Match Preview: FC Dallas at Houston Dynamo
May 9th, 2009 . 9:29 am . By: Andrew TempleSaturday, May 9, 2009 – 8pm CST FC Dallas Season Record: 1W-5L-1D, 4pts INJURIES: – FC DALLAS — DOUBTFUL: MF Pablo Ricchetti (R foot); QUESTIONABLE: GK Dario Sala (L knee), MF Marcelo Saragosa (L hip) — HOUSTON DYNAMO — OUT: DF Eddie Robinson (L knee surgery); DOUBTFUL: DF Danny Cruz (nasal fracture); DF Wade Barrett (L hamstring strain) The Red Stripes’ 2-1 loss to DC United last week should be getting FCD manager Schellas Hyndman’s blood boiling by now. If it isn’t, then why is he still here, again? Well, if he wants to keep the (not so happy) supporters off of his back, he’ll need to start a positive streak (and fast) against Dallas’ orange-clad neighbors to the south in the Houston Dynamo. Two consecutive losses and the doubtfulness of FCD captain Pablo Ricchetti are going to make this matchup difficult for Dallas on the road. Expect Cooper to start up front again as Kenny moves closer to the title “Iron Man” at the striker position. It also appears as though Jeff Cunningham could join him up front for the first time in weeks as Hyndman looks to try something different after the club’s recent abysmal results. Dave van den Bergh should again set up on the left, with Andre Rocha at his opposite and David Ferreira between them in the midfield. With Ricchetti doubtful, Marcelo Saragosa could see the start at Ferreira’s rear. The Dallas backline is reeling from the fact that they’ve allowed a league-worst 14 goals in their nets and it appears as though they’ll continue to struggle with GK Dario Sala listed as questionable. Look for the possiblity of Drew Moor taking Saragosa’s place at right back, with Steve Purdy and George John set in the center (as Buzz has stated in his last Practice Observation, they are an inexperienced but bigger and stronger combination) and Blake Wagner on the left. Ray Burse should start again as goalkeeper in place of Sala against Houston. The Dynamo, fresh off of their first-ever league win against the New England Revolution at Foxborough, should give the Stripes a run for their money as they fight to keep their momentum. Brian Ching and Kei Kamara are expected to start up front for Houston, with Brian Mullan and Brad Davis on the wings, young Stuart Holden manning the central attacking spot, and Ricardo Clark behind him. Former FCD player Richard Mulrooney and newcomer Andrew Hainault should start as the outside backs, with Bobby Boswell (man, I loved Nickelodeon GUTS as a kiddo… gotta find that episode with Bobby the Shark, sometime) and Geoff Cameron in the middle as Houston’s backline will miss the presence of Eddie Robinson (knee surgery) and Wade Barrett (left hamstring strain). Another “Iron Man” of sorts in Pat Onstad will take the goalkeeper spot for the Dynamo, as usual. It’s desperation time for Dallas (in my opinion, anyway) and I expect to see FCD play like there’s no tomorrow, even if it isn’t yet necessary. Hyndman has clearly come short of even his first season’s expectations thus far and a lack of desperation would tell me that my confidence in him has been wasted. I really hate being a buzzkill (sorry, Buzz; had to throw that out there) but the two things I’ve yet to see out of this club at all are a lack of a killer instinct and the inability to stop even the easiest of shots. Not very difficult to point out these critical flaws, yet they still continue to occur and unless these problems are remedied soon, you can kiss this season good-bye already. This season is starting to remind me of an old Beavis and Butt-head episode where Mr. Van Driessen flies out of a school bus windshield during a field trip whilst playing a horrid hippie riff on his guitar. If Schellas Hyndman doesn’t want to share the same fate someday, he needs to smarten up, get behind the yellow line (or in this case, the orange line) and start playing a new tune… 15 Comments Comments RSS TrackBack Identifier URI Leave a comment |
“Not so happy” supporters is quite the understatement. “Mutinous” would be a better word. I’ll be cheering tonight as always, but dang, the odds for a win are long.
Good writeup, Andrew!
I can’t offer a better solution but if the predicted line up holds true i can’t see us coming close to a win. But ill be cheering us on anyway. Mutinous is right. I love this team but i am so frustrated right now
Thanks for the write-up. I look forward to there, and I agree with what you say.
I do have a comment – about the photo and header on the website. I do NOT see Ferreira as a bust (any more than saying vdB is a “bust” with just 2 assists). I think it’s more that the team, overall isn’t clicking — or the fact that DF has been played out of position, etc. Someone somewhere said that while we have talented players, they are not playing as a TEAM, but as a bunch of 1 v1’s. I think there’s something to that. Just my 2 centavos.
Argh! Make that “I look forward to THESE” (game previews).
wow are we just awful.
one shot in 96minutes really?
Our team sucks….REALLY sucks.
Only George John played a solid game, and he was the one bright spot on the entire team. He played his ass off. Everyone else was either mediocre or horrible.
The team has quit and is not even June. Bring on Oscar and try to salvage some positives from this year.
The team really battled last night unfortunately effort doesn’t make up for lack of talent.
“The team really battled last night”? Really? I don’ think we watched the same game. The team I saw was lazy, clumsy, and couldn’t string three passes together. What’s up with knocking the ball around lazily? Their fitness is terrible to top it off. This team is hard to watch.
Rich,
I also disagree with what you are suggesting. A few FC Dallas players fought hard. George John being the most notable. Dave Vandenberg being another. Dax for the few minutes he was on the pitch….otherwise, NO.
So many FC Dallas players were sending one lazy, thoughtless long balls after another into the opposition. The above comment captured it perfectly….this is a team that could not even string three passes together all night.
Folks, the back line is not our main problem, it is our possession game that is the worst in MLS. Our defense is not great, but no defense in any leauge can withstand chance after chance after chance for 90 straight minutes and expect to have a clean sheet. You have to possess the ball and not cough up possession in your deep midfield. You have to have an actual attacking game to keep the opposition on their heels a bit. Otherwise, it is only a matter of time before they score on you.
Went to the game and was shocked at how poor FCD was in the midfield. I disagree w/ Robert regarding VDB, he was at best a 4 or 5. Time to give Brek a chance at left and maybe swap VDB to right side. Nothing on the roster can help in the center of the pitch. The back line isn’t the reason for FCD’s poor defensive record. With the personnel available, I believe a formation change is in order to shore up the tissue strong central midfield. A 4-5-1 with two DM’s would be where I would start.
George John… yeah, he was solid all right, solid at sending long balls to the other team. I won’t even talk about Wagner. But as was said by Robert, the backline isn’t the problem, we need a midfield that can possess and move the ball up to an attacking position.
Went to the game and was shocked at how poor FCD was in the midfield. I disagree w/ Robert regarding VDB, he was at best a 4 or 5. Time to give Brek a chance at left and maybe swap VDB to right side. Nothing on the roster can help in the center of the pitch. The back line isn’t the reason for FCD’s poor defensive record. With the personnel available, I believe a formation change is in order to shore up the tissue strong central midfield. A 4-5-1 with two DM’s would be where I would start.