Game Grades: Colorado Rapids at FC Dallas
October 20th, 2009 . 2:19 am . By: Peter WelptonSchellas Hyndman has done something rather magical with what was, just a few months ago, a honestly terrible side. For the first time in several weeks I went out and watched the team in person. What Dallas is trotting out on the pitch is a squad with pace, balance and patience. It is a wonderful sight to behold as the team is capable of playing out wide, thru the middle or direct as the overall speed of the team is likely the league’s fastest. The only undoing Saturday night ironically are two of the pieces that have been key in FCD’s resurrection. Mentioned here several times, Jeff Cunningham’s freaky ability to butcher anything less than 7 yards from goal reared it’s head again at least three times, and David Ferreria caught the bug with two point black misfires. After that, the amount of complaining that can be done is minimal. The turnovers have dropped off dramatically, the predicability has subsided and the defense has tightened up so much that one might dare actually describe it as, “good”! This is a side fans can like. If there was anything else out there to admire is this lineup’s work rate for each other. Once where there was a lot of ball watching there is now movement and the creation of space. I cannot emphasis the difference on display Saturday night. What might be the most impressive aspect is how Hyndman was able to pull it off. Plugging in a single new player into a lineup isn’t something that always happens smoothly or finds that chemistry quick. But FCD has been able to do just that, but in FIVE of the eleven positions. Consider this: It wasn’t that long ago that Benitez, Ihemalu, Harris, Hernandez and Pearce were not on this team. Folding these players into the team and finding success this quickly is to be admired whether you are a fan of the team or not. In fact, playoff or no playoffs, this is such a tremendous achievement that my personal concerns over Hyndman’s tenure as coach have now shifted. I doubt anyone would blame me for once wondering if he even had a plan, much less one with potential. Whether or not what he’s done was the coaching equivalent of “throwing crap on the wall and seeing what sticks” really is moot, because it is working. And, no matter if what he’s created has long term viability he has shown that he has earned the right to let his work play itself out into the 2010 season. For now, if Dallas wins next weekend and is successful in making the playoffs, they will without question be the team no one wants to face. The only thing that stands in the way of them making a long run, providing they get into the playoffs, is the finishing. Missing some of the chances missed this past weekend would likely haunt them when aggregate scoring comes into play. There is much to discuss about the evolution of this team and Hyndman’s almost ridiculous manner he pulled it off. Let’s get through this next weekend before we really get into the meat and potatoes of it all. FC Dallas fans have long deserved something fun and compelling to watch, here’s to hoping that they get a few more. Grades:Sala: 8 – In great form Pearce: 7 – Effects of the flu showed, but his crosses are wicked Ugo: 8 – A really solid outing and a wonderfully ugly winner John: 8 – A fantastic 1st goal and another healthy 90 minutes of solid defending Benitez: 8 – Ezra-like recovery speed, quietly the team’s best addition Harris: 7 – Wonderful show of skill along the benches, get him more involved Hernandez: 7 – His passing ain’t 100% yet, but he is the calm, destructive force needed McCarty: 8 – I still think he’s the team MVP vdBerg: 7 – If playoffs are in the future, a most critical component Dah-VEED: 7 – Creative vision is now working with that motor of his Cunningham: 5 – Worked so hard, but can’t afford to miss those gimmes. 18 Comments Comments RSS TrackBack Identifier URI Leave a comment |
I’ve always believed that it takes 3 years to see what a coach has and can do. My concern is keeping this team together for next year with Dax potentially leaving.
this team is looking FANTASTIC! i can actually say, i don’t get nervouse anymore when an opposing offense gets in the scoring third. I can’t tell you how much anxiety i had previously just waiting for the tap in that would lose us our game.
great stuff stripes!
I anyone deserved a 9 last week it was Dax. He was constantly bailing out teammates in very tight situations without turning the ball over. I agree with your team MVP statement.
Is there anything sweeter than seeing little Dax make Pablo his bitch?
Not for me.
Uh, that Pablo would be the Mastroeni variety.
To help figure out playoff scenarios, here’s FCD’s record and goal dif against the teams they could tie:
Chicago: 1 win 1 loss +1
Toronto: 1 win 1 tie +1
NE: 1 win 1 loss even (but NE scored more)
DC: 1 loss 1 tie -1
also, a Colorado loss would allow 3 of these team to make it instead of 2.
Official tiebreaker from MLS:
TEAM-STANDINGS TIE-BREAKING PROCEDURES
The team awarded the highest position in the MLS standings will be the team with the greatest number of points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a tie, 0 points for a loss). In the event that two teams finish the regular season with an equal number of points, the following system will be used to break the tie:
The highest position shall be awarded to the team with the better win/loss record in current regular season games against all other teams equal in points. (head-to-head competition)
If the teams are still equal in the standings, the highest position shall be awarded to the team with the greater goal difference against all other teams during the regular season. (goal differential)
If the teams are still equal in the standings, the highest position shall be awarded to the team scoring the greatest number of total goals against all other teams during the regular season. (total goals)
If the teams are still equal in the standings, the procedures described in this section shall be applied only to games played on the road by each team against all other teams during the regular season. (road 1-3)
If the teams are still equal in the standings, the procedures described in this section shall be applied only to games played at home by each team against all other teams during the regular season. (home 1-3)
If the teams are still equal in the standings, the highest position shall be awarded to the team with the fewest team disciplinary points in the League Fair Play table during the regular season.
If the teams are still equal in the standings, the highest position in the standings shall be determined by the toss of a coin.
The first tiebreaker in a three-way tie is also head-to-head, but it is determined via points-per-game versus the other two teams. If two teams are tied in points-per-game head-to-head, the next tie breaker is goal difference.
Steve,
You forgot about Toronto.
Sorry, new glasses.
So, if we win against Seattle we win a H to H tiebreaker against everyone but DC.
If 3 or more teams are involved we need to get by the multiple team H to H step, and then we win goal differential or total goals against them all.
The only other possibility is we get by the mutiple team H to H and DC wins their last game by about 6 goals.
The weirdest part of the tiebreaker is the greatest point then goal diff in only the games head-to-head with all the other tied clubs. One the surface, it looks like a DC loss and a FCD win would do it, but, theoretically, there could be something weird in the head-to-head games between the other tied teams that could screw FCD over. I’m looking forward to a paid reporter and/or statistician to break down all the possibilities. A Chicago loss and everyone winning out might even leave FCD with the tiebreaker edge.
If MLS had gone with overall goal diff as the number 1 tiebreaker like most leagues do, then this would be much easier to figure (and favor FCD).
Also, here’s the schedule of games relevant to FCD:
Thursday, October 22
Chivas USA at Chicago Fire 8:00 p.m. ESPN2, Deportes
Saturday, October 24
Toronto FC at New York Red Bulls 7:30 p.m. DK, Match Center
D.C. United at Kansas City Wizards 8:30 p.m. DK, Match Center
Colorado Rapids at Real Salt Lake 9:00 p.m. FSC, FSE
FC Dallas at Seattle Sounders FC 10:30 p.m. DK, Match Center
Sunday, October 25
New England Revolution at Columbus Crew 5:00 p.m. ESPN2, Deportes
Steve,
You say “The weirdest part of the tiebreaker is the greatest point then goal diff in only the games head-to-head with all the other tied clubs.”
But that’s not what you wrote further above regarding goal differential: “If the teams are still equal in the standings, the highest position shall be awarded to the team with the greater goal difference against all other teams during the regular season. (goal differential)
If the teams are still equal in the standings, the highest position shall be awarded to the team scoring the greatest number of total goals against all other teams during the regular season. (total goals)”.
Which is it?
What’s the story with all of the yellow cards we got in the Colorado game…? Will it cost us any of our players for the Seattle game? Not sure where they stand in accumulations. Any insight?
saban,
look at the order of what’s written. The first step is “The highest position shall be awarded to the team with the better win/loss record in current regular season games against all other teams equal in points. (head-to-head competition)”
second is “If the teams are still equal in the standings, the highest position shall be awarded to the team with the greater goal difference against all other teams during the regular season. (goal differential)”
the unlikely third step is “If the teams are still equal in the standings, the highest position shall be awarded to the team scoring the greatest number of total goals against all other teams during the regular season. (total goals)”
I also left out the following note:
“If two clubs remain tied after another club with the same number of points advances during any step, the tie breaker reverts to step 1 of the two-club format.”
so, the moment there is a clear #7 seed, the system resets and the remaining tied clubs are compared against each other, ignoring their records against the #7 seed.
Gotta agree about Dax, he’s the heart and soul of this team
Simplest playoff format:
Dallas wins and either DC or COL fail to take the full 3 points and Dallas is in.
As noted in the extensive discussion under the “A Miracle Save? Not Yet. ” post, if both DC and COL win, it gets complicated, but very likely Dallas goes through with a win.
Barefoot,
Actually, if Chicago fails to win on Thursday and FCD wins, that also seals it up as well.
Hoopstatic: Point taken, but CHI must lose, not tie.
Logic: If Chicago loses or COL fail to take 3, then there are at least 2 playoff spots open, and while DC might edge us out for one spot, there is no combination of scenarios where we get edged out for 2 or more spots.