120 Fahrenheit: What Will Schellas Do
July 24th, 2008 . By: Buzz Carrick
You may recall at the end of last week I mentioned an evaluation of his current team that Schellas Hyndman made to reporters. To be a bit more specific it was a assessment of what he has area by area and what he might be missing. Hyndman’s also made a statement or two about what players he needs to sign/trade for to go to his preferred 4-4-2. So combining that with what we know about his tastes in tactics from his days at SMU, I’ve come up with the following: What Will Schellas Do. Keep in mind this is just for this year, next year will be a totally different question. Hyndman’s EvaluationFirst I’ll paraphrase his breakdown of the roster. It was kind of longwinded so by condensing it down to the key elements I can make it more easily digested. So in essence here’s what he said…
And then one more very specific quote from the gaffer.
Ok so clear as day, he needs a second striker, a left back, and a left midfielder. Hyndman’s TacticsSMU usually employed a 4-4-2 and a relatively modern one at that with outside backs getting forward, although perhaps not quite as beautiful as Wake Forest’s. Most of the time the Ponies under Schellas used a diamond midfield with a pure ball winner behind a possession type midfielder. However Schellas talks about one of his “soccer truths” being player must play two ways, so we’re not talking pure #10 here. The advanced midfielder is a linking type player who can get forward into the box but also can defend. Bruno Guarda is the prototype of that kind of player, a MLS example might be Christian Gomez. Forward Alright, so let’s start at the top of formation. Cooper is all set at one spot, the other clearly is where Schellas is adamant they find someone. “We have a plan in place. We have to get a striker. We’ve targeted three, Elligner will look at the first and if we can’t get him we’ll move onto the second. But we have to get one.” OK, that’s clear enough. Abe Thompson and Dom Oduro will continue to be role players and get time off the bench, but as time goes on look for Schellas to go to Break Shea up top more and more. Midfield Lots of good options here. Schellas has made several comments about the quality of Pablo Ricchetti. Right now Ricchetti is the clear choice at the holding mid spot. Saragosa in the 3-5-2 is also in there, but in a 4-4-2 Ricchetti will get the call. Don’t down play the idea that Adrian Serioux might not get in this spot. Serioux has a higher work rate, more range, and more bull doggedness than either of the other choices. Here’s what Schellas said about a month ago.
The linking central player would have been Juan Toja, but now that Juan is off to Bucharest, it will most likely be Eric Avila or Dax McCarty. With McCarty heading to the Olympic team, a lot will be riding on Eric Avila’s shoulders over the next month or so. One player I would for sure like to see central is André Rocha. Rocha can be a dominate central player and started the year in the middle for Morrow and would also be my first pick there on this current roster. Schellas seems fairly happy with Rocha wide right though, as you can tell by the coaches mentioning right midfield as a place the team needs help. Rocha is capable of playing the wide spot and is more than athletic enough to get to the end. Bobby Rhine and Michael Dello-Russo, who has started to improve of late, could still factor wide. On the left is the trouble spot. Schellas said Alvarez was his best flank player, but then also goes on to say he needs someone on the left. That doesn’t bode will for Alvarez (unless Schellas meant to play Alvarez on the opposite side like Morrow did, but that prevents crosses from that side). Which brings us back to trialist Victor Sikora. Schellas has mentioned that they want to sign Sikora as he’s the kind of direct, quick to get forward, get up and down, fast, wide midfielder that Hyndman covets. He’s a better crosser than anyone on this team. But he’s not a lefty. To be honest I though they were looking at him for the right so Rocha could play central, but then Hyndman mentioned that Sikora was hitting great crosses in training from the left using his wrong foot, making a point that Sikora would be the answer there. Blake Wagner, Anthony Wallace, and even Break Shea might see some PT off the bench. Defense The middle is easy: Davino and Moor. End of discussion. Well, not the end since we need to talk backups. Pitchkolan is locked in at one spot, Andrew Daniels likely the other. If Serioux doesn’t play in midfield he could still figure in here, thus letting Moor play wide, but Schellas seems to not like that idea at all. Wide right is an interesting question as on the surface there doesn’t appear to be a player here. Yes, Drew Moor, but Schellas said Drew belongs in the middle. Bobby Rhine? Sure they could do worse. Michael Dello-Russo? Again he is improving, but are those last two names even with what we are talking about in terms of getting forward? One other idea I broached to Schellas that he didn’t discount would be Adrian Serioux at right back. He certainly has the motor and range to get up and down, although I’m not sure he’s quite a good enough crosser. Then I had an epiphany. Have you noticed how much Hyndman seems to love Marcelo Saragosa, most notably his work rate and tenacity? Have you also noticed that Schellas has played Saragosa wide in midfield on a couple occasion? So there it is, Marcelo Saragosa at right back. Which leaves us the left. And this is where Schellas has another trouble spot and says he’s looking to sign someone. Blake Wagner would be the first guess here, and Anthony Wallace had a wonderful U20 Worlds in this spot, but neither it appears are ready for the kind of defending and running of the field Schellas seems to want. Unfortunately David Wagenfuhr, both a wonderful kid and a hard working player, is still having symptoms with the concussion problem. At this point the odds of him returning this year are nil, and his career hangs by a thread. My sincere recommendation for him is to retire. Which leaves a big gaping hole where Schellas needs to find someone. Goalkeeper From talking to Schellas, the nets is the position he think he’s stacked. Good starter (Sala), up and coming backup pushing for time (Burse), and a kid in the third spot with massive potential (Lambo). The Four Four TwoSo where does that leave us? Let’s draw it out.
It’s not exactly what’s I’d do, but it could work. And it’s not written in stone by any means as it’s a best guess at this point So what do you think? 32 Comments Comments RSS TrackBack Identifier URI Leave a comment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
We still need to fix the Central Defense…and this is now year 5 of that particular problem. Davino hasn’t solidified anything back there.
Oh yeah…and what do we do when Cooper leaves for Norway?
Wow, I guess in reading this SH wouldn’t have gotten rid of Ruiz, Gbandi and Goodosn since those are now the weak spots. Make the FO & Morrow look like idiots.
BTW, Cooper is gone so add that to the need list.
You have mentioned that Ricardinho is looking good at practice several times …any chance of him learning enough to make it on the field..if so where do you put him?
Buzz
What about Rocha at right back? Schellas says he wants players that can jump into the attack and push forward…this sounds like Rocha to me. Then you play McCarty out of position as the wide right midfielder and push Avila or Shea into the A-mid spot. What do you think?
Texgator, that’s for next year. Nothing can be done about it now.
Zarco, he would have. And Ruiz is the only one that was “got rid of” as He fat and lazy now. You notice Schellas said “speed.” Goodson and Gbandi both wanted to go to Europe. It would have taken over $200k each to keep them.
And I’m looking into the Cooper thing. As of this moment my contacts all are saying no.
Ivan, Rico is well down the pecking order since Shea is playing ahead of him now.
Jon, It could work, Rocha can play there. I just don’t think Schellas will go that way, it puts too much on kids like Avila and Shea. Also Lots of thing could work, I for example would put Ricchetti at right back, but again Schellas won’t I don’t think. This is my best prediction of which way he’ll go.
Excellent stuff Buzz!!!.
I am intrigued by Sikora, it seems to me that signing/drafting players and hoping to make them fit in out ot position is part of what has gotten us into the situation that we are in now. If he is a right sided player and the plan is to play him on the right, then I am all for signing him. Otherwise, lets continue to shop.
I think Pablo is perfect fit as a rudder and that we will see him return to form when we are able to go to a diamond midfield. There has been a lot of talk about Toja’s poor form being caused by playing out of position. I think the same can be said about Pablo.
I totally agree with Hyndam on Drew. I think moving him central will help both he and Davino. But, I do not like the options you mentioned wide right. My suggestion is to sign Sikora to play right midfield and move Rocha to Right Back. Like a poor mans Beckham/Klein right side.
I agree Buzz that Schellas is a bit out of the ordinary, but everything we talk about seems to indicate a trade within the league of one of our CDM’s doesnt it? I doubt they would bench Serioux, Ricchetti, or at this point based on playing time, Saragosa. That’s 3 people for one position, and all 3 are making way too much to be full-time backups…any word on movement of one of these players (maybe for Guarda and Burciaga for COL)?
Sounds good Buzz! Great work!
Quick question - why would Steau take a chance with Toja playing in the ASG? Doesn’t that seem dangerous for them incase he is injured.
I like Eric and I think he can cause some major trouble so I vote play him.
I think Rocha would be excellent attacking Beckham. He is not shy at all about defending and is very willing to do what is needed to get that ball.
Coop isn’t going to Norway. If he does I will be very shocked. Gbandi is gone because the guy averages a red card every other game and Morrow didn’t need him in a 3-5-2. I like the 4-4-2 with Marcelo at right back and Adrian in the middle. Adrian would also help sure up the middle defensively. Get Ortega in here (fingers crossed) and a decent left back and everything looks pretty good.
Wow. This is dejavu all over again. Didn’t we have this discussion in the winter? I seem to recall plenty of “who plays left/right back/midfield” discussions in between trips to the mall for christmas shopping.
It never really registered until you put it out here this way.
That being said, we may have solved the right back problem with your Saragosa discovery. I’ve had that thought before. He kills any offensive flow that we have, but tends to do the same to the other team. Assuming he doesn’t clear the ball directly into the oncoming attack.
Hey Buzz, did you make it out to practice today? I’m curious about Jatta - he looked like a bigger, stronger Dom from the picture on the FCD blog.
Great article Buzz…
I would like to see more of Ricardinho, maybe at Toja’s position. He has speed,skills and he is not afraid of doing anything however cant finish but I believe he would open up the attack more.. Specially now that Shea,Dax will be out and Toja wont be back, give him a chance.. You mentioned Guarda again, any news from him? Cause by what you said it seems like Guarda would be the best fit for SH team, I read an article on Star-telegram saying that guarda has a impressive engine, so he would be able to attack and defend.
We need to trade some of our d-mids asap (Pablo,Saragosa or Serioux) and get a left back instead of playing everybody out of position.
Cant we put Avi at right mid and Rocha at right back? Andre is so tall and strong that he can easily cover for Avi
Cooper ??????
McCarty (Avila)
?????? Sikora?
Ricchetti or Serioux or Saragosa
?????? Davino Moor Rocha
Sala
Wes, no sorry. went Tuesday instead.
Saragosa at right back is either a total brain fart or total brilliance. No middle ground there. Being a defender takes a very different mentality than being a midfielder, even a destroyer like Marcello. If he can adopt that mentality, he could be great. Otherwise, look for lots of clearances to the feet of Terry Cooke and the like.
Btw, Cooper has signed at Rosenborg so now that’s a major hole too.
Great article as always Buzz,
Glad to see that you’re also a fan of Dr. Strangelove, one of my favorite movies
looks like the deal is really done or will be done by tomorrow morning….
http://www.rosenborg.info/article/6245
guess we will be REALLY short againt one of the best team this weekend,, real trouble coming
Rocha played a lot of DR in Brazil. He could work perfectly there.
I think Schellas needs to trade some players from where he’s strong, or doens’t intend to use the current guys while they have value.
Alvarez is one of the most naturally gifted left wingers in MLS….and FCD has him,, Shea, Wallace, Wagner and Toja who can all play left, and he’s complaing?
I think Hyndman needs to find a way to make the current crop work well togther, you know - coach them up - rather than rattle off a long shopping list of what he wants. That should be a long term plan….
They just interviewed Coop during the All-Star game and when asked about Rosenborg he froze and looked like a deer in the headlights before saying that he has to ‘keep his mind open for opportunities’. Then he said it again.
Bye, Kenny.
“It’s not exactly what’s I’d do”
So Buzz, what would you do?
The (potentially) dismal events of this week inspired me to think about things that could make this week even worse for FCD. (
http://www.los-toros.com/ )
Add your own. I’m sure there are worse fates than your top scorer and your top draw going abroad, aren’t there?
Good analysis Buzz. I’m thinking Cooper might not be leaving this yr, but certainly if he has a very strong second half, good luck keeping him then. Unless of course HSG steps up to the plate, which personally I’m praying for.
fcd/mls seems to be dismateling the team with the poss. exit of coop and toja. Hopefully there will be some good news from argentina and colorado
I don’t know if everyone kept reading to the end of the article but it seems that Rosenborg is chasing Brek Shea as well.
http://www.rosenborg.info/article/6161
Buzz,
I agree Schellas has to work with what he’s got for the rest of the season. I can’t see a big blcokbuster trade in August. He will be able to start molding the team in his image after November. So, I see a lot of lineup shuffling to see who wants to and who can play.
I think that the Cooper deal is going to be a January transfer rather than August (if it happens at all). Schellas may need another forward for next year. Or they could let Kenny go to Trondheim in December. That should keep him in Dallas.
Buzz,
What do I know???
FotballMagasinet.no reported today that Rosenberg is paying approx $1 miilion in transfer fees for Cooper. Neogitaitons are almost complete and he is supposed to join the team in August. That is if my transalation is correct.
Hey Buzz,
I cannot recall…how many national titles did he win with the 4-4-2 in college days? It was only 30 years…can you give me 1?
Let me help you…college soccer in the USA is boring. Even if he wins people will stay away in drives…because, point #1 it is boring.
LA draws the crowds not just because of the Englishman, and not because of their, ahem, remarkable defense, but because they play wide open and are fun to watch.
I will gag when they start making the passbacks so common in college ball “hey, nobody was authorized to do anything exciting!!!” Do what the coach says and be conservative. No offense but i would rather go back to watching baseball or golf (ok, that is not going to happen).
All this formation stuff strikes me as BS. If we are gonna lose stick Dom, Kenny, Ricardhino, Arturo up front and cut them loose.
If we loose so be it…but put on a better show. Welcome to the pros.
Kevin, please understand that I am not advocating here, I am trying to predict.
I agree with you that they need to put a pleasing product on the field.
I agree. I watch LA every chance I get. They are fun to watch.
Can Arturo defend? Teach him to defend and turn him into a left back ala Roberto Carlos