Practice Observations: Gotta Fly
February 19th, 2008 . 5:33 pm . By: Buzz Carrick
As usual it’s a wonderful day with the temps in the mid sixties. I was beginning to think lately that it’s amazing how frequently it’s wonderful weather when I’m at FCD training, but then I remembered that I choose to go when it’s nice and don’t when it’s not. Still fun to pretend the soccer gods are looking out for me. New, Notes, & Observations- Ben Nason and Jamil Roberts have both decided to leave FCD and pursue other things in life. I don’t know if they are looking at other soccer options, but both probably saw the writing on the wall with the number of players in FCD camp. It’s doubtful either would have made the team anyway. - The last two FCD picks, Yannick Reyering and Ben Shuleva, are both coming off ACL injuries. Shuleva did his at the MLS combine and just had surgery. Reyering’s occurred late in the college season so he’s a couple months ahead in rehab progress. Both will get a chance later in the year. - Of all the trialists that were here two weeks ago, only DouDou Torre is still around. He’s wearing a squad number, #32, but Morrow says the team hasn’t made him an offer yet. - Roberto Mina does indeed look fitter than I have seen in some time. I still want to see him drop another 10 to 15 pounds, but he looks real sharp today. - Ricardinho had a tough game session. He blew his first and didn’t recover his mentality quickly enough and was bothered the rest of that session. But in the 7v7 he was on great form and scored twice. - Duilio Davino isn’t fast, but it looks like he reads the game very well. He seems to always be right next to the forward. I never spotted him not marketing tightly when the ball came in. - André Rocha plays just like I remember from T&T. Very positionally aware, wins ball, and has terrific moves for a guy 6′1″. I’m still convinced he’s going to be a big-time player here. - Drew Moor is doing a lot of talking and has clearly taken a step forward as a team leader. - Marcelo Saragosa broke his hand (or thumb?); he’s got it in a cast. Morrow says it happened when he fell awkwardly on it in training. - Arturo Alvarez was very sharp today and looks game fit. Although having come out of U23 camp that’s not a shock. - Again I think Avila has some real tools, but I want to see more intensity from him. Take on the game, don’t just play in it. - My first impression of Dax McCarty out wide isn’t stunning; he’s much more comfortable, and better, centrally. I’m sure he can make the conversion and I can already see him adjusting. - David Wagenfuhr and Pablo Ricchetti are both missing from the travel squad for “personal issues.” - The Jr Alvial is still training with the team. - Team bus is leaving around noon for the airport to fly down to Monterrey for tomorrow’s game. - Dominic Oduro was missing from training, but I forgot to ask why. He’s supposed to go to Mexico. Mina is not going cause he’s just here on a tourist visa. Catching up with MorrowAs usual the translations are a bit; don’t get excited. How goes the striker search?
Buzz’s Coach Speak Translator: We need a striker? Why is Serioux playing defense and not midfield?
Buzz’s Coach Speak Translator: I got too many midfielders. Fair to say you have too many holding midfielders right now?
Buzz’s Coach Speak Translator: Yes. Are you going to make a move there?
Buzz’s Coach Speak Translator: Yes. We all know Cooper wasn’t 100% end of last year, how does Cooper look?
Buzz’s Coach Speak Translator: Cooper’s hot. I’ve totally got a man crush on him. First impression on Mina?
Buzz’s Coach Speak Translator: He’s close, real close. This could be interesting. Blue team First XI?
Buzz’s Coach Speak Translator: Yes it is. TrainingThe session started with some running. About 10 minutes of intervals sprints. Four flags make two 60 yard runs and two 20 yard runs. The interval is 15 seconds today. Here’s the four running groups the players divided themselves into… Shea, Ibrahim, Thompson, Yi, Ricardinho, Toure, Rocha Next up is a 11v11 short game, about 30 minutes worth. Morrow says this is the travel squad. Both sides play a 3-4-3. Here are the two teams. Blue
Green
Working on the next field during the game is the non-traveling set of players: Dello-Russo, Alvial, Jones, Avila, Ricchetti, Toure, Wileman, Lambo, and Wagenfuhr. Final drill was a 7v7 shooting gallery. 7 players play each way, 7 teammates stand on ring on offense end and can play back in one touch. Morrow divides it into Old and Young teams. Keepers rotate teams. Old – Blue Young – Green Bobby Rhine wins it for the old guys with a well taken goal at the top rear post corner. Thought of the DayIt sure looks to me like the Blue team is the current First XI as of today. Morrow denied it, but looking at the combinations sure points a finger to that being the most likely set up right this minute. Obviously Ricchetti being out and Serioux playing in the back makes me hesitate a bit, but all the rest makes sense based on what I know of Morrow. Of course it’s still a long way til the season opens. 24 Comments Comments RSS TrackBack Identifier URI Leave a comment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
i like the supposed starting group. we seem to be solid up the middle, but the right flank defensively makes me nervous.
seems as if pablo and adrian need to wake up some. marcelo, from what has been reported, isn’t just gonna lay down that easily. you’ve gotta love what competition brings out in people.
Looks to me like Morrow doesn’t want to win this game at all, even if it is against one of the worst teams in Mexico at the moment. I’m already over Morrow. Next coach please…here’s hoping they bring in Pareja for 2009.
Strange lineups.
So what do you think about Doudou’s chances?
Buzz, what do you think is going on with Ricchetti? He wants more $$$, but is his attitude keeping Morrow from playing him or is he being shopped around?
Scott Jones isn’t listed on the FCD roster on fcdallas.com. Wasn’t he there before?
From everything we hear it seems like this lockerroom is already anti-Morrow. I wouldn’t be benching Pablo, an obvious choice for Captain, so early on in the year just because he wants more pesos. Take some of that extra money we have from the Ruiz trade and make the man feliz.
Yep, I think Dax will move to the center eventually, especially if Rocha is capable of handling the wings. Moving Dax central, Rocha up and AA to the wide mid may be interesting. That left wide mid/defender combo of Wagner/Yi will be something to keep an eye on.
USI, Toure is interesting. I want to see him in more game before I decide if I want him signed. He’s a long shot at this point. We don’t even know if Dallas can sign him.
Mike, not sure. I’m trying to find out.
Nathan, Jones isn’t listed on FCD’s official roster cause they let him out of his contract. Technically he’s not on the team. They still own his MLS rights and invited him back to try out for a spot.
Thanks for these write ups! I love them. Between you and FCD Update we have the best fan situation in the league.
Hmmm… I actually think the line-up looks good, at least on paper. It will be interesting to see how it plays in Mexico.
I wonder if this is what we will play like in the league – 3-5-2 at home, 3-4-3 on the road… shhhhh, don’t call it a 3-6-1.
The one guy on the roster who is a forward who doesn’t fit into the 3-4-3 is Oduro. Although he does fit the 3-4-3/3-6-1 we are losing so put the late game sub in and turn it into a 3-5-2 situation.
Buzz, do you have that green lineup correct? I would think Rhine would play d-mid centrally and Ibby out wide right….
wow…are you serious about morrow losing a grip of the team? do you have a viable informant or is that just speculation?
How has anyone but Buzz “heard” anything? Wagenfuhr and Ricchetti are missing for “personal reasons.” It could be as simple as family reasons. One’s wife is expecting and the other has small children.
Or it could be something else, but it doesn’t seem enough info to suddenly jump to the conclusion that “this lockerroom is anti-Morrow” for “benching Pablo.”
Anyway — thanks for the report, Buzz!!! We missed you last week (you have spoiled us with your excellent reports)!
Too soon to jump to conclusions, I agree. But Pablo isn’t the only one with small children on the team.
Yeah, I know . . . seems strange, but my point was that it could equally be legitimate (sick kid or even spouse) vs. a “problem.” Not enough info for the fans to jump to the above conclusions, because we just don’t know what’s really going on.
Honestly, I’m concerned, but I am trying to withhold opinions until I actually have “facts.”
Guess we’ll eventually know.
Dang, this waiting for the season to start is torture!
Man, there you all go with the negative vibes again. And we haven’t even played a real fake game yet.
Let the preseason play out and judge the regular season. What seems to be obvious is that someone from the midfield has to go. Numbers dictate that. It could be Pablo. And don’t rule out the addition of a striker.
Relax and enjoy the journey.
Buzz, what value could we expect from a trade at this point in the season?
Judging from what we’ve seen with this week’s Vanney trade, I’m not sure we could add appreciable value by moving one of our holding mids (Pablo, Adrian, Marcelo, etc.). It seems like we could get allocation money or prospects.
Not sure that this team’s looking for either of those right now.
JasonB, I’m very sure the lineup is correct. Rhine was the wingback and Ibbe the D-mid. I too found it odd.
Steve, there’s enough good value left. Although it’s doubtful you would get starter in return. Allocation money is always very valuable and that may be all they really want anyway with the already crowded roster.
“Looks to me like Morrow doesn’t want to win this game at all, even if it is against one of the worst teams in Mexico at the moment. I’m already over Morrow. Next coach please…here’s hoping they bring in Pareja for 2009.”
It’s a glorified scrimmage and the staff needs to see personnel groupings and what the best fit is. W/L/D matters not in this game at all.
Will be interesting to see what the issue/story is with Richetti, he was a solid contributor last season and was given the captain’s armband when Ruiz didn’t play (correct). I thought/think for sure he would/will be part of the starting XI on March 30th.
Thanks for verifying our new CB is SLOOOOOOOW, that should help.
Wags’ wife is expecting…due any day…
Dello-Russo also not traveling…what’s his status?
this is perseason people. Does it really matter if we win or lose? NOPE!
It is all about getting the team in shape and gelling. I am a little worried about Pablo but these things always work themselves out.
i think we’re just reading too much into this pablo thing. he’s a professional, and i’m certain he’ll play out his contract even if he doesn’t like the value.
we still have a little more than a month of preseason left. i’m sure everything will work out w/n the next 2 1/2 weeks or so. it’s finally good to get our main guys playing together.