A few observations of my own. Davino probably does have a decent soccer brain as he somehow manages to get through 90 minutes playing as a sweeper in a three man back line. Saturday Drew Moor marked Altidore thus forcing Dax to play as a right back for the entire game as Davino played in the free hole slightlty behind Moor and Serioux. The guy will be able to play till he’s 60.

FCD asked a lot of Dax in this game and he delivered. Giving him a 5 is a joke. The criticism of Cooper is totally out of order as he is playing in a very fluid 3 man front line and, like AA and Toya is sometimes in the middle, sometimes left or right which is really what the coaches want him to do. The fact that he is joint leader in MLS in goals playing this way should show that up to now its working.

I would point his goals have come when he has been central though. He is utterly useless on the wing, I have yet to see him beat a defender on the dribble when he gets out there. And I think Dax gave the ball away a ton, and got smoked by Bormon or whatever his name was, several times close to the endline.

I think Rocha looks uncomfortable in the middle, he doesn’t seem to know when to push forward or pull back. He is good with the ball at his feet, but its the rest of the time he looks lost. I still think he should be right mid and Dax in the middle, its where both would appear to be more comfortable based on past playing experience.

I agree with Peter on everything except the Dax score. Dax was forced to defend and he did a decent job.

I also would like to see Dax and Rocha switch. You get the feeling both are out of position.

As for KCJ, this guy is a waste of space in any location other than central. His team mates know this as well as they rarely send the ball his way when he’s out wide. Yet, he insists on standing out there admiring the work of the D for great stretches at a time.

I mostly agree except…
I have trouble giving Dario an 8. He was forced to make only 2 saves. I also recall him twice coming out for crosses but seeing the ball carry over his head. I’m not sure I’d call that amazing form.
I think AA was the most dangerous player on the pitch. I recall other plays he made after the 1v1, including a great 60 yard run in the 2nd half that would have resulted in a KCJ goal had KCJ not curiously stopped his run. I also liked seeing AA track back to contest balls in the midfield, something he’s been knocked for not doing in the past.
Overall, nice win. Looks like we get the fortune of playing a weakened team again this week. Gotta grab the points!

Has anyone seen the movie about a Zebra who thinks he’s a race horse? Well that pretty much somes up KCJ. He is a target forward who just cannot or will not be who he is. For most of the game AA was in the target spot and KCJ was out on the wing. I think everyone in the organization has pretty much resigned them selfs to the fact that Kenny wants the ball at his feet and that he is going to go out on the wing to get it. I think that the most we can hope for at this point is for him to be up top for free kicks and corners.

KK…don’t be such a hater. Give a little credit where credit is due. What Peter is saying is that Sala was forced to only make 2 saves because he’s so talented at reading the game and stopping situations that could potentially become dangerous. He cuts off angles and comes off his line better than any other goalkeeper in this league. His sidekick is a thing of beauty and anyone who knows a thing about playing in the net knows that Sala is as good as any keeper in this league.

Thanks for the write up! I’ve actually come to depend on your reports, because I don’t trust myself when evaluating a game — especially when I was there “living the experience.” Afterwards, I do want to know how everyone played, but unless it something obvious (like scoring 2 goals or making an obvious screw-up), I couldn’t tell you objectively. So I use your reports to back up/define my “gut feelings” about how the game went. So thanks again!

First, I’ll just echo the comments about Cooper needing to stay central.
Also, i agree that Art drifts in a out of the game, but I think the way that the formation is set up, Art is able to do that effectively. He seems to be pairing well with Toja and Cooper, and he can disappear for parts of the game as long as he continues to produce. With the high number of mids FCD uses the team is not hurt by having a guy who shows flashes, esp with the high work rate of the players around him. A whole team like that would be a disaster, but one player who stays quiet and picks their spots can be very effective.

As for Sala, can’t ask him to do more than a shutout, so he shoudl get an 8 just for that. Good shot stopper, his judgement on crosses is still scary at times, and he seems to enjoy making every save. . . dramatic.

That win makes me feel much more optomistic about the 2 ties.

Well, at least our luck streak continues as whiny bastard Sacha Kljestan got himself booted from our match. Chivas USA has a horrible record when he doesn’t play. Should be at least 1 point for FCD.

Has anyone looked at the ESPN MLS power rankings? The revs moved from 6 to 2 with a loss. I don’t care how many more shots you took – where is the logic in that?

I think I’ve figured it out. Cooper needs to develope a penchant for late nights at Hooters,show up fat and out of shape for pre season, park himself up top with his back to the goal and get the shit kicked out of him. The fact that he has three goals (all from the run of play Skeeter) in three games (already almost half what Ruiz had all last season) seems to have got lost somewhere.

Dax rating = wrong. He was a workhorse as always, and made some nice cuts inside. Like everyone is saying…we are limiting his effectiveness by playing him wide.

Ratings aside, the backline as a unit is looking really solid. Davino is coordinating so that he can get the second ball against 2-forward sets (which most of MLS plays).

Alex, (I guess your the only Alex now?)
The point that I was trying to make was that if any coach looked at the skill sets and physical attributes of our 2 forwards they would see Kenny as the target forward and expect AA to drift out onto the wings and link with the midfield. I am thrilled with the start that KCJ has had and I fully expect that he will be an MLS all-star this season. I just think if he could learn how to be a target forward, (in the Brian McBride mold) that he could become a US Nat. regular and possibly the best forward that this country has ever produced.

Huh?

Once again you prove you don’t know jack about this game.

Sala wasn’t close to an 8. Evidenced by his amatuerish misjudgement of that first half corner kick- remember that?

Giving McCarty anything less than an 8 shows your complete and utter ignorance of this game.

Sully, I’m certainly not hating. Super Dario is probably one of my fave top 3 players on the squad. I still have concerns about the times he ventured out for a cross and came up empty (as Conor B said too). His distribution at times also left something to be desired (remember the throw to Wagner that went out of bounds?). I just didn’t agree that this particular performance earned him an 8. He wasn’t my MotM, therefore would not get my highest grade. I do firmly believe, however, that a successful season relies heavily on his ability to rescue games for this team, and I have faith in that ability.

My thoughts:
All good posts here.

Don’t forget that as a keeper, Salas’ jobs is to make the workmanlike saves…all that was required of him in this game. Rocha gave the service for the first goal….and the other forwards need to learn from Kenny how to finish a breakaway. If you were looking, Wagner has developed at warp speed since his first start. Moor was only adequate against Altidore because of the support that Dax gave him…without Dax it would have been a horrible day.

But most of all, it was a great win and this team and system is rapidly coming together. Read the previous posts…this has always been MY prediction.

How does a guy as Big as KCjr not win more headballs. He does not even attempt to win them on goal kicks. He turtles every attempt or just miss times them and is not even close. He should be dominating people and flicking balls on and it just is not happening. Amazing………….

“Toja and Company took it to New York early and held on for the win. Anyone see this nice start coming? If you say yes you’re lying.”

I DID AND I AM NOT LYING. In fact I thought we’d be 2-1 right now and we are unlucky to not be 3-0. This team got stronger in the MF and the back-line, and to be honest did not lose much up top in Ruiz. Sure there was, and still are, questions about where the goals will come from, but football is won and lost in the MF and FCD has a very strong MF – this helps both in scoring more goals and strengthening defense – two FCD priorities in the off-season. If everyone stays healthy (knock on wood) FCD midfield will be a beast by mid May. Rocha is just now really starting to “get it” with regards to MLS and also how to play with his teammates, his quality is evident. Coop is the perfect complement to Alvarez.

For all the Morrow haters, I just don’t get it, was not his fault we flopped vs. Houston in the playoffs, pretty hard not to give up your aggregate lead when you go down a man (an important man) in the away leg.

Like any team there are question marks at every level of the team (well, maybe not at MF) but I firmly beleive FCD is a playoff team, the only question being can we finish in the so-called “top 4″ to get into the next Superliga and CONCACAF Champions League – I really hope so!!!

It is highly likely last year’s squad would be 1-1-1 or all draws or 2 losses right now. We are improved from last years squad, without a doubt.

Steve Morrow, opps I mean JPB, that’s a very interesting take on the state of the team. We’ll stay tuned and see how the team does but I hope Steve does buy anything on time payments here in Dallas.

Tater, should we forget Dax’s amateurish giveaways and the penalty he nearly gave NY with his stupid tackle in the box?

If you watch the game a little more carefully you will see that Cooper is the forward that is tracking back on the opposition’s attacking fullbacks. This should be Alvarez’s job but he just doesn’t want to put in the defensive effort so Cooper does the work for him. It’s asking a bit much for Cooper to track back and then make the 40 yard run to spearhead the attack. I would also like to point out that the “target” striker is a dying breed and labelling McBride as one does his technical ability as well as his positional sense a great injustice.

dick, we’ll see, there will be ups and downs and I expect the overall record may end up being like last year but with more draws and less Ls. Major disappointment if they don’t make the playoffs and it would certainly send a signal that maybe a change is needed, but I don’t think that will happen.

Personally my goal (short of MLS Cup) is to finish high enough to get in the CCL and next SL.

Morrow – this is only his 2nd season, but his playing resume is strong and I think has a great understanding of the game and tactics for MLS. Remains to be seen in the long term.

Anyone concerned about Serioux and his inability to make a pass to the red and white team? Nice pass on the goal but it was the first completed pass of the afternoon. I don’t get the rating of 7, my 8 year old even commented that the best part of his game was his throw in and even that goes to the other team sometimes. Play simple and give the ball to Richetti every time Adrian!!

I think what makes our tandem so succesfull this year is that the share the different duties. As long as there is communication, i think that both Cooper & Alvarez will have great years. Lets not make them so predictable by giving one person certain duties. If both can do it then why not. This is the advantage of Ruiz being gone. The other forward doesnt have to work as hard & can be strong at the end of the game if needed.
Q

Thoght Moor was much better than your 6. Anybody notice that the much heralded Mr. Altidore did virtually nothing for NYRB? Moor should get a lot of credit for that.

FCDALLAS96,
Good point about Cooper being more active tracking back to help out on defense then AA. When evaluating a forward it’s easy to have tunnel vision on the offensive parts of his game. I’ll focus more on KCJ’s defensive play in the next match.

Great job Peter. I really think you know a lot about the game. Keep up the good work. You say what needs to be said, no matter how unpopular it might be.

First, dax’s tackle was not in the box. Second, it was a very good one as he got all ball. Third, where was the dallas defense on the play? Go play the highlight and watch it a few times. There was not a foul called becouse there was not a foul to call.

Larry’s opinions are his own and don’t reflect upon his family.

Larry, are we talking about the same play? First, Dax’s challenge on Jozy was clearly in the box. That’s not even disputable. Second, I haven’t seen a good enough replay to determine if it was a foul. For what it’s worth, from my seat in section 108, I thought it should have been a PK. Third, Moor followed Jozy on the check-back run. Jozy one touches, spins and goes. Moor drops off inside following the ball, leaving Jozy all alone outside. Dax tries to recover since Moor is now 5 yards behind the play and Davino has stepped up to challenge Reyna carrying the ball in.
I’ve seen much less get whistled in MLS. Honestly, I think we were fairly lucky to not have been penalized. But I’ll take it…