April 3rd, 2008 . 6:30 am .
By: Buzz Carrick
Dr. Marvin, I’M SAILING! - Bob Wiley
First let us consider the context of this match. Chicas USA is the odds on pick for the West and is a better team right now than Dallas. FCD was missing four would-be starters, and Duilio Davino who is the key to the defense has not played much with the first team. Considering all that, you take the point.
Yet FCD had the game won and let it slip away. Killing off a game is just as important as being the better team to begin with.
Chivas USA 1, FC Dallas 1
(CUSA Reserves 1, FCD Reserves 1)
El Bueno (The Good)
Dario Sala was immense, that’s the kind of game saving performance top tier teams need. It’s fantastic to have the old Dario that became a fan favorite back. Sala was the clear Man of the Match and might have been MLS Player of the Week if he had kept the clean sheet.
“We cannot force Dario to be the star of the game. We have to help him a lot more.” – Duilio Davino
It’s not in the long term interest for FCD to keep Bobby Rhine in the lineup every day, but he was fairly good in the first half. He hit two great balls to get a forward in on goal in the first nine minutes, and was up to his 4th great lead pass by the 15th minute. The last of which resulted in the goals. In the second half he wasn’t as effective.
I noticed Rocha doing a lot of talking and directing trying to get everyone on the same page. Most of it was about quicker recognition and moving the ball faster, at least it looked that was what was annoying him. Nice to see Rocha taking a leadership role, as he’s a very intelligent player. But he shouldn’t have to do that much talking. His anticipating and timing on the pinch forward out of midfield is particularly excellent.
I liked FCD much better when Pablo Ricchetti came in. He just holds the ball and plays so much better in transitions. He’s not going to tear a guy in half like Saragosa will, but he’s so much better at link play and possession. Why the hell is he not starting?
After watching the reserves I am more convinced than ever that Eric Avila is a tremendous talent. He’s at a deep FCD position so there isn’t a lot of PT available, but this kid can play. The kind of deep linking player that has terrific one on one ball skill is so rare. His ability to turn and redirect the flow is priceless. I see a lot of Oscar Pareja similarity in him. He can play one of the two holder spots, the high A-mis and even wing forward in a pinch.
You can could see class of Moor and Alvarez in the reserve game. They clearly didn’t belong with the reserves and will help first team starting this week.
“That’s great,” Morrow said. “We have a few injuries right now and need everybody available. Drew (Moor) and Arturo (Alvarez) are two very important players for us. It’s going to be great to have them both available this weekend.” – Steve Morrow
El Camino Central (Middle of the Road)
Davino was solid considering the time he has missed. He reads so early that timing and practice with his fellow defenders will make him better, more than just being fit will. He controls the flow in the back and frequently took the urgency out of play. But his one mistake cost the points
“He [Davino] made one slip towards the end of the game, otherwise he had a solid performance for us. It was very unfortunate; he gave up one mistake, and it cost us at the end of the game.” – Steve Morrow
I had a real good/bad reaction watching Anthony Wallace in the reserves. He would have 10 to 15 runs that were outstanding and controlled the midfield. But then he would vanish for 10 minutes. He’s got some developing to do and it’s a deep chart in front of him..
No Tan Bueno (It’s Not Good)
Dallas wasn’t great at possession, but I’m not sure what Morrow was expecting given that lineup. There just wasn’t a lot of possession in it. Without Moor turnovers in the back went way up as Pitch isn’t a great passer. Rhine while smart, isn’t nimble on the ball, he never has been. Saragosa, while a great ball winner, just passes the ball off without much thought, and usually to slowly. Wagner can beat a guy on the dribble, but makes the decision of a 20 year old. Moor, McCarty, Ricchetti, and more experience for Wagner will all help matters.
“We talked about it as a group. The guys feel that they’re capable of possessing the ball for longer. I watched the (Chivas USA) game again and possession-wise, they were a little more efficient. We were more careless with our passing and they kept it for longer periods than us.” – Steve Morrow
In general the wide play from FCD needs to be more vertical. Both wings needs to get up and down the field more. Without that kind of play it’s too easy for the opposition to get forward as nothing makes them sit back. Both wide players specifically need to step up vertically when Toja receives the ball to provide the wide option. Otherwise it’s to simple to defend the two strikers as the only outlets. Take a look at how the wide players deploy for New England.
Wagner, who I have seen be the best player on a FCD field on a few occasions, was tentative and hesitant in this game. When Wagner is aggressive and active he gets forward into the box and to the end line which makes him very dangerous. Wagner needs a long run in the first team with Wagenfuhr out, even if it’s just so FCD can find out what they have in him. Play without fear kid, you’re much better that way. Three or more game like this one and it’s Brek Shea time.
One minor note for Rocha. Once McCarty is in the game, Dax needs to take the all corners and long range free kicks.
What the heck happened in second half? Chivas controlled the play and out shot FCD 18 to 4 in the final period. Preki says Chivas changed formations. In which case poor recognition by the FCD players to not adapt and counter the change. FCD staff should have noticed it, and maybe they did. But in the end the players on the field have to be smart enough to spot it and make the change. Good for FCD I suppose that Chivas was forced to adapt formations to play them.
“We moved the ball well and created a lot of opportunities. We switched our formation in the second half that gave us an extra body in the middle and that allowed us to move the ball better.” – Preki
The Lambo injury was horrible, let’s not dwell on it. He’s got a long career ahead.
I wondered watching this game if the FCD fitness wasn’t good enough. Granted it was hot and humid, but I just don’t see the sharpness I want to see. And I wasn’t the only one who noticed.
“Early on, our movement was just a little bit better and I think their fitness wasn’t the best. We have some guys that are pretty fit and we started moving off the ball better. I think that’s what led to our chances.” – Sacha Kljestan.
Categories: 120 Fahrenheit.
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Agree on all counts. Looked like a 5-3-2 for a lot of the game, and it’s hard to play possession when you don’t have width. Maybe some of the reason was to try and hold the lead….but I doubt it as it seemed to happen throughout the game. If Wagner/Rhine or whoever is wide aren’t blazing down the wings when we have the ball, this formation will struggle mightily (even more than it would already!) to score.
The question I have for Morrow:
Given that the plan was to attack the Chivas backline with the route 1 ball over the top early and often, why not start the player that would be able to exploit that strategy to the fullest: Dominic Oduro?
Thompson looks like he has improved his speed this offseason and managed to get behind the Chivas defense to create those scroing chances, but he still isn’t anywhere near as fast as Oduro.
I usually agree with the strategy of saving Oduro for the end of games where his limited offensive skills aren’t as much of a factor because he is facing a tired defenders. However, this time it seems like the strategy Morrow drew up for the game was tailor made for Oduro.
The other question I have for Morrow is:
Considering how little he had trained leading up to the game, why play Davino the full 90?
Finally, I disagree with Buzz on letting McCarty take “ALL” the corner kicks and long range free kicks. Rocha doesn’t need to take them all either. They need to mix it up. Keep in mind, Rocha did serve half a goal to Serioux off a corner kick.
I think we did kill the game off well to get away with a draw. They were so much better and think we all know that Chivas could have and should won the game by 2-3 goals. A poiint it great because it was undeserved.
Yes, Dax should take all the set pieces for two reasons. A)He plays a good ball B) He is tiny, so isn’t an option on set pieces, so you move him back to defense which takes away a good option. Rocha, Cooper, Thompson, Serioux all these guys are 6 ft and up. We have plenty of height, we should score on set pieces a ton.
I noticed in the No Tan Bueno that you didn’t mention the forwards. Was that not the worst tandem to start in MLS this first week?
I have not seen KCJ do much of anything since he came back from injury last season. Wouldn’t his time be better spent in reserve games gaining form and confidence. He sure doesn’t show either in real games.
Buzz – No comments on the up front play? Specifically I want your take on Cooper. For my money he belongs in the “No tan bueno” section of your report – and if he’s FCDs scoring answer performing at that level all season, we’re in trouble.
Agreed on Dax vs. Rocha for set pieces. It irritated me to no end watching our two tallest players, Rocha and Cooper, line up to fight over taking a set piece 5 yards outside the box – YOU’RE THE TALLEST PLAYERS ON THE FIELD – GET YOUR D*MN NOGGINS IN THE MIX!!
was i the only one that noticed the Freudian slip in line 1 of this story that calls the bad guys “Chicas USA”?
buzz,
any thoughts on maybe SM directing Blake Wagner to play more defensively along the wing to neutralize Kjelston? this would explain his lack of forward movement and the timidity he displayed during the game. he was just following directions in his first real game action as the started for the big team.
Yes, Dax needs to be the kick taker. He was the best kick taker on the team last season and, being a Hobbit myself, I can attest that we are worthless in the mixer.
Does anyone else have a problem with the “Just show up” aspect of how this team is coached? As is Davino just shows up and is given the armband. Rocha just shows up and is given the free kicks and corners. I have seen nothing from either of these guys to suggest they they should have these duties over Pablo and Dax.
I don’t think Davino just showed up. He was injured down in Brazil. From watching the game, he seems a legit el capitan.
Pablo didn’t even start, which blew me away, so that would have been an awkward armband award. there must be more to this contract thing. There’s no way Seregosa is the player Pablo is.
And for free kicks, Dax seems better than Rocha. But why not Davino? That guy hits a good ball. Maybe not corners, but direct kicks.
Agree about Davino and the armband. He may be a fine player, but can’t speak English, making it difficult to effectively communicate with the coach not to mention half the team. This is a move by Morrow to pump up his star player and try to make him interested in the team. It’s like last year with Ruiz, except last year Ruiz was friends with the entire team and the players could talk with him. Still, Ruiz left his leadership responsibilities to others (namely Bobby, Pablo and Dario). Morrow knows this and has no problem sucking up to his “big name” player, while others do the heavy liftng. He’s more about public perception than anything else.
“He’s more about public perception than anything else.”
I disagree. Everything I’ve read from Davino (quotes in both English and Spanish) suggests that he truly wants to be a part of this team and make a difference. HE’S not the one asking for the promo spots, I’d bet — that’s FCD and MLS trying to capitalize on his appeal to the Club América/Mexican fans. I haven’t read anything to suggest that FCD or Morrow has to work to make him “interested.”
Morrow is about public perception and everyone thinking his 400k man is the ultimate leader/player. If any other player had cost the team two points like that, Morrow would have scorched them in the press. He did the right thing here by standing up for his player. Unfortunately he would not have done that for any of the others and they know it. Remember what happened to Gbandi when he cost the team points? We didn’t see him for a month. Think that will happen to the out of shape, overpaid Davino? Me neither. Davino had a good game overall and I’m glad he’s here. But tell me one thing he has done to deserve the armband while in Hoops? Blanco is three times the player Davino is and he’s not the Fire captain. CJ Brown is. You know why? Because CJ is a veteran, someone who knows the league and has given his heart and soul to the Fire. He’s Chicago’ version of Bobby Rhine.
Frisco & FOT, I didn’t mention the forwards cause it’s kinda been the same for the last two prep games. there wasn’t really anything new to say. Cooper was out played by Thompson, but neither scored. Certainly forward is a problem right now.
TT, I don’t think so. I know they were focused on Bornstein getting forward on the right, but not as such Kljisten. Wagner still just gets nervous in big games. I hope he will play out of it. But if this continues watch for Brek Shea sooner rather than later.
As for Davino as captain. I’m not sure who else it could be. Cooper and Moor are to young. Rhine, your real captain off the field, isn’t a lock to play. Sala being a keeper I don’t like as captain. Saraogsa, also not a lock to play. Ricchetti I would have said, but not after his contract dispute. So really I don’t have a lot of complaints about it. Serioux maybe has a beef there.
As for playing him 90, he’s the cornerstone of everything they are doing with the defense. He needs to play every game as much as he can for the sake of the team building. And Morrow does blame him for costing the game.
Bobby Rhine isn’t a lock to start yet he has started every big game for this team since the 2007 playoffs. Davino meanwhile has filmed a lot of commercials and cost us two points. I also don’t think you count out Sala just because Buzz Carrick doesn’t like keepers as captains. Teams do it all the time even in MLS.
Tex, I’m not sure what to tell you if you think Rhine is a lock starter. He’s not. He has started games of late because McCarty has been with the U23 team.
and perhaps I should have said Morrow doesn’t seem to like a GK as captain.
I don’t think it’s to unreasonable for Davino to be captain. He wouldn’t have been my pick, but it could have been worse.
“Davino meanwhile has filmed a lot of commercials and cost us two points.’
I guess I’m still giving him a grace period (especially since FCD was darned lucky that Chivas didn’t score before the Big Mistake, and partly that was because of things like shots that went off the post, in addition to Sala’s Super Saves). He was injured and not training, so, yea, it doesn’t look that great maybe, that he was off making commercials.
However, my comments, actually, were not concerning Davino as captain — but just the impression I got that you think he isn’t giving his all for the team. . . that he needs to be “encouraged” to contribute. That is what I didn’t agree with.
Davino as captain? I actually think that it should be Sala (he has been AWESOME so far), but if they don’t want it to be the keeper, then I like Davino (for the reasons Buzz gives).
If he continues to have costly problems, then I’ll have issues with it.
I didn’t mean Rhine was a lock. I meant he is someone the team has turned to a lot, even if he isn’t a lock. If you’re OK with Morrow not picking a true team leader as captain, then you should be fine
with giving it to an awesome leader/ambassador like Rhine or a gk who is a leader on and off the field. If Morrow is going to be unconventional about the captain, then buck tradition by giving it to a real team leader who puts his heart and soul into the game, not to an overpriced player who hasn’t done anything yet.
Hutch, I know I wasn’t clear. I didn’t mean that Davino has not given his all. I meant he has not had the opportunity to give his all, but he was still made captain.
Okay — I do agree with that. Makes sense.
I’m thinking though . . . that if the team has bonded like they say they have (in interviews and stuff), then who as the armband is not totally important. I would imagine that the team knows who the leaders are and that the majority of the team looks up to those players. Who knows? Maybe the team “voted” and they chose Davino. Or not. I just hope that the team can kick some Houston hinnie on Sunday!
Go FCD!!!!
Man I’m tired of you guys bashing Duilio Davino. At first I thought you guys were racist but maybe your’re just anti- Mexican. I don’t understand why you’re always complaining about and bashing players. If I were a player I sure wouldn’t want to play for Dallas.
First of all Duilio didn’t go to Dallas thinking he was going to be the face of the franchise or be the captain of the team. He’s not a prima dona, media hound or media darling. He seems like a very nice and quiet person. I think they brought him to Dallas thinking he was going to bring Mexican fans to the game but what they don’t know is he was never a fan favorite or media darling in Mexico. I see more about him now than I did when he was in Mexico.
I think Morrow named Duilio captain because he has the most experience of all the players on the team. Yes Rhine has the most experience in MLS but he doesn’t have more experien in his career than Duilio. Duilio played and started for America for 10 years and has 80 caps for Mexico. Does anyone else have that? I don’t think so. If the players don’t have a problem with it I don’t know why you do.
And he did say in one of his interviews that he wouldn’t mind if Rhine was the captain.
I wish you would stop bashing Duilio. He’s only played 1 game. Many of you were bashing him way before too. If he has a bad season then you have reason to bash or hate him. Sheesh I don’t understand the attitude you guys have with your team. Your very antagonistic towards certain players. You guys are the worst fans I’ve ever seen or heard. If I were a player I sure would’t to play for you!!!
I don’t think anyone is really bashing Davino. I think we are all just discussing our team. I certainly see no anti- Latino or Mexican sentiment here. No one has received more criticism or “bashing” (if you want to call it that) then Kenny Cooper has in the last couple of weeks. Is he a Latino player? It would be kind of boring if we all just sat around talking about how great everyone was.
Lets try: I think Davino has great hair! Anyone else have a thought on that?
Reading buzz trying to explain about who could be captain shows just how young and unsettled the team is and totally lacks leadership. Not a good thing.
Tex, I’m with you. Rhine’s been one of the leaders of this team for years. He’s been the dufacto captain for the last two seasons. The only thing preventing him from being the real captain is playing time. I agree 100% that he is way undersold in terms of his leadership for this franchise.
You guys aren’t just bashing Duilio in this topic it’s in all the topics or whatever they’re called on this website. They’re also bashing him at the Dallas forum.
There’s not a day that goes by that someone doesn’t say something nasty about him. But I don’t care anymore. You guys are a bunch of losers anyway. Except for hutchtx.
Well I never did agree with Buzz on anything. I don’t know what’s so great about Rocha anyway.
He certainly didn’t inpress me much.
Duilio is the best and most experienced player on the team. As I said before he has 80 caps and played in the 1998 World Cup when he was just 22. He’s always made the Mexican NT except for the 2002 & 2006 teams.
Well I won’t bother telling you people anthing anymore anyways you won’t believe it or don’t care.
God I wish Duilio still played for America. Atleast they appreciated him there.
Jade – don’t take it so hard when a few (very vocal) posters are harsh in their criticisms. Many of them are just opinionated, some are just enjoying stirring up a reaction, and others are, well, supply your own adjective.
Consider how you offhandedly remarked that you “don’t know what’s so great about Rocha anyway. He certainly didn’t inpress (sic) me much” That’s your opinion – you have seen him play how many games? 1? 2? You do not have the perspective of having watched Rocha in multiple competitive games, practices, etc. (Buzz has)
Most of the posters here and on BS have only seen Davino play this one time – surely their negative response can be understood (as a kneejerk response that you don’t agree with, but still understood as a 1st impression) ???
PS – I can’t believe you didn’include me in your exception clause
No more pics for you LOL
BTW – Davino has been doing commercial shoots, etc BECAUSE he was injured. Does no one remember that he had a deep BONE BRUISE he suffered at the knee of some anxious Brazsilian kid during preseason down in Brasil?
Chaz
– a reasonable voice often confusing things with facts!