Hyndman Doles Out For Bruno
July 28th, 2008 . 1:55 pm . By: Peter Welpton
Guarda has strong ties to the Dallas area after moving here from his native Brazil. Playing for the Dallas Texans on their 2003 Dallas Cup Championship and with Eric Avila on the IMG Academy in the 2005 Dallas Cup. He is a big fan of the FC Dallas coach and it is obvious he was really wanting to stay home.
This trade at first glance appears to come at a high cost. While the value of draft picks and partial allocations are to be debated, wrapping all three together is without question a lot to give up for a player with zero professional minutes. Considering that Hyndman hired John Ellinger to help him learn the “ways of MLS”, and Ellinger’s history of MLS dealings are considered by many to be, at the very least, questionable - it’s fair to wonder why so much for a player that takes a developmental roster spot. FC DALLAS ACQUIRED FORMER SMU MIDFIELDER BRUNO GUARDAFRISCO, Texas (Monday, July 28, 2008) – FC Dallas today acquired former SMU midfielder Bruno Guarda from the Colorado Rapids in exchange for the team’s natural 2nd and 3rd Round selections in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft and a partial allocation. “We’re very excited to have Bruno Guardo at FC Dallas,” said FC Dallas head coach Schellas Hyndman. “What he’ll bring to the team is that he has a great work ethic. Attacking he was one of the better players in the country at the collegiate level, and he really surprises you because he works so hard defensively to gain the ball back. Tactically he’s very sound; technically he’s very sound. He’s capable of penetrating with a dribble or the pass, and I look for nothing but good things from Bruno as he comes into the professional ranks with FC Dallas.” The Rapids won a special lottery to obtain the rights to Guarda on July 22. Special lotteries are conducted by the league among interested teams for players who are not eligible to be discovered and who were not drafted. Twelve of the 14 teams participated in last week’s lottery for Guarda’s rights. “I’m very excited to stay in Dallas,” said Guarda. “My first priority is FC Dallas, and my second priority is to finish my degree here at SMU, which I have two semesters left. But becoming a professional was something that I’ve been dreaming about since I was a little kid, and hopefully one day I can make everyone proud at FC Dallas.” The Brazilian-born Guarda scored 15 goals and added 18 assists playing in his three years at SMU for Hyndman. He was a Herman Trophy semifinalist following both his sophomore and junior years (2006 and 2007). Hyndman left SMU in June to become FC Dallas’s head coach. “Schellas Hyndman was a very good coach for me at SMU,” added Guarda. “He’s helped me go through many obstacles. I’ve lived here by myself these years, with my family back in Brazil. He’s always been a coach and a father for me, and I’m very happy and excited to play for him. I know what he can do, and he knows what I can do, so I’m excited for this opportunity.” The 22-year old moved from his native Brazil to the DFW area in 2002 to play for the Dallas Texans in the Dallas Cup. Upon receipt of his student visa, he attended Oakridge High School in Arlington for his junior and senior years. He was a member of the Texans team that won the 2003 Dallas Cup championship. In 2005, he was a guest player for the IMG Academy, teaming up with current FC Dallas midfielder Eric Avila to win the 2005 Dallas Cup U-19 division. Guarda will occupy a spot on the team’s Developmental Roster. Name: Bruno Guarda 21 Comments Comments RSS TrackBack Identifier URI Leave a comment |
This is a perfect situation for Guarda to play in, and no one know his ability to play in MLS more than his former and now current coach.
Schellas, you are the man.
The loss of the draft picks, especially for a player who some think may have ended up as the number one overall pick in next year’s draft, isn’t that big of a deal for FCD in my opinion.
As it stands, the club is one of the youngest sides in the MLS. With Alverez, Avila, Burse, Cooper, Rocha, Moor, Oduro, Shea, Toja, Wagner, and Wallace all under 25, the club is in little need of young players.
Ultimately I think the cost is negligible.
I thought I heard Guarda is a central midfielder…don’t we have an abundance of them? Why give up so much for a stacked position?
Hopefully my premise is off, but if not, it seems like Schellus let his personal feelings get in the way of business.
I rather see them make a “minor” mistake than not gamble on this guy. In the end, I have a feeling that he will work out here.
You forgot Lambo. He will take over for Dario not RayJ. We have three top notch keepers.
Peter… a 2nd and 3rd rounder for the first pick in next year’s draft is not out of the question. This club has so many young players that it’s difficult to play them as it is.
Question: don’t Dax, Avila, and Guarda all play the same AM position?
Draft Picks are assets, and you only have so much room for new players. Quality over quantity is how you make teams. Last year we got our 3 guys, and traded a 2 & 3 to Columbus for 2010 2 & 3.
In case you forgot, we have RSL’s (goalkeeper coach) & the Galaxies (Ruiz) 2nd picks this year, and at minimum Chivas 3rd (Nunez). So, this is great, we had too many picks, and used them wisely as the assets they are.
On a level, though, Welpton is right. Assets are assets, and this may have been overpaying. At this price, Bruno needs to be scrutinized on the level of a #1 overall pick.
I like this acquisition, but this only tells me that the FCD reserves will actually be able to beat the 1st team in practice now. I dont see where this guy will fit in, especially after Avila played like he did against LA.
Is he gonna replace Rocha, our famed player on loan from our CAP partners and risk pissing them off?
Will he play on the left ahead of Artie or Dax when he returns from the Olympics?
maybe he’ll be a linking player, but wait, we’re a 4-4-2 team now with Richetti, Saragosa, Wallace, Wileman, and even Serioux at that spot behind Avila.
SO confused.
Alvarez traded to SJ. I say good riddance.
Way to start off over paying for a guy who’s never kicked a ball professionally. Looks like Dallas is going to be a U-21 team. No playoffs for us this year.
and we got a great draft pick in return
actually, it will be the #1 draft pick next year.
Seems like alot of the naysayers here never actually saw Bruno play at SMU. IF YOU HAD, you would realize that this is a very shrewd trade on behalf of FCD.
Buzz,
Next time you get a Q&A with SH, (and since he will apparently just say what is on his mind), I would be very interested to hear him Compare and Contrast Guarda and Nunez. Why does he feel Guarda will be more successfully in MLS then Nunez.
Skeeter, you don’t have to wait for that answer it is easy - attitude. Nunez always acted like he was already a star. Bruno acts like a fan. If you didn’t know who he is you wouldn’t believe it from his nice guy persona.
Pegasus,
Have you seen Guarda Play? Care to give us a scouting report?
Skeeter I believe the main diference is that Guarda can attack and defend. He is good at counter-attacks like Nunez and also cares that vision of the game, Guarda likes to seat at middle of the field and give precise passes, sometimes risk passes like Nunez was. Guarda runs in a up-tempo and really hassle for the ball the whole 90th however he usually get some easy yellow cards.
Even thou Guarda is short he know how to head pretty well and understands the game. Also their “persona” as Pegasus mentiones is complete different. He likes to talk, make jokes and I seen him on the stadium many times talking with a lot of people.
Nunez was not willing to play which from what I heard Guarda is.
hope it helps
Thanks Phil.
I would still be interested to hear how SH would break them down since he has coached them both.
I wonder if our willingness to give up a 2 and a 3 and getting the number 1 overall of rAlverez is an indicator of a weak draft next year?
Jason, I dont think its gonna be a weak draft however we had too many picks since we got some from LA as well in the ruiz trade and we have already too many youth talent on our team so i dont think there is space for 3-4 more, instead I think they want 1-2 players that can have a real impact, prob a defender and 1 striker or left mid