August 12th, 2008 . 5:37 pm . By: Buzz Carrick

I’m the T-O of soccer. – Jeff Cunningham

I think someone needs to get Cunningham one of those T-O t-shirts. The “I love me some me” one would be funny, but the “I score” one might be better (not on sale yet?). And yes he really did say that today, but it was tongue in cheek, light hearted way and not in a serious, “I the Man” kinda way. Look in the Star-Telegram for something tomorrow I would think for some good quotes from him. I’m gonna wait a week to interview him, let he get a better taste of training since this was his first day.

And what a nice day it was. Not much more than about 80 degrees at most with little rain showers coming through for about 30 minutes in the middle of the session. No biggy for the players to train through that, nor for me to watch since they have this nice little media tent since Schellas took over.

News, Notes, & Observations

- Break Shea is rehabbing hard on the sideline. I’ll b shocked if he’s not cleared this week.

- Anthony Wallace is missing with the U20s for their two games coming up with Guatemala.

- Drew Moor and Victor Sikora both sat out training and rehabbed on the side then iced their respective right knees. Both had slight soreness today from something yesterday and were pulled as a precaution. Schellas sad both are no big deal and both will be back training tomorrow.

- Bobby Rhine is back in training. I bet he needs more than a week to be back in competition.

- Duilio Davino is still out.

- Dario Sala trained with his knee taped but looked no worse for the wear.

- Ray Burse also went full speed so he’s good to go pending a reaction.

- Adrian Serioux spent the entire day working at right back, so that move looks permanent.

- Dello-Russo continues his remarkable transformation over that month, he’s looking really good again today.

- Ricardinho spent a lot of time at wide right midfield this session.

- If you’re into numbers like I am, credit to Schellas Hyndman and Equipment Manager Marcus Owens for not letting Cunningham wear that moronic #99. He’ll be wearing #9 and Sikora #12.

- Instant Scouting Report (Just Add Water): Jeff Cunningham. OK so you know who Cunningham is, but I figured I would tell you how he looked. He looks to be missing the quick burst, I hope it’s cause he just got off a plane, if it’s fitness Hyndman will fix that fast, if it’s age… oh well. Outside of that though he looks pretty good. In the 20 minute scrimmage he scores 2 goals. He’s very savvy and composed in front of goal. Several player remarked on it. He works hard today and looks happy to be here. I’m optimistic, especially if he can find that lightning fast burst.

- Dan Hunt stopped by training, he was at the PHP offices for the by-weekly HSG meeting with FCD. Hitch came down to watch training with him, they both stayed out about an hour even with the rain. Hunt wanted to talk to the team in the locker room after, so I couldn’t get any mike time with him. I did grab Hitch through, so look for a short Q&A with him on the site… probably tomorrow.

Catching up with Schellas Hyndman

Please don’t forget the translations are a bit.

First impression on Cunningham?

You know what, he’s a proven goal scorer. I think in our little scrimmage here, we went for about 22 minutes, he picked up two goals. So I think he’s got the speed, he’s got the experience, he can hold the ball as well as anybody on our striker force. I think he could be that player we need to make a difference.

Buzz’s Coach Speak Translator: He’s still got game.

How long before Cunningham and Sikora get a shot at the first team?

Well it won’t be long at all. You know, what I said to the players when I introduced Jeff to the team is that the puzzle is getting more and more completed. Which means that these are the people that we have been looking for to fill those holes. I think Victor is a left sided midfielder, we gave up our left sided midfielder in Arturo, for the idea that Victor was coming in. How long would it take them to start? They both could be starting this weekend, it’s open.

Buzz’s Coach Speak Translator: How’s Saturday sound?.

What do you think goes into the leap forward progression of a young player like Dello-Russo?

I think it’s a combination of a couple things. I think it’s a breath of fresh air, meaning a new leader who is looking for something different and all of a sudden you have a chance to start fresh. You haven’t been pigeon holed. I think the other thing is that what we do is pretty simple, there’s a simplicity in what we’re trying to get done. So it’s an understanding of your role, it’s an understanding of your job description, and with that, if you can do that, it build confidence. And I think that’s where he is right now.

Buzz’s Coach Speak Translator: It’s all coaching. I rule.

Cunningham is well traveled with a reputation for butting heads with coaches, how will you handle a guy who is perceived as a trouble player?

You know, neither of us have worked with him. I think it’s a reputation that comes. It’s sorta like when you pay a player $500,000 you are going off his reputation and resume, and sometimes they don’t live up to that expectation or that resume. So with Jeff, whatever issues he may have had with others, this again may be a breath of fresh air and this may be the right environment. John Ellinger and he are close, and John on the first day of my job said, ‘we need to get Jeff Cunningham in here,’ so it’s taken us about six weeks, seven seeks, to get him in here. I don’t foresee any issues with Jeff as long as he does his role and his job, and as long as… even to the point if he’s not even scoring goals. As long as he’s doing his job and his role where other people are finding ways to score goals and we can win. I think that should be the thought he should be getting, is how to help this team win. Not so much Jeff score.

Buzz’s Coach Speak Translator: If he does what he’s supposed to do then no problem.

Serioux on the right again, so is that where he’s gonna be?

I would hope so, I really like him on the right. It opens up his hips, he’s able to play diagonal balls and play balls up the flank. He’s a neat guy and I think he’s been playing out of position for years just because of the situation. I like him on the right side and I hope that’s where he’ll be this weekend.

Buzz’s Coach Speak Translator: Yup, no more rightly on the lefty… at least in the back.

Training

After the warm up and stretching the team did a 6v6 possession drill with the third group being a natural set on the outside of the 30×30 yard square. Grey had an odd umber of players so Ferruzzi would either jump in or sit out to make even numbers.

Red: Cunningham, Dello-Russo, Serioux, Ricchetti, Avila, Wagner
Blue: Oduro, Wileman, Rhine, Daniels, Wadsworth, Cooper
Grey: Rocha, Saragosa, Pitchkolan, Watson, Guarda, Ricardinho, Thompson

Next up was a 20 minute scrimmage 10v10 with a neutral player (Avila). Each team was missing a center back. Balanced groups, no clear first team.

Blue: Thompson Cooper
Wileman Guarda Ricchetti Rocha
Wagner Pitchkolan Serioux
Burse

Red: Oduro Cunningham
Watson Wadsworth Saragosa Ricardinho
Dello-Russo Daniels Rhine
Sala

After that was a split squad to work on crossing and defending of crossing. Schellas worked a drill with one defender marking two forwards and a midfielder while 4 players crossed various balls in. Tough drill for the D that one. Elligner worked the offense of the team on a conventional drill with wide mids crossing to two strikers and a crashing attacking mid.

Hyndman Group: Saragosa, Daniels, Dello-Russo, Rocha, Pitchkolan, Ricchetti, Rhine, Wagner
Ellinger Group: Wileman, Guarda, Avila, Ricardinho, Cunningham, Thomson, Oduro, Cooper, Watson, Wadsworth

After the dreaded tunnel of love; which is about fitness, mental focus, and concentration when exhausted; there was some post practice finishing devolved into attempts at bikes by a few of the young players for fun.

Lineup Prediction

Ok so Schellas says Cunningham and Sikora can go straight in. Moor should be fine. Serioux staying right, which means Wagner left. No Davino so Pitch stays in.

If Moor can’t go, look for Serioux central with Dell-Russo at right back. If no Sikora, then Saragosa should be left in midfield again.

Thought of the Day

I’m really blow away by the massive leap forward Dello-Russo has made. I can’t recall if I’ve said this but this spring I assumed it would be Dello’s last year with the team. He just hadn’t progressed much since coming here. This last month?

BOOM! The guy has exploded. He’s gone from no shot, to ok now you can come on as a sub if you have to, to competing for playing time, in a immensely short window. His defending is way up and his ability to get forward to cross or create danger has gone form non-existent to high impact. He’s even developed an impressive long range shot and become a free kick option for the reserves.

I now think he’ll come into next spring and compete for a starting job at right back.

Categories: Practice Observations.

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