Since the last update FCD’s been very active in their preparation for the 2012 season. Since then the squad has scrimmaged the New York Red Bulls (lost 2-0), Houston Baptist University (won 5-1), River Plate (tied 1-1), and the University of Memphis (won 6-0).
This time has seen the rise in stock of a couple of FCD’s least-established members, Scott Sealy & Andrew Wiedeman. Forward Scott Sealy tallied an assist and two goals versus HBU, and most recently netted one against Memphis. Right-winger Andrew Wiedeman was also a goal-scorer (who wasn’t?) in the HBU match, but his best exploits came recently versus Memphis, as he netted a hat-trick and showed some explosive pace down the right flank.
Albeit the results against HBU and Memphis were expected to be in FCD’s favor, the results against River Plate and New York still display a lack in offensive efficiency that so plagued the Hoops from the middle to end of the 2011 season. Newly-acquired striker Blas Perez had been short on goals up until Memphis. There is no doubt it will take him time to adjust to both the team and the league.
The drought of goals that plagued the end of 2011 put much more strain on the FCD defense. Ball movement throughout the midfield, especially in the beginning of the 2011 season, moved fluidly from flank to flank, sometimes with the ball being cut back into the middle, or otherwise taken up the center into the 18 through the movements of Shea and Chavez (now since traded). Ferreira’s injury at Vancouver last year removed the Dallas threat in the center of the pitch, asking more of FCD’s wider attacking options. Possession took a bit of a hit, which was one of the team’s strong suits throughout the 2010 season.
The youth movement within FCD will help the club see things through. Andrew Wiedeman has shown his worth in the preseason and looks to be a legitimate option on the right wing. Bryan Leyva has seen significant minutes throughout the FCD preseason with the first side midfield as well. It’s about time the number-1-rated US development academy started ushering its top prospects up into the first XI. We’ll see what the season holds these young professionals.
Still, who will fill David Ferreira’s shoes?
He’ll have seen a foot and ankle specialist by the end of the month, and has been held out of full-on training sessions at his own request. No one can disagree FCD lacked creativity in the final third after his injury at Vancouver, and even with good pickups like Daniel Cruz and Ricardo Villar the Hoops were unable to replace the Columbian footballer. The magic simply lacked.
However, the season’s prospects are bright. As of 2/15, Blas Perez netted his second goal for FCD and Andrew Wiedeman netted his fifth versus Southern Methodist University in a friendly. FCD started with a strong lineup versus SMU (4-4-2: Hartman, Benitez, Ihemelu, Pertuz, Loyd, Shea, Hernandez, Jacobson, Wiedeman, Perez, Castillo). A 4-4-2 is a bit of a departure from the 4-1-4-1 Dallas employed all 2010 and 2011. I suppose the idea would back Castillo to provide for Perez, and is certainly a formation that addresses Ferreira’s absence as the fifth midfielder and foil behind the target striker. The first half was marked by fluid motion between Castillo, Perez, and Shea, the latter of the three with a couple solid combinations that found Shea and Perez in on goal and 2-0 lead at the half. Hyndman started a reserve squad in the second half only to go up 4-0 by the 90th minute (Goals: Quinonez, Leyva). FCD looked vulnerable only towards the 70th minute throughout the entire match.
Schellas Hyndman will have a better idea of the FCD first squad by March 3rd when team heads to Orlando for the Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic, facing MLS and Scandinavian competition. Be on notice for Sealy and Wiedeman during the tournament. They have the most to gain at the moment, not mentioning how nice it would be to FCD youth product Wiedeman continue his fine preseason scoring form. Brek Shea will hopefully have found some needed rest during the MLS offseason. The man played as many, if not more, minutes than any player professionally from September through November of 2011. If he can conjure the same magic he found early in the 2011 season Dallas will have a veritable attack; the Hoops sorely need a multitude of offensive threats in 2012.
Minor, recent developments for FCD & the Western Conference:
- Daniel Cruz’s time in Dallas is over according to Schellas Hyndman – I assume that can only be a bit of foreshadowing to David Ferreira’s condition.
- Even though West Ham is at the top of the English nPower Championship, reports are slow out of east London about the status of George John’s two-month loan to the Hammers. There is still a chance we could see John back in Dallas, but for now expect Pertuz to fill the void alongside Ihemelu at center-half. West Ham still have voids to be filled and injuries along their backline – John provides the cover they need to push for a return to the Barclays Premier League.
- Brek Shea featured in ESPN The Magazine’s most recent issue, and will more than likely be a part of Caleb Porter’s USMNT Olympic U-23 roster.
- Richard Sanchez, the FCD reserve and Mexico U-17 keeper, has been called up to the Mexican U-20 camp in preparation for the U-20 World Cup in Turkey.
Bits from the rest of Major League Soccer:
- Barbasol will sponsor the most clean-shaven team in the MLS, the Columbus Crew. Still, no FCD shirt or stadium sponsor.
- Brian Ching, the only person in Texas (let alone the US) longing to be in Houston, will in fact be back in Houston.
- So much for MLS parity. The Galaxy will have a Beckham-Donovan-Juninho-Keane-Buddle attack to being 2012.
(image courtesy of fcdallas.com)
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