A Picasso on the Pitch

It can’t be said that I’m referring to a masterful painter sporting football boots, painting pass after pass, albeit somewhat haphazardly, with a unique style and taste for cunning art. If this mythical player was in a Dallas shirt there is a 50% shot he would be on the injured reserve. But like a Picasso work, the expected squad for tonight’s match looks pasted together. Ferreira, Villar, Shea, Warshaw, Ihemelu, Perez, Wiedeman, and Hernandez are all out. It’s the worst Dallas has had it on the injured reserve list in at least the past five years, six starters featuring on it.

What to make of the match then? Playing Seattle with a healthy FCD squad would have been trouble enough. Certainly it is worth noting Seattle will only have one notable absence from their starting lineup (a sixth of what Dallas is currently dealing with). Trying to spin Dallas’ chances in tonight’s match may appear to be naiveté, but bare a few factors in mind going into this game.

First of all, Seattle has only scored one goal on the road this year. Their 2-1 victory against DC back in April included an own goal for the Sounders. This will only be their third away match of the season, and only 72 hours after playing Philadelphia at home, gaining a 1-0 victory. So, weary legs and travelling will certainly play an initial factor.

Say what you will of the Colorado match, but until Sunday night FC Dallas Stadium, regardless of the variety of personnel on the field, has been a fortress for Dallas. The only team to really turn the screws on Dallas in Frisco this season was Salt Lake; the rest have made tepid efforts to overwhelm Dallas to gain points in North Texas. Home field advantage at least has a place in this conversation.

The main exception to all of this will be the personnel available for FCD. In the back, the team can at least be comforted by the presence of Hernan Pertuz in place of Ihemelu, while remaining mostly unchanged. Pertuz had a starting spot for the first three matches this season, and has performed exceptionally well in a couple of games (New York; Portland). The midfield will see the biggest alterations, as Leyva should step in for Shea and Marcelin for Hernandez. Jacobson, Castillo, and Jackson will all return to their starting positions used against Colorado on Sunday. Sealy should round out the attack up top, and to be honest, Dallas will be strapped for chances if his performance last week is to be indicative.

Gaining much-needed points from a match against a highly-rated western conference rival will be difficult tonight. A 4-5-1 is preferable against Seattle for a couple of reasons. For one, it gives Dallas a numerical advantage throughout the midfield. Marcelin, as stated in the preview of the Colorado match, proved in Portland that he is a decent shield in front of the back line. That will be put to the test tonight, but expect very defensive roles for him and Andrew Jacobson. So, packing the middle will force tons of play to the wings, where fortunately Dallas has stalwarts Benitez and Loyd. Secondly, the 4-5-1 is a formation meant to absorb pressure and take away the middle of the field with two banks of central defenders, those being the two center backs and the two defensive center midfielders. The Sounders are not lethal from distance, only netting two of their eleven goals in 2012 from outside the penalty area. However, a whopping seven goals have come from inside the penalty area for Seattle. It will be tactically important for Marcelin and Jacobson to prevent play from slipping between them and the two center backs, and shield those attacks to the outsides, where Seattle has only managed one goal from an open play cross this year.

But that is not to say FCD has been any better, as the team has yet to net a single goal from an open-play cross this year. Given the speed on the wings and an active target man up top it is a telling statistic. But with Scott Sealy fronting the attack tonight Dallas will not be able to be too direct; Sealy doesn’t have the size to deal with tons of balls lobbed in from the back line. But nailing Seattle on the counter will be more suited to the style of play, and given the offensive absences Dallas has, it is to be expected that Seattle will maintain a majority of possession and Dallas will have to sit in quite frequently and defend. If Dallas defends, counters, and makes good of their set pieces and corners they will give themselves a fighting chance for three points.

A heroic defensive display, like the one witnessed from the 35th minute to the 60th minute on Sunday, will define this game. To be fair, Dallas will be fortunate for a point out of this one, which is tough to admit before a home match. But given the injuries and suspensions ravaging the team at the moment, it may be the best thing to expect. But let’s not be dour, or resort to pessimism. This season has been unique. It’s been full of intrigue, injury, and brief moments of brilliance. Three homegrown products of the FCD academy have seen good minutes this season, one of which should be starting tonight. Given the club’s recent history this may be another season (much like 2010) where FCD hits yet another midseason stride and streaks into the playoffs on a high. Even if the team must paste lineups together going into the rest of May, a solid showing tonight (particularly a solid defensive showing) will instill confidence in a squad whose depth has been constantly tested in 2012.

(image courtesy of fcdallas.com)