I looked at the schedule & projected likely outcomes. That has Dallas moving ahead of Real and that’s all. Toronto has a cake schedule and will likely make the playoffs. Even getting to 40 points won’t do it for FCD; there are just too many teams bunched that will finish in the low 40’s.

However, if FCD wins out and finishes with 42 points, we only need a little help (really not much) and we’ll make it.

Can we string 3 more wins together – 2 on the road?

I think we can make the playoffs. I have to say, I love this team right now.

Great game – the kind you never thought FCD could win at the beginning of the season. I hope VDB is ok.

Anyone know the score of the Mexico Columbia friendly? I cannot find it any where on the web.

Colombia won 2-1.

Gosh it has been an up and down season but I’m starting to think with sala as the captain he has a lot more confidence or something because the backline is playing great! Could we see a playoff run? Who knows but one does hope that we do. San jose colorado and the sounders. We could be in the mix at the end

I would be happy with playoff, but if we don’t, as long as we can finish above Seattle, that would be great!!

Regretfully, I erred when I said Dave Van Den Berg was injured in the second half. It was the first half.

Of course, I will blame the mistake on Buzz not catching it, not me making it.

Boy, do I feel better!

Enjoyed the game and overall a good performance.. Reminded me a little of the KC game.. small field.. a bit scrappy.. a lot of slack passing, but this time we pulled it out of the bag. This team is definitely suited more to playing on bigger fields where they can use their speed to greater effect.

For once I was happy with SH’s sub. Marvin Chavez was driving me insane with his decision making and tendency to hold onto the ball too long.. He was an accident waiting to happen.

They listed the official attendance as 51,012. That’s going to make the season average look better than it should.

Saban is correct in that we don’t need much help to make it at 42 points. 43 seems to be the magic number for getting in without help.

However, given NE’s injury problems and other teams’ schedules, I predict it will come down to the last game at Seattle with win-and-in for Dallas.

Of course, unless Seattle has clinched and is resting some players, this will be a very difficult victory to obtain.

JC, a 3K avg bump.

Let’s not get too ahead of ourselves. FCD still has to beat San Jose on the smaller pitch of Buck Shaw Stadium, where Dallas’s team speed is less effective. That game isn’t a cakewalk by any stretch of the imagination.

Eugene is correct, one game at a time folks. Let’s not go crazy if it does not happen because while our chances look better now than they did a couple of weeks ago, we are still a longshot.

We should keep the ESPNDallas.com adverts on the jerseys — 2 games with a sponsor, 2 clean-sheet Ws. I’m not superstitious, but I’ll take all the help we can get.

How is barefoot’s prediction (i.e. his opinion)

“I predict it will come down to the last game at Seattle with win-and-in for Dallas.”

getting crazy?

Yes winning 3 more games in a row is a long shot, and of course we cannot win 2 games at a time, but isn’t this what fans do? That is, we expect/hope for good outcomes for our team.

You guys can disagree, but you should be able to do so without putting others down or acting superior.

Eugene’s statement is the correct way to put things IMO.

I have to say that over the past 4 or 5 games, this team looks good and consistent. The offense is coming together. Interesting how the midfield looks better defensively with Daniel Hernandez in there. I think he will begin to dominate in midfield and be the crusher ala Simo Valakari once his fitness catches up next season. This team is fast every where. Peacre is a great addition and Benitez should be bought and signed quickly. He has been amazing and he can cross the ball!! I was down on SH but I am beginning to see his vision. If he can bring in a DP or 2 or 3 other folks and drop the likes of Rocha, Gruada, and a few underperformers we may see FC Dallas make a return to the upper have of the league.

I really miss the winning days of Carlos Ruiz, Ramon Nunez, A. Alvarez, and company (besides the playoff chokes).

barefoot and saban,
sure, look at it however you like, but I’m trying to temper my own expectations. This is only the 2nd time this season they’ve won 2 in a row.

I do think you’re correct in your first post though, saban. If they do manage to win out I’ll be shocked if they miss the playoffs, and Houston, Columbus or whoever gets them should be scared.

Sure, no game i as “cakewalk” for FCD (Teddy thinks of the NY game). But over the last month or so, as a fan, I get the feeling that this team can beat any MLS team right now. Hopefully, the FCD players get this feeling too.

None of our remaining games are easy. But if we play as well as we have the last 2, I think we can take CO at home and SJ away.

As improved as we are, playing a motivated Seattly away scares me.

In any case it seems like the only way for us to make it, even if we win out is to hope that DC, NE and Seattle all hit losing streaks starting this weekend.

BTW, what’s the tie-break if tied on pts, Goal Dif?

For the remainder of the season, the next game – whatever it is – is do or die.

Huge challenge with the smaller pitch and missing players. Then again, NE was supposed to be a huge challenge because of their veteran composure and knack for always getting the big win over us.

It is possible. The problem is that now there is no margin for error.

I think the most important thing is that the TEAM is beleiving in THEMSELVES. They have always had the talent, but have only just recently shown their overwhelming ability to fight til the end AND both sides of the ball.

I am not even thinking about playoffs. I am just willing FCD to continue to beleive in themselves and fight like they know they can. This team gives me goose bumps now… GO FCD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I did not say barefoot’s prediction was “getting crazy’. I said, ” Let’s not go crazy if it does not happen…”

Because I expect the bipolar FCD fans will start their mindless, illogical basjing of SH if we DON”T make the playoffs..

FCD’s post season chances are not merely a long shot, they are more properly relying on a miracle. Assuming we take all 9 points and end up with 42, we still need FOUR of the following seven “bubble” teams to have a huge meltdown at the end. Three teams cannot go winless, because then we are just one position out of the playoffs.

So pick four…any four!

Colorado – 39
Chivas USA – 38
Seattle – 38
New England – 37
DC United – 36
Toronto FC – 35
Real Salt Lake – 34

Considering that some of them play each other, we had better hope for a lot of ties.

For example, if DC United loses to San Jose, ties Chivas, and then loses to Columbus, that takes care of their meltdown. Three more to go….

Toronto is probably in…but there version of a meltdown would have to include losing to San Jose and losing to NY! Oh, and if they could tie Salt Lake, that would be nice. ; – )

Well, you get the picture…all of the cards have to fall perfectly for FCD.

Oh, yeah, and we have to win the next three games not to lose sight of that difficult challenge. The good news? This new version of FCD absolutely has the ability to run the table. The odds are against because football is a fickle sport, but damn, it feels good to root for a team that is fighting hard and playing like a winner, even if we do not end up winning them all. :- )

Robert, I agree the odds are long. Re. Toronto losing to NY, that is a possibility as NYRB is playing better since Williams took over. I am not sure, but they may not have lost yet since he took over.

Also Goff had a MLS Salary update of interest:

Updated MLS salaries:

Daniel Hernandez, Dallas: $42,852
Heath Pearce, Dallas: $57,500

Robert,
The thing is, if FCD wins out, a couple other things automatically work in their favor:
– their goal diff for the season would be at least 5 and prob 6 or 7. Of the teams you mentioned, only Seattle at 6 right now or Colorado at 8 could possible win that tiebreaker if even on point.
– Those 2, the cRapids and Sounders, would be part-way to a meltdown by virtue of the loss to FCD.

As you mentioned those teams play each other, also the world-beating Crew have games against many of them. Total games against the other scrappers and/or the Crew:
cRapids: 3
Goat boys: 1
Seattle: 2
N.E.: 3
DC: 2
TFC: 1
RSL: 2

I’ll be surprised if the 8th seed in the playoffs has 43 or more points.

Thanks Steve, everything you are saying makes sense and it right, but even so, we have to show up in Seattle’s house and actually beat them! Not that I think we can’t do it , but rather, we have to keep in mind that the Sounders might also be fighting for their playoff life too, and in front of a packed house no less. I wonder what the Vegas odds will be on that one?? ;- )

You hit the key figure…how many points will the 8th seed have? All I can do is say “I hope the answer to that is 42 points!!” ; – )

It’s October 1st, and who in their right mind would have thought that FCD fans would be talking playoffs now.

Sure it’s a long shot. Probably won’t happen. But after nearly two seasons of pure crap, it’s fun to watch a team play such quality soccer.

I am already excited about next year. And hey, if this team does happen to make the playoffs, another Red Bull run is not out of the question.

Robert,

I think you should be examined for bipolar disorder…there is medication available. One minute you’re on the FCD blog ripping everyone even remotely involved with FCD a new one, then you’re praising the likes of SH and this latest FCD lineup and insisting they all be resigned for 2010 and that we should all bow down before SH and now you’re saying we need a miracle for us to make it into the playoffs, blah blah blah. You’re obviously someone who has a vested interest in the team because of your strong personal opinions, but you go with the wind buddy and have lost all credibility with me because you change on a dime. We now have Marvin “Son of the Wind” and Robert “Go With the Wind.”

You bring new meaning to the terms jumping on the bandwagon or fairweather fan. Besides the medication, can I recommend your own blog because every post is ‘War and Peace’ with questionable information and soccer knowledge. It would spare me a lot of frustration and help me keep what little hair I have left. I’m sure after the game in San Jose (which could be a tough one without possibly DVB, Harris, Rocha for fresh legs, etc.) you’ll be calling for everyone’s head again and insisting that SH be sent back to SMU.

If it does come down to the seattle game a win for us would prove we are the real deal right now. It’s fun to be a fan right now but if we don’t win all three it’s not happening.

You (meaning most of you) can feel it’s gonna happen. We’re gonna win these last three and let the chips fall where they may.

To whomever you are,

“I think you should be examined for bipolar disorder.”

First of all, you don’t even know what bi-polar disorder is.

Second of all, there have been other posters who have used Robert as their user name here. It really isn’t a big deal honestly, this is supposed to be a discussion about the team. “Play the ball, not the man.” That is the first rule of internet forum posting. Please learn it and live by it.

As far as being a fair weather fan, I have not missed a single game this year. I shout and root for the striped shirt for 90 minutes of every game, and my wish is that SH is successful. Also, I renewed my season tickets next year. Also, I am not here on this blog “ripping people a new one.” If someone here believes I was disrespectful to them on this site, please let me know what it was so I can apologize for it.

My posts have been consistently pro-FC Dallas, simply because I am a fan. Yes, I still have my concerns about whether Shellas Hyndman will successfully make the transition from college coach to the pros. Even if he fails to make that transition, he still deserves credit for this new team he has assembled. His approach is working, and the team is starting to play incredible football. My personal perspective is that 2010 is the correct time frame to judge SH’s ability to coach at this level, because this will truly be his team–his system. Additionally, when I have seen this coach make player mistakes along the way…I point them out. for example, I think the Drew Moor trade was probably a mistake, although I can only hope that SH knows a thing or two I don’t on this one.

Lastly, I respect the fact that you might feel completely different about these issues than I do. All I ask is that you reciprocate that sentiment of respect.

Oh…and one other thing. Cowards who post repetitive spam as “anonymous” on the FCD blog are not interested in posting anything constructive, nor having a discussion. So, the next time you have another uncontrollable urge to attack someone, why not give it hell on the FCD blog?

can “Robert=most annoying poster” be banned from posting on 3rd degree?

Jonesing – those salary figures represent what they make once they signed. They are basically a little less than half of what their annual salary would be.