striker?

There is a little progress every day with, I would say, two strong options at the moment.  I wouldn’t say we’re very close with either of them.  There is still situations we are working through with either of those options.  They may or may not happen.  They are two options I think would make the team better and if we can make those happen we will.

Buzz’s Coach Speak Translator: Yes. Two actually.

Would you sign both or just one?

Both.

Buzz’s Coach Speak Translator: Both could help our team, so as I usually say we will make a move if it helps us and we can pull it of, so in this case it would mean we will try and add both strikers.

Training

After some warm up the players did the timed interval running that is very common during the first few weeks of camp in Dallas the last 5 years or so.  The team is split up into groups of 6 or 7 and they run around a two field large set of flags spaced about 40 yards apart for anywhere from 9 to 15 minutes, depending on the day.  The trick is that Morrow blows a whistle every 19 or so seconds and the players need to be at the next flag when the whistle blows.  The numbers are a fairly scientific setup, but I don’t other to confirm them with my own watch so don’t quote me on the exact times.

It’s quite easy at the start, but very difficult at the end of the run.  Particularly at the end of week two when the interval has dropped 13 or so seconds.  That’s really moving.  At 19 seconds everyone but a keeper or two can make it, at 15 second players begin to not manage, at 13 (or whatever they finally take it to) it’s hard as hell.

After the run was stretching and cool down.

Thought of the Day

I still expect two more signings by Morrow this winter, and I don’t mean Roberto Mina. Likely one striker, although Morrow says even two is possible, and one defender.  Morrow’s going to have his hands full trying to get them into the roster, particularly if they are both foreign players.

It could mean the end of the run for some players we’ve gotten used to seeing around here.  It’ll make for an interesting spring and camp to say the least.

Categories: Practice Observations.

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