Practice Observations: A Problem
September 17th, 2009 . 5:09 pm . By: Buzz Carrick
It’s a bit wet out, cloudy and overcast with sprinkles all session; just as it has been all week. The cool low 70s temps make for great training conditions. Hyndman says it’s been a terrific week. We’ll see if it translates to the KC game. News, Notes and Observations- Lee Nguyen is off to train with Arsenal, but Alfonso Montagalvan is still here on trial. If FCD wasn’t short bodies from the missing U20s I doubt he would still be around. With college ball under way there aren’t a lot of extra players. Anyone got Freddie Garcia Jr’s number? - Dax McCarty is out of contract at season end. I know cause I asked him. - Hyndman says Kai Kamara was offered to FCD, but they felt the price was to steep. - Heath Pearce says he’s staying here a while and has a deal “at least” through the end of next season. He also continues the multi-lingual trend as he speaks English (obviously), Spanish, German, and a little Portuguese. Both Spanish and Portuguese are frequently spoken at FCD training. Pearce isn’t yet match fit, which is not the same as being out of shape, and did some extra work at the end of the day. Pearce spent the entire day playing left mid or left back, where Hyndman says his speed is desirable. Hyndman did say Pearce could also factor at right mid, right back, d-mid, and center back. It won’t shock me to see Pearce get a couple run outs at d-mid this season with a thought toward 2010. - Eric Avila is on fire today. He still has some defensive deficiencies and gives the ball away more than he should, but he’s the most dangers player on this team with the ball at his feet going toward goal. All of which is why he remains a late game sub and not a starter. - Hernandez is getting fitter, but Hyndman says he’s about 75%. Coach also said next year is important in this case and not just getting fit for the last 6 games, implication being Hernandez will be around in 2010. - Hyndman says in review on tape Chavez was better than the coach thought during the LA game, not that he thought Chavez was bad. Great runs, didn’t turn the ball over, and pulled LA out of shape. - Also from the gaffer, the Hernandez sub was about stopping Beckham, who was killing FCD with penetrating passes, and not about Chavez’s performance individually. McCarty was moved up and told to shut down Beckham, which he did. Catching Up with Schellas HyndmanThere were lots of questions asked but the answers weren’t really telling except for one. The rest I paraphrased above. Does the Hernandez sub, and moving Pablo back in there the week before, mean that d-mid is still a trouble spot for you?
Buzz’s Coach Speak Translator: When Hernandez is fit, he’ll be starting. TrainingAfter warmup the team moved into a short field drill with wide players outside the cones. Point of the drill seemed to be getting wide and playing back into the box. After that was a longer field 10v10 as there aren’t enough people to go 11v11. The teams were kinda mixed up, notably on defense, so it’s not obvious what’s happening with the line up. Red: Cunningham, vdBergh, Ferreira, McCarty, Harris, Benitez, Torres, Ricchetti, Montagalvan, Burse. And that was about it. Short session. Lineup PredictionHyndman talked about it being tough to make changes when you win 6-3. Although we saw the tougher midfield with Hernandez be very effective, that move was mostly about stopping Beckham. KC doesn’t have a Beckham… so I expect a return to the same 11.
Look for Heath Pearce off the bench on the left side of midfield either straight up for van den Bergh, or with vdBergh moving central and Chavez coming out. If FCD is winning Hernandez into midfield and McCarty moving up again is probably likely as well. Thought of the DayHyndman’s comments on the d-mid spot and what his team needs there are interesting. I’ve been talking all year about the system Hyndman wants to play and how he’s missing the d-mid he needs. Hernandez is that guy, or he was ten years ago. Hernandez might be again in the short term. From what the coach said Pearce might get a shot there too. But if one of them doesn’t pan out the d-mid spot might be priority number one this winter. The second half of the LA game, and Hyndman’s tendency these days to push Dax up and not take him off, mean I don’t think Hernandez or Pearce will get on the field at McCarty’s expense. Rather I think this gives Hyndman the 4-4-2 he really wants. Recall the SMU days where Guarda played “attacking” mid, and really with Hyndman’s desire for a withdrawn striker (Ferreira), the a-mid can be a linking player, or at least attacking player who is at least willing to play defense. So down the stretch, perhaps after FCD is officially eliminated, look for the 4-4-2 that looks something like this.
The X-factor is where Heath Pearce ends up playing. That answer will make this really interesting cause where he ends up will make someone expendable. Does he play the Hernandez d-mid spot? Does he take left mid and move vdBergh central? If that happens where will the out of contract McCarty play? Will Pearce win out at left back and make Jair surplus to requirements? Could Pearce even play right mid and push Harris to the bench? 32 Comments Comments RSS TrackBack Identifier URI Leave a comment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Good question Buzz, but I get the feeling that after this season Ricchetti is somehow going to be the odd man out. Not sure how it will fall out, but I think he will be gone before Dax.
I think you may be right Jones.
You mentioned that McCarty is out of contract at the end od this season. Any chance of him re-signing a new deal as he’s moved out of Hyndman’s doghouse and into one of his top choices in the attacking/linking/defensive roles in the midfield?
You mentioned that McCarty is out of contract at the end of this season. Any chance of him re-signing a new deal as he’s moved out of Hyndman’s doghouse and into one of his top choices in the attacking/linking/defensive roles in the midfield?
Didn’t Hyndman make some rather negative comments about Dax’s offensive ability earlier in the year? Has he changed his mind or is McCarty the defensive stance and Chavez the offensive?
If Dax doesn’t resign he is obviously the odd man out but if he does I think its Pablo thats gone. Pablo is a great player but I think his age puts him towards the top of the list to go.
And I bet Pablo want to go too. So, is a win/win situation, right?
Charles, yes Dax could be resigned.
Buzz,
has FCD made any attempt to sign Lee?
The question is, what kind of offers will Dax get in the off season not just from local but 2nd division teams around the world.
I’m betting he’ll have options. The question is, does he *WANT* to play for Schellas. He may have played like Schellas wants and his back on the bus, but was/is this a means to getting on the field so he can have his choice of locations at the end of the season.
How Dax was handled last season and during the off season leads me to believe he’s out of here, unless our offer is above all others, and FC Dallas does not have a high track record of paying. I have my doubts about us resigning Cunninham next season as he’;ll want some decent money, and based upon the second half of the season, I say he deserves it for another season or two.
I think Dax has been great this year, but the more I hear from the coach, the more I am convinced that he and Ricchetti are not on this team by next March.
If Lee Nguyen get signed by Arsenal, I wonder if he’ll be the first player ever to move from Hoàng Anh Gia Lai to one of the big 4 in England.
Dax has played a lot of D-Mid this year, which isn’t really his natural position. I wonder if this helps him in moving to a better team, since he has shown versatility, or hurts him since some may view his season as not improving in the area another team would want him in. thoughts?
Until convinced otherwise I believe that if Hyndman didn’t pick you you aren’t long on the roster. Ricchetti, Wagner, McCarty, Burse, Wallace – most will be gone.
This seems like a good problem to have. Good report Buzz.
Dax is out of here. He’ll have options (if not in Europe then from other MLS teams) and based on the way he was treated by SH last year and the offseason, I don’t think Dallas is a tenable option. The only way he’d stay is if Dallas was the only offer or if it was significantly higher than other offers, which I don’t see happening. Staying in Dallas also is assuming SH wants to keep him, which is a big question mark.
buzz, when i read SH answer to your question, i immediately thought of Drew Moor’s parting words about being robots in this system and not being able to express any creativity. It sounds like thats what he wants from that d-mid position in keeping the shape and not being free to roam the entire area in between the mids and defense. that works in college, not in the pros.
everyone, Arsenal wont sign Lee Nguyen and i dont believe he thinks they will. but who would ever turn down a chance to train there if they want to be successful? they have eyes and ears all over Europe and are keen on young players. maybe they’ll sign him and stash him in Switzerland or somewhere, but thats benefits Lee in the end.
Also, Dax reminds me alot of Denilson for Arsenal (not formerly FCD). thats for the guys that were making comparisons earlier. tghey are very similar palyers to me in that they are smooth, can play all over midfield, and have a high understanding of what it takes to operate in a passing system. i think Dax would be a fantastic fit in a system like Arsenal’s
buzz, when i read SH answer to your question, i immediately thought of Drew Moor’s parting words about being robots in this system and not being able to express any creativity. It sounds like thats what he wants from that d-mid position in keeping the shape and not being free to roam the entire area in between the mids and defense. that works in college, not in the pros.
everyone, Arsenal wont sign Lee Nguyen and i dont believe he thinks they will. but who would ever turn down a chance to train there if they want to be successful? they have eyes and ears all over Europe and are keen on young players. maybe they’ll sign him and stash him in Switzerland or somewhere, but thats benefits Lee in the end.
Also, Dax reminds me alot of Denilson for Arsenal (not formerly FCD). thats for the guys that were making comparisons earlier. tghey are very similar palyers to me in that they are smooth, can play all over midfield, and have a high understanding of what it takes to operate in a passing system. i think Dax would be a fantastic fit in a system like Arsenal’s
Oops…forgot to say great post! Looking forward to your next one.
I think MLS rules would prevent Dax from going elsewhere in the league, but I agree he’ll get 2nd div or 2nd tier offers in Europe. Also, I think his game could be a good fit in Mexico, and he already has a sweet nickname on Telefutura.
I hope against hope that he stays, though.
Dax is gone at the end of the season and will likely look to Europe. He is dead in the water for any Nat looks while he’s in Dallas. Plus he made the best of a terrible situation and finished the year strong to leave not stay.
Are there rules that would prevent him from going to another MLS team?
Andy, yes there is a rule preventing him from going to another team:
(C) CONTRACT EXPIRATION
When a player’s contract expires, the player does not count against the roster or budget of the team in question. A team retains the rights to the player indefinitely following the expiration of a contract only if attempts were made to re-sign the player.
Also:
(IV.) PLAYER RIGHTS
The following explains the status of player rights in specific instances:
OUT OF CONTRACT PLAYERS / OPTIONS NOT PICKED UP: a team retains the right of first refusal to the player indefinitely only if attempts were made to re-sign the player.
DRAFTED BUT NOT SIGNED: a player who was drafted by a particular team through the SuperDraft and did not sign, is placed on that team’s “College Protected List” until the second December 31 immediately following the draft in question, after which the team loses the rights to sign the player.
PLAYER TRANSFERRED OUTSIDE MLS: If a team receives allocation money as a result of a player’s transfer, the team does not retain a right of first refusal.
I love Dax, but there is no way he will ever get any serious looks from the MNT. He is too small and there are too many ahead in the pecking order.
I agree with most of what’s been said here, by Buzz and others. In so agreeing, it makes sense to me that Pearce & Chavez will be on the field (and possibly Hernandez) as much as possible down the stretch. Given that who would you take out?
I think what Steve is referring to is that Dallas would have first rights to signing him if they want him. What would probably happen is him being left open for the expansion draft and in that case Nowak might take him to Philly.
In a 4-1-4-1 or 4-4-2 I see something like:
Jair-Richetti-John-Ihemelu
van den Bergh-Pearce-Chavez-Harris
Ferreira-Cunningham
I see this because it’s one option going into next year (just replace Richetti with Davies).
Another possiblility is Hernadez in place of Pearce and Pearce in place of Richetti. This scenario is less likely to me as it depends on whether Hernadez is viewed as a year long answer at Starting D-mid next year.
soccerroo,
Yeah, that’s what I meant. I wonder if Nowak would roll the dice, though, knowing how the Goodson thing backfired on San Jose.
Bob, check out a few posts ago (the one with 50+ comments) for a full-blown discussion on McCarty’s… well anything/everything related to him.
Saban that looks about right for next year… what’s the average age of that lineup? Throw sala in there just for kicks. How does that compare to other MLS teams.. more out of curiosity.
There are very few young players anywhere that play DM as it takes a lot of experience….if FCD played modern soccer, they would play a version of a 4-2-3-1
That way if one DM ventured forward, there’s always depth in the middle…Pablo/Dax would be ideal
I doubt FCD would leave Dax unprotected UNLESS Dax was 100% going to another league – Europe…
If he is still open to playing in MLS, but cannot reach a deal with FCD he would be traded.
[...] It’s been over a month since the last practice report. A succession of mid week games and work/personal business conspired to keep me from making it to PHP. It’s not worth the time to come up here if they are just going to job and do recovery work. [...]