Big D Soccer

Via West Ham Website George John traveled with the Hammers to Blackpool for their game this...

2012-02-21T20:28:06Z

Via West Ham Website

George John traveled with the Hammers to Blackpool for their game this evening but did not make the bench.

Who Will Breakout in 2012?

2012-02-21T19:08:52Z

From an individual player standpoint, for me there were two major breakout players in 2011. The guy who exceeded expectations the most was Andrew Jacobson. Bought off the Philadelphia Union scrapheap for practically nothing, the Californian was put into his natural spot at central midfield to great results. The Cal-Berkley product played at an MLS Best-XI level during FCD's 9 game unbeaten run and an injury in the Salt Lake game derailed the rest of his season with an injured knee.

The other breakout player was obviously Brek Shea with the Texan scoring 11 goals and 4 assists on his way to an MLS Best XI award. I wouldn't say that his success was quite as surprising as Jacobson's however as Shea locked down the left mid spot back in the middle of 2010 and the writing was on the wall for his huge 2011 season.

So who will breakout this year and push themselves into the limelight of a team with stars like Brek Shea, David Ferreira & Blas Perez?

Fabian Castillo The most obvious choice is the speedy Colombian, Castillo. The guy doesn't even turn 20 until June and he's the front-runner for the starting right midfield spot. Should Dallas move to a 4-4-2, Castillo would almost surely be the forward next to Blas Perez and he has excelled in a role with more freedom next to the Panamanian. Can he show all his skill in the right midfield position with the rigid set of rules that Schellas Hyndman demands for the position? There are questions, but Castillo's speed and moves on the ball have him among the best young attacking players in MLS and he could put it all together this year.

Andrew Wiedeman If they gave out pre-season MVP awards, Wiedeman would probably get one of them. Finally beginning to adjust to his new role at right midfield, he has scored bunches of goals against the college competition of the early pre-season. He's playing with a ton of confidence right now but the true test will be if he can do it against MLS competition in Orlando. One or two injures or suspensions could see him in a bigger role this season giving him his chance.

Ruben Luna The biggest question with Ruben is what would constitute a breakout season for him? If he gets into 10 games, scores 3 goals and maybe has a game winner in the Open Cup, is that a breakout season? After leading the Development Academy in goals as a 17 year old, and leading the MLS Reserve League in goals as a 19 year old, the time is coming for Ruben to prove himself at the biggest stage, but I think it might still be another year or two before his true breakout which is what makes the Blas Perez signing so brilliant.

Who do you think could breakout for FC Dallas in 2012?

FC Dallas Reserve League Schedule Out

2012-02-20T19:59:17Z

Major League Soccer today announced the schedule for the 2012 MLS Reserve League season. FC Dallas is once again in the Central division with the Chicago Fire, the Colorado Rapids, the Houston Dynamo, Real Salt Lake and Sporting Kansas City.

At the conclusion of the Reserve League season the team with the most points out of all three conferences will be determined the Reserve League Champion. As in Major League Soccer, three points is awarded for a win, one point for a draw and no points for a loss.

Subject to Change; All Times Local

13-Mar	vs Real Salt Lake	7:30 PM	FC Dallas Stadium
20-Mar	at Colorado Rapids	4:00 PM	DSG Park Field 20
10-Apr	vs Houston Dynamo	7:30 PM	FC Dallas Stadium
17-Apr	at Real Salt Lake	11:00 AM	RSL Training Field
1-May	at Sporting Kansas City	7:30 PM	LIVESTRONG Sporting Park
16-Jun	at Houston Dynamo	6:30 PM	BBVA Compass Stadium
29-Aug	vs Colorado Rapids	7:30 PM	FC Dallas Stadium
18-Sep	at Chicago Fire	10:00 AM	Toyota Park Practice Field
25-Sep	vs Sporting Kansas City	7:30 PM	FC Dallas Stadium
TBD	vs Chicago Fire	7:30 PM	FC Dallas Stadium

Season Starts Have Been a Struggle for Schellas Hyndman

2012-02-20T05:42:15Z

Schellas Hyndman has tackled a lot of the problems that plagued him early in his MLS coaching career. He does not butt heads with players like he used to, almost never criticizes a player to the media and has built one of the strongest starting XI's in Major League Soccer on a tight budget while winning MLS Coach of the Year in 2010. I don't think anyone would want a different coach in charge right now and I certainly expect Hyndman's FC Dallas to bounce back in 2012.

However, for some reason slow starts to season campaigns have troubled the gaffer all three of his full seasons in charge. Interestingly, FC Dallas has gained just four points from the first five games of 2009, 2010 and 2011.

2009

Game 1: Chicago 3 FC Dallas 1; Game 2: Chivas USA 2 FC Dallas 0; Game 3: New England 2 FC Dallas 1; Game 4: Toronto FC 1 FC Dallas 1; Game 5: FC Dallas 3 Toronto FC 2

It's a bit unfair to pin 2009 on Schellas as he quickly identified the team was not up to par in MLS and turned over the roster almost completely from '09 to 2010. However, 2009 was a very bad start for Dallas that saw starting lineups with names like Blake Wagner, Steve Purdy, and Daniel Torres. To Schellas Hyndman's credit, FC Dallas won four of their last five games in 2009, just a win in Seattle on the final day from sneaking into the playoffs on the back of a miraculous scoring run from Jeff Cunningham.

Keep reading

2010

Game 1: FC Dallas 1 Houston 1; Game 2: FC Dallas 2 Columbus 2; Game 3: New York 2 FC Dallas 1; Game 4: FC Dallas 2 Seattle 2; Game 5: FC Dallas 1 New England 1

In 2010, Dallas' slow start was mainly down to their inability to keep a clean sheet. Rookies Zach Loyd and George John worked their way into the starting lineup very early, but understandably took some time to find the defensive form that pushed FCD all the way to MLS Cup.

FC Dallas would go on to lose just 1 of the next 23 games after this on what was arguably the best team in franchise history.

2011

Game 1: FC Dallas 1 Chicago 1; Game 2: San Jose 2 FC Dallas 0; Game 3: Columbus 2 FC Dallas 0; Game 4: FC Dallas 3 Colorado 0; Game 5: Portland 3 FC Dallas 2

Another slow start, though this was the first season where fans went into things with expectations of success. Coming off the MLS Cup run in 2010, you could excuse some Dallas fans for thinking the first 5 games would bring a nice amount of points in the bag. Two lackluster performances at home against Chicago and San Jose to start the season quickly tempered those feelings. To be honest, I can't really explain those performances other than the team wasn't quite into battle mode yet. Dallas quickly recovered to destroy Colorado in the game where Fabian Castillo and David Ferreira terrorized the champs.

Much like 2010, after a loss to Portland in which Dallas nearly came back from a 3-0 deficit, the team would roll on a nine game unbeaten streak.

Conclusions

Defensive struggles For whatever reason, FC Dallas has greatly struggled defensively to open the season. 10 goals allowed in 2009, 8 goals allowed in 2010 and 8 goals allowed in 2011 is simply not good enough to get results. Perhaps the strangest thing about the porous defense is that in 2010 & 2011, years where Schellas had the desired back four, the defense gets remarkably better after those first five games.

In 2010, it took 13 more games for FCD to allow the 8 goals that they did in the first 5 games. In 2011, Dallas would allow just 2 goals in their next 7 games after allowing 8 goals in the first 5. If I had more time, I would see if that was a league-wide phenomena or something that has simply plagued FCD.

First Three Games Amazingly, Hyndman coached teams are 0-6-3 in the first three games of the season. Of those nine games, six of them were played at home as well. For whatever reason, Dallas just has not done well to start the season. In fact, Dallas has played the first two games of the season at home in every year under Schellas Hyndman and that tradition will continue again this season.

Could the trend continue? The first three games of 2012 are going to be tough ones as well. New York, Portland and Sporting KC are all sides that look to be in the top half of the league this season. Also, while I have no doubts that Blas Perez will be a very effective MLS forward this season, it would not surprise me at all to see him struggle at first to catch up to the speed of the league as he nears full fitness.

There is also the fact that Brek Shea will very likely miss games 2-4 of the season as he joins the United States for Olympic Qualifying. Perhaps the most interesting thing of all, however, will be the effect that George John has on the defense should he return from West Ham. It would be shocking to see Dallas concede 8-10 goals like in years past with a Benitez, John, Ihemelu, Loyd back four.

Bruno Guarda Suspended Indefinitely

2012-02-19T18:51:04Z

Bruno Guarda Suspended Indefinitely

Steve Hunt's FCD Notebook for the Sunday Dallas Morning News Sports Section had this interesting tidbit.

"FCD last week suspended midfielder Bruno Guarda indefinitely for an undisclosed violation of team rules. Guarda, an Arlington Oakridge and SMU product entering his fifth season with FCD, did not play against SMU, nor did he play Saturday against Tulsa. "Bruno’s not really anything we want to talk about right now," Hyndman said, calling it a team issue.

Not good...

FC Dallas vs SMU Match Photos

2012-02-19T17:00:23Z

Pablo Serna again on hand to take some great photos from the SMU-FCD game. The lighting at Westcott Field makes for some tough photography conditions, but he did a great job. Enjoy!

More photos

Dogba!

FC Dallas Upcoming Week Schedule

2012-02-18T23:00:25Z

As you can see, the FC Dallas upcoming training schedule includes games against the US Mens U23 Olympic Squad as well as the U20's who have called up FCD academy guys Boyd Okwuono and Daniel Garcia for their camp in Florida.

Dallas heads to Orlando on Friday to begin their participation in the Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic with the first game coming against BK Hacken of the Swedish Allsvenskan on Saturday night. A little birdie told me the WDW games will be streamed live on MLSSoccer.com, but we will have to wait and see on that one. Busy week upcoming for Dallas!

Weekly Training Schedule (All Times Central)
Date Time Event Location
Monday, Feb. 20 10 a.m. Training adidas Field
Tuesday, Feb. 21 10 a.m. Training adidas Field
Wednesday, Feb. 22 10 a.m. vs. U.S. U-23s adidas Field
Thursday, Feb. 23 10 a.m. Training adidas Field
Friday, Feb. 24 -- Travel to Orlando, Fla.
Saturday, Feb. 25 7 p.m. vs. BK Häcken Orlando, Fla.
Sunday, Feb. 26 3 p.m. vs. U.S. U-20s Orlando, Fla.

FC Dallas Downs Tulsa 5-1

2012-02-18T21:01:09Z

FC Dallas defeated the University of Tulsa 5-1 on a rainy morning in Frisco. I wasn't able to make this game so just a few things to take from this one. I'll list my observations then click through for the stats and lineups.

Same 4-4-2 lineup Dallas played the same 4-4-2 formation this morning that they showed against SMU with the only change being Bobby Warshaw slotting in for Daniel Hernandez at defensive midfield. The bottom line is if David Ferreira, Andrew Jacobson and Daniel Hernandez are healthy, the 4-1-4-1 is going to be the preferred formation, but we could see the 4-4-2 to open the season if Ferreira can't get into starting shape.

Sealy impressing Two more goals for Scott Sealy today and you've got to think he's getting close to earning a contract. Whether he makes the team or not, the Trinidadian can be happy in knowing that he's done just about everything he could have to make the squad. I'm rooting for the guy at this point.

Blas Perez hitting gear Yes, it is against inferior competition and yes we will learn much more in Orlando, but Blas Perez now has 4 goals in his last three halves of soccer. I feel even better about this signing than I did before. The guy is going to give MLS defenders a lot of problems, I've seen enough of him to be assured of that. Just keep him healthy.

Jump for game report & stats

Thanks to Jason Minnick of FC Dallas for the game recap

FC Dallas downs Tulsa 5-1
Team to face U.S. U-23 National Team at FC Dallas Stadium on Wednesday, Feb. 22

FRISCO, Texas (Saturday, Feb. 18, 2012) – FC Dallas defeated the University of Tulsa men’s soccer team 5-1 today on the adidas Field at FC Dallas Stadium. Dallas got two goals out of forwards Blas Perez and Scott Sealy in the victory.

The game got off to a slow start for FC Dallas. The team surrendered a 1-0 lead in just the fifth minute when Tulsa’s Bryce Follensbee got a jump on the FC Dallas defense. The speedy forward arrived first to a through ball played into the top right corner of the area and was taken to the ground by FC Dallas center back Ugo Ihemelu. Without hesitation, the referee awarded a penalty kick, which was converted by teammate Omar Mata.

FC Dallas settled down and found an equalizer in the 25^th minute when Perez benefited from good combination play between Zach Loyd and Andrew Jacobson. After controlling the ball on the right flank, Loyd played Jacobson a through ball near the top of the area. Jacobson turned with the ball and knocked a lateral centering pass in on the floor to Perez, who controlled the ball well under pressure and finished low to the right side of Tulsa goalkeeper Mark Pace.

Brek Shea started the sequence that gave Dallas a 2-1 lead just before halftime. The midfielder controlled the ball at the top of the box with his back to goal before being knocked to the ground by a Tulsa defender. The foul earned Dallas a penalty kick, which was converted by Perez with a sharp pass into the lower right corner of the goal.

Dallas brought on 10 new players to begin the second half and got a goal from Sealy just 12 minutes later. The play began when right back Scott Gordon intercepted a pass near midfield and pushed the ball up the middle of the field to Bryan Leyva. Leyva turned and slotted a pass through Tulsa’s defense to Sealy, who spun and fired a low shot past the right arm of goalkeeper Mike Murray to make it 3-1.

University of Maryland product Alex Lee had a strong half. He set up both of FC Dallas’ final goals to help the team to a 5-1 victory. The first came in the 64^th minute when Lee got the ball on the right flank and slid a pass inside to Dogba. The Ivory Coast forward finished cleanly, hitting a sliding shot to the back post with his first touch.

Lee beat a trio of Tulsa defenders on the dribble to setup the final goal. His pass inside to Sealy put the forward in position to give Dallas a 5-1 lead, but a Tulsa defender drug the Trinidadian native to the ground, forcing the referee to once again point to the spot. Sealy converted the penalty with a hard blast down the middle of the goal.

FC Dallas will play its final preseason tune-up in Frisco on Wednesday morning before departing to Orlando, Fla. to take part in the Walt Disney Pro Soccer Classic. FC Dallas will face the U.S. U-23 National Team in that match, which will be played on the adidas Field at FC Dallas Stadium at 10 a.m.

Scoring Summary:

TUL – Omar Mata (PK) 5

DAL – Blas Perez (Andrew Jacobson, Zach Loyd) 25
DAL – Perez (PK) 44
DAL – Scott Sealy (Bryan Leyva, Scott Gordon) 57
DAL – Dogba (Alex Lee) 64
DAL – Sealy (PK) 79

Misconduct Summary:

NONE

Lineups:

FC Dallas – Kevin Hartman, Jair Benitez, Ugo Ihemelu, Hernan Pertuz, Zach Loyd, Brek Shea, Bobby Warshaw, Andrew Jacobson, Andrew Wiedeman, Blas Perez, Fabian Castillo.

FC Dallas (2^nd half) – Chris Seitz, Moises Hernandez, Matt Hedges ( Jack Stewart 73) Christian Ibeagha, Scott Gordon, Jonathan Top, Bryan Leyva, Bobby Warshaw, Alex Lee, Scott Sealy, Dogba.

Tulsa – Mark Pace (Mike Murray 45), Jake Dobkins (Ian Mussman 77), Quinn Starker, Wayne Farmer (SeoHyun Kim 64), Leo Smith (Jon Wright 39, Matt Boullt 45), Kyle Cummings (Tom Gaus 39, Kyle Cummings 64), Omar Mata, Tony Rocha, Bryce Follensbee (Jon Wright 45), Abe Matamoros (Dillon Alexander 64), Steve Roberson (Tom Gaus 84).