3rd Degree


Practice Observations: ExtraTime

Tuesday, October 27th, 2009, 9:30 AM, adidas training field

October 28th, 2009 . 4:42 pm . By: Buzz Carrick

Sometimes our fate resembles a fruit tree in winter. Who would think that those branches would turn green again and blossom, but we hope it, we know it. - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

I went out to training yesterday, but there was so much news to put on the site I held off doing this report till today.

It was a touch on the cold side starting out training, but by the end of the session it was beautiful.  It’s a long session today and the players seem in a positive frame of mind.  I can’t help but think that they must also feel better about the future.  It sounds like FCD will be training this week and next at least.

News, Notes and Observations

- Lee Nguyen is still around.  He might be the best player today and he looks really sharp.  I’d love to see him signed.  I sure hope FCD has a discovery in on this guy long before now… oh wait.  He has a cap.  That means Allocation process.  A quick scan of the table says FCD will be 5th (at best) on next year’s list.

- Alfonso Montagalvan is still here as well.  It seems everyone is calling him “snoopy.”  Other players are also beginning to get upset with him and let him know quite vocally when he’s not good enough.  MLS players have a short truck for guest players who kill the level of play, which he does once or twice today.

- Daniel Torres is inside rehabbing his hamstring.  Hyndman mentions Torres missed 18 (or 17) games this season for injury.

- No Pablo Ricchetti anymore.  Not to rehash, but he’s out for good.

- Dax McCarty says his groin is doing fine.  He thinks he’ll 100% in a week or so.

- George John is out 2 to 3 weeks with his left ankle.  Sounds like it’s not to serious.

- Hyndman says he has approval to hire a full time strength and conditioning coach.  He cited both the lack of fitness in the team, which he took responsibility for, and the recovery and rehab process.

- When asked about players who made the biggest strides this year, Hyndman mentioned Cunningham, McCarty, Shea, and Avila.

- Hyndman and staff rate every player every game, Hyndman said Ferreira was the highest season average.  Although he admitted perhaps some early bias with David being their go to signing for the #10 spot.  He also cited McCarty as being up there, as well as Cunningham over the second half.

- When asked about Rocha being back, Hyndman declined to talk, citing not wanting to talk about any player until he talked to them as individuals.

Catching Up with Schellas Hyndman

Long talk with Schellas Hyndman today, over fifteen minutes.  The first question here alone his answer was 3:10.

Looking back now, do you have any regrets about this season?  Anything you’d like a do-over on?

We had a little talk today with the team, and I’ll share with you what I said to the team.  Firstly what a great second part to the season, since the All-Star break we focused on the twelve games and I think we came away with a 7-4-1 record, which is… if we’d had that before, we’d be in a wonderful position.

The great run at home, going on the road… the number of goals we scored.  We led the league in goals with 50.  Next place team was, I think,  Real Salt Lake with 43, and someone else with 43.  So huge difference.  [Ed note: DC Untied]

But then on the other side, we were second worst, I think San Jose was worst and we were tied with New York with I think 45 or 47.  Probably more like 47.  So you look at that.  [Ed note: 47]

And then you look at the number of injuries.  There were a tremendous number of injuries.  Injuries are injuries, everyone has them, but our injuries trended to be chronic injuries, they just wouldn’t go away.  Tom [Sancehz], plays a great game against Chicago, come in here plays twenty minutes against San Jose and he’s still out 20 weeks later.  Torres, missed 17 games because of injury.  George John… And even Dario, look how long his injury went.  So the injuries were there.

And I think there was some huge calls, and a lot of people that can say this, that went against us at the wrong time.  Example, the game here against DC, the PK that was called when he [Santino Quaranta] wasn’t touched.  The game in Colorado when Medi [Ballouchy] put the ball between Blake’s legs and Kimura goes in and scores and a goal offside.  There were some huge calls that cost us.

Then I think we gave some games away in that span of 12.  The New York game, we should have has at least a point.  But we gave it way.  Kansas City game, should have had a point, but we gave it away.

Saying all that, we’ve started to develop a culture of winning.  There’s a much greater attitude in practice.  I mean here’s a team that went through an hour and 45 minutes of training, that has nothing.  New York’s done. They’re not practicing, they have nothing to practice for.  We’re out here, and we’re encouraged to see the guys still here.

So the down side, not making the playoffs, everyone’s ambition. The upside is, man we made one hell of a gallant effort to get there, trying to get there.  And we’ve got so much to build off of.

Buzz’s Coach Speak Translator: Goals against, referees, injuries, and heart.  We fixed two of the four.

So how satisfied are you with your team?  Are you set or is there work to be done?

Oh no, there’s work to be done.  There’s still some shuffling.  What would have happened this year if Jeff Cunningham pulls a hamstring?  We’re always looking around for the next striker. Now Peri [Marosevic]’s Egypt.  Now what am I gonna do?  Is it Atiba?  We plan on things, but we didn’t have the answers.  Maybe it’s Chavez, cause maybe he’s a more of an attacking player.

So I think we gotta do some shuffles.  But I really like our defense, it’s going to be hard for people to beat this defense as long as we keep the structure in the midfield and keep pressure on the ball.

Buzz’s Coach Speak Translator: Oh goodness do we need another striker.

Any concern about Ugo in the middle and Pearce on the right?  Or is that, “they’re good enough it doesn’t matter?”

They’re good enough it doesn’t matter.  I think Ugo is as complimentary in the middle as he is on the right.  I think Heath has come to me on a few occasions has come to me and said, cause of the way we play, he even likes being on that side, cause he comes in on a strong foot.  Whether it’s shot, or a cross, or he comes through the ball.  Cause we’re a team that possess the ball, moves side to side. It’s a lot easier If we were a team that plays direct, then he should be right footed cause he’s going to be knocking that longer ball isn’t he.

Buzz’s Coach Speak Translator: Ugo is a machine and Pearce will say anything to stay on the field.

Training

A long warm up run followed by some stretching.  After that was a 40 yard box possession game.  Two teams play at one time with the third as a neutral on the outside.  One of the teams is a man short, so there is some frequent team swapping.

Green: Wallace, Davies, vdBergh, Montagalvan, Marosevic, Hernandez
White: Guarda, Avila, Cunningham, Rocha, Purdy, Pearce, Wagner
Blue: McCarty, Nguyen, Ihemelu, Benitez, Harris, Shea.

Up next is a 50 yard game, 7v7.  There are three extra player who take turns rotating in, Nguyen, Wallace, and McCarty start on the sideline.

Green: Marosevic, vdBergh, Shea, Harris, Davies, Hernandez, Montagalvan, Sala
White: Pearce, Guarda, Rocha, Avila, Wagner, Cunningham, Purdy, Burse.

Finally it’s a split teams finishing drills.  A competition if you will.  This is lighthearted and fun, with lots of trash talking.  Three passes and a finish.

Afterward almost everyone stays out for a long time.  many are just hanging out and talking, doing silly ball games.  That’s impressive for this stage of the year.

Thought of the Day

The attitude and atmosphere around FCD is so dramatic from the first half of the season.  It’s truly remarkable.   Everyone seems positive and happy, there if a freshness around here, and sense of hope.  And not just in the team, coaches and staff are more buoyant and upbeat.  Everything seem to be easier and better.

It’s amazing what a little winning streak will do for a team and club.  Here’s hoping spring 2010 feels the same way.

Categories: Practice Observations.




29 Comments

  1. Comment by jonesing on October 28, 2009 4:55 PM

    sounds like the team is having fun dispite the naysayers posting here.

  2. Comment by The Gribbler on October 28, 2009 5:11 PM

    Seems to like Avila, hard to tell considering his playing time. Maybe he’s “one of Schelles’ guys” and we’ll keep him around. Certainly hope so.

  3. Comment by justin on October 28, 2009 8:25 PM

    Until we get past the 1st round of the po’s this is just the same old soup just warmed over….nothing (results) ever changes around here but the personnel.

  4. Comment by seventhrowscreamer on October 28, 2009 9:40 PM

    Pablo, Rocha and Torres out so far. I thought Rocha was only on a two year loan. I know that he’s said from day one that he wanted to return to CAP as soon as his loan was up so why does Schellas feel as if he’s the one in charge of that situation?
    Jones, I for one am glad the boys are having fun. At least someone is. The folks that have been buying the tickets and paying their salaries aren’t. Some crazy capitalistic pigs like a return on their investment.

  5. Comment by twotone on October 28, 2009 10:20 PM

    Montalgalvan’s major in college was really “Chicano Studies”?

  6. Comment by coachjgb on October 28, 2009 11:04 PM

    Does not sound like they are done playing. Any upcoming exhibition matches in Dallas?

  7. Comment by Chase on October 29, 2009 12:54 AM

    Buzz–

    So it looks unlikely that we’ll be able to sign Lee? I have played with or against he and Avi and I think they have a similar game

  8. Comment by jonesing on October 29, 2009 4:25 AM

    “The folks that have been buying the tickets and paying their salaries aren’t. Some crazy capitalistic pigs like a return on their investment.”

    1. Speak for yourself, I and a lot of other fans had a lot of fun watching this team make a run at the playoffs. Exciting, aggressive soccer played by FCD
    2. Buying tickets to a sporting event or any entertainment event is not an investment, there is no ROI unless you are a scalper. Buy your tickets and enjoy the games..

  9. Comment by historian on October 29, 2009 9:16 AM

    Jonesing – anything you’d like to see being done differently? Or is everything peachy keen?

  10. Comment by seventhrowscreamer on October 29, 2009 9:22 AM

    Jones,
    You’re a good trooper.

  11. Comment by SOCCERROO on October 29, 2009 9:24 AM

    “2. Buying tickets to a sporting event or any entertainment event is not an investment”

    Jonesing sounds like you are getting the return you wanted. Where as seventhrowscreamer is not. You are investing when you buy something it just depends on what you are expecting to get for your money. Seven expects playoffs and more where as you are happy with the exciting run to the playoffs that ended the season. ROI’s are not always financial returns. When ever I purchase something there are always expectations on what i will get from that purchase. If I do not get what I expect I can inform the seller or i can stop purchasing. Seven wants to continue purchasing this product so by expressing dissatisfation he can continue to purchase and hope for a better return or what he expected in the first place.

  12. Comment by jonesing on October 29, 2009 10:28 AM

    “Jonesing – anything you’d like to see being done differently? Or is everything peachy keen?”

    Sure, I would love to see the team bring in some more talent and make a run at the MLS Cup. I would love to see concession prices lowered and lines shortened. I’d like to see the East Side protected from the summer sun that prevent people from wanting to sit there.

    However, that doesn’t mean I did not get entertainment value for the money I spent on tickets this season. Some games were not worth the price of the ticket and others were. Overall, I my time and money spent watching FCD was worth it entertainment value. Pro sports are much like movies and concerts, sometimes you go and they suck, others times they are fantastic. You just roll with the punches..

  13. Comment by jonesing on October 29, 2009 10:32 AM

    in·vest·ment [ in véstmənt ] (plural in·vest·ments)

    noun

    Definition:

    1. use of money for future profit: the outlay of money, e.g. by depositing it in a bank or by buying stock in a company, with the object of making a profit

    2. money invested: an amount of money invested in something for the purpose of making a profit

    3. something in which money is invested: something, e.g. a company, endeavor, or property, that money is invested in with the goal of making a profit

    I promise I have NO expectation for profit from FC Dallas. My expectation is to be entertained and have an enjoyable day or evening at a game. Too many of you let your blood pressure go too high over sports teams. If FCD or the Cowboys don’t win a championship, I am not going to lose sleep. Now that doesn’t mean I don’t WANT them to win championships, it simply means my life goes on whether they win or lose.

  14. Comment by jonesing on October 29, 2009 10:33 AM

    seventhrow – you should have your blood pressure checked. I would hate to have a fellow FCD fan have a stroke over a bad game, bad trade, bad coach hiring, etc. It really isn’t worth it.
    Enjoy the ride…

  15. Comment by Chad on October 29, 2009 12:10 PM

    Naysayers????!!!??? This team absolutely sucked for 2/3 of the season. That knucklehead SH is busy running off players and blaming referee decisions for FCD not missing the playoffs. REALLY?? That is so crap, I can’t even begin to explain it. And for those of you who don’t understand it, have your heads checked.

    I agree with 7th Row, buying season tix is an investment. I know that I work very hard for not enough salary. It’s not too much to ask for these pro athletes, coaching staff (allegedly pro coaches), and FO to do better than what they did this year. Did I enjoy the games in the last 1/3 of the season, but it shouldn’t have come to that. And when it came down to the brass tacks, this club led by this no winning coach gagged, just like all of his COLLEGE teams did when the big game came around.

    Will I be there next year? Yes. Do I have much faith in the future? Not while HSG and SH are running the show.

  16. Comment by HammerHead on October 29, 2009 12:23 PM

    It’s all in the ride! Investments are cyclical as we have seen this year… just look at your 401k. To me it’s about having the balls to keep faith in opposition to overwhelming obstacles. We kept faith this year and the team returned on my investment of time and heart by almost taking us to the playoffs. I still think the glass is half full, and we just gotta keep pouring! Belief is the foundation on which success is built! I BELIEVE!

  17. Comment by SOCCERROO on October 29, 2009 3:36 PM

    Jonesing, thanks for the definition on investment. # 3 is exactly what we are talking about. Putting money into the team to get something out of it. The defenition uses profit which is a valueable return or Gain. if I buy tickets and spend time and energy rooting for the Hoops. I want to get some joy and maybe a few extra games to go to at the end of the season as my return or gain. Where the last 12 games were more enjoyable than the first 18 the playoffs were not made and this was a lot of disappointment. Like you we all invest/spend time and money in the Team with the hope of finding enjoyment and when the season started as bad and we missed a playoff by one game the is frustration that we could have been playing more games is there.

  18. Comment by jonesing on October 29, 2009 5:51 PM

    wow if you think you can make a profit from buying tickets to a sporting event (without scalping said tickets) you must have just fallen off the turnip truck!!

    Sporting events = profits for owners/leagues/communities/vendors
    Sporting events = paychecks for players

    **Sporting events = entertainment for fans***

  19. Comment by Teddy on October 29, 2009 7:08 PM

    FCD fan-dom, if I may call it that, isn’t a financial investment so much as it is an emotional one. As fans each of us invests time and attention (which may cost us in $$) in following the FCD team. We want the team to succeed at all levels. When it doesn’t we feel disappointment and even cheated.

    The thing is, FCD has had some success over the last two months. Things are looking good for the future. Attitudes of the individual players seem positive. The wheat has been separated from the chaff.

    And if those signs don’t convince you that all is not lost, then remember the ole proverb ‘buy low sell high.’ What better time to buy?

  20. Comment by hahabob on October 29, 2009 7:13 PM

    Jonesing,

    I got a check in the mail from FCD, $5000, not bad for buying two cheap seats to a game.

  21. Comment by seventhrowscreamer on October 29, 2009 7:25 PM

    Jonesing,
    Funny enough I do have high blood preasure. The condition’s not funny but connecting it to FCD is. Mine wasn’t in the gene pool but something I developed from severe pain over the course of two back surgeries. Now the back’s good but the pressure’s still a turd. I’ve been an aggressive sports fan far longer than I’ve had hypertension. Now please report the definition of invest.

  22. Comment by seventhrowscreamer on October 30, 2009 12:58 AM

    Jonesing,
    If I block out the memories of HSG screwing my family over and block out the actions of the coach I do enjoy the ride.
    I just don’t have your stamina.

  23. Comment by jonesing on October 30, 2009 6:52 AM

    Sorry to hear about your hypertension, mine is genetic.
    Stressing over a sports team just isn’t worth it, I love FCD, but just enjoy the ride and hope for the best.
    How did HSG screw your family over?

    hahabob – that is awesome, I am still waiting for my check!

  24. Comment by SOCCERROO on October 30, 2009 8:48 AM

    Jonesing,

    I guess I just fell off the turnip truck. Man I am just trying to explain in your language what others are saying but i guess You can not see that. You used a definition so I tried to use one that explained what others were talking about. I guess i will just have to accept that you can not see why other people have passion and want more from the things they spend time and money on than what tyou expect. So you will always be just an observer and not a fan(fanatic).

  25. Comment by jonesing on October 30, 2009 9:13 AM

    “So you will always be just an observer and not a fan(fanatic).”

    Apparently, for you, ignorance is bliss..

  26. Comment by SOCCERROO on October 30, 2009 9:18 AM

    No ignorance. I am much like you. Someone who can go to a game and just enjoy it. But i also see where other people are much more passionate than you or I appear to be. Where they take the failings of the team as a serious loss on the time and money they spend.

  27. Comment by jonesing on October 30, 2009 12:09 PM

    1. If you take a loss by a sports team that seriously you need to reassess your life.
    2. The money spent on FCD tickets, etc is peanuts compared to other pro teams. You go to a season of FCD games for less than 1 Cowboys ticket.

  28. Comment by Scooter on November 2, 2009 12:29 PM

    Seems like we got way off topic here, and nobody is answering the question, “Why is this team practicing like this one week after the season ended?” Doesn’t this surprise anyone? I thought they would go home for awhile like players in every other sport.

  29. Comment by Buzz Carrick on November 2, 2009 1:09 PM

    They are practicing because the player are still being paid. Hyndman is continuing to evaluate players and trying to develop for next year.

    It’s quite common for teams missing the playoffs to keep training for a couple weeks.

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