November 5th, 2008 . 8:31 pm . By: Buzz Carrick

I knew you had guts but I never figured you for brains. It takes a pretty smart man to know when to back away.- Joe the Ramirez Saloon Bartender

Another nice day to take in a FCD training session.  To bad there is nothing to play for.  I suppose it gives us a head start on our SuperDraft stuff.  Unfortunately today is a kind boring session to watch, but there are tons of notes and the coach had a lot to say.

News, Notes, & Observations

- Instead of another MLS team, FCD is going to hold an tntra-squad scrimmage next Wednesday in the main stadium. Time TBA.  Game will give Hyndman a last shot at evaluations of current team and a look at two trailists.  I believe it will be open to any fans that show up.  This is you’re last chance at some FCD action for the year.

- Two trialists show up tomorrow… both from Costa Rica, both currently playing in Norway with Bryne.

1. Daniel Torres - central defender who has played in MLS before with RSL. Ex-national teamer.

2. Carlos Johnson - right side defender/midfielder, still in the CR national team picture PR says.

- Josh Hernandez, the FCD Juniors midfielder is still her with the first team until he joins the US U20s with Wally and Lambo for a trip to Spain.

- Pitch and Rowland are both outside jogging and doing cone type rehab stuff.  Ricchetti comes out and jogs then goes inside.

- Also rehabbing inside are Serioux, Shea, Dello-Russo, and Saragosa.

- Serioux has been called by the Canadian National team for a World Cup Qualifier on November 19 against Jamaica.

- Emerson Hyndman is back, he’s been in Liverpool with his family for eight days, Liverpool want him to come back soon.  Might be a fight between Liverpool and Newcastle over who gets him.

- FCD upcoming Schedule…  exit physicals on the 13th and 14th.  Exit interviews on the 12th, 17th and 18th. 

- FCD reconvenes February 2nd and will be going to CAP and then Buenos Aires (River?) to train this winter.  Also there will be a stint in Florida probably before they go to South America.

- Eric Avila, Bruno Guarda, and Blake Wagner will be going to CAP for two weeks to train over winter break. 

- Pitch wants to go to Europe for four weeks, but doesn’t have a site yet, Hyndman says they will get him one. 

- Break Shea has multiple off season offers to train but SH is nervous about letting him go when he’s not 100%. 

- Saragosa will be heading home to Sao Paulo and will continue his rehab down there.

- Sala says he’s staying here and training hard this winter to be in top form both for himself and to be a leader.

- FCD did some fitness stuff over the last week including the “international” version of the beep test.  Schellas says Dax McCarty hit a 20 which is the top level.  Drew Moor also did a 20 and Burno Guarda 19 and a half.  Although I know he’s fit, I’m surprised that Dax was the top.  But I’m not half as surprised as it appears Schellas was when telling the story.

- Dax, by the way, is in his second week of not talking to media.

Catching up with Schellas Hyndman

Again, don’t let it slip your mind that the coach speak translations are a bit.

Thoughts on Drew Moor re-signing?

Fantastic, I think a Dallas player, a Dallas boy, a lot of similarities to Kenny [Cooper].  A good human being, a good person of character.  A good defender.  I think there’s a good upside for him.

Buzz’s Coach Speak Translator:  Dude, I’m totally stoked!

Do you want to see more leadership from Moor?

Absolutely.  I think he has it in him.  I think he has the capabilities.  A part of it is the confidence, a part of it is the language, not knowing if he can get through to some players.  But I think the leadership we’re looking for from players, you don’t really have to arm band to be the so called captain.  I think it’s just the leadership qualities to be the person who’s leading [by] demonstrating the right ways.

Buzz’s Coach Speak Translator:  He doesn’t need the armband to crack some skulls.

You’ve said Hitch does contracts, but you have a few that are trouble spots and could go “wrong,” how do you account for that in your planning?

I think I always do have… in this position I’m in, I think I’m a person of influence.  I can go and very easily say “you know what, we want to keep Kenny here.  Can we do everything we possibly can to make sure that Kenny is still part of this team.”  Cause we put what we think is a very good offer on the table, it’s still the players choice. 

And that’s where some of the best players in the world, Cristiano Ronaldo, are being courted and you try and find ways to keep them.  We try to make them, one feel like they’re wanted, two to feel their appreciated by the value of what their contracts are worth, and three feel they are a difference maker.  So if we can make those players fell that way I think the people that we want to continue to be here we are doing everything we possibly can.  But ultimately, the sky’s not the limit.  We have to have some kids of restrictions and some kind of player value.

Buzz’s Coach Speak Translator:  We made an offer, now it’s up to Cooper to decide if he wants to be here.

How many changes are we talking about?

I can’t give those percentage cause they wouldn’t be valid.  I think what has to happen is 6 weeks ago I projected what my team would look like in 2009.  In 2009 I know I need this player.  What are your good players? It’s real simple to know who your good players are, they are the one that everybody wants.  They’re the players everyone emails or calls me and says “we would like to know if you’re interested in trading this player.”  They don’t want the players that we’re confused about, they want the players that re good players.  So I’m using that as a sounding board too.  Every time Bruce Arena calls me and says, “I’d like to have this player, this player, and this player.”  Then I say, “this guy must be a good player.”

Buzz’s Coach Speak Translator:  A lot.

Speaking of contracts, Is Ricchetti a player you want to keep next year?

I think Pablo is an outstanding player.  I think he could be our best player.  I think he is a warrior, he’s extremely talented, extremely experienced.  He’s one that everyone in the league is calling about and asking, “how about Pablo Ricchetti, are you willing to move him?”  I think that’s a sign of how much people respect him.  At the same time there has to be some kind of value to where you are.  If the players under contract… and I think and I’m not sure, I think Pablo has one or two years left on his contract.  And one of the things that Hitch and I have talked about a couple of times is that, we need to understand that when players are under contract we don’t really want to be in a situation of talking about the next contract.  Cause what you do is you, if a player is in the last year of his contract you have to talk about the contract.  But if a player has two years left I don’t know…  players are always looking for the next contract and a better contract but I think they are under contract.  I don’t know where Pablo is with all that, but I’m sure it’s something Hitch will have to deal with at some time.

Buzz’s Coach Speak Translator:  Ricchetti is the man, good thing he’s under contract.

If he’s a player you need and can count on, then why not give him the raise he wants?

Cause at the same time we’re a team that’s not .500.  Where do I draw the line as to how many people I really like and making them happy.  I think what I have to do is let Hitch handle that.  I am a person of influence by going to Hitch and saying, “You know what, here’s what I want, here’s what I like.  Do whatever you can to keep Pablo cause I like him and want to keep him.”  Then it’s a contract and it’s a negotiation.

Buzz’s Coach Speak Translator:  If we were Champs there might be a case for raises all around.

Is Dax McCarty a player you want to keep for next year?

Dax is an outstanding player.  I think he’s one of the better players in this country.  I think he continues to grow with us, he’s a player that’s understanding our structure.  Daily wanting to fit more into our structure.  He’s a very important part of this team, he’s an important part of our future, he’s a player we would like to keep here at FC Dallas.

Buzz’s Coach Speak Translator:  Yes. Unless someone else wants him.

Training

Again lots of 1v1 defending drills.  10 yard alley about 20 yards long.  Second set was back to defender kind of work, posting up and turning.  After that a keeper was added behind the defender, so it was turn and shoot. 

Final drill was a fun game again, two goals placed back to back, two balls in play.  Could play in either half at same time. 

Blue: Davino, Wadsworth, Wagner, Oduro, Cunningham, Watson, McCarty, Daniels, Hernandez
Red: Rocha, Guarda, Emerson H, Cooper, Moor, Wallace, Sikora, Avila, Wagner.

Thought of the Day

It’s very important that the head coach not be the person doing the contract negotiations.  Last winter, according to our sources around and in FCD, much, if not all, of the contract talks got dropped in Morrow’s lap.  It’s allegedly what caused the fracture between the coach and Ricchetti, Toja, and Mina. 

Hyndman knows he can’t be negotiating with players.  You can see how adamant he is that Hitch handle that stuff.  Yet at the same time we know Hyndman has all the power to make the decisions about who will be here.  A “person of influence” he calls it.

In that context it’s interesting to me to see Schellas say exactly what Morrow said.  I’m paraphrasing a bit but… why should there be a raise when we didn’t win anything and shouldn’t it be expected for players to play out the contract they have?  If you didn’t want the money then don’t sign the deal.

It will be interesting to see if it works better this winter than last.

Categories: Practice Observations.

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