May 7th, 2008 . By: Buzz Carrick

A man can’t be too careful in his choice of enemies. - Oscar Wilde

The skies are threatening today a bit but there’s never more than a slight sprinkle for about five minutes.  It’s RSL this weekend, a team with so many Burn connections it’s hard to really hate them.

The Michael Johnson guys are out working with FCD, so it makes for an odd split squad kinda session.  Half the team works with the MJPTC guys and have with Morrow, then vise versa.

News, Notes, & Observations

- David Monsalve is still here.  He’s a member of the MLS emergency keeper pool.

- Alex Fichera is also still around.  He’s the defender from the Dallas Sueño competition.

- Dax McCarty is scheduled to have his hernia operation on May 14th.  He is still participating in training though and can play.

- In case you missed it, Andrew Daniels and Michael Dello-Russo were moved up to the senior roster in place in Alex Yi (retired) and David Wagenfuhr (6 week IR).

- Adrian Serioux is outside today and jogging and doing rehab work with the trainers.  He had a long talk with Morrow after training, I’m sure about how he is feeling.

- I finally remembered to ask about Abdus Ibrahim. He’s out indefinitely on “personal business.”

- Josh Lambo is more involved in training, but I don’t think he’s allowed to do full contact stuff yet.

Training

First Half

Here’s the guys working with the Johnson coaches first: Monsalve, Lambo, Avila, Moor, Shea, Davino, Oduro, Wallace, Rhine, Wileman.

Morrow runs the rest of the guys through a half field kinda scrimmage.  FCD front seven against a back 4+3.  It’s a pressure on the defense and keep team shape kinda drill.  There are two mini-goals behind the blue team forcing them to defend wide and in shape. 

Blue: Alvarez, Cooper, Toja, Wagner, Ricchetti, Saragosa, Rocha.
Green: Ricardinho, Thompson, McCarty, Fichera, Daniels, Pitchkolan, Dello-Russo with Sala in net.

Morrow does some swapping in and out of players to try some more combinations.  Some of the same combos as last week.  Notably Thompson as a high striker in a 3-4-3 with Toja as the left wingback.  Also McCarty taking a turn for Rocha and Ricardinho in for Alvarez.

Second Half

And of course the groups swapped and Morrow ran some more scrimmage stuff.

Blue: Shea, Oduro, Rhine, Avila.
Green: Moor, Davino, Wallace, Avila.

Lineup Prediction

Since FCD is having a bit of a scoring shortage I’m gonna role the dice on a slight change, particularly with the lack of a players in the box last week.  So I’ll bet on Thompson high with a 3-4-3.

What the heck, right?

I also think they might hold out Serioux one more game.  But I wouldn’t stake my house on it.

Thought of the Day

Most rookies hit a wall about this time of year.  They almost all do it, at least I can’t recall one who hasn’t.  It has to do with the ramp up from college level training to professional level training.  Break Shea went through it in a way with his sore Achilles that came from over use.  Notably this year I haven’t noticed Eric Avila going through it.  He’s showing very well and continues to perform at a high level for a rookie. 

There were rumors he wasn’t in great shape at the U23 camp at combine time.  But having watched him in training here I don’t see that.  It seems to me a observer unfamiliar with his game might think that cause of the style he plays with.  He moves very smoothly and has a quick shift to his game that means he’s not really ever chasing down play.  It could appear he’s not working very hard.  But the kid has a good motor and goes well for 90 in the reserve matches I have seen.

Avila’s also playing very well and I think he’s getting close to some PT.  Keeps your eyes out for him on the bench soon as he can play about six different spots in the FCD shape.

Categories: News .

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