July 30th, 2008 . 2:18 pm . By: Buzz Carrick

Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition. Our chief weapon is surprise. Surprise and fear… fear and surprise. Our two chief weapons…- Cardinal Ximinez of Spain

When I started out this morning it was about 86 downtown, but by the time I got to Frisco driving through the font the temp had dropped to 79. What a beautiful day for training, by the end of the session it wasn’t even 90 yet.

Each regime changes the way things work at training. Dir and Jeffries would let the media (read me and T-Lo) stand anywhere we liked. We would follow the team around the training ground and stand right next to drills to watch. Clark and Morrow didn’t let people walk out onto the field, but we could wander the sidelines and stand next to them on the side of the field up close and watch. Except in scrimmages were Morrow didn’t like anyone standing near the team bench, Clarke didn’t care about that.

Schellas, or more specifically Ellinger who is always the one who complains, don’t want media anywhere but in the far corner of the field near the gate where they set up a little tent to coral us under (love the tent by the way, so much cooler under there). Admittedly there are more media these days so it can get busy. But I cant see crap down there and I am trying to evaluate players, I’m not just writing a fluff interview piece. So instead I have to walk down around the fence and elbow in among the fans.

It’s certainly not a big deal one way or another (I just find it oddly strange to care about it since I’m literally 6 inches from where I would be standing inside the fence.) I only mention it cause it’s the fist change in operating method from the new staff as Schellas puts his hand into every facet of the team operation. There will be more changes I’m sure, probably this off season. It’s interesting to me how things change over the years.

Sometimes I miss the days it was just two or three of us and our tiny little FCD media world.

News, Notes, & Observations

- Guest keeper: Bryant Rueckner. USCB keeper, US U17 residency.

- Patrick Shamu played for FCD in the reserve game Monday.

- So did Jamie Watson, and Ellinger asked him to stick around this week. Jamie’s been playing PDL in Austin for the Aztex, a team that’s going to go USL-1 I understand. Jamie scored 8 goals in 13 games for them.

- Dario Saintus, ex-SMU also played for the reserves Monday.

- Speaking of the reserves, they play RSL this next Wednesday in a make up reserve game.

- Burse is rehabbing today, and looks really limited in his movement. Not even close to game ready to my eye.

- Toja rehabbed today. Schellas said he could have trained but they are being cautious. I am enough of a cynic to think the “injury” was a pre-transfer holdout, but today I saw him talking with Josh the trainer about range of motion and the direction of the pain in his calf. So I think it’s legit.

- Speaking of Toja, the talks with Steaua are “progressing.” If I were a betting man I would put money on him leaving. He joined in some running at the end of training.

- Bruno Guarda is here. He can’t play till he gets his visa. He looks good today, fitter and quicker than some FCD players, but not up to his peak. They are likely giving him the #12 just vacated by Alvarez. The 3, 9, and 18 are open but aren’t likely #s for him.

- Speaking of Alvarez, who was traded yesterday, he’s going to wear #17 with SJ. Since his #11 for them is occupied. Schellas said SJ wasn’t the only team to come in for Arturo.

- Assan Jatta is still here, but I’m not impressed. Schellas said this was his best day, which isn’t saying much. Most training drills are small field where he can’t do much, frankly I wasn’t much impressed. His best stuff would come on a large field where he could extend people. Schellas says he’s not the first option and much will depend on who else they can get… or not.

- Negotiations continue with Victor Sikora, Schellas said things are moving forward with him. If I were a betting man, I would anticipate him joining the club next week. As a side note, in the discussion of open numbers, someone mentioned FCD was holding the 18 open. I bet it’s for him.

- Two trialists are coming in from River Plate. Lucas Gomez, a 21- year old forward, and 19-year old Lucas Malacarne, a left-sided defender. They should both be here end of this weak. Schellas says negotiations are taking place to get details worked out and this will be his chance to look at them both. If Schellas says yes the deals should be in place already. So how would they fit on the roster and get done before the deadline? To quote Schellas, “There’s nothing we’re gonna do we haven’t thought about ten times. We already have an idea, it involves people, and they’ll be the first to now.”

- Arturo Alvarez dropped by to say goodbye to the team. Good kid, he seems to be looking forward to a new scene. Schellas was very up front with him about how he thought Artie was a good player, but just didn’t fit the system. He talked to all the media so I’m sure there will be plenty of quotes tomorrow.

- The two remaining FCD draft picks, Yannick Reyering and Ben Shuleva, both have had setbacks in their injury rehab. Both are not going to come in this season. Shuleva took a job with Fidelity in Boston and wants to come out this Dec or Jan for a few weeks. Reyering, the one I am far more interested in, will most likely come in next spring with any new picks.

- Wadsworth cam be quite impressive in really tight space. He dribbled through about 3 people at one time on a couple occasions today.

- I’m sure you know by now, but Dax McCarty is with the Olympic team. Josh Lambo, Anthony Wallace, and Brek Shea are with the U20s.

- Schellas praised both Dello-Russo and Wileman for their effort and a not drop off in play when they both came in. He had told Wileman, “Good news, you’re dressing out, bad news is you’re not going to play.” And then when he decided to put Chase in Schellas told him, “Whatever you do, don’t ask Beckham for an autograph during the game.”

- Schellas stopped training several times to talk to Avila about position and shape.

Catching up with Schellas Hyndman

Please don’t forget the translations are a bit.

Is there less distraction with Cooper theatrics over with Hitch’s announcement?

Yes, absolutely. That’s been a huge distraction since I been here. We’ve always had to deal with that in a honest fashion of, it’s great for Kenny to have interest, he deserves it. But I can say that we’re trying to get ourselves in the playoffs. Hopefully compete for a championship down the road and we need our All-Star players to be with us. I think Kenny’s the poster boy for this team, not only for his work ethic, but for the quality of player that he is. He’s a wonderful ambassador for the team, he’s also a Dallas boy, and we can’t have three poster boys. If we lost Kenny I think it would be a blow to the team. I’m glad we’ve finally been able to work it out and make a decision that we need him for the rest of the year. And we’ll begin negotiations and talks in the next window.

Buzz’s Coach Speak Translator: What a soap opera that’s been?

Not speaking of Cooper specifically, any thoughts on using a DP on an American or is that for a big foreign name?

I’m open for either way. I think the league also has something to say about that. So when you make a presentation on who you think your designated player is I think the league is also gonna say, ‘We agree with that value,” or “We agree with that choice.” I’m open now with all aspects right now. I think we’re one of the few teams that doesn’t have a DP player, so it would be nice to add some quality player to this team that’s for sure.

Buzz’s Coach Speak Translator: I want to use it on someone not already on the team.

Thoughts on Avila’s first start?

Absolutely great. Eric stepped in a point where Juan was injured and I told him that I expected him to play with great enthusiasm and to play with high energy. I also expected mistakes. But if he would stay within the team structure he would be on the field longer and I think he would have a good day for us. It was nice to see him in the midfield as the game went on to find how he was fitting in with more and more confidence.

Buzz’s Coach Speak Translator: The kid’s money, but I can rebuild him. We have the technology.

We’re seeing game by game improvement from Dom, has he done enough to not need another striker?

I agree with you that Dom has been improving. If I was in the stands looking at the FC Dallas last week and I saw Dominic for the first time I would have said, “Man, we need to get that guy.” He was tremendous speed, tremendous movement. Scored a tremendous goal, had another one off the cross bar. Combined well, what a great ball he gave to Kenny on that second goal of his. But I think what we need to do is get a little more consistency, and sometimes the best thing for making a player be uncomfortable or nervous is have somebody else who’s fighting for your playing time as well. Saying that Abe came in and scored a great goal. But I think I’m still open to picking up another striker.

Buzz’s Coach Speak Translator: No.

What are you looking for in a striker?

I just think we need somebody a little special. Someone who can be a finisher in the box. Somebody good at combining with Kenny. I look at Dominic in Sunday’s game, you know, absolutely great. But we’ve all seen games where he drifts. We need someone who can help us become that team. Just look at LA, You got Ruiz and Buddle, two very good scorers, then you got Donovan and Beckham, two very good attacking players… and you look at our team, who on our team can we put in that category. I think we can put Kenny in that category. But I think it’s hard to find someone in that category, someone to score ten, eleven goals. And this is not a knock toward any of our players, it’s just the reality. And I think if we want to be competing for a championship, whether it’s this year or next year, we need those type of player that opponents are… I mean when I put their starting lineup on the board our player paid attention cause they know these players and they know how dangerous they are. So we want to be like that.

Buzz’s Coach Speak Translator: I want goals. Goals and assists. The two things I want are goals and assists. And some speed. The three things I want are goals, assists, and speed…

Training

After the warmup and cones bit, the team did the 40 yard by 30 yard 6 pole goal drill again. Pass through a goal to a teammate for a point.

Red: Ricchetti Ricardinho Rhine Serioux Wadsworth Davino Avila Moor Jata Wagner Oduro
Gray: Thompson Daniels Pitchkolan Cooper Dello-Russo Saragosa Watson Wileman Rocha Guarda

After that te squad was split. Schellas took his half and played a 30×10 3v3 game with full goals

Gray: Wagner Dello-Russo Guarda
Blue: Rhine Saragosa Pitchkolan
Yellow: Cooper Serioux Rocha
Red: Jata Wileman Avila

Ferruzzi ran a 5v5 mini game with tiny goals. Two touch games.

Red: Moor Thompson Ricchetti Wadsworth Oduro
Gray: Watson Ricardinho Daniels Davino Ferruzzi

Last but not least was a full field game with both teams in a 4-4-2.

Gray: Cooper Thompson Avila Wileman Saragosa Rocha Serioux Davino Pitchkolan Moor Sala
Green:: Jata Oduro Watson Guarda Ricchetti Ricardinho Wagner Dello-Russo Daniels Rhine Reuckner

It looks liked Schellas spontaneously added a fitness drill at the end of the session cause the weather was so nice called “The Tunnel of Love.” Wileman audibly groaned when Schellas told the team, so it’s clear Hyndman ran it at SMU. It involves ten players with a ball spread out up and down a ten yard wide, 60 yard long “tunnel.” Run down passing, volleying or heading the ball and then run back… repeat until the coach decides you’re done. “The harder we work the less we work,” Schellas told the team. “You get me?”

It was an intense drill and I love seeing the coach drop the hammer like that. I think it separates the men from the boys. Or the heart and guts from the lack there of.

Lineup Prediction

More than any other coach Schellas doesn’t make his first XI call till the weekend, he mentioned today that he wanted to give Saragosa a chance a the spot so played him with the first team. Also looks like Abe and Dom are going week to week in battle for the spot, although with that LA game Dom surly deserves another go.

I doubt there will be any changes beyond Toja for Alvarez, Schellas said that spots probably better for Toja anyway and Juan will be there for TFC baring injury relapse. Could Wileman play left if Toja is out? Maybe, but I would bet on Saragosa out of position first.

Thought of the Day One

The Arturo trade was a good piece of business since he was never going to fit Schellas’ system. That was good value in return.

But on paper they overpaid for Bruno… unless you take into account Schellas’ evaluation. Given how highly Schellas rates the player, that was an ok price. So the only complaint will be if Schellas was wrong about Bruno… which, by the way, I don’t think he is.

Thought of the Day Two

I mentioned at the top about the increase in media. I find it somewhat ironic that despite the fact there are 3 or 4 times as many media around training these days, particularly Hispanic media of which there used to be none on a daily basis, there are less people in the stands. Notably a massive drop off in Hispanic fans.

I think it underlines the need for a less main stream media approach to reach the Hispanic market and more of a grass route approach employed by Andy Swift and Co. And to be honest likely the failure of the main stream media to reach soccer fans as well. Think underground., cool factor, grass routes, and gorilla marketing.

Thought of the Day Three

Just thinking out loud here… But once Schellas gets a left back, Serioux will be free to move spots, I still think he’ll start though. Serioux will either move to right back and let Moor move central, where Schellas said Moor was better. Or more likely Serioux will move to midfield where Schellas likes his intensity. Schellas also mentioned he’d like to get Serioux’s throw in more involved, which being in the MF would help do. By moving Serioux to the MF, Schellas can also put either Saragosa or Ricchetti at right back if he so chooses.

Categories: News.

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