June 1st, 2009 . 1:04 pm . By: Buzz Carrick

I am building a fire, and everyday I train, I add more fuel. At just the right moment, I light the match. – Mia Hamm Garaciapara

Nice win.  First FCD roach win, second FCD win, first Chicago loss, and first FCD shutout of the season.  It certainly makes for a lot of good comments and plenty of things to talk about.  70 degree’s at game time.  Wish I had been there.

Our first 10 games we started out 1-6-3. This is the start of our next 10 games. Now we put those first 10 games behind us and use this to move forward. – FCD Head Coach Schellas Hyndman

FC Dallas 3, Chicago Fire 0

El Bueno (The Good)

- Interesting formation, credit to Schellas Hyndman cause it worked.  The five man midfield out possessed the Fire, and prevented Chicago getting the ball in the danger third.  But it’s hard to score from run of play in this shape.  All three Dallas goals came off set plays.  The 4-5-1 might not be a bad shape for the Texas heat, like a 3-5-2 it overloads in midfield and creates easier possession, but it still has a back four which FCD needs without real wingbacks.  This shape makes the opposition chase the ball to get it back and denies penetration through the middle, two things FCD has struggled with. 

- That shape isn’t all that different from the diamond 4 Hyndman loves.  The main difference is the off striker, Sanchez in this case, has dropped into midfield to play next to Ferreira.  Otherwise there is little difference.  It require more up top, but I’ll come back to that.

- One of the reasons, I believe, that Hyndman picked this shape was his lack of faith in McCarty as a holding mid.  McCarty repaid that lack of faith with a tremendous performance and was my Man of the Match.  McCarty was terrific in possession, linked really well and for the most part was accurate in passing.  He provided outlets from the back and FCD was able to play forward on the ground.  Dax limited balls to McBride, closed down Mapp and Husidic denying them possession as well.  Terrific, composed game from the young midfielder.

- Anthony Wallace, making his first start this year, was close to being MOM.  What a terrific performance.  It was exactly what I’ve been talking about from him in training since Kyle Davies got here.  Wallace was great getting forward, played defense sublimely, was energetic across the board and good on the ball.  Wallace also provided a lot of width, allowing van den Bergh to often play more central.  This is new Wallace.  I give credit to Hyndman for telling Wallace to “do something to change my mind.” 

- Cooper was really strong as the high central striker. You notice I didn’t say target striker, Cooper isn’t a target player. Today though he was more frequently in the central channels when balls came in, he was more often in dangerous spots.  This 4-5-1 also requires a ton of fitness up top as Cooper has to harass the defenders by himself, he did that well today.  He was also fit enough to stay on and play right mid late, making several runs forward.  His goal was such a key moment, as it killed the game off, something he could not have done if he had come out for Shea as has happened in the past here.  That goal was a difference maker making a difference.

- This is the first time in years I can recall FCD dominating set plays.  Seriously, when was the last time FCD did that?  Maybe in ‘99 under Dir with Graziani, Deering, Farrer, Dade, and company in the box.  Bobby Rhine might be right about mental fatigue making the difference (as he pointed out in his 0-4 TFC debacle story).

- You can tell Ricchetti is not 100%, but he still got it done.  Since Ricchetti moved to center back FCD has give up ONE goal, and that was against LA when Rocha didn’t play a lick of defense on the right wing and Donovan scored in minute three.  The lack of goals since Ricchetti’s move underlines the need for a smart, veteran leader for the back line.  A Gregg Berhalter type if you.  That might be need one in the next window.  Unless a holding mid is found that can cover the ground needed by the diamond four, then Ricchetti can stay in the back.

- I really liked the Brek Shea sub as the high striker, with Cooper to right mid and Avila to central mid.  That works all the way around.  Shea’s first two touches were decisive.  Almost in on Busch on the first, then on the second earns the free kick (Cooper goal) and the red card to Soumare.  Avila in the middle helps possession, and Cooper wide is fit enough to still play defense and run the line.

- You may have missed it but FCD is now unbeaten in three straight.  That’s a positive step.  Will it be enough?  It’s certainly something to start building with.

It gives us some belief.  We’re now unbeaten in three games. We have a young team, but a talented team. Slowly we’re starting to turn this thing around. -Drew Moor

- Props to Section 8.  Those guys are great, signing all game long. Even when they were losing.

El Camino Central (Middle of the Road)

- Avila in for Cunningham was an ok sub, when it went down van den Bergh moved central and Sanchez to the right right.  Not sure I get that one unless it has to do with van den Bergh going 90.  Sanchez might be in better shape to defend wide.

- “Tom” Sanchez was solid in his first start.  He played good defense and was great with possession.  Showed some danger potential trying some tight combos with Ferreira.  I saw enough I want Sanchez to start again.

- Tim Ward reminds me of a young Craig Waibel both in his clean shaved head and body type, but also in his play.  One could do worse than be Craig Waibel in terms of a soccer career.

- No Wilman Conde (rested?), and Blanco (with Mexico) in the lineup or on the bench says something about the Fire’s mentality in this game.  They also rested Segares, who is a really nice defender.

- As Bobby Rhine said, I don’t think Cunningham knew much about his header goal.  Credit to him for putting in some good work at wide mid.  That’s not really his spot but he made the Chicago defense sit back some and got the end a couple of times.  FCD has needed a true flank right mid all year; Rocha, McCarty, and Avila are all really central mids.

Sometimes you work hard and do everything right and the ball doesn’t go into the net,” Cunningham said. “I’m only 5-8. Not many teams point me out as a threat on set pieces. The ball hit me. But I’ll take it. I’ve been working really hard and it finally worked out. – Jeff Cunningham

- The ball bounced right for FCD today.  Two hit posts, one in each half, and some late poor finishing for Chicago.  Luck comes to teams who are playing well, as FCD was in this game.

The ball hasn’t bounced right for us this year. Today it did. – Hyndman

No Tan Bueno (Not So Good)

- Hyndman was tossed for arguing with fans. That’s never a good thing.  Coaches and players, as much as possible, need to ignore fans.  (I’m reminded of Chris Albright, throwing a water bottle at and hitting fans in Dallas.  Allbright never got punished for it IIRC).  Then once he was tossed Hyndman makes a “3-0″ taunt to the fans when he was leaving.  That part I love, once you’re gone show some heart and go down swigging (in a proverbial sense).  Seeing a coach give a crap is nice, some emotion when the team has been stinking isn’t a bad thing.  (and before you call me a hypocrite for slamming Donovan and praising Hyndman, a throat slash is not the same as a 3-0 gesture.)  According to Hyndman someone threw a bottle at him.

You live with (the fans) at home and on the road, and you don’t listen to them.  But when people start throwing things at you, and I had a bottle thrown at my head. I didn’t get hit, but I was close to getting hit. The fourth official said to the other official that I had a conversation with the fans, and I guess that’s something we’re not supposed to do. The first thing I did was apologize to the officials when he came in. That was my mistake. – Hyndman  (from Yahoo Sports)

- Twice McBride almost scores late in game on corners.  Torres was not getting remotely close enough, on one of them McBride was virtually unmarked.  That’s got to get better, ordinarily McBride kills a team for that.

- Whatever you take from this game, don’t undersell how tired Chicago was.  Play in New York, travel to LA and play Chivas on Thursday, then back to Chicago to play a Sunday day game.  Back in the days of the Wednesday/Saturday doubles the team that played the double had a horrific win percentage.  Three games in eight days is very hard, then add in the travel and it’s a killer.  Still FCD took advantage as they should.

We’ve been waiting for a game like this.  It was past due. We knew they were going to have tired legs. We came out here and threw everything we had at them. – Drew Moor

Categories: 120 Fahrenheit.

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