August 14th, 2008 . 5:54 pm . By: Buzz Carrick

He’s a southpaw. I don’t want you messing with southpaws. They do everything backwards. – Duke

It’s actually quite nice out today, mid 80s when I get to training, mid 90s by the end. Cunningham was talking about how hot it is and I wanted to tell him this is nothing. Wait till it’s 105.

I kept a close eye on Cunningham today to see if I could spot some of the quick burst returning and I am pleased to report that I see a step in the right direction. Jeff did a spring turn on a defender near midfield that was was breathtakingly quick. So that’s a step in the right direction. He’s a frequent interview request right now and listening in I can tell he’s really glad to be here.

News, Notes, & Observations

- Cunningham Story One: Cunningham wore a cowboy hat on the plane from Toronto down to Dallas and out to Pizza Hut Park. He wanted to break the ice with the boys and set a good fun tone. Word is he was quite the hit with the hat.

- Cunningham Story Two: Via his agent, he petition FIFA to wear a three digit number, specifically 101, but MLS said no. Thankfully FCD says he’s wearing #9.

- Cunningham Story Three: Columbus is the only MLS team he hasn’t scored against. He and Schellas are both aware he’s shooting for MLS goal 100 against his first team.

- Davino comes out and does a light jog, but does no visible rehab beyond that. If he starts rehab next week maybe two to three weeks he can play.

- Moor, Sikora. Burse, Shea, and Sala are all training full speed.

- Dax McCarty will return to Dallas this afternoon. Schellas says Dax won’t be in the travel squad on such a short window, primarily because people that worked hard to fill his shoes deserve the spot.

- Schellas says they still have one “line in the water” and are trying to land a left back prior to the closing window tomorrow at 5 PM ET. Schellas says they are looking at a signing, but my also have something in MLS. He also said that a right back might work cause he can then put Serioux back left if he has to, but given Schellas’ stated preference for Serioux at right back he is targeting a left back primarily.

- For your info, the MLS second transfer window will be closing tomorrow, but any player (from any league) out of contract by tomorrow can be signed up till the MLS Roster Freeze. Just as FCD could make a trade before the freeze date. The Roster Freeze Date is September 15th FYI. Only direct transfer for signed players is not possible after tomorrow.

- Cooper was left off the US roster, again.

- Anthony Wallace is still with the U20s.

- Schellas says this week they’ve been working drills in training for when the team goes down a man. Today they introduced the formation they’ll use then that happens. I don’t want to get into it to much as it’s a bit tactical heavy.

Catching up with Schellas Hyndman

Please don’t forget the translations are a bit.

Dax McCarty back today, you’re now in a different formation, how does he fit in?

I think Dax is a very smart player. I think right now he would probably like the fact we’re in a 4-4-2 cause it means he doesn’t have to come back and defend as much. It’s a much easier structure to understand as it’s a mirror image, what you do on the right you do on the left. And I think Dax could also put himself into the attacking midfield role. I think he really has the ability to do both those things and he brings a little bit of competition with Eric [Avila] and Bruno [Guarda]. Which I think is good.

Buzz’s Coach Speak Translator: Right mid and attacking mid.

Any thought on Dax playing defensive mid?

I think we have player who can do that. I think Dax, or any player, brings some qualities. But if you are going to replace someone you better understand that when you replace that person you may lose them. He may not be wanting to come back to quick. So I think Pablo [Ricchetti]’s a pretty good job with it. We’ve done well the last two games we’ll see how we do this game.

Buzz’s Coach Speak Translator: No.

With Cooper being a guy who likes to get wide, is Cunningham happy to be that central channel striker?

We just had the conversation yesterday with both our strikers. Kenny does like to drift, especially to his left. I don’t think it’s the best thing for a striker. But he’s finding success so what are you going to do? Tell him don’t do that or you’re not going to score more goals? All you gotta do is look at he goals he’s scored. So it’s a little bit of an issue here.

The bigger issues is that when he goes left, he gets in Victor [Sikora]’s way. Who we brought in to attack that flank. So what’s Victor doing, well being a soccer person and understanding the game, he runs into the middle. Now we got Kenny crossing to Victor, the tallest guy in the team crossing to the shortest guy in the team. That’s not what we want. So what we’re trying to do is ask Jeff to be a strike force in t e middle Cause you cant say never go out wide. If Kenny goes out wide we need a striker. Maybe Victor comes in, maybe the attacking midfielder comes in [Avila], maybe Andre [Rocha] comes in. So we have a little more numbers. I think you’ve seen that in recent weeks we’re getting more people in the striker force.

So I would like Kenny to be a striker where he can hold the ball, turn, and beat people. But I also don’t want to take away from the guy leading the league in scoring.

Buzz’s Coach Speak Translator: I can’t ask the league’s leading scorer to change his game, so the rest of us will compensate.

Where’s Sikora fit in the plans for this weekend?

I think Victor will be our starting left midfielder. One of the things I said to my staff yesterday, “I didn’t bring these guys in here to test them. To bring them in and say in two weeks you should be able to start. I brought them in to be instant impact players.” And if they are unable to do it, then I’ve got to pull them out and go with the players we’ve been playing with. But we wouldn’t have gone out and got those players if we didn’t think they could help us.

Buzz’s Coach Speak Translator: As a starter.

Training

A broad field, long passing drill that works switches, passing, crosses and finishing kicks things off. After that is a 10v10 possession game in a 30 yards box with two neutrals playing both ways. One team is a clear 1st team, here’s the set up.

Red: Rocha Cooer Moor Avila Wagner Serioux Cunningham Pitchkolan Ricchetti Sikora
Grey: Wileman Oduro Guarda Daniels Watson Dello-Russo Shea Saragosa Rhine Thompson
Green: Ricardinho Wadsworth

Up next is a 18 to 18 full game with keepers. Same teams as above, the two green players sit out. After about 20 minutes Schellas does a walk through of the new formation with the second unit representing an attacking team down a goal trying to beat a ten man team. Rico comes on to make it a 4-3-3 type aggressive shape (Shea at left back interestingly). Avila is “ejected” and Red now plays with 10.

Lineup Prediction

Ok all this week Cunningham and Sikora (when healthy) were with the first team. Moor ready to go, Serioux on the right, Wagner on left. No Davino so Pitch keeps playing.

Thought of the Day

At this point I am beginning to wonder if Davino will play again this season. Anyone recall how long Eddie Johnson took to recover from his broken toe? Long time, right?

Point being with a toe it’s hard to know what’s going on. It can effect burst and the push off for jumping. Davino ain’t exactly fast anyway. FCD says that Davino’s broken toe is a conventional broken toe, although I’m not really sure what the difference is.

If his recovery starts to stretch into late September, early October, we’ll being to see a virtual deadline when there won’t be time to get Davino back into the team and playing well. Not to mention Pitchkolan’s terrific form. If the team is playing well would it be fair to pull Pitch just cause Davino makes $400k?

Could be interesting if the injury lingers. Or even if FCD keeps winning while Davino’s out.

Categories: Practice Observations.

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