Game Grades: Chivas vs FCD
April 1st, 2008 . By: Peter Welpton
After years of high hopes, raised expectations and ultimately, crushing disappointment - this new season arrives with the reality that this year’s version of FC Dallas is probably not “all that”. If this weekend’s season opener is any indication of what the season will hold, that probably is an accurate assessment. Chivas USA was in town, and this is a team that tops most pundit’s pre-season lists. They certainly showed some style and flair last season before late leg injuries vacated them of their two star forwards - and a first round exit. Sunday, Chivas did not particularly look all that fantastic. It was the first warm and muggy day of year and the effects of the weather did take it out of many of the players long before the match was completed. Morrow shocked many by not only starting David Davino, but also making him the captain. Considering he has barely played with the team the former alone would raise an eyebrow, the latter really caused people to do a double-take. This seems to spell that Davino will be the captain for the season, and until his unfortunate gaff that lead to the tying goal he had displayed a level of calmness and smarts that did the armband proud. Serioux defended well, but his distribution seemed oddly focused on long-balling it, and Pitchikolan was his normal turnover machine self - at one point had four consecutive passes go straight to a guy in blue. The other stunning lineup move was the absence of Richetti who sat while Saragosa started. The meaning of this could be one or more of many things, but the positives that Saragosa brings (tackling, destroying) is negated by the fact that his passing is always a count slow. His two partners in the center of the field, Toja and Rocha had difficult days because for most of the game the midfield was inexplicably bypassed with long balls to Cooper and Thompson. Repeatedly Rocha could be found standing wide open with his arms out trying to signal to any of the back three or the two wing players trying to get the attack to come through him and Toja (as it should be) only to watch the ball go flying 40, 50 or more yards above his head. Toja had several stunning moments, including his goal, but his fitness clearly isn’t at 100%. Then when looking at the forward end of the attack, that is where the bulk of the concern comes for FCD’s season. To be frank, Kenny Cooper had a horrible day. He was unable to do much, had only a single shot and never looked to be a danger in the box. He again, was found working out wide, attempting to chest down long balls and trying to find ways to get himself out of the corner he’d painted himself into. Abe, on the other hand, continues to display a maddening combination of soccer smarts and turtle slowness. The observation was made that, “If you took Abe’s brain, cut it in two, and dropped each half into Cooper and Orduro’s heads you’d end up with quite the pair of strikers - and at least be better off than you are now.” Overall Morrow’s “3-5-2″ continues to look a lot more like a “5-3-2″ and Rhine and Wagner just never really got forward or consistently into the attack. For a formation that is intended to give the team and midfield possession it currently performs very differently than you’d expect. Chivas was the far superior team, outshooting FCD 22-8 and it was a superb Sala performance that kept them at bay. A tie against Chivas is something anyone might take, especially when a tie was probably an unfair result for the visitors. It was the first game of the season, and this team might look very different with Moor in the back, Alvarez up top and Dax working out wide. Grades:Sala: 8 - MotM, and kept it from being a 5-1 clobbering. Pitch: 4 - Great kid, works hard, but can’t pass to save his life. Davino: 5 - Was deserving of a higher grade, until - well you know. Serioux: 5 - Sense that he is wasted in the back, too many long balls. Rhine: 5 - Had the assist, but couldn’t get into the attack as needed. Wagner: 4 - Just didn’t do much and wasted a few good opportunities. Toja: 7 - It is clear that as “Juan goes, FCD goes”. So get 100% quick! Rocha: 5 - Still has not had a game that lives up to promise. Saragosa: 5 - Great tackling and work rate, but this formation needs quicker decision making. Cooper: 4 - Kenny. You are not “Nani”. You are “Duncan Ferguson”. Embrace it, love it and make a long career of it. Thompson: 5 - Would you consider tutoring? Overall: 5 - Let’s see how this works with all its parts. 23 Comments Comments RSS TrackBack Identifier URI Leave a comment |
Peter………….Off the Subject
What happened to L&T on The Edge ????
Toja’s grade is a little high considering he tired quickly. He scored and was our best midfielder but that is not saying much.
Richetti I thought deserved at least a grade. Played well in his opportunity.
As far as the long balls go, Abe should have scored on maybe 2 of them. Their is nothing wrong with the long balls from Davino & Serioux as long as they lead to opportunities like they did in the 1st half. It is better than the other option of turning the ball over in the middle, which is what will happen as long as we have what we have out wide.
Clear Channel has moved the show to 97.1 “The Eagle” here in Dallas. We’re still here wasting valuable broadcasting time.
Morrow’s “3-5-2″ continues to look a lot more like a “5-3-2″
maybe it’s b/c rhine and wagner have been playing the backline the past couple of years. so, maybe that has been rooted into their brains, causing them to play back and not join the attack. what does morrow expect if he puts defensve guys out there. they’re gonna be leaning more towards what they’re used to doing.
I don’t know that Davino did deserve a higher grade prior to getting an assist on the Chivas goal. He almost had an own-goal and did give up a corner in the first half.
I agree with 3, I want to see Wallace and Dax on the wings. I think we will see a much improved Cooper with better wing play.
Great stuff. I really think Dario is in excellent shape and really showed it.
Didn’t Duncan Edwards play RM? Then Boby Charlton took over after his death in the plane crash?
How does Wagner get a 4 despite the fact that he did his only job, keeping Sacha Kljestian off the score sheet? It wasn’t a spectacular game, but a 4 is a really low rating…he was solid for his first start in Hoops in a long time.
Maybe a 4 for you is higher than a 4 for some people. Perhaps you should spend a little time in your next game grades explaining what each number means to you.
Skeeter, you’re right. Dax and Wally on the wings give us the most talent and athleticism on the outsides.
i don’t know about y’all, but i’m ready to see me some brek on the left side. i’m sure he can’t do worse than wagner’s 4-rating. at least he’ll be able to get forward. i’m also up for giving wally some play at LCB or LWB.
but, first thing’s first. let’s see how we do w/ our intended lineup before we go back to the drawing board. houston may be a little tired after playing concacaf on wednesday.
I think a 4 for Wagner was more than generous - Pitch wasn’t the only turnover machine for FCD. I was really surprised that Morrow left him on for the whole game. Overall I think Peter’s grades are just about right and more than fair. I wasn’t really impressed with Rocha either.
Dont worry everyone, there will be lots of changes this week and the team will look as normal as possible. I’m counting at least 4 changes to the lineup from the opener
Sala
Serioux-Davino-Moor
Dax-Rocha-Richetti-Wagner
Toja
Alvarez-Cooper
This could be compounded by Brek/Wally/Wags moving into the first team on the left, although i dont think that’ll happen.
twotone,
no way our best attacker from game 1 doesn’t start, look for Abe to be in there and if saragosa is healthy Richetti sits.
Oh and Wagner sits to make roon for Alvarez on that wing. Wagner did stink in game 1.
Is it just me….but is Abe Thompson the worst starting forward any MLS team rolled out there this week?!?!?! And yet…he is still getting time year after year! Why not put in oduro? neither one have skill but at least oduro can out run a cheetah!!!
q - no Toja goal and FCD loses.
I think a 5 is generous for Saragosa. He is a one-trick (tackling) pony and his wandering ways led to many good opportunities with a Chivas MF running full speed at our 3-man backline. Thankfully our defense played well and Sala was his typical beast self.
I think 4 is generous for Wagner. Absolutely no impact. Brek should have played. SM needs to play his best players regardless of age.
I don’t agree that Abe is the worst starting forward in the league. He’s the second worst. KCJ has that title wrapped up.
Jay, take about ten minutes and watch a game and double your soccer knowledge, Abe was the best thing we had on attack last week. And Friscofan you can’t see either. You two must sit together in area with no view of the field to come up this, buy a ticket and stop trying to look over the fence.
ken…..i laugh at your marks as my soccer knowledge is plenty. he does make good runs but once the ball is at his feet he chokes. even on the assist he almost tripped over his own 2 feet. he is a JOKE!!! nice guy but doesnt have starting talent. If this is a site for amateurs to leave comments then i might as well quit coming here.
Fantastic job Peter. I agree with almost every word you said. Maybe you could give Jason Benfield a lesson or two about the beautiful game. He could definitely use it.
Let’s see ken, our forwards scored how many goals? From my vantage point in section 108, row 16, that would be zero. Perhaps you see a different game from your seat.
It was Wagner’s run to the corber and cross that began our score……