You can’t spell suspended without “upended,” which is precisely what this season has felt like. Shea, Benitez, Perez, Loyd, and Hernandez have all served suspensions this season. Ferreira, Villar, Shea, Ihemelu, Warshaw, Castillo, and Jacobson have all served or are currently serving time on the injured reserve. Zach Loyd and Brek Shea are tonight’s lucky winners, whose absences already compound growing crises within a Dallas squad in flux.
Peter Novak’s ability to alienate the entire Philadelphia fan base is the only cunning part of the Union squad in 2012. Goals are few and far between. Shutouts are even fewer. The Union are winless in three and have lost six of nine matches overall, two of those on the road (Chicago & Seattle, respectively).
Change is happening in America’s first capital, however. The offloading of Sebastien Le Toux was confusing, but the trade involving Danny Califf to Chivas USA must have been aneurysm-inducing; a leading goal scorer gone, and now a captain and back line anchor shipped away. Philly may not have the same injury and suspension problems of FCD, but the flux the Union finds itself in is one in the same. At least the Union has enjoyed consistency on the pitch this year, in terms of squad selection at least, even if that consistency has been sub-par.
The lack of uniformity in personnel on the pitch has greatly affected tactics for FCD, and left the team, well, suspended. Hyndman will be strapped for healthy, non-suspended starters tonight. Brek Shea and Zach Loyd will both be serving suspensions (it seems like a weekly raffle at this point). Shea’s absence will not be as impactful as Loyd’s absence, as he has been a stalwart going forward as much as he has been in defense. It is not that Brek has been overrated, but it can easily be said he has underperformed in 2012, for a variety of reasons. Otherwise, the team that takes the field in Frisco will be similar to every other squad chosen in 2012: a toss-up. FCD is certainly suspended, or in some sort of soccer purgatory of which it simply cannot make its way out.
Every level – the defense, midfield, and attack – has felt the effects of suspension and injury in 2012. The match against Philly will be no different with Zach Loyd out. This will more than likely call in Hernan Pertuz or Matt Hedges to fill the gaps in the back (or perhaps both). Hedges has performed well when called upon this season; Pertuz has been less convincing, as he has gone through peaks and valleys every time he steps on the pitch. Fortunately George John has been impeccable the past five matches and will continue to do so no matter who serves beside him. Philly will not offer too much of a threat up top, other than the unpredictable play of Pajoy.
Expect much of the same for Dallas up top and throughout the midfield for this match. A 4-4-2 is more likely, with Bryan Leyva gaining his second professional start (and a chance to be the silver lining in this match) in place of Shea, Jackson on the opposing sideline, and the Hernandez-Jacobson combo filling out the center of midfield. Daniel and Andrew have not been the engine Dallas had in the past in the center of midfield. Their pass completion rates are low; their turnover rates are high.
The fact that FCD overall win very few challenges and free balls in the center of midfield points to the deficiencies in this arrangement, which would be compounded even further if it weren’t for the strong defensive performances by George John and Ugo Ihemelu just behind the center midfielders. Dallas plays its best soccer with the 4-1-4-1. It plays a less attractive style, which has been a necessity of late, in the 4-4-2. Simply put: the personnel are never available to put the best men on the pitch for Dallas, and in the midfield it is most evident.
Perez and Castillo will round out the attack up top. This is a burgeoning relationship due to (and let’s say it all together this time!) injuries and suspensions. They seem to not be quite on the same page. Blas plays well with his back to goal and holds the ball well; Fabian has lightning speed and loves to isolate himself against opposing defenders. These two contrasting styles will have to reconcile themselves if FCD are to find the back of the net tonight. Fabian should have bagged two goals against Columbus. His first of the season last week was refreshing and FCD supporters can only hope that the floodgates will open against the Union. Blas has been silent of late, and hasn’t registered a goal or assist in over a month (last goal was against Montreal). As much as it is easy to point out the deficiencies of Philadelphia, especially in attack, it is equally applicable to Dallas right now. The goals aren’t flowing for either side, and both will be looking to change that in Frisco tonight.
Expect the Union to come out strong. They have a tendency to come out early in matches of late, as four of their past five goals have all come in the first half. Against New York they were very aggressive early on and were certainly the better side. Much of this had to do with the performance of Freddy Adu, who will be missing against Dallas due to suspension.
Tactically speaking, they played well through the middle, going forward with short passes and combinations between the two center midfielders (Gomez and Farfan), with Daniel moving from the wing into the center, as well as Mwanga checking back often for the ball from the forward position. Adu’s absence will mean less services from the right flank for the Union, and certainly less danger in the Philadelphia attack, as he has been a catalyst in 2012. Danny Califf’s absence also adds to the vulnerabilities of the Union defense. That sentence could have easily been written in 1863. Regardless, Philadelphia will play to their one strength: possession.
Dallas will need to complete a couple of objectives to walk out of Frisco with a win. For one, they would do best by not giving Pajoy a clean look at goal. He can strike the ball well and he likes to shoot from, well, anywhere. Secondly, Castillo and Perez will need to play off one another as Cooper and Ballouchy did last week. The unorthodox New York duo up top last week was able to put Philadelphia off kilter a few times, most effectively with one forward checking down for the ball, and the other spring into the space the first forward had left. It is a simple tactic, practiced at many levels, but if it was able to provide problems for the Union with Danny Califf, it may prove to be a better tactic with him away. Lastly, the team needs to minimize turnovers. The mantra is simple: don’t give Philly the ball frequently. The Union has the ability to posses a ball and moves it well throughout the pitch.
Once again, Dallas finds itself against an opponent with similar internal woes and winless streaks. But until FCD can find a bit of luck, or form, to turn this season around it will remain suspended and mired in the woes that have plagued the side since week two.
(image courtesy of Getty Images)
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