Game Grades: FC Dallas vs Real Salt Lake
May 12th, 2008 . 7:57 am . By: Peter WelptonI did not see all of the match so grades won’t be forthcoming, but from what was witnessed it’s pretty obvious that it was more of the same. Please note that Cooper’s fantastic strike came yet again from a ball behind the defense that allowed Kenny to run into the box. Again, it was a fantastic goal and came from Rocha’s smart, quick decision making – but it highlights this team’s total inability to score a goal via a build up from midfield. The rest of MLS has figured out that bunkering and forcing Dallas to go long ball is the recipe for success again the Hoops and you can expect to see it the rest of the season. At least until Morrow, or someone, figures out a way to get all this talent to work. Playing at Rice-Eccles stadium was already hard enough due to the surface and altitude, but when Jason Kreis actually has his young squad playing some decent soccer – well then it gets downright tough. Kudos to RSL as they dominated the match and wholly deserved the three points. Too bad that Sala’s first bad night in a long time had to appear here. Toja continues to perform way below his debut season, but being out wide pretty much snuffs his opportunity to really put his stamp on the match (not that anyone is sure that he’s capable of doing that in his current form). The 3-4-3 formation didn’t not help the ongoing issue of midfield performance as the passing was sloppy and the subtraction of a midfielder repeatedly caught Dallas short on the backdoor side of play. MLS is only about getting into the playoffs (where anything is possible). Therefore Morrow has a box of time to figure this out, but what is currently on the field is not by any means cutting it. Luckily the team was able to best some teams early and somehow despite the horrible form in the last three matches they still sit on top of the conference table. As much concern is placed on the need for a top flight striker, there can be an argument made that the real need is in the midfield for a creator. Another could be made for a change in formation as having only three defenders appears to be forcing midfielders to do more defending than attacking. Better passing and reducing the unforced turnovers that seem to happen more times than not would probably benefit the team greatly. Hell, maybe all three are needed. Feel free to express your thoughts, criticisms (constructive or otherwise), tactical solutions or player wishes below. 14 Comments Comments RSS TrackBack Identifier URI Leave a comment |
If you didn’t see the game why are you commenting at all? You can’t grade the game which is fair enough so just say nothing.
“I did not see all of the match” – Just to make you happy, how about, “I saw only about 70 minutes of the match.” Feel better.
Either way what part of my opinion do you disagree? What did I miss to get it wrong?
You didn’t need to see the whole game to see how this one played out.
We suck.
The only part I disagree with was that RSL dominated the match. I think they dominated a 20min stretch in the second half when they pulled back their second goal, but their first was completely against the run of play. While we didn’t create enough good chances, our possession was much better on a very difficult surface. I thought we were very unlucky to not take a point on this one. In terms of shots on goal, this was a very level game.
The A mid spot is definitely having a problem linking with the attack.. that and we still haven’t figured out how to use our wing backs effectively – that means making them attack the wing and cross… and then also making them far post targets for crosses from the other side. Rocha can play a good cross, but most of his were from deep positions, not a fast break that pushed up the wing. Arturo got most of the balls that were slotted into a position where he could attack the wing… but we all know what Artie will do 9/10 – cut in and shoot.. either that or hesitate and wait for someone to arrive.
I prefer that Richetti and Saragosa not join the attack – they are very effective in their holding roles.. but come on you wing backs – make runs into space and let Richetti+Saragosa and the back three worry about the counter attack.
Any time I see a game played on a surface like that, I’m almost inclined to just throw out the result and move on to the next one. Other than the final score, did Saturday’s game really play out all that differently than previous games @ SL? I’m not sure it did.
From where I was watching, I saw FCD score a terrific goal, and if the communication in back had been better on the mess that turned into RSL’s 1st goal (just get the hell out of Dario’s way and let him clear the ball!), worst they come out is with a tie. And considering how that surface could have further exposed Davino’s lack of pace, I would have taken that in a second.
On the less optimistic side, I think two things were fairly clear: 1. not the same team w/o Dax, and, 2. not sure if the 3-4-3 is the answer with this group, especially for how it minimizes Toja’s impact. Whether due to injury or to the Olympics, that first point is one they better learn to address. As for the second, hard to see how switching formations like that goes along with Morrow’s stated desire to give Wagner a good run on the left side.
I think the basic problem is this team just doesn’t have enough MLS quality players (not that that is such a high quality). FC Dallas lost 4-5 good, MLS-level players off of last year’s roster and replaced them with developmental players, a 50 year old defender that moves like my grandma, and an unproven (and so far, rubbish) young Brazilian.
RSL may not have dominated, but they deserved the win more than FCD for sure. They controlled the ball more and won many more 50/50 balls. When Beckerman is up getting runs in the box and shots on goal, then you are losing the midfield battle.
I don’t want to see Saragosa on the field unless it is defending a lead. He supplies no offense and no good passes out of the back. FCD looked lost playing on that turf. Replace Saragosa with Dax and have a midfield triangle of Dax, Richetti and Toja. Wallace and Rocha on the wings.
I think Yahoo Serioux was the man of the Match for us even though he only played an hour.
In about the 75th minute, I had to ask my son if Toja was taken out at half time. Unfortunately, he was not.
Why do we need an Attacking Midfielder and not another Forward?
This Team has only managed 70 total shots this season. That puts them in 12th place in the league. Only ahead of TFC & SJ. (Is that company that a 13 year franchise should be in?) Despite that, we are in 10th in shots on goal and tied with 2 other teams for 6th in goals scored. (The Forwards are doing their jobs).
Just make some stinkin’ runs off the ball already. Sheesh.
My suggestions for filling the obvious hole at attacking midfield:
Juan Requelme or Ariel Ortega. What do you think? Any one else have any ideas?
as someone mentioned on another thread here, we have plenty of good MFs, but they just don’t seem to be in the right position. for example…even morrow admits dax’s future will be at CM, yet he’s playing wide. buzz mentioned rocha played very well at RM during TnT, but is now playing CDM. toja could benefit from playing deeper instead of playing wide, but morrow prefer’s the flow killer saragosa.
it’s tough knowing that our deepest position (MF) isn’t all that we expected. everytime they play, it seems as if they’ve never practiced together before w/ all the turnovers. i refuse to believe our team is that bad. does morrow have enough Xs and Os to help this team?
3nOut has the gist of it. Try and put your best players in their best spots and then see how it looks (left mid is still a mystery guest).
Alvarez Cooper
Dax
? Toja Ricchetti Rocha
Serioux Davino Moor
Sala
See what the holes are after this. Aquire a DP forward and move Alvarez to left mid? Dax can’t hack it in the hole go after a DP Amid.
Skeeter, Juan Roman Riquelme is never going to happen, but Ariel Ortega is a possibility. Our own Super Dario is a close friend of El Burrito Ortega. It looks like they’ve played on 2 teams together, River and Newell’s Old Boys. Let’s tell Super Sala we need Ortega now.
Pegasus, that’s the lineup for me and I think that Wallace has earned a shot at the mystery LW spot. I’d love to see him get a run at Becks this weekend…but I bet Rhine starts