March 15th, 2008 . 10:43 am . By: Buzz Carrick

That was some of the best flying I’ve seen yet – right up to the part where you got killed. – Jester

Nice day for a game, although a big wind from the south.  Fun match as college teams always come to play and the young FCD players are a ton of fun to watch.  I always enjoy these scrimmages. The FCD training field is in great shape for this match.

Tulsa 2, FC Dallas 4

El Bueno (The Good)

Break Shea is becoming a real game breaker at the reserve level already. He’s got the mind and ability to influence the outcome.  He can consistently take players on the dribble and knows how the game should be played.  Great work rate, mobility, combination play and decisive results.  He did a lot of talking with various players, Toure in particular, about how the team should be playing and moving.  I’m beginning to think he will not only see PT with the senior team but might also push to be a starter at some point this year.  He had an absolute cracker of a shot in the second half that would’ve have hit net if not for an amazing pro-class save by Tyrel Lacey

It’s really exciting watching DouDou Toure play.  Big, strong, and powerful, he pushes defenders around and creates chaos in the Tulsa back line.  His goal was a ridiculous blast from deep.  The criticism at this point comes in decision making and possession.  He’s holding the ball a bit too long and not playing fast enough in combination, particularly when he checks back deep into midfield, which is something he shouldn’t been doing much anyway.  Raw is still the word and he needs to learn a lot about how to play, but gosh dang does he have some upside.

“He had a great strike on goal. That’s one of the talents that he has. He’s a young player with a lot promise. He’s got to find himself in the game a little more and work off the other players better. He’s got to hold onto the ball a little bit better for us. But he’s certainly got some qualities. The strike he took on goal was pure instinct and he didn’t even have a backswing on the shot. It was pure power and he picked a corner out as well. Those are the things we are looking to bring into the other parts of his game. He’s a project but he does exciting things on the field.” – Marco Ferruzzi

I finally saw the intensity I wanted to see from Eric Avila.  Now I know some players are just better in games than training, but he needs to bring a little of the mentality I see here every day.  Poor training was the rumored reason that saw him dropped from the U23s.  On the defensive end he’s really opportunistic, stealing the ball when a touch is a little heavy or intercepting poor passes.  He’s got the skill to move away from danger with the ball and is a good passer.  He dictates the game in the midfield most of the day.  As the game wears on and he gets more confident he starts to hold the ball longer and try more audacious things, both of which actually hurt the team but show some impressive skill.  He’ll need to be more consistent to break through to the first team, but he has a bright future as (warning, Buzz HSO) he’s the closest thing to Oscar Pareja in an American I have seen coming out of college.

Abdus Ibrahim is also looking good.  He really knows how to get forward into the box with effect.  I’d like to see him working a little more back in midfield for possession rather than being vertical all the time.  An exciting, dynamic player, but like Toure he’s likely still a ways from making the first team. He does show composure on the ball and has no trouble beating players when he wants to.

Yi is a monster today; he’s the closest to being first-team ready of this group, of course.  Alex really rises to the occasion in this one and is both physically and tactically dominant without getting a ton of help from Wallace and Daniels.  The two late goals came on counterattacks after turnovers in the midfield and I wouldn’t lay them on Yi.  The question on him as always will be mental focus for 90 minutes in the first team. Can he avoid the one or two mental letdowns that usually hurt him?

First 25 minutes of each half were outstanding for FCD.  Terrific tactical shape and discipline let FCD overmatch Tulsa quickly in each period. FCD moved the ball quickly. The front three were dynamic and mobile, the defensive set tight and compact.  Tulsa was overwhelmed as FCD manhandled them early. The last 20 minutes in each half were a different story.

I was really pleased to see these players pushing to 90 minutes.  It may be a byproduct of the players that will get 90 minutes against Hollywood FC this weekend, but I still think it’s important and was pleased to see it.  I could tell a few of them really needed to push through the entire 90, and will need to do so one or two more times.  Although, clearly, it’s less of a concern for these reserve players than the first team. 

Coming in I knew who Eric DeFreitas and Chris Clements are. They are both players I’ve been tracking for future MLS drafts.  But today I found two more Tulsa players that intrigued me. #5 Zach Nulisch, whose pops happened to be standing behind me, and #20 Jeovahnni Sandez.  I’ll tell you what I told Nulisch’s dad- he’s really quick and has an engine to run all day. He showed enough foot skill to beat people and gave both Dello-Russo and Wagner problems ’cause he played on both wings.  He needs to get his head up some and play quicker with faster decision making.  He’s only 18, according to his dad, and will be a sophomore this next season.  He was on that great Solar team with Corban Bone and Cameron Brown.  Sandez was tough as nails, really mobile, had good work rate, and won a bunch of balls.  He was covering both Wileman and Avila at various times, but also managed to get forward a few times and has some ball skill.  I took quite a liking to him.

El Camino Central (Middle of the Road)

Black Wagner had for me what I consider a hallmark game for him.  Up and down.  In the first half he was terrific.  He got forward with danger and was involved in both goals.  He defended well, played in combination going forward, and was really strong.  But in the second half he was not nearly as good.  Some of that may be from Tulsa switching the speedy Nulisch to his side, perhaps he has the flu that we hear is plaguing some of the team, it could be the 90 minutes fitness issues, or even just being up 4-0.  Bottom line is that if he wants to unseat Wagenfuhr he needs to duplicate his first half in the second.

“Today went well. We won and that is always good. We had times when we slowed down a bit and didn’t concentrate as much. But overall, I think we did well.” – Blake Wagner

Josh Lambo is going to be a monster. He’s already got such a presence in net, you can sense it from the side line.  His defenders already respect him.  Great shot stopping and good box command on crosses.  But being a young kid he made two decision errors that got him into trouble.  Both times his defense saved him so no goals came from them, but against a better team they would have. It’s not a big deal at this point in his young development as his upside is immense and these learning experiences will help him greatly.

Solid day by Chase Wileman, he’s really good at keeping the ball moving.  He receives it fast and moves it on fast.  He’s not as adept as Avila at dribbling out of trouble, but shows good positional awareness.  In order to make a career he will either need to be a defensive terrier or become a better passer.  It was a good performance for Chase given the pressure he is facing as he or Dello-Russo, along with Oduro perhaps, are the most likely candidates to make way for Toure when he signs.

Dello-Russo also had an up and down game.  He provided a bunch of leadership and played well getting forward in combination.  But you can’t teach speed and he couldn’t handle Nulisch on the run.  He also gave the ball away a few times in midfield, which you never want to see on the outside when there is no defender behind.

Anthony Wallace didn’t blow me away at left center back.  He’s got all the tools to play there and is a good defender, but you could tell he wasn’t mentally in tune with it.  He kept wanting to go wide and forward on the wing like a left back would.  He did show plenty of pace and wasn’t beaten over the top or on the dribble, but his reactions were a split second slow due to lack of experience in the position.

“Wally is highly adaptable. He’s spent most of his time in the midfield and is comfortable there. He has had very good performances there as well. That is something that we just wanted to take a look at. Wally is the kind of player who can play a number of positions. I think that’s one that he can definitely grow into.” – Marco Ferruzzi

No Tan Bueno (It’s Not Good)

As each half goes on and the FCD players decide they are the better team, things don’t go so well.  Fitness may have also factored, but to my eye it was mentality.  The shape starts to go wobbly, players begin to hold the ball too long, which harms possession, and then Tulsa begins to get chances.  Both Tulsa goals came off counter attacks that resulted from turnovers in midfield.  It’s easy to say the lack of mental consistency is a product of the youth on display for FCD, but it’s got to improve for these players to progress.

“We’re still getting our legs back from the trip. The attitude was good but I think the boys could definitely play sharper. They expect more out of themselves as well. Overall, the goals were opportunistic and the goals in the second half were good. We’re just getting back into keeping focused for 90 minutes with this group. For where we’re at at this point in the preseason, we’re looking good and our form is OK. The quality is going to improve. Right now, everybody is healthy, which is tantamount.” – Marco Ferruzzi

Bottom line is two late goals against Tulsa isn’t what I want to see.  Lacking concentration and focus to kill off a game is a symptom of a young team.  So yes, some exciting performances by some of the FCD youth, but let’s take the lesson that is here and build and move forward. So yes a win, but let’s look for more.

“I think it went all right. We got tired at the end and relaxed. That’s why they got the two goals. But overall, I think it was all good.” – DouDou Toure

Categories: 120 Fahrenheit.

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