Why do the powers that be hate the Dallas midfield? How many Ouija boards are in the FCD locker room? Is half the team practicing Santeria? Do we really need to break out the horse placenta to speed up Villar and Ferreira’s recovery? Let’s hope not, but Dallas is in desperate need of a full, fit squad heading into a difficult May and difficult match against Colorado on Sunday.
First things first. Bobby Warshaw, the up-and-coming 2010 draft pick, is out for at least six to eight weeks with impending surgery on his right foot. This makes him the fourth recent casualty in the FCD midfield alongside Ferreira, Jacobson, and Villar. Jacobson, however, put in 80-plus minutes against LA last week, and should be a go for Sunday’s match. Jackson’s recall from Cruzeiro sought to ease the pain further, but for some reason the big man upstairs has turned the screws on the team once again.
This makes the signing of James Marcelin, the former defensive midfield of the Portland Timbers, a sign of the times at Dallas. Not rated highly amongst fans, despite serving the team for one USL season and its inaugural MLS season, Marcelin will at least be a big body (6’2” frame) and two healthy legs. He will more than likely serve as cover for Jacobson and Hernandez as a defensive center midfielder. However, some interesting statistics support the fact that Marcelin may actually be a shot in the arm for Dallas, especially when it comes to winning balls in the middle of the park. Credit’s due to @HighRantDistric, as he replied to a few questions dropped about how Timbers fans rated Marcelin. Anyhow, the Haitian’s not known for his offensive capabilities, or even his passing ability; he’s been there to win the ball in front of the back line, and nothing more. Portland was a miserable 2-8-4 without Marcelin in the lineup in 2011, and 9-6-5 with him. Even in 2012, before he was waived by the Timbers, Portland managed only a single win in three games without Marcelin in the lineup. Does this bode well for FCD? A late defensive substitution would be great if Dallas manage to keep the lead, and Marcelin seems like a good shut-down midfielder to fit the bill.
As Marcelin will be a new presence in Frisco tonight, Oscar Pareja will not. The former technical director and right hand man of Schellas Hyndman has put together a Colorado side who have been both Jekyll and Hyde in 2012. They’ve scrounged four wins out of nine matches, losing the rest. When the Rapids are on they have been lethal. But given the fact that they played, and lost, midweek at New England the Rapids could be sluggish and vexed by their recent travels and run of form (they’ve only won one in the past five).
That being said, Pareja will come in this match with a need to prove himself on the big scale. Colorado will at least attack, especially via the counter, as they have set up in a 4-3-3 often this season. It’s a formation that fits the bill for Omar Cummings and will put tons of pressure on the FCD back line, which will have to be cautious and organized to contain the pacey Jamaican. His strike partner Conor Casey is still recovering his form since a nasty achilles injury in 2011. Marvell Wynne, the most athletic man on any pitch, also picked up a hamstring strain midweek at New England. To top it off, poor road form (a 1-4 record at that) doesn’t prove promising for Colorado coming into the match.
Given these ailments for the Rapids, FCD can still be upbeat despite dropping two points at the hands of a late Galaxy goal last Saturday.
“This is our ninth game and we’ve had nine different lineups,” said Coach Schellas Hyndman. “We’ve yet to get any consistency, because people are getting call-ups or injuries or suspensions from the disciplinary committee, so for us to come out (against LA) and fight as long as we did against a very good team … I’m not worried about us.”
The multitude of formation and personnel changes for Dallas have kept the team from achieving any consistency from game to game. FCD’s bench has definitely been put to the test. Twelve points out of nine matches isn’t anything to scoff at, but the points dropped from winning positions has amounted to seven in 2012. However, the Dallas back line looked at its best against LA, and barring the massive brain hemorrhage that Jair Benitez must’ve had in the 93rd minute, causing him to trap a ball that late in the game in the six-yard box, things should be organized and tight in the back once against for Dallas. Brek Shea and Castillo will be crucial in this match: a 4-3-3 for the Rapids will make flank play ever more important for Dallas. Gaps abound on the lines in such an attacking formation. Furthermore, I like the combination of Loyd and Castillo together on the same flank. The two ran rampant against opposing defenses in the preseason and really have yet to be on the same side of the field since the MLS season began. Tonight may be the night they rekindle this relationship. Castillo needs to open his scoring account today and really aid Dallas in grabbing an early lead.
Moreover, the men from Frisco come to the issue of maintaining a lead. Dallas is undefeated at home this season, and a home win will mean much. But keeping, and holding, a lead will mean more. Even more attacking football at that rate will please the fans, as scoring opportunities have been few and far between in the past two weeks. Given Colorado’s circumstances with injuries, tired legs, and poor away form, this could be the chance for Dallas to take an opponent and put them under their thumb. A solid home win tonight will give the club and its supporters much needed confidence in the face of a hospital’s worth of injuries and points dropped that could have been obtained.
(image courtesy of fcdallas.com)
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