3rd Degree

February 10th, 2008 . By: Buzz Carrick

While it’s still two months till the MLS season opens and roster cut down day is March 1st; it’s also not that long till fans would want to see all the pieces in place for Morrow’s team building.  But just what exactly is Morrow building?  Based on signings and moves that have happened already, some things Morrow has said publicly, and some analysis of what we know about players, it’s fairly clear Morrow’s moving toward three at the back in either a 3-5-2 or 3-4-3.

I’ll be honest, based on our talks over the last few years I never thought Morrow would go three at the back.  But some developments made three a reasonable path and the options that came up made it easier for Morrow to go that way.  

First Serioux wasn’t the top notch center back Morrow hoped, instead he looked very strong at holding midfield giving Morrow two fantastic defensive mids.  Second, both Goodson and Gbandi wanted to go to Europe.  Given the only moderate success of the defense last year, neither player was blocked from perusing other options, Goodson in fact being exposed in the expansion draft.  Thirdly Duilio Davino came onto the radar and he’s an ideal middle of a back three leader.  While Davino wasn’t signed immediately after the 07 season ended, discussion has been going on long enough for Morrow to start tweaking the team toward a back three.

Squad Building

An important aspect of how Morrow works, one contrary to my own thoughts about how to effectively work in MLS by the way, is to build a large squad.  One of his goals this winter were to increase the number of usable players on the developmental roster and by result extend his pool of players to pick from.  Not only were young talented Generation adidas player targeted in the draft, but some young trialists are coming in that could challenge for the mid tier senior roster spots.  In addition Morrow looks for positionally flexible players that can take multiple positions in multiple formations.  He wants to be able to interchange parts based on tactical scenarios.

This squad building is particularly important for Morrow as his team will be drained heavily by the US National teams this year.  Drew Moor is in the mix with the US as is Adrian Serioux with Canada, not to mention qualifiers can also sometimes see unexpected players called up.  Cooper, if he gets back in scoring form, perhaps could factor.

Add to that the Olympic team currently in qualifying that will move into the summer Olympics.  That could potentially drain five players form his squad for a long stretch: McCarty, Alvarez, Wallace, Wagner, and Avila.  Plus three players in the U20 mix, Shea, Lambo, and Ibrahim.  Add in injuries, US Open Cup games, and the various others things that can drain a squad, and it makes sense that Morrow wants lots of player that can take the field.

3-5-2 or 3-4-3

So which is it, a 3-5-2 or a 3-4-3?  The answer is both.  That’s another thing we’ve learned about Morrow, he’s willing to swap multiple formations for tactical situations and players available.  Morrow’s got several players that fit better into one shape or the other, and I can all but guarantee you he will use both sets.  So what’s the difference? 

To explain the difference we need to first talk about what is the same, the back seven.  The back three and the four in front of them don’t really change between the two shapes. Those roles are clearly defined in both formations and are virtually identical.  Under Morrow you looking at a flat back three of center backs, with the central player being a organizer and leader.  There isn’t going to be a sweeper in this team, which will differentiate it form Dave Dir’s early Burn days 3-5-2. 

In front of the back three are the two holding midfielders that provide defensive cover and block traffic through the middle of the park.  One of them will be a slightly deeper, more stay at home player and one will be a more linking type deep midfielder.  On the outside are the two wingbacks, or wide midfielders if you prefer that name.  What you call them doesn’t matter.  I like to use the term wingback as it differentiates the spot from a normal wide midfielder, outside back, or high wing.  These wing backs have the freedom to run the line and get forward into the box and create danger, but won’t be required to come all the way back every time and play 5 across.

It looks kinda like this.

Up front is where the fun begins.  The formation we Americans are most familiar with is the 3-5-2 with an attacking midfielder #10 and two strikers.  These are very conventional roles we all know quite well. 

The 3-4-3 is a little less well understood by the average US fan.  Like formations Morrow fielder last year, the 3-4-3 uses a central target striker with two deeper lying flanking wings or “slashers.”  Morrow’s got a bunch of players that can play these wings spots so you’ll see this shape a lot. 

Perhaps falling in between would be a kind of hybrid front 3 with a high target forward, a withdrawn forward circling the target strikers and a deeper #10 type play maker.  While it’s hard to say if this shape would be a 3-5-2 or 3-4-3 it wouldn’t really mater.  Fluid shapes and dynamics are a key part of what Morrow seems to be trying to instill in his players.

So…

Or…

Or…

Morrow has clearly targeted players that can do multiple things. You will, I think, see all three variations this year.

Squad Breakdown

So let’s take a look at the squad and see how it breaks down.  Keep in mind that there are to many players already and it could get worse.  The list of trialists is long and it will get longer. 

Goalkeeper: Sala or Burse (Lambo)

At this point it’s looking fairly cut and dried at the top.  Sala when on form and healthy is a quality keeper, Burse is a young upcoming player with terrific upside.  It could be a heck of a battle to watch this spring and I have absolutely no idea which one will get the nod.  We also know Josh Lambo will be the third keeper out of the gate, he’s going to need some time but the upside is immense.

The question that remains is what Marvin Phillips is doing coming in on trial.  Is he a keep T&T League partner happy trialist? Is he a legit, can you beat out one of my guys trialist? or is he a good enough and I can trade one of my keepers trialist?  Unfortunately, I suppose, the answer is I don’t know.  Stay tuned.

Back Three: Duilio, Moor, and something (Yi, Pitch, Daniels, Dello-Russo)

We know two of the primary three answers here.  Duilio Davino will be the first name at the central midfield leader spot, Drew Moor will be on the right center back side of the back three the majority of the time.  On the roster are multiple young players that will get chances to play in quite a few games and if no new signings come in one of them will be starting at left center back: Alex Yi, Aaron Pitchkolan, or Andrew Daniels.  Draftee Jamil Roberts role player Michael Dello-Russo will contribute in spots and for the reserves if they make the roster.

But here we need to watch the trialists and reports of possible names.  Clearly Morrow is still considering options at the left center back spot, the amount of names and trialists alone tells us that.  Scottish international Bob Malcom is the biggest name linked so far.  Trinidadian Sheldon Emmanuel, Guatamalan Gustavo Cabrera, Brit Sam Stockley, Mexican American Jesus Ledesma, and West Texas A&M senior Kenneth Cristensen have all been mentioned by FCD or reported from news sources.  That’s a lot of options of various levels of talent. 

Wing Back: Wagner and McCarty (Wagenfuhr, Rhine)

On the left first up will be Blake Wagner, it’s his time to step up.  His name isn’t written in pen on the page, but it’s basically his job to lose.  David Wagenfuhr is the other option out here, he’s a good squad player and veteran leader in the locker room.  One recent surprise was seeing Abdus Ibrahim doing some training work that leads me to believe he might be in the mix out on the left as well.  Of the trialists, Trinidadian Sheldon Emmanuel is one that could play in this spot.

The right side is a little less cut and dried.  Dax McCarty is likely the early nod here, He has terrific skills and has the motor to run all day.  Soon-to-be-signed André Rocha is very capable of playing out wide, but I believe him to be a more central player in Morrow’s thinking.  Bobby Rhine would also see some time in this spot.  Jamie Watson of the trialists is in contention here if he makes the squad.

Defensive Mid: Ricchetti and Serioux (Saragosa, Wallace, Wileman)

And this is where it starts to gets crowded with 5 potential starters in the mix and one prospect with upside. Serioux, Ricchetti, Rocha (if signed), Saragosa and McCarty are all best suited in the middle; and Anthony Wallace has got to get on the field soon. 

Chase Wileman, Aaron Pitchkolan, Michael Dello-Russo, Ben Nason, and Ben Schulva, are all back ups and role players that can take the field in the defensive midfield.  FCD MVP Juan Toja can also play here in a more linking role, and don’t be shocked to see #2 overall pick Brek Shea play this spot as well.

I would not be surprised to see a trade here, FCD has to many internationals and to many holding midfielders so it makes sense to move some value from this spot.

Attacking Mid or Wing Forward: Toja and Alvarez (Mina, Ricardinho, Oduro, Avila, Shea, Ibrahim)

Up front Morrow will change between an attacking mid with two strikers and a lone striker with two wingers.  In a 3-5-2 it appears Juan Toja will be the first choice attacking mid. Morrow’s made several comments about getting him closer to the forwards as his best work came in a more advanced role prior to Denilson’s arrival last year.  Again Dax McCarty could factor here, but so to could a hypothetically rejuvenated Roberto Mina and the re-signed Arturo Alvarez.

But it’s on the wings where Alvarez and Mina might have the biggest impact.  Ricardinho, Dominic Oduro, Eric Avila, Brek Shea, Abdus Ibrahim, and Scott Jones all fit in here as their natural position, but probably not all on the roster.  Heck even Kenny Cooper can play this spot.

Striker: Cooper (Thompson)

At this point there is really only one top tier striker in Dallas and that’s Kenny Cooper.  Morrow has already said he’s targeting two strikers and trying to bring both in.  If Mina is healthy he could be a terrific addition here if he can get back to top form.  There are quite a few nice role players and backups in the form of Abe Thompson, Dominic Oduro, and Ricardinho.  Whatever trialists do come in will need to be quite good to knock one of those guys out of place. 

Trinidadian trialist Conrad Smith is somewhat interesting as he’s got terrific pace. And whatever it is Morrow brings in will also certainly impact this set of players.

First XI

So where does that leave us? With a crowded picture, that’s where.  Also with a lot of squad rotation I would imagine.  I doubt anyone will play all 30 MLS regular season games.  You could pick this team 200 different ways.  And that’s the point of what Morrow looks to be doing.

Here’s one way (with players on the team now), a 3-4-3 that features Alvarez and Toja in dangerous positions.

Who’s your XI?

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