January 31st, 2009 . 8:13 pm . By: Buzz Carrick

Let it begin! Let it begin! Let it *begin*! - Rhino 

And so it beings.  Another season of the joy that is major professional soccer in the united states.

Today is the kick off scrimmage for the 2009 version of FC Dallas.  The action takes place in the main stadium at Pizza Hut Park.  It’s an opportunity to see some of the new faces, do some evaluating, and for season ticket holders to pick out their seats.  It’s also a chance for me to drive the Jeep for the first time this year cause it’s beautiful out.

From the minute the teams line up it’s clear as day that these teams aren’t balanced.  FCD Red is as close to the first XI as you can get right now, although certainly there are quite a few missing pieces.  Blue is overmatched from the start.

But what I’m looking for is using this as an opportunity to put in what we’ve been working on, our defending principles and team shape.  So we’ve introduced our defensive team shape, or midfield team shape, we have yet to do our forward shape but at the same time a lot of my notes are just things we’ve worked on.  In fact we haven’t worked on anything offensively and they looked pretty good offensively, maybe I should leave that alone. – FCD Head Coach Schellas Hyndman

FC Dallas Red 7, FC Dallas Blue 1

Lineups, Formations, and Goals

I usually leave this kind of thing out of the Gaffer, but since there aren’t any game reports floating around beyond the FCD blog I figured I’d mix some of it in.  Both teams are in diamond 4-4-2s that FCD will be playing this year.  Red plays the same set with only a couple subs I’ll write in, Blue makes so many changes at the half I’ll write them up twice.

FCD Red

So as I mentioned that’s about as first team as it gets right now.  No Sala, not sure why he sat, although he did get a knock earlier this week at the end of the training session I went to.  Saragosa and Serioux are taking their comebacks slowly, as they should this early.  Rocha has not arrived yet (visa problem), nor has Torres (UNCAF Tourney).  Cooper is with the Nats.  Dello-Russo, who isn’t a starter anyway, is out with the broken nose.  And there is no #10 yet.  Anthony Wallace is recovering from a hammy injury. 

FCD Blue – 1st Half

FCD Blue – 2nd Half

1st Half

1-0 Watson, FCD Red - Wagner played up to Cunningham, who cuts inside and leads Watson.  Watson hits a looping shot back post.  Nice placed finish.

2-0 Cunningham, FCD Red - Ball is played into Watson who holds and moves across the top of the box and cuts the ball back across to Cunningham.  Cunningham is brought down by Woodberry for the PK.  Cunningham converts the PK shooting right.

3-0 Avila, FCD Red – Switch of the field, I think by van den Bergh, Avila settles and carries forward unchallenged.  Top right of box he fires a class finish.  It’s 10 minutes in and it’s 3-0.

4-0 Cunningham, FCD Red - Guarda plays a long ball over the top on for Cunningham.  Cunningham turns Pitch and goes inside then loops the ball back post.  After this goal at roughly the 15 minute mark Red lifts the pedal and sits back for the remainder of the half.

4-1 Bucknor, FCD Blue – To much time for McCarty in the final third.  He makes a blistering low pass into the 6 yard box to Bucknor, who had drifted off Purdy.  Bucknor traps and shoots as he is closed down for the goal.  Not pretty but a goal is a goal.

2nd Half

5-1 Rowland, FCD Red – Virtually off the kickoff.  I hadn’t even written down the changes yet.  Rowland about 30 yards out is given acres of space by Pitch.  Rowland turns and lobs Burse for the goal.

6-1 Rowland, FCD Red - Guarda with lots of time in midfield finds Rowland again virtually unmarked.  Rowland turns and fires for the goal.

7-1 Luna, FCD Red - Turnover by blue eventually ends up with the ball at Luna’s feet on a break away.  Burse charges Luna scores with a class finish.

El Bueno (The Good)

Jeff Cunningham looks terrific today.  He’s noticeably sharper even compared to last week.  That’s a good professional example to come in and get fit and take a step forward that fast.  With two goals and an assist he’s Man of the Match.  After he came out, Cunningham spent about 20 minutes running around the field while the game was going on.

I think that’s an experience pro for you.  You talk about god given genetics.  He continues to keep his pace, speed, and his quickness as he continues to get into the age issues.  Last week he was building and pacing himself a little bit maybe and as we get into that competitive environment, a beautiful day, he loves this kind of climate, I thought he looked really sharp today as well. – Hyndman

Pablo Ricchetti was pure class today.  Never really visibly busting his ass but always in the right spots, showing for teammates, holding possession, transitioning play, and breaking up the opposition play through the middle.

Another player who’s on a different level was Dave van den Bergh.  Pure class. His instincts are so different than all the American players.  He hit some terrific passes and created some great opportunities.  He also went 90 minutes which is great to see.

The one this is, and it’s pretty obvious, what a difference van den Bergh is.  not only is he whipping balls in for strikers, but he’s on the end, or start, of the process.  I though he and Blake were getting better, feeling each other out.  You know every coach wants a player like a Dave van den Bergh.  Cause you don’t really have to put a lot of time into him.  He comes right out and performs. – Hyndman

Another solid performance by Jamie Watson, worked his tail off, combined well, defends as a forward, and even played some solid right back in the second half.  After the signing of Bucknor one might have been tempted to think Watson will be the odd man out at forward.  But then today he started with the first team next to Cunningham ahead of both Marosevic and Bucknor.  Jamie had a nice goal early and a good assist to set up Cunningham for the PK foul.  Watson might have been man of the match if he had scored a point blank goal on a cross from Cunningham, although to be fair he got hammered from behind as he was shooting. 

Blake Wagner has taken a step forward.  He’s clearly more confident and composed.  It was always mental with this kid and he looks really nice today.  Is it the experience, playing time, training in Brazil, presence of van den Bergh?  How about all of the above?  Whatever it is, it’s a big step in the right direction.

How do you get better is you’re not going to be getting the games?  So he’s got the games and so now he’s coming out a little more self confident, he understands his role.  This is defensive shape we’ve been talking about, this is where we were with him last year, he just never had a preseason.  – Hyndman

Fascinating watching Brek Shea playing holding mid. I really like him there, much more than I do as a center back or left back.  Shea has such massive range and physical presence.  He was all over the place. Popped up in the box in danger spots about four times in the first half.  Got overextended wide once or twice, but there’s going to be a learning curve there.  I’m really excited to see him back in the midfield and for a first time he was fantastic at holding mid.  The left back I wasn’t as hyped about, if he’s gonna play left I want to see him at left midfield.  Van den Bergh having similar body type should be a great player for him to model his game after.

You know we worked awfully hard to get more center backs and Brek was part of that center back group last year.  I do think he’s probably a better center back than he is a a flank player or midfielder, but for this game game we wanted someone who could give us a competitive hold in the position.  And the second thing is with the under 20s right now they’ve got him as left midfield and I think part of it is he hasn’t really bought completely into the separation of club and under 20s.  So we’re not trying to confusing him right now.  I think he’s really focusing on the under 20s. – Hyndman

Very solid performance by Drew Moor who is not the due facto leader in the back.  He’s the vocal organizer now and his demeanor has changed to a stronger leader type presence.   Love the new number.

One or two small mistakes by Steve Purdy but overall very promising.  He’s got recovery pace and some real size and strength.  He let Bucknor drift away from him for the only blue goal, but he certainly brings something that was missing last year.

I wanted to see Steve Purdy, cause he’s been training with the second team.  We did a little bit of a scrimmage yesterday and he was with the second team.  And I thought today he adds something to our defense.  The speed, strength, the power, the distribution. – Hyndman

Over all a good game by Eric Avila.  He was dangerous and got forward with effect quite a few times.  Disappeared for a few stretches, but out wide right that can happen.  It’ll be interesting if he stays out there as Rocha’s understudy this spring.  Once Rocha gets here that is.

During the first half I wasn’t that impressed with London Woodberry at outside back.  I’ve seen him there before and it never wows me.  Then in the second half they put him at left mid and it was like the light came on.  “Ok, now I see it,” went though my head. The kid is an effortless runner and can go by guys with the ball.  He also wants to combine and get forward.  There’s some real upside here and a perhaps a bright future.  Could he be the first Junior to make the jump to FCD?

I really wanted to get my first glimpse of Ruben Luna, he’s scored 20 goals for the FCD Juniors 16s.  My first impression is Carlos Ruiz like.  Not notably fast or skilled, no tricks with the ball.  All he does is score.  He’s what, 15?  That was a class goal (although credit to Ray Burse for not hammering the kid when he perhaps could have).  Doesn’t look out of place here.

El Camino Central (Middle of the Road)

Bruno Guarda was a bit hit or miss today.  The defensive effort is of course always there and he sprung some people with his passes, but if he’s going to prevent Hyndman from signing someone else he’s got to be able to beat people on the dribble too.  Will still be very good in a few years.

Sean Bucknor I was a bit disappointed by, but not through his own fault.  He’s a big athletic kid who wants to play high with his back to goal.  He wasn’t bad all things considered.  The reason I’m disappointed is that with the loss of Oduro I think FCD is a bit short on pace in the forward ranks (other than Cunningham), they need a player that can stretch the field and the defense.  Bucknor didn’t do that.  Instead he plays a bit like Toni Nhleko in style. That’s fine, it’s just not what I wanted to see.  Maybe I’m being to harsh.

He’s a player that didn’t play last year.  He was ineligible at Tampa.  He hasn’t played in over a year.  But you look at the size.  6-3, close to 200 pounds.  Athletic, fast.  And he had once good chance and he finished.  You gotta like that.  He was tow years at a junior college and scored like 28 goals each year.  So obviously he can score, now that’s a different level and I know that, but they’re still goals.  I think we’re going to see a work in progress with him.  It think that after six weeks of spring training he’ll be a different player. – Hyndman

Full credit to Dax McCarty.  He’s putting in a real effort to do the defending Hyndman wants. He’s tracking players better and putting pressure on people.  Unfortunately he had so little help most of the game and while he tried to direct traffic and straighten out the midfield he never was able to really get it going.

Peri Marosevic was exactly as he was at the combine.  When he got the ball he was blue’s most dangerous striker, but didn’t convert.  At this point he’s not better than Watson.  He does some hard work to get things going it’s just not polished yet.

Bradlee Baladez and Victor Ulloa were ok, not terrible.  Baladez I had high hopes for given how jazzed I was about him last time.  Although he wasn’t as strong this time I still really like him.  Baladez is on the 18s, and Ulloa on the 16s.

Adrian Chevannes. Upside: he can really run and get forward with the ball.  Downside: the defending ain’t good.  And the combination in total ain’t enough.  Cool hair though.

Kevin Ouma has some raw physical tools, but the soccer isn’t good enough.  He’s not better than Bucknor and that won’t get him on the roster.

Lambo and Burse were hard to evaluate cause the Blue D was so bad.  Both got exposed frequently by their team.  Burse did have one real nice side to side save.

Juan Guerra is an interesting player.  He’s got some skill, although he was out of place on the right side of midfield again.  In years past this is the caliber of player who makes the developmental squad and in a season or so is a good role player.  Not any more, there’s just no room for him.  He works hard, plays defense, and tries to combine… that’s a good base skill set to build from.  Someone in the USL will get a good player by picking this kid up.

No Tan Bueno (Not So Good)

Other than score twice Jeff Rowland contributed little to the game.  He should have had the hat trick though as he missed a point blank unmarked header on a corner.  Let’s be honest though the guy can finish.

JD Binger had a nightmare game.  Really hurt himself with this one.  He’s got some size and it’s to slow.  If you could coach him for a year or two he might make a Pitchkolan 2.0.  But that’s not worth the effort it would take.

Unfortunately Pitchkolan didn’t do himself any favors either.  He just seemed halfhearted today with no fire.  Yes his back line was crap, so it’s not all on him.  But I’m afraid he’s done the same math I have and can see the danger signs.

Chase Wileman wasn’t bad, that’s not why he’s down here.  But he’s hurt and that timing is going to kill his career with FCD.  There’s just no time to get fit and prove himself.

Questions?

Will FCD keep five forwards?  With US WC Qualifying, the Gold Cup, the Confed Cup… Cooper… and U20 Qualifying and Championships… Marosevic… this year they might need to.  Cooper, Cunningham, Watson, Marosevic, Bucknor.

Is there room for Pitchkolan on the roster?  Moor, Purdy, and Torres all ahead of him and George John was just drafted in the first round.  First rounders are almost never cut.  Include Brek Shea and even Arian Serioux as center back cover and the odds are long.  Include the log jam at holding mid with Ricchetti, Saragosa, Shea, McCarty, and even Guarda and it might be the end of days for Pitch.  No player has worked harder and been a better team player, he doesn’t deserve it.  But the shortened roster may have killed him here in Dallas.  Bottom line, he’s gotta out play Torres or Purdy this spring.

Does Purdy have enough to start right out of the gate or will it be the experienced Tores.  Without him being here I still bet on Tores.  There is a reason they signed him after they already had Purdy.  Believe it or not it also matter they gave Tores #4 and Purdy #25.

I think the team will improve with the defensive shape and the payer we’re acquiring, as you know Torres is coming, so that’s another good defender for us.  Adrian is going to be coming back to the team.  Marcelo is coming in.  People are going to be fighting.  People are going to be fighting for playing time that had it last year.  It’s an issue every coach wants, make it competitive in training. – Hyndman

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