Game Grades: Chicago Fire vs FC Dallas
March 23rd, 2009 . 12:58 pm . By: Peter Welpton
2009 is here and, for the first time in a long memory, your FC Dallas squad arrives with, at best, guarded expectations. Really, this is a team in major transition and working hard to fit into the Schellas Hyndman ideal of how soccer should be played. Even the most hard-core Hoops fanatic knows that 2009 looks to be a struggle and the season opener proved that the coach and his troops have a long, long way to go. And by “long”, I mean, “long”. The frank truth is that Game Number One was a horrid spectacle of a soccer match. Neither team was very good. Chicago can’t be too happy with their performance either, other than that whole “three points” thing. Possession was in short supply for either side and turnovers were in abundance. FCD simply look like team they are – a group of guys newly glued together and some not in their normal positions. The most disappointing aspect of the team’s performance was that the new #10, and in Hyndman’s formation the KEY player, David Ferreira. It would not be an exaggeration to say that Ferreira touched the ball less than 15 times over the course of 90 minutes. The middle of the field was mostly bypassed with aimless long balls and poor passing down the flanks out of the back. Other than Cooper’s wonder-goal, which came after about eight minutes of zero possession, FCD have little to feel positive about because they did throw 20 shots somewhere near the Fire goal, but only the one was “on goal”. To be fair there was a fantastic sequence in the 36th minute where the team built the attack out of the back, worked a series of wonderful one-touch play that resulted in a Cooper shot that just whizzed wide. It was this sequence that showed what the team can do, but that only happened the one time. While Cunningham was unlucky to hit the post, maybe more than once, his overall touch was lousy. Cooper’s selfish side showed itself again as he attempted to beat an entire Fire defense several times while bypassing his open teammates. Midfield play was so sputtery that its hard to get a read on van der Berg or Dax, but at least both of them actually got into the game. In the back, the first appearance of Purdy and Torres was off to a very shaky start. It was a bit surprising to see Hyndman throw two new faces together to make up the center of defense and by the way they played it seemed like the two might have just met minutes before the match. McBride and Nyarko were able to find space and if it wasn’t for poor midfield play and passing the Fire would have had a lot more opportunities. The defense in general was finding it hard to keep their shape and sort out who was supposed to go where. The bottom line for Dallas is that until they find a way to consistently get the center of the midfield involved in the match, they are going to struggle. Everyone can expect that FCD will be subject to “how Ferreira goes, as goes the team” because the diamond shaped midfield absolutely requires a great performance from the #10 spot (see Guarda’s 2008 performances as an example of proof of the opposite). A lot of FCD’s problems in the back began because the team could not, and would not retain possession. It really is a domino effect. The play begins with a panicky long ball forward, which becomes a midfield turnover and a defense under siege facing a counterattack. Again, it’s only Game Number One. If MLS teaches us anything, its that a team can totally suck for a long time and still make the playoffs and the Cup match (see 2008 RBNY). There is a lot of talent on the field and by all accounts it is a roster that are up for the “Hyndman Way”. Getting Richetti back in the lineup will be a huge benefit and Hoop fans can hope that some gelling takes place in the back line. Grades: Sala – 4 14 Comments Comments RSS TrackBack Identifier URI Leave a comment |
Who’s Van der berg?
Yeah I would agree 4’s across the board for this group. Cooper ran a lot and accomphished very little. Moor was completely lost out wide and DVB had zero impact on the game. Lots of work to do before Chivas come to town.
“It would not be an exaggeration to say that Ferreira touched the ball less than 15 times over the course of 90 minutes. The middle of the field was mostly bypassed with aimless long balls and poor passing down the flanks out of the back.”
If they were mostly by-passing Ferreira . . . is this a disappoint with him? What should he have done to have more possession? It’s hard to have an impact if the balls are flying over your head . . . or was he not getting open and things like that? Just curious. It’s hard to get a real good perspective of the whole game from our stadium seats.
All in all, fair assessment. But I am not too disappointed . . . yet. I want to see this team play a real game with Ricchetti in his D-mid role. Then I’ll have a more concrete opinion.
This team is much different with Ricchetti controlling the midfield. So if you are saying that the FCD season is going to be “long” based on one game without the team’s Captain and last season’s MVP….well…..I’d have to say your analysis is lacking foresight and/or an understanding of the big picture.
DVB should be a little lower. Dax and KC were the best two players. Thanks.
Why does Sala kept punting the long ball over the midfield instead of “building from the back”? I think every time he did that it was a turnover. SH bitched about Rocha’s turnovers last year being “11 out of 22″. Well, Sala beat that easily on Saturday with his stupid punts.
I can’t believe you gave Drew the highest grade of the defense. 2 of the 3 goals were basically his fault (yes, on the first one he had help from Purdy but it was deflected off of Moor.) I’m usually a Drew Moor fan, but I have never seen him play so poorly like he did against Chicago. You’re also way too hard on Sala and Ferreira. At least Ferreira can keep possession, unlike most of our midfield. It will be a totally different team this weekend with Ricchetti always giving the ball to Ferreira. Then you’ll be talking about what a find he is. Sala had a very strong game. I thought he looked really quick (I was worried when I saw the brace on his knee) and had some great saves. Without him, it would have been much worse, and there’s nothing he could have done about any of the goals. Just unlucky. I’ve also always thought McCarty was the most overrated player on the team. He played the best I’ve seen him in a long time, he’s just so small and has trouble with a much bigger and more physical Chicago. He did get the ball stripped from him, just not as much as usual.
I agree with Hutch, I don’t think that Ferreira’s lack of touches was totally his fault, when he did get the ball, his first touch never let him down and he almost always made something out of it. I actually found him impressive.. he was also very fast. Perhaps with Ricchetti back in the line up we’ll see him get more involved.
Contrast that with Dax who saw a lot of the ball, but whose touch often let him down. He also flubbed a beatiful goal scoring opportunity (passed instead of shot) and got pushed off the ball several times. Not that Dax had a terrible game, the guy played his heart out.. definitely an A for effort.
Defense looked shakey all around, but I think not having Pablo didn’t help matters. Purdy looked very shakey to me.. but he did beat McBride to the high balls on several occasions.
I don’t know what was going on with DvB, but we’d didn’t see the same kind of flank play from him that we did in the CAP game. Might be my bad memory, but it seemed like we went down the right hand side via Cooper on most attacks.
Moor and Ferreira were graded too high, otherwise good insight
I would had given a 4 for sala and wagner as well.. Chicago played 70% of their ball(at least) on wagner side, bc they knew he is not good defending… Would had given Guarda a 5… he didnt make any mistake, none of the guys he had “part” on it and he seem to be everytime were he needed.. for DVNB i would had given no more than a 5… Dax for me was the best fc player on the field..
I would suggest a 100-point scale. Allows you more wiggle room.
If Pablo makes such a difference how did we miss the playoffs last season?? If it take a holding MF to get us over the top we are doomed.
ricardo,
We missed the playoffs because the rest of the roster wasn’t right. We didnt’ have any help on the wings and the defense was a hodge podge. In addition, Morrow set this team back months with his moronic tactical changes every 2-3 games. Then we had a coaching change halfway through the season and Schellas needed time to evaluate everyone in his system. Despite all this, Ricchetti was the most consistent player and the leader on the team. Not many teams can lose their Capt and MVP and not see a noticeable drop off in play. Furthermore, Chicago is possibly the strongest team in MLS, there isn’t a team in the Western Conference that is close to Chicago’s level of play. We’ll be fine….we’ll make the playoffs without a problem.
Well put, tex.
I maintain that even without Pablo, this game wasn’t as big a disaster as the scoreline and commentary suggest. Granted, I didn’t watch the entire match, but of the 30 minutes I watched here and there on my DVR, it didn’t appear that Chicago was dominant overall. During his few touches, Ferriera showed quick decision-making and toughness on the ball. His pass to Cooper just outside the box was a stunningly fast transition and perfectly weighted. Once Ferriera gets to know his teammates and vice-versa, I think he will do very well.
Yes, the defensive lapses were troubling, but you’re not going to see a handball in the box issue like that very often. Purdy has to be sharper and/or the FO has to sign another defender, though.
Remember that FCD hit the post on a couple occasions in this game. They were inches away from points with new players still learning their roles, and without the captain, against a very solid team.