Game Grades: FCD vs San Jose
May 6th, 2008 . 8:52 am . By: Peter WelptonOn the heels of an embarrassing loss, at home to a depleted Revolution, FC Dallas traveled to San Jose and helped break in the “Quakes” nifty, cozy new stadium. A refreshing surprise to see a properly sized pitch in a temporary home and the intimate setting made for a nice atmosphere for a town that deserves to have their MLS franchise back. Dallas, on the other hand, after 11 years also deserves something and this current form and condition of the team is not it. Frankly this team looks out of shape and condition. It’s no secret that Coach Steve Morrow’s focus in training is not on fitness like it was with some of of his predecessors. To be fair, others may have worked too hard on fitness. Meanwhile, you can not help but watch this performance and wonder if fitness (or lack thereof) is the cause for all of the standing about, ball watching and lack of movement off the ball. The sum of which is the reason the team cannot consistently retain possession. Certainly Toja’s fitness level is not where it needs to be. If we know anything about this team it is that, “As Toja goes, so goes the team”. In addition Cooper and Alvarez refuse to get in the box, the wide players spend way too much time in the defending third and that magical, mythical South American combination ain’t making much magic. The positives can be found in the defending. It is working impressively – although it was the Earthquake’s rec-level finishing ability that prevented them from scoring a couple of gimmies – enough so that the team they are tied in the West for fewest goals allowed. But part of the team’s attacking problems stem from so many midfielders having to help with the back three. With the two holding midfielders and two wide players sitting back – there is a massive disconnection going forward. Hence the long ball booting, attempts at difficult passes that are easily cut out and the frightening rate of turnover. And it is this last point that really hurts the team. Every time there is a turnover in midfield the field players that commit to getting into the attack then suddenly have to rush to recover. So either they run themselves into the ground, or they hesitate and don’t go forward in the first place. Morrow has put his squad in this position with the allocation of the players he has collected. Many central midfielders and no experienced, natural, quality wide players. Then up top he has a striker that wants to be a winger (Cooper), and a winger that he’s trying to play as a striker (Alvarez). This is his team and the general thinking of the neutral observer is that FC Dallas is a team with a loaded roster – but Morrow might be finding otherwise. Grades:Sala- 7: Still the team’s best player 9 Comments Comments RSS TrackBack Identifier URI Leave a comment |
Poor finishing not good defense got us the shutout. Poor Drew got turn inside out several times.
Disagree with the lack of Morrow working on fitness. The real problem is too many guys are sitting out training with booboo’s and it’s showing in matches. Our team will never win like Houston or NE because our players are not tough mentally or phyically. At the first sign of trouble they quit and NE and Houston never gives in.
I was very impressed with the play of Wallace. He had two very good long passes to Cooper and some good tackles. I would like to see him at LWB when Yahoo Serioux returns.
Great job Peter. Completely agree with each score and player’s assessment. Maybe you should throw your hat in the ring for the big job once Morrow gets the boot. You couldn’t possibly do worse than old Irish eyes.
A good summary and ratings overall – well done. I think fitness is a big problem. As any soccer player knows, it’s a lot more work physically for a team to keep possession (making angles, constant movement) even if a casual observer may think it looks easier.
Not to mention it doesn’t help our offense that our “3-5-2″ is really a “5-3-2″. Who exactly are the CM supposed to pass to in order to advance the ball?! Oh wait, let’s all just kick it as far as we can….
I’m confused about the scoring system. You just ripped the whole team and then game half of them above average grades.
Do the players get 3 free points just for stepping on the field???
Davino will always get a great grade as he basically has the other players do his job (he never marks anybody) as he just sits back there as a deep lying center back (he’s not a “sweeper” in the traditional sense as that player gets involved going forward on a regular basis and Davino never does) and has Drew Moor do his job forcing McCarty or thright back to do Moors job and the two defensive m/f players to do little more than defend.
Morrow’s negativity is to blame, that and his failure to have Davino take some responsibility himself.
Alex… Outstanding observation, but I don’t think that means he deserves a lessor grade. Like all players, Davino has a fault and his is “speed”. Plus I think he is also doing some “double duty” in this three man backline. I think if there was four back there you would get more from him. But in the system he is in he has to minimize his exposure and I think he’s doing that pretty well.
What is causing the team to be over defensive is their inability to possess the ball and not turn the damn thing over all the time.
quote “but in the system he is in he has to MINIMISE HIS EXPOSURE” and this is exactly what he’s doing, playing for himself and at this rate he’ll never need a “rest”. F the team, as long as he’s not “exposed”, meanwhile the possession sucks, the m/f can’t support the forwards,Dax has been nullified by playing right back and few chances are being created. A 7 should be the minimum he gets this season when the others are doing your job.