FC Dallas forward Kenny Cooper and midfielder André Rocha have been named finalists for 2008 MLS Awards. Cooper is not up for the ward one might think, MVP, but is rather one of three finalists for the Comeback player of the year award. André Rocha is one of the three players up for Newcomer of the year.
It’s time for the final report card on the 2008 season. As usual these grades are based on performance but also based on expectations. Otherwise every reserve would be an F, which would be silly. Sometimes things that are not the players fault will harm their grade, but adapting to the circumstances and overcoming adversity are part of what it takes to be great.
With the season over you might think there aren’t a lot of reasons to go to training this week. Oh contraire my friends, there are plenty of reasons. First we get to see what the coach is starting to think about next year, second we (ok, I) get to talk to the coach more one on one and learn some very interesting things, and third…. it’s fun. Let’s face it, the weather doesn’t get any better than this for me to bring the Jeep out. What would you rather have done today, sit inside and work, or go to FCD training.
With little riding on the game and two red cards to really mess it up, it’s hard to take much away from this one. Dave Dir was also right that massive changes are coming to this team to re-make it in Schellas’ image. So really the only things to think about were the Golden Boot and evaluating Victor Sikora.
Video by Scaryice.
Look, I am bummed. This season has been miserable. Steve Morrow and the 3-5-2 seem like ancient history. Juan Toja? He played for Dallas back in the 90s, right? Arturo Alvarez… didn’t he retire?
Glenn Davis has a source…
FC Dallas has finally announced what seemed likely for some time, that Bobby Rhine will retire after this seasons final out in Los Angeles. Rhine notified the club and had begun telling friends earlier this week that he would be giving up his playing days. Few players amass a 10 year career in MLS, and an even smaller number do it with the same team.
Several juicy little bits in the Dallas Morning News yesterday.
What a beautiful day for soccer, temps in the 70s, partly cloudy, no rain at all during the session. With the team officially eliminated there’s not any intensity to training, but Hyndman seemed to want some. He kept asking for the energy to be stepped up and there was some response, but not what we are used to seeing. The coach is taking this last game quite seriously, and you better believe there will be evaluations based out of this game.