June 29th, 2009 . 3:37 pm . By: Buzz Carrick

“It doesn’t matter what he does — he will never amount to anything.” - Albert Einstein’s teacher.

FC Dallas has reached the midpoint of the season.  That’s 15 games in, 15 games left.  Per suggestion, we’ve added a tracker on the right for the 40 points (likely) needed for the playoffs.  Last week I wrote about what I thought had gone wrong with the season.  Then Coach Schellas Hyndman and GM Michael Hitchcock met with season ticket holders to answer questions.  Frankly I didn’t feel much better having read it.  They have an answer and an excuse for everything.  I don’t think once in there do they say “we messed up,” “we did something wrong,” or “we weren’t good enough.”  There are serious problems with this team and club.

Doom and gloom aside, there are a few things to feel good about.  Sure the season is virtually lost, but stranger things have happened than a FCD team getting into the playoffs.  In order to do it they need some help I think.  Houston and Chivas need to keep winning.  LA Galaxy, San Jose, Colorado, and RSL need to all keep losing.

So what exactly is there to be positive about?

I’m glad you asked.

Improved Play of Late

Since the Seattle game, and perhaps more accurately since Ricchetti moved to the back, FCD has only lost one.  That’s seven games with 2 wins, 1 loss, and 4 ties (3 wins if you count Herediano).  Bottom line, FCD is better than they were.

FCD is playing just over .500 ball during this stretch, this is how I expected them to play over the first part of the season.  With some moves I expected them to make a run at the playoffs in the second half.

The only hope now is it’s not too late and the horrific start hasn’t ended their chances.

Not Firing the Coach

Don’t get me wrong here, I’m not saying I think Schellas Hyndman is the answer.  The record speaks for itself.  What I am saying is that firing coaches every year gets a club nowhere.  The Hunts need to stick with someone for three seasons.

Hyndman is apparently their guy.  Whether you or I like him or not doesn’t come into this point.  The Hunts need to stick with Hyndman at least through next season.  No one can build a team they like in one year, and we are just now at the one year mark for this gaffer.

Colin Clarke took over for Jeffries midseason and the next year wasn’t great. But following that we saw two very good seasons and a team in first place virtually all year.  Hell Clarke should still be coach here.  But if he had been fired in 2004, the season after Southlake… what a disaster that would have been.  Clarke needed two years to build the team his way.

Morrow never got that chance.  He was fired at virtually the same point Hyndman is now.  That’s worked out real well.

So give Hyndman a chance.  Changing again now will mean starting over again.

Talent

Good players don’t usually become bad over night.  There is some talent on this team.  Kenny Cooper for one is as good as it gets in MLS (if he stays, Eruopean teams are sniffing around again).  Drew Moor has been a solid player for a couple years.  Dave van den Bergh was one of Red Bulls best last year.  There are good pieces here to build around.

I really liked the impact Alvaro Sanchez was having until he got hurt.  The 4-1-4-1 is as much as using him as a penetrating midfielder as it is McCarty playing deep.  He and Ferreira (who might also be coming on) are key to the shape.  One or the other needs to be penetrating into the box with Cooper.

Dax McCarty

What an amazing step forward.  I knew he was going to be better this year, but since moving into the deep midfield role he’s been a revelation.  I had him as Man of the Match in four straight first team games.  Arguably he could have had a 5th if I hadn’t gone with Ferreira against Colorado.  Ball winning, tackling, holding, passing, dictating pace… McCarty has been fantastic.  He’s even starting to show greater range than I thought he had.

The question will be if Hyndman will stick with this 4-5-1 and McCarty, since it’s not the formation he wants nor the player he wants.

Young Player Emergence

Shea and Avila up top… Wallace and Davies in the back…  Some of the young talent is beginning to emerge.  Yes, all of them could be better.  But we are starting to see the talent we expected.  It bodes well for the future.  Shea and Avila, notably as late game subs, are looking very dangerous.  Wallace has grabbed the starting left back spot, and while Davies may not hold the center back spot long with George John and others coming back from injury, Davies still has shown he will be a player in this league.

I believe it’s important to let some of these guys play in for a time.  Hyndman will want to get vets to fill their roles, but all of these guys need to keep getting PT.   Brek Shea in particular may get a long run with Cooper missing most of July (the bright side to Cooper missing?).

Dario Sala

Ray Burse isn’t a bad keeper, in fact he could be great, but that will take some time.  Dario Sala remains a better player.  He makes the defense calmer and reduces the mistakes.  Both he and Ray can make the game changing save, but Sala does the simple things better.  And FCD needs that with all the youth playing.

Team Hasn’t Given Up

Either Hyndman hasn’t lost the locker room or he never had it.  Because the effort and work rate has been consistent all year.  From early this spring till now the players, to my eye, continue to have the same attitude.  They continue to come to training and work hard without much complaint.

Is it possible some of them are not listening to Hyndman? Sure, could be. But if they aren’t then there weren’t at any point this year.  Cause nothing appears to have changed from where I sit.

Second Window

And what may give FCD the best chance yet is the forthcoming second transfer window.  FCD sits #1 overall and has the cash to grab a American coming back.  They just have to hope someone thinks they need PT to make the World Cup team.  Cause outside of that it may not be as useful as one would hope.

FCD does have some cash however, and could being in 2 or 3 players if they so chose.  I would anticipate a high striker if one can be found,  pure right midfielder, and perhaps a veteran center back (Although I would be content to leave Ricchetti there).

So…

How do you feel?  Sure, the playoffs will be tough.  But do you feel any better at all with the recent form?  Can Hyndman take this team to the top?

Categories: 120 Fahrenheit.

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