I wouldn’t call Cooper and Toja as SH “rejects” I don’t think he had any desire to push them out, they just wanted to move on. Same goes for Serioux, he wanted to be traded, not SH wanted him gone..

Saragossa automatically means the team is playing with 10 men

Toja’s mind was in Europe long before SH arrived.

This is one of the dumbest posts I’ve seen. Who cares?

How’s that team going to win games in MLS with no goalkeeper?

And Saragossa automatically means the team is playing with nine men. They’re at ten now.

I would go with the current squad both then and now. This current squad to me showed that there was some collaborative effort coming about even a month ago. Where as the opposite 11 seemed to have more individual parts working independently of each other.

For some reason this current squad seems to have charisma, toughness, and a never say die attitude that make good quality, and eventual championship teams. Let’s just hope that works out.

Jonesing has a good point. Cooper, Toja, and Moor are the only “rejects” I really like. Even in their case I wouldn’t have an overwhelming preference between those 3 and their rplacements.
I was fond of Alvarez, Pitch, Sanchez and Serioux at times, but their replacements are clearly better.
Good riddance to:
Davino
Oduro
Saragosa

Interesting question, Buzz. Many would say that since we didn’t win with these players, it must be because they aren’t very good. Most of these players are contributing on other teams now. I think it illustrates the relationship of between players and coaches (and their sytems). Not every player can play for every coach, even if they are good players.

As for whether SH has permanently turned the team around, I think we need more time before we can say that. Does anyone remember NY last year? They came together to make an impressive run at the end of last season, only to disintegrate into one of the worst teams ever this season. If I had to bet, I’ld guess that this will be a very good team next year. On the other hand, we’re not very deep at some key positions. A injury or two (especially to a couple of the older guys) could put us in a tough spot next season.

With SH’s style of coaching, lack of taking responsibility for losses and continually throwing his players under bus, I suspect we’ll see more player unhappiness next year. Even with some of his own adds. Sure, they may have a better start to the season, and they’ll end the season with a better record than 2009. But the old adage is true: the ends do not justify the means.

Moor and Oduro are the only rejects. I would have liked to have been able to hold on to these players. Alverez, Tompson, Saragosa, Picthkolan, I never fully trusted any of them. Toja and Cooper would not be here anyway.

So yeah, I like our team now. But why did SH waste so much time going after players like Bruno Guarda? He should have gotten it right the first time and broiught in someone useful.
I think if he was a better coach we would have made the palyoffs last year and we would not have to worry about wining 5 straight games just to make the playoffs in the #8 spot. First round exit to the Crew? I hope not.
So how about next year?

That Reject defense would set new league records for goals allowed in a season.

If the line must be drawn, count me on the side of the current line-up, win or lose. That’s the team the brought FCD to this point: two games out of a playoff spot. I find this post particularly divisive, which is unsettling given the importance of Saturday’s game.

I’d take the new 11 hands down. The only ‘rejects’ I’d take would be Toja in place of Dax, with the disclaimer that I want the Toja who wanted to play here, was in shape & played hard.

I would also strongly consider Serioux for Hernandez if the position switch were allowed. But my pool of Hernandez games is low, and if I see more good games from him I might not even change that.

A few months ago we knew nothing about the chemistry this 11 would provide, so that’s not a fair question.

Interesting: http://www.3rddegree.net/2009/06/22/5-of-6-final-verdict/

and

http://www.3rddegree.net/2009/05/15/this-is-it/

Perhaps you should have held your breath, Buzz. You really nailed it with that “must win 3 games out of next 5 to be in the race” theory. That was in…May?

C’mon Buzz – gotta be better!

Reply to Mark_B. RedBull NY lost Dave van den Bergh. That was the dumbest move they could have made.

I also think that whatever it is that SH is doing that it is working and it would be silly not to be behind him now. He has a team with his players and they are winning. No complaints from me.

Daniel, How do you know about Toja???? Or is that just your opinion>??

Give me the old 11 with Sala in Goal over the current 11

Piiilot,

Why? To me: 1) Sanchez never played; 2) Oduro was best as a late sub; 3) Saragosa couldn’t pass; 4) Pitch & Davino were too slow.

What are your reasons for liking the old 11?

I like the point, it’s interesting that you could field a passable MLS team with the players that have come through FCD since SH took over (which has been a little over a year if I’m not mistaken). I also find it interesting to look at the current line up and compare it with the one from the beginning of the year. No doubt changes had to be made and I applaud FCD and SH for doing so, but man that is a lot of turnover.

I think the team on the field now looks great. Fastest in the league, unbelievable scoring output… I don’t see any point in looking back, when the future looks so bright, and the present is as fun as this. Rivalry weekend is here!!! FC DALLAS AND SCHELLAS HYNDMAN KICK SOME MOTHER TRUCKIN’ ASS!!!

I didn’t realize FCD was in the playoffs. Jim Jones would be happy in here. Ahhhhh kool aid.
I don’t care what run this team is on. A good coach with good players will pick apart a team of good players with a crap coach given enough time to plan. If they make it to the playoffs they’ll be outcoached in the first round. By the time April rolls around +ur players will be a known quantity and they’ll be planned for. Remember Toja’s second season?

I just don’t understand the constant negativity. You’re saying the opposition has not had enough time to pick apart vandenBergh’s game? What about Pearce? Hernandez? This team has some experience you must be forgetting. You’re saying the other teams have been holding back their secret plan to stop Cunningham? Are they still finalizing ways to counter Mccarty, Ihemelu, and Harris? What about Sala?

What is it about Hyndman that makes him such a “crap coach” in your estimation? I see a man with a plan. I didn’t want to see Morrow leave, either, but Hyndman doesn’t deserve the bad mouthing he gets from the complainers.

To Seventhrowscreamer,

I disagree with your assessment. SH is a man with a lot of soccer knowledge, but he is a rookie pro coach, and the learning curve for NCAA coaches in all major sports is steep. SH has made a lot of mistakes that is for sure, and the verdict is still out as to whether he will turn the corner and be deemed a success in the MLS.

I hope you are not suggesting that Bruce Arena just “needed more time” to find a way to outcoach SH. That’s baloney. We beat the hell out of LA because of the players on the field, not because Bruce Arena failed to find a way to outcoach Shellas Hyndman.

If FCD were to be so fortunate as to make the playoffs, Columbus is the odds on favorite to win both fixtures NOT because Shellas is a bad coach, but rather, because Columbus would be favored to win against ANY team in the MLS. Consider that Columbus has a rookie coach and everyone mid season in Ohio wanted his head on a platter. Then what happened? They went on to have a regular season that might be even stronger than last year!

Sorry to say, but I think you are letting cynicism and emotion cloud your rational judgment here of what is going on. Regardless if we lose the final two games or win them both, one thing is for sure…..

FCD will play strong, hard-hitting, fast-paced football because our players are MUCH better now than the team that we began the season with.

Even IF Colorado finds a way to win tonight, they will leave the pitch knowing they beat one hell of a good team. Go FCD!!!!

This team put on quite a display last night. I found this post to be an excellent one becuase I like this teams balance and chemistry. It was a constant attack last night. The gems in this lineup are too many too mention. John, Benetiz and van den Bergh are really stepping up. Hernandez is solid replacement for Pablo. Ihemelu didn’t impress me to start but very solid game last night. We could have won this game 5-1 with a little more accuracy. Perhaps the “rookie” coach actually knows what he’s doing? Hate to see these guys in the playoffs–their record is not indicative of skill level in my opinion.

The team from Saturday was very entertaining to watch. If they keep playing like this i will buy season tickets again.