Monday Morning Gaffer: USOC Charleston Battery vs. FC Dallas
July 11th, 2008 . 3:01 pm . By: Buzz Carrick
Well my goodness that wasn’t good. It’s not often a MLS team gets all but played off the park by a USL team, even if it’s a team as good as the Charleston Battery. Where FCD goes form here is question for another day. In the mean time we’ll see if there is anything to be learned from this Cup debacle. Charleston Battery 3, FC Dallas 1El Bueno (The Good)The Billy Sleeth Award for this game goes to Osvaldo Alonso. He single handedly whipped the three man FCD central midfield of Ricchetti, Toja, and Saragosa. Alonso was all over the place and worked his but off. He was constantly a nuisance, nipping in and stealing balls. He was creative going forward, breaking down defenders, passing well and creating danger. Nice little player, I enjoyed watching him. The kids are all right and it’s time for both Eric Avila and Dax McCarty to be starting. Dax was after all was a starter at the beginning of the year and you can instantly see the lift in possession, dangerous service, and great free kicks when he comes on. Avila is a darting, dangerous, creative midfielder who plays both ways. Every time Avila has come into the game the team has improved. Time to put him in from the first whistle. Good to see Break Shea get on the field. He needs to get minutes at the end of every game possible. Say 5 or 6 of the next ten he needs to see time. You can see the potential. Brek hasn’t done anything with it yet, but he’s getting close and some PT in key situations will help bring that out of him. When the 53 minute delay happened, Schellas took the time to give his team a talking to and he even called a few guys out in front of the team at that point. I know because he told me about it after the game. I think Hyndman was hoping for a collective reaction and he got a little until Alvarez hit the post.
El Camino Central (Middle of the Road)Yes Saragosa was wide right… for 20 minutes. I’m not real sure why other than I know Hyndman was looking to get some high width. What’s odd about that is Rocha is better about getting forward than Saragosa. After Rocha and Saragosa switched back Saragosa was the more linking player between himself and Ricchetti, which makes me think the first set up was to see if Rocha would play the linking role out of midfield. I need to ask Schellas about that, but I forgot by the end of the game. I did ask Schellas after the game about my little theory about why he was playing the veteran older players. In a long winded way he said my theory was right for two reasons. 1. He needed to give veterans a long run cause if you drop one right away for what they perceive as no reason you most likely lose them for good; and 2. If you give a young kid to much to fast it can go to their head and be a serious set back. Essentially it has to be clear that the younger players has played the older one off the park under the new coach. The above point makes it quite clear Hyndman knows he got immense job security and isn’t to worried about the win now mentality and it more concerned about the long term. Schellas also talked a bit about with me about the upcoming window and changes he wants to make and his quickly vanishing patience with certain players their continued inability to play the way he wants.
No Tan Bueno (It’s Not Good)Blake Wagner was playing fairly well, right up to the part he brain farted and destroyed the game plan by letting in the early goal. After that he never really recovered. There has to be a consequence when a player makes a mistake the coach has been fighting against since he got here. Of course you run the risk of really screwing up such a young player. Sometimes you gotta break a few things before you can fix them.
There was way to much dribbling through the middle in an attempt to split the defense. That’s to easy to defend if that’s all you’re bringing to the table. There flat out wasn’t enough width to open the middle up. The only width in the final third was coming from Abe, which is not exactly what we want to see. It wasn’t till Dax started getting wide balls in late in the second half that the middle opened up for some penetration from Avila and Toja.
The lack of ability to break down the defense on the dribble because of the tight back and lack of width is demonstrated in the following stats. FCD had ZERO shots from forwards in the first half and only TWO all game. Both shots came from Cooper, one of which was the late conciliation goal as the whistle sounded. Announced attendance was 5,911. There’s no chance in hell that’s accurate. I would have said 1,000. If they had claimed 2,000 I might have been convinced with some fast talking. But 6K? Come on, that’s just plain silly. Embarrassing I would even call it. Not embarrassing that it’s 1K, embarrassing they feel they have to claim 6k. Call it like it is damn it. I watched Toja carefully today and he’s just flat out playing to slow. The tenacity, energy, and relentless work form last year are gone. It’s just not there. Coaches around here, Morrow, Ferruzzi, now Schellas, keep talking about him not being fit yet; but come on, it’s halfway through the season. There is a point at which he has to be dropped. I’m not there yet but I’m getting damn close. Here’s one way you know FCD just didn’t have their heart in it for this one. They were out fouled 14 to 8 in the Cup named after their late owner while losing badly to a lower division team. That’s embarrassing. It’s about how you start most of the time in MLS and FCD is no exception. The Red Stripes are 3-0-2 when scoring first and 1-6-3 when being scored on first in MLS play. When you add USOC play FCD is 2-7-3.
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Forming, Storming, Norming, Underperforming.
Yet another year without any major trophies. And no, as big of an optimist as I’ve always been for our team, I give us zero chance of winning the playoffs. At this rate, I’ll be stunned if we MAKE the playoffs.
Buzz…
Other than giving the old guard time to improve work ethic, did SH tip his hand and hint at a time table for dropping the dead weight? Curious since my casual eye says that time past a few games back.
Red, I would have agreed with you it would have been a few games ago, but I think Schellas targeted the little break we have here and the opening transfer window. If he can get the right players he’ll go 4-4-2. He’s also talked about a forward. And I would anticipate a search for a wide player perhaps to get some width out of midfield.
We’ll get into that more next week I hope.
Buzz, interesting that you have such passionate feelings towards the attendance numbers.
buzz,
do you honestly expect changes are going to be made before next week’s game…if not major, minor as in tweaking the starting players? how do you see the team’s level of respect for schellas? are they simply old dogs that aren’t able to learn new tricks?
I think with all the changes that have occurred the moral of the team has slipped. That has a huge impact and so far this coach has not taken up for his players at all but instead throws blame at each one of them.
I also don’t agree that you drop a player because they are having a bad year. Toja was a star last year, got hurt and that has an impact. So, let’s drop Toja because he has not shinned like he did last year – NO WAY. Let’s continue to play the “you are out” just as they did on Morrow. No wonder the guys have no modivation with that expectation.
I think Toja is some one that should remain and if they did trade Toja or whatever, I would lose complete respect for this organization and never support them again.
Don’t recall the name of Charleston big center back, but he was all over our forwards. He won almost every single ball played into the box and completely outmuscled Thompson.
I can’t say my expectations are high for some big talent to hit FCD.. I haven’t heard even the slightest rumor of any talent headed here… Only of people (Toja/Cooper) leaving… but after this performance clearly the team needs a good enema.
Buzz – are you getting any feeling for Schellas take on Serioux? I get the impressions that he has told Schellas that he is not interested in the left back position and that he wants the midfield role… but he was completely missing from the roster that evening. I realize that the USOC has limited international spots.. but do you think this is Schellas trying to figure out if he wants to keep Ricchetti / Saragosa.. or more that he’s already decided to ditch Serioux? Maybe I’m just reading too much into it.
FCD kind of reminds me of the Rangers of recent years. They are a little too coddled.
Buzz,
Man, losing in the Open Cup to a USL team at home is worse than getting spanked by LA. Maybe not from a business perspective, since no one was at the USOC game, but certainly from a team-building perspective.
I have a ton of questions: Would you consider doing a primer on the rules for the upcoming trade window and what we can expect to happen with FCD during it (maybe best and worst case)?
Do you know if the plan is to trade for new players or to acquire them from elsewhere and just cut people loose? CAn we even do the latter under MLS rules? Forgive my ignorance, but does FCD have any slots open for new foreign players? I can’t ever keep track of that.
Is any other team going to want anyone from this FCD team that we are looking to unload? Am I overly cynical to think that we cannot possibly make any kind of serious upgrade at this point in season? Maybe add one or two players. But other than that, are we really going to be able to re-tool the team? Do you know if there is any history of teams actaully getting anything done (in acquiring players) at this stage in the season, apart from moving 1 or 2 players (although I guess sometimes that is all it takes)?
How are the players reacting to SH’s rather open criticism of them in the media? Are the vets still on board or is there some eye rolling? Anyone in particular looking to jump ship?
Would any FCD player in his right mind not be calling his agent right now and saying, “Get me out of here before the ‘rebuilding’ starts-this is a sinking ship”?
I am very concerned with what is going to happen when the window opens. This team needs to make changes, but who is he going to get? I am not convinced that the has the necessary connection or knowledge of the global game to make good acquisitions. What foreign players are going to want to come play for loosing team, a coach with no pro pedigree, and perform in-front of a half empty stadium?
Look at Osorio is doing with his pathetic club in NY. They have already signed Diego Jimenez, Juan Pietravallo, Jorge Rojas and are working on a loan deal for Gabriel Cichero. Does SH even know who these players are? I have not even seen any unsubstantiated rumors on who this team is interested in. SCARY!
Chase, what I have strong feelings about is the attempt to bullshit us all with the 6k announcement when it was near 1k. It’s a joke and reminds me of “Denilson is going to tear this league up,” and “we’re bringing in two players that will be MLS best XI.”
3nout, yes after talking to Schellas after this game… for the first time he looked mad, pissed off. Before this he was always just disappointed. I do expect changes before the Col game, or shortly thereafter perhaps. If there are not we will have to begin to ask some serious questions.
So far all the players seem to be buying into Schellas’s talk. They all seem to be listening in training and I don’t see any rolled eyes or players tuning him out. Sometimes it can just be impossible to get a player, particularly an older one, to change their ways.
NewFan, I dont mean cutting or trading Toja. I Just mean benching him for a game or two until some fire and determination shows up. Give him a kick in the pants.
Toja is the key to this team and it was built around him. As long as he stinks the team will stink.
unless Schellas builds the team around someone else.
Nathan, Schellas told me he see Serioux as more of a midfielder. But Serioux is hurt right this minute and he’s been gone a lot with Canada of late. Plus Schellas doesn’t really have the defenders to replace Serioux in the back yet, as we have seen. I think Schellas likes Serioux, Schellas said some things about him that makes me think Serioux has the right tools.
2-cent, I’m planning on doing something next week on changes. I’ll get into what might happen then.
No, FCD can not add a foreign player without getting rid of some. Although Saragosa is close to a green card.
Schellas hasn’t really called out players specifically. He’s just been talking about the team in general, so he’s not in danger of losing any one player. Aside from that the team knows they are not playing well cause they keep losing. Hard to complain about the coach saying they are not playing well when they are not playing well.
Wait aand see what happens to Toja now that Oscar is back. Even though he isn’t with the big club,I think he will have a positive impact on the kid….
“Although Saragosa is close to a green card.”
He has been “close” since April. I like Saragosa and think he is a useful player, but he is not good enough to occupy a valuable SI spot. If he does not get the Card by the end of the transfer window, then I think it is time for him to go.
Thanks. I’m glad that Schellas wants to keep Serioux in mid. He’s one we want to hold onto I think.
Thanks, Buzz. Perhaps SH comes across differently in the media than he does in the locker room. I hope so. His media personal leaves a little to be desired. Its good that the players are buying into what he has to say. That has to happen if the team is going to stay afloat.
I’ve got to say, when I compare the talent on this team with the talent around the league, we seem pretty well-stocked. Like usual, our foriegn players are not living up to expectations, but other than that there’s not really all that much room to complain. We need to get this group of players to perform. Someone mentioned that Pareja returning will do good things for the latin players. I agree completely. SH should start having some long talks with Oscar.
thanks buzz,
nice to know that schellas doesn’t BS and give you veiled responses when you ask him questions. good job picking his brain.
Personally, I think that we could give Serioux the role of being a left back that has the flexibility to move foward and be that “extra man” in the attack. You know, something like Joleon Lescott of Everton.
Buzz, I got to see your seat today in the press box. Please elbow Steve Davis for me next time he shows up for a game. Others asked for a tack on his seat, but I won’t go that far.
Call me crazy, but what do you think are the chances that Greg Vanney might show up here as part of a possible trade? Does that make any sense?
Vanney? not likely. He’s past it and he didn’t really like Dallas much anyway IIRC.
Wilman Conde would be a great fit here to allow us to play a 4-4-2. I don’t know if we have anything that Chicago needs, but perhaps we have something that TFC could use…(In addition to the 17 year of Goal Scorer we just gave them for nothing).
Please no Vanney.
Buzz, the team sounds completely at sea. Have to think many guys will be shipped. What a difference since March…..
Curious, any update on Morrow’s whereabouts?
My guess is that we’ll see a version of the 4-4-2 at the next game. So many goals have come as the result of only playing 3 at the back (even Wagner’s gaffe against Charleston could have been easily prevented if he’d had someone to his left to pass to), that I think SH will shoehorn in a player to get the shape he wants. I can’t remember if Rhine is injured, but I guess I’d suggest him at RB and Wagner at LB, with Moor and Davino in the center. We have a glut of midfielders, so SH should trade one of them for an outside defender if need be. Plus only playing 4 in the middle will open up some space for Toja to play in.
Let’s remember that we did pretty well with 4 in the back last year, and I think that going to 3 killed this team this year and brought about Morrow’s downfall. Gullit ruthlessly exposed the weaknesses of the back 3 when the Galaxy beat us and I think that SH should just bite the bullet and play with the shape he wants.
I think any starting lineup that starts with Bobby is a bad one. But i do agree that some combination of a 4-4-2 would be nice to see. I suggest something like Davino, Pitch, Wagner and Moor in back, Serioux at DM, McCarty and Rocha at outside mids, Avila as OM and Cooper and Shea up top.
Why not?
Oh, and Lambo in goal.
I don’t know if the 3 man back is really that bad you have to remember that FCD was the last undefeated team and that before the LA game or the coach cahnge they had only given up 7 goals which is pretty good. It wasn’t until the LA game that everything went down hill. with new coaches plus international players going to play for their countries, those things didn’t really help with the GA category and games won.
Good point BJ
Hey Buzz
is there anyway we can get a player who is currently on the University to starting playing now, before the start of school year?
If so, how is the process? how much gotta give?
SE, Morrow is still in Dallas. He is under contract through the end of Oct. The hunts don’t really fire people outright, they just “remove them from coaching duties.”
Phil, not really. If a player in NCAA went and signed a pro contract somewhere else for 6 months then FCD could sign them outright. Outside of that any NCAA player would have to be in a MLS draft either through early signing or end of eligibility (ie graduating). The league can sign a GA player now if they wanted to but he would have to go into a weighted lottery.
Although some times in MLS one should never say never about such things cause the rules can (and do) occasionally change.
Buzz-
What about the young kids? Is SH not willing to try them yet? Who are the young forwards? Brek and Wadsworth? Wadsworth and Brek both played a winger type in the PDL reserve game, and Wileman did a nice job in the open cup game against Miami FC..what is wrong with one of them out wide? Is SH trying to reshape the entire team sort of like Osorio?
Nathan,
the center back you are talking about is Nelson Akwari. The sad part about Akwari from an FCD point of view is that he has been an MLS journeyman of average to below average performance his entire career. His last MLS team was RSL.
Here is a bit of Akwari trivia for you.
Akwari also has a bit of infamy tied to his name. Back in 02, he ended Cerritos season just as Cerritos was begining to find his nose for goal in a Dallas uniform. It was a tough, but fair challenege which is why Akwari is never mentioned in the same breath as Kovalenko. But it was a season ending challenge nonetheless.
Yea, I noticed the “Buzz” seat this weekend too, pretty nice digs to watch a game from!
Clark, I think some of the kids are going to factor in to the changes are going to make. Avila and Dax certainly. Shea over time. Schellas isn’t looking to turn over the entire team, just make 3 to 4 changes that will let him play 4-4-2… and of course get rid of some guys are aren’t “getting on the bus.”
at least that’s what it sounds like he’s going to do. He hasn’t done anything yet.
And yes, Bone, it is a nice place to watch a game from. You can see quite a lot from up there.
Here’s a pet peeve of mine…I was looking for tickets to the game and they were full price. I think the cheapest ticket was $15. Why doesn’t FCD drop the prices for poorly attended events like this (or their regular games, for that matter). I’m guessing a $7.50 ticket price would generate at least 2x or 3x the # of fans, plus each person would spend about another $4-$5 on average for concessions. The incremental revenue from concessions alone could justify a lower ticket price (15,000 x ($7.50+$4) versus 7,500 x$15). And as a big fan, I much prefer a sold-out type of atmosphere with a loud, rowdy crowd to a quiet, wake-like atmosphere of 2,000 fans.
Brian, the club sent me free tickets to the game since I am a season ticket holder. My guess is that most of the people in attendance were season ticket holders, so they were definitely trying to boost attendance and concessions. Maybe they should have lowered ticket prices for non-season ticket holders, but you can hardly get cheaper than free for the rest of us.
I’m guessing, by the way, that they counted tickets distributed or bought for attendance, rather than actual butts in the seats.
Another hint — if you know the game is going to be poorly attended, buy the cheapest seats and then sit wherever you want. We moved over to the midfield seats and then under the covered seats when the storm came.
I bought 3 additional tickets to the game for $15 ($5 each) through the FO.