February 5th, 2009 . 8:58 am . By: Andrew Temple

FC Dallas (‘08 Season Record: W8-L10-D12, 36pts. 5th in Western Conference)

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Houston Dynamo (‘08 Season Record: W13-L5-D12, 52pts. 1st in Western Conference)

This preseason series against the Dynamo will give coach Schellas Hyndman a much deeper look at the squad he has been constructing this offseason than last Saturday’s inter-squad scrimmage gave him, and against a club fresh off of the signings of former PDL player Felix Garcia and goalkeeper Tally Hall, minus the departure of longtime leader Dwayne DeRosario.  How better to catch a first glimpse of FCD than against Houston, the rivals of the Red Stripes?

For the first leg in Houston, FCD will most likely start their strongest XI in the usual diamond 4-4-2 so Hyndman can gauge a possible starting line-up for the season.  Kenny Cooper is still training with the USMNT, so he should be a no-show to the match. Jamie Watson might start in Cooper’s place for this one, however Hyndman just might pair up Sean Bucknor with Cunningham to see how they can work together at front.  Peri Marosevic might also see some playing time with his speed, size, and abilities in the 18-yard-box.

Dave van den Bergh should take the left mid spot he was brought in to fill and Eric Avila on the right since Andre Rocha is still pending with visa troubles. Guarda could see the attacking mid spot to start this match to give his coach a clearer view into their development during the offseason as a clear starter for the position remains unknown.  Pablo Ricchetti should start in the holding mid position after an impressive 2008 season at that spot and a great showing at the scrimmage on Saturday.  He is surely a candidate for the captaincy this year along with newly acquired van den Bergh and Drew Moor, who has shown better leadership in the backline and should be one of the starting center backs in this one.

Steve Purdy, who made a couple of errors last Saturday, was however able to show some decent physical presence and recovery ability and could see the start alongside Moor in the center. Blake Wagner seems to have overcome some mental blocks from last year and also looks more controlled in the left back spot as opposed to last year, earning him the nod at that spot for now.  The right back spot really looks to be the toss-up for this match as no one in the scrimmage stood out much at that position and Serioux and Michael Dello-Russo are still recovering. Hyndman might very well go with Adrian Chevannes at that spot in this one for further evaluation into his trial.

Dario Sala looks to get the nod here despite getting whacked a few days earlier in training, with Burse possibly getting some minutes later on.

With Houston, the purpose for this match is very similar to FCDs, talent evaluation as well as the first view of a new-look squad.  With Brian Ching, Ricardo Clark, and Stuart Holden missing in action for USMNT duty, expect the Dynamo to start many of their new signings in this match, such as forward Felix Garcia (Who is finishing school), recent draftee midfielder Daniel Cruz (who is with the 20s), and Julius James, who was traded to the Dynamo for DeRosario in the off-season, to slide into defense.

Recently re-signed DF Bobby Boswell could also have a start in this one as well.  Due to the long list of injuries and MNT call-ups, the Dynamo have also brought in two new players specifically for this match and perhaps beyond in 23-year-old Canadian defender Andrew Hainault from Sparta Prague and the 30-year-old former MetroStars and FCD midfielder Eric Quill, although Quill doesn’t look to sign fully with Houston just yet as he is still mulling over a possible return to the sport.

Any strategy he chooses for either match, Hyndman and the 2009 FCD squad will have their first test against a Houston team that is determined to regain its championship form after a shocking 2008 playoff defeat at the hands of Red Bull New York.  These first two preseason matches will be essential for Coach Hyndman’s evaluation of the many trialists that have been invited to Frisco, as well as a first look at possible changes (if any) to the overall set-up of the team on the pitch and maybe even a formation change or two for experimentation purposes.  Who among the FCD faithful really knows except good ol’ Schellas.

One thing FC Dallas players, coaches, and their fans do know is that the 2009 MLS preseason is about to begin.

Categories: Match Preview.

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