Showing posts with label FC Dallas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label FC Dallas. Show all posts
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Can we please find a buyer for FC Dallas?
Can we please find a buyer for FC Dallas?
I have to say I am getting pretty frustrated with the ownership of FCD.
First, Kenny Cooper seems likely to move on, possibly to Eintracht Frankfurt in the German Bundesliga. As sad as it is, it is an understandable move, but what is galling is the ownership's apparent refusal to offer more than $325,000 to $350,000 per season, when he has clearly produced like a Designated Player.
Of course, it doesn't end there. FC Dallas is also currently engaged in a public spat with Defensive midfielder Pablo Richetti, who is claiming for the second offseason in a row that the team has not followed up on verbal promises to rework his contract if he played well. Richetti has been the defensive anchor for Dallas, has shown the ability to begin the attack from the back with smart passes. Throw in the fact that he is the clear leader on the field, and you have someone who has earned a raise. I think it's also no surprise that we have heard similar complaints from several other players, including former Hoop and MLS All-Star Juan Toja.
To throw further fuel on the fire, consider the Hunts' other MLS team, the recently crowned champions Columbus Crew, who may lose their coach, two-time MLS Cup champion and NCAA champion Sigi Schmid because he has had the unmitigated GALL to ask for a contract approaching the amount the Hunts paid for FCD's own resident no-pro-experience, never-closed-the-deal-at-SMU, kick-my-nuts-in-an-infomercial Schellas Hyndman. The Crew may also lose MLS MVP and assist leader Guillermo Barros Schelotto because the Crew no longer have enough MLS "allocation" funny money to avoid having to pay Schelotto the whopping 200 grand out-of-pocket it would take to keep him.
Congratulations, boys, your Dad would be proud.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Red Bull New York 1 - 0 FC Dallas
Wow. 3 hours before kickoff of the next game. I'm cutting these things close.
Well, that was a clusterfuck. I understand Schellas wants a four-man backline. I think it could work. I think it could work this season, even. It could not work in this game, when the new boss had what, two practices with the team? It could not work when the team, already thin at pure defenders due to playing with a three-man backline for the whole season, was missing two more due to national team duties.
I also want to know in just what sort of ball-smashing lala-land Marcelo Saragosa is your first-choice winger. On a team with many defensive midfielders, he is the least competent contributing to the offense, and the slowest thinking in making passes of any kind. He has excellent workrate, is a dedicated and competent tackler, and would be ideal as a game-killing defensive sub to lock down wins. He is not any kind of offensive threat, and is so one-dimensional as to be a distinct liability played as anything other than a deep-lying midfield destroyer. He is not a winger!
Things need to get better, quickly. It's only two hours thirty-five minutes until the next game. We must win the next game.
Anyway...
Well, that was a clusterfuck. I understand Schellas wants a four-man backline. I think it could work. I think it could work this season, even. It could not work in this game, when the new boss had what, two practices with the team? It could not work when the team, already thin at pure defenders due to playing with a three-man backline for the whole season, was missing two more due to national team duties.
I also want to know in just what sort of ball-smashing lala-land Marcelo Saragosa is your first-choice winger. On a team with many defensive midfielders, he is the least competent contributing to the offense, and the slowest thinking in making passes of any kind. He has excellent workrate, is a dedicated and competent tackler, and would be ideal as a game-killing defensive sub to lock down wins. He is not any kind of offensive threat, and is so one-dimensional as to be a distinct liability played as anything other than a deep-lying midfield destroyer. He is not a winger!
Things need to get better, quickly. It's only two hours thirty-five minutes until the next game. We must win the next game.
Anyway...
Saturday, June 21, 2008
FC Dallas 1 - 0 Chicago Fire
I suppose I should get this one up before the next game kicks off, huh?
Yes, Chicago was missing players. Yes, It was ridiculously hot. You know what, though? None of that matters, because this was the best approach the Hoops have taken into a game all year, and it paid off with an entertaining game and a solid win that puts them halfway to winning the season series and the fan-created Brimstone Cup trophy. Cooper looked great, Oduro, while he didn't get a goal, employed his speed to keep a slow-ish Chicago backline off balance, and when the team was up late, they used solid possession and took the ball to the corner to burn time and sap the last bit of energy the Fire players had left. This last point reminds me that this is exactly the way any Texas soccer team should play in summertime day games against players from places with cooler temperatures. If you train in it and the other team doesn't, it should be an advantage.
This is the sort of performance I hoped to see and thought I might when I started the year so high on this group. Let's hope the new coach can keep it going.
Anyway...
Yes, Chicago was missing players. Yes, It was ridiculously hot. You know what, though? None of that matters, because this was the best approach the Hoops have taken into a game all year, and it paid off with an entertaining game and a solid win that puts them halfway to winning the season series and the fan-created Brimstone Cup trophy. Cooper looked great, Oduro, while he didn't get a goal, employed his speed to keep a slow-ish Chicago backline off balance, and when the team was up late, they used solid possession and took the ball to the corner to burn time and sap the last bit of energy the Fire players had left. This last point reminds me that this is exactly the way any Texas soccer team should play in summertime day games against players from places with cooler temperatures. If you train in it and the other team doesn't, it should be an advantage.
This is the sort of performance I hoped to see and thought I might when I started the year so high on this group. Let's hope the new coach can keep it going.
Anyway...
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
New England Revolution 2 - 1 FC Dallas
I only caught the last thirty minutes of this game. From what I understand, they were the only thirty minutes worth watching. the Hoops just couldn't come back from an early two-goal deficit.
As unfortunate as the loss was, those thirty minutes really were some of the best soccer the team has played all year, and if not for New England's keeper Matt Reis making more saves than the Red Cross, the Hoops would have pulled a point. If the team can just play like that for a decent stretch in each game, this team will have some life left in it yet.
Anyway...
As unfortunate as the loss was, those thirty minutes really were some of the best soccer the team has played all year, and if not for New England's keeper Matt Reis making more saves than the Red Cross, the Hoops would have pulled a point. If the team can just play like that for a decent stretch in each game, this team will have some life left in it yet.
Anyway...
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Colorado Rapids 2 - 1 FC Dallas
So, Marco Ferruzzi finally lost one. There were defensive breakdowns and a lack of creativity, but I'm not going to get all butt-hurt about it. It was away, and there were quite a few players missing for the Hoops. Frankly, given all the crap this team's wading through, they're doing pretty well. With eight of fourteen teams making the playoffs and the summer transfer window about to open, I'm interested in seeing what's going to happen. I was high on the young FC Dallas squad at the beginning of the season, and I still think they pull something out of this season, at least a first-round playoff win or a good US Open Cup run. It's up to them to prove me right.
Anyway...
Anyway...
Friday, May 30, 2008
FC Dallas 2 -2 Houston Dynamo
New (interim) coach. Same shit.
For the second time this year, the Evil Orange Menace manages a last-second goal to salvage a point against the Hoops. Also, for the third consecutive game, FC Dallas has a player sent off for a straight red, this time for a very silly Drogba-light face slap. Still, we're back up to second place in the (very weak) Western Conference and at least the swamp-dwellers haven't been able to beat us this year; steal a win in Houston next month, and El Capitan will finally be spending some quality time in North Texas.
Finally, to continue a running theme, attendance was awful. Naturally, given the current state of the team, its modest place in the larger Dallas-Fort Worth community, and the mid-week timing of the game, that's not surprising. What is troubling, and should be another nail in the professional coffin of FC Dallas general manager Michael Hitchcock, is the fact that this game, against an important Western Conference opponent and the fans' most-hated rival, was supposed to be a Saturday night game later in the season. It was rescheduled after the regular season had started. Now, this is not uncommon in soccer land. In England, matches get rescheduled all the time for unexpected Cup runs and even, in some older stadiums, for water-logged pitches. So then, what was the soccer-critical reason that caused the FC Dallas front office to reschedule an important game for midweek, giving their own team three days rest, versus the opponent's six, and meaning that for the Hoops' next game, they'll be on four days rest and the other team will be on seven? Why, Ozzfest, of course!
Now, I understand the realities of Major League Soccer and Pizza Hut Park: concerts and other events are necessary to make the economics of the thing work. It's not like I could forget; for god's sake, there's a giant stage on one end of the damned stadium. I further understand that FC Dallas will not get all the prime dates that the fans and soccer-side employees might want; such is the price for having the team as a going concern. What is an unacceptable crossing of the line, however, is rescheduling an important match to an entirely soccer-stupid date after the schedule had been released in order to tack on one more concert. Many fans, including me, have complained about the schedule when it was released, but I've always considered that garden-variety whining, and nothing that a competent group of players and coaches can't work around, especially with eight of fourteen teams still making the playoffs, but when a front office chooses to make a last-second money grab that puts its team at a competitive disadvantage and makes it more difficult for hard-working fans to get to the game, it tells the team and fans where they stand in the grand scheme of things.
FC Dallas fans understand that concerts and other events are necessary to keep the soccer team in business. What this front office and general manager have failed to understand, however is that we need to believe. We need to believe that this team, those players and colors, that crest that the fans pay money to wear, that they all mean something. MLS is not the highest level of soccer that we could watch, but we do, because, glib stadium announcements notwithstanding, it really is our team.
The ownership and management of a sports team are stewards over a cultural patrimony, whether they want to be or not. This is especially true of a soccer team which wants rely on the grass roots to build its fan base. Stunts like the rescheduling of this Houston game are a slap to the face, reminding us that our stewards may not be particularly good ones.
We all know we need concerts and other events at the soccer stadium, but I guess I thought that those events were to make the soccer a successful business, not that the soccer was a tolerated nuisance to the management of a suburban concert venue.
These Hoops are still my team and will be as long as they're around, but Mr. Hitchcock and Messrs. Hunt, please remember that it will never be because of you, and right now it's most certainly in spite of you.
Anyway...
For the second time this year, the Evil Orange Menace manages a last-second goal to salvage a point against the Hoops. Also, for the third consecutive game, FC Dallas has a player sent off for a straight red, this time for a very silly Drogba-light face slap. Still, we're back up to second place in the (very weak) Western Conference and at least the swamp-dwellers haven't been able to beat us this year; steal a win in Houston next month, and El Capitan will finally be spending some quality time in North Texas.
Finally, to continue a running theme, attendance was awful. Naturally, given the current state of the team, its modest place in the larger Dallas-Fort Worth community, and the mid-week timing of the game, that's not surprising. What is troubling, and should be another nail in the professional coffin of FC Dallas general manager Michael Hitchcock, is the fact that this game, against an important Western Conference opponent and the fans' most-hated rival, was supposed to be a Saturday night game later in the season. It was rescheduled after the regular season had started. Now, this is not uncommon in soccer land. In England, matches get rescheduled all the time for unexpected Cup runs and even, in some older stadiums, for water-logged pitches. So then, what was the soccer-critical reason that caused the FC Dallas front office to reschedule an important game for midweek, giving their own team three days rest, versus the opponent's six, and meaning that for the Hoops' next game, they'll be on four days rest and the other team will be on seven? Why, Ozzfest, of course!
Now, I understand the realities of Major League Soccer and Pizza Hut Park: concerts and other events are necessary to make the economics of the thing work. It's not like I could forget; for god's sake, there's a giant stage on one end of the damned stadium. I further understand that FC Dallas will not get all the prime dates that the fans and soccer-side employees might want; such is the price for having the team as a going concern. What is an unacceptable crossing of the line, however, is rescheduling an important match to an entirely soccer-stupid date after the schedule had been released in order to tack on one more concert. Many fans, including me, have complained about the schedule when it was released, but I've always considered that garden-variety whining, and nothing that a competent group of players and coaches can't work around, especially with eight of fourteen teams still making the playoffs, but when a front office chooses to make a last-second money grab that puts its team at a competitive disadvantage and makes it more difficult for hard-working fans to get to the game, it tells the team and fans where they stand in the grand scheme of things.
FC Dallas fans understand that concerts and other events are necessary to keep the soccer team in business. What this front office and general manager have failed to understand, however is that we need to believe. We need to believe that this team, those players and colors, that crest that the fans pay money to wear, that they all mean something. MLS is not the highest level of soccer that we could watch, but we do, because, glib stadium announcements notwithstanding, it really is our team.
The ownership and management of a sports team are stewards over a cultural patrimony, whether they want to be or not. This is especially true of a soccer team which wants rely on the grass roots to build its fan base. Stunts like the rescheduling of this Houston game are a slap to the face, reminding us that our stewards may not be particularly good ones.
We all know we need concerts and other events at the soccer stadium, but I guess I thought that those events were to make the soccer a successful business, not that the soccer was a tolerated nuisance to the management of a suburban concert venue.
These Hoops are still my team and will be as long as they're around, but Mr. Hitchcock and Messrs. Hunt, please remember that it will never be because of you, and right now it's most certainly in spite of you.
Anyway...
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
FC Dallas 2 - 1 Real Salt Lake
So, did something happen this past week?
Fortunately, the Hoops decided to that they did in fact have some heart, beating Real Salt Lake in the first game after the surprise firing. If this year is salvaged, then Steve Morrow, wherever he ends up, will deserve a large amount of the credit for putting together the young, talented roster. As for this game, Dominic Oduro deserves a lot of the credit. I hope the Birdman is showing true development, and not just a temporary jump in form. Either way, I'll take it.
Also, count mine among the voices calling for the head of Dallas GM Michael Hitchcock. Hitch is generally understood to have been behind some of the ill-considered, less-successful (yet ridiculously expensive) signings the team has had to endure. He has precious little experience with the playing and coaching of the game, and he has repeatedly taken steps that reinforce the team's reputation for not understanding the fan base, and therefore not growing the fan base (just take a look at a few of the comments in that last link). Even this firing, as Steve Davis eloquently points out in the Soccernet article linked above, reeks of desperation and clumsiness. His contract is up at the end of the year, and the sooner he's gone the better.
Anyway...
Fortunately, the Hoops decided to that they did in fact have some heart, beating Real Salt Lake in the first game after the surprise firing. If this year is salvaged, then Steve Morrow, wherever he ends up, will deserve a large amount of the credit for putting together the young, talented roster. As for this game, Dominic Oduro deserves a lot of the credit. I hope the Birdman is showing true development, and not just a temporary jump in form. Either way, I'll take it.
Also, count mine among the voices calling for the head of Dallas GM Michael Hitchcock. Hitch is generally understood to have been behind some of the ill-considered, less-successful (yet ridiculously expensive) signings the team has had to endure. He has precious little experience with the playing and coaching of the game, and he has repeatedly taken steps that reinforce the team's reputation for not understanding the fan base, and therefore not growing the fan base (just take a look at a few of the comments in that last link). Even this firing, as Steve Davis eloquently points out in the Soccernet article linked above, reeks of desperation and clumsiness. His contract is up at the end of the year, and the sooner he's gone the better.
Anyway...
Monday, May 19, 2008
Fairweather fan?
So, my post yesterday has generated a pretty animated response in my estimated readership of one. My wife has told me in no uncertain terms that she is disappointed in the defeatism of the post, and especially the bit about looking forward to the gridiron season. She even went so far as to imply the "FF phrase."
I must insist that a downcast blog post written in the lingering hangover of a weekend of two big losses (one big because of the occasion, the other because of the score line) does not a fairweather fan reveal. I followed the Jaguars when they were 4-12, and when the roster was gutted due to the salary cap sins of the father being visited upon the metaphorical son. When I became a fan of the Atlanta Braves in the 80s, they were mired in years of playing some of the worst baseball the National League has ever seen. In my brief tenure as a soccer fan, I have withstood two straight fizzled promoion campaigns and two straight first-round exits from the MLS playoffs. For god's sake, I even endured the Zook years!
So, for the record, I can't see ever giving up on my Hoops, my Bluebirds, or any other team I follow, and certainly never for a reason as silly as losing games. If I get smacked around by the football gods on some weekends, I might let off a little psychological steam, but these teams are stuck with my grumpy ass for the long haul.
I must insist that a downcast blog post written in the lingering hangover of a weekend of two big losses (one big because of the occasion, the other because of the score line) does not a fairweather fan reveal. I followed the Jaguars when they were 4-12, and when the roster was gutted due to the salary cap sins of the father being visited upon the metaphorical son. When I became a fan of the Atlanta Braves in the 80s, they were mired in years of playing some of the worst baseball the National League has ever seen. In my brief tenure as a soccer fan, I have withstood two straight fizzled promoion campaigns and two straight first-round exits from the MLS playoffs. For god's sake, I even endured the Zook years!
So, for the record, I can't see ever giving up on my Hoops, my Bluebirds, or any other team I follow, and certainly never for a reason as silly as losing games. If I get smacked around by the football gods on some weekends, I might let off a little psychological steam, but these teams are stuck with my grumpy ass for the long haul.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Portsmouth 1 - 0 Cardiff; FC Dallas 1 - 5 LA Galaxy
Not a good soccer weekend for me. At least Cardiff kept it respectable and had some chances, but the magnitude of the loss is still quite the bummer. The Hoops, on the other hand, have me doubting the legitimacy of MLS as a competitive entity. Seriously... 5-1? I can't be the only FC Dallas fan who found himself wondering if the fix was in. The silver lining, if there is one, is to here the (remaining) crowd booing every touch of the World's Biggest Soccer Star™ after he displayed some not-so-classy behavior in the wake of a tough tackle (but one that deserved a yellow at most, if you ask me).
So, when does (American) football season start?
Anyway:
So, when does (American) football season start?
Anyway:
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Real Salt Lake 2 - 1 FC Dallas
What's worse than a sister-kisser? Losing last Saturday because of a defensive clusterfuck on the worst artificial turf used for professional soccer since, well, since ever; it's bad. This game is a confusing one, as RSL may actually be getting better, and injuries screwed with the FCD lineup a bit, but it's still frustrating. Next up is Goldenballs and the Galaxiscrubs (featuring Landycakes). Let's see how that one goes.
Anyway...
Anyway...
Monday, May 5, 2008
San Jose Earthquakes 0 - 0 FC Dallas
This is a game the Hoops should have won. San Jose is a brand new expansion team wrapped in the garb of the old Quakes, most of the roster of which now constitutes the unholy Orange Menace. FC Dallas once again failed to pick apart a defensive-minded opponent, and dropped points against a club that should end up on the bottom of MLS. Still, the play of young Anthony Wallace was impressive, and the Hoops did manage to take a point on the road, something which should not be overlooked. But man, this should have been a win. Damn.
Anyway...
Anyway...
Saturday, April 26, 2008
FC Dallas 0 - 1 New England Revolution
Well, it was bound to happen. This team was obviously not going to win every game. Still, it's a might frustrating to lose at home to a team missing a lot of starters. Dallas looked good in midfield and on defense, the goal excepted, of course, as it was an ugly thing that skipped along the ground and somehow magically found its way into the net. The finishing was awful, as the Hoops just seemed unable to break down the Revolution's packed-in formation in the final third. Of course, New England keeper Matt Reis had a great game as well. All in all, it was pretty disappointing, but I still think this is a better team than last year.
Anyway...
Anyway...
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Chivas USA 0 - FC Dallas 2
Holy crap Kenny Cooper! This is exactly what we all hoped you'd do as the primary target.
Holy crap Abe Thompson! Who can say you're too slow now?
Holy crap FC Dallas! What a win.
This is what I had hoped to see when FC Dallas chose to deal away Carlos Ruiz. This team is truly coming together as a unit. This time, they not only got an early lead against a supposedly superior opponent, but closed the deal, even grabbing an insurance goal to ice the game. Of course, FC Dallas has started hot each of the past two seasons and wilted in the stifling heat of a Texas summer, though I wonder what Cardiff or any other British team could manage in temperatures closing in on 40 degrees Celsius. It's still early, but my guarded preseason optimism is starting not to look so pollyanna-ish now. The Hoops are undefeated and may be on the beginnings of a roll.
Anyway...
Holy crap Abe Thompson! Who can say you're too slow now?
Holy crap FC Dallas! What a win.
This is what I had hoped to see when FC Dallas chose to deal away Carlos Ruiz. This team is truly coming together as a unit. This time, they not only got an early lead against a supposedly superior opponent, but closed the deal, even grabbing an insurance goal to ice the game. Of course, FC Dallas has started hot each of the past two seasons and wilted in the stifling heat of a Texas summer, though I wonder what Cardiff or any other British team could manage in temperatures closing in on 40 degrees Celsius. It's still early, but my guarded preseason optimism is starting not to look so pollyanna-ish now. The Hoops are undefeated and may be on the beginnings of a roll.
Anyway...
Sunday, April 13, 2008
FC Dallas 2 - 0 Red Bull New York
Belatedly continuing the good news, The Hoops dispatched a short-handed Team Energy Drink at Pizza Hut Park on Saturday night. This team is starting to show me that the season may be less a rebuilding one than many have feared. Kenny Cooper Jr. needs to be encouraged not to wander too far from the goal, but when he is managed properly, as he is when paired with a strike partner whose skill and mobility he respects (i.e. Arturo Alvarez), he seems to do better, and if he keeps playing like he is, no one will give two craps about what happened to Carlos Ruiz. The defense finally got a clean sheet, and Dario Sala continues playing like a Dapper Dan Argentine Ward Cleaver goalkeeping monster. Long live Dario!
Come on you Hoops! Let's keep this thing going!
Anyway...
Come on you Hoops! Let's keep this thing going!
Anyway...
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Houston 3 - 3 FC Dallas
Lost in all the FA Cup hubbub, was the fact that FC Dallas tied at Houston on Sunday. This is a good-news-bad-news situation.
Good, because until this game, Dallas had never taken a point in Houston. Admittedly, that amounts to two seasons and one game, but still, it's a start against the awful orange menace. Also, this means that in two games against the teams that finished above them in the Western Conference last year, Dallas is undefeated. Kenny Cooper, much to my surprise, played like a striker and came away with two goals and was impressive.
On the other hand, in each of its first two games, Dallas has blown a lead and dropped the points. Somehow, I don't think one point per game is going to win us any hardware.
Anyway...
Good, because until this game, Dallas had never taken a point in Houston. Admittedly, that amounts to two seasons and one game, but still, it's a start against the awful orange menace. Also, this means that in two games against the teams that finished above them in the Western Conference last year, Dallas is undefeated. Kenny Cooper, much to my surprise, played like a striker and came away with two goals and was impressive.
On the other hand, in each of its first two games, Dallas has blown a lead and dropped the points. Somehow, I don't think one point per game is going to win us any hardware.
Anyway...
Monday, March 31, 2008
FC Dallas 1 - 1 Chivas USA
Opening day. Games that matter. The start of a new season, full of hope -- and ties. Damn, dirty, point-dropping, soul-gutting ties.
Well, not really. You see, Chivas USA, now that they have been made aware of the fact that the best available American players are better than rejected Mexican players, are a very good team. They had the best regular season record in the Western Conference last year, and are one of the early favorites to win the MLS Cup this year. While it's still frustrating to drop points at home, the Hoops have to feel good that it wasn't worse, especially with Kenny Cooper Jr absolutely refusing to acknowledge that he is, in fact, a six foot three inch forward and instead pretending that he is a pretty pretty twinkle toes. Now, Kenny played for the Man U reserves for a while and has very good footwork by MLS standards, but he is not Christiano Ronaldo, and the sooner he realizes this, the sooner he will start scoring goals.
FCD's big offseason move, Mexican Defender Duilio Davino had a mixed game, making some good last-second clearances, but totally botching a late-game chance that lead to the Goats' equalizer. Still, the Hoops would have had no chance if not for Super Dario in goal, who is still playing out of his mind.
The stadium was pretty full, though there were, as always, lots of latecomers and empty red seats. Sigh. Still, the atmosphere was pretty good, and it was a fun game to be at. I'm looking forward to a season that I still suspect will be better than some (i.e. almost all) are predicting.
Anyway...
Well, not really. You see, Chivas USA, now that they have been made aware of the fact that the best available American players are better than rejected Mexican players, are a very good team. They had the best regular season record in the Western Conference last year, and are one of the early favorites to win the MLS Cup this year. While it's still frustrating to drop points at home, the Hoops have to feel good that it wasn't worse, especially with Kenny Cooper Jr absolutely refusing to acknowledge that he is, in fact, a six foot three inch forward and instead pretending that he is a pretty pretty twinkle toes. Now, Kenny played for the Man U reserves for a while and has very good footwork by MLS standards, but he is not Christiano Ronaldo, and the sooner he realizes this, the sooner he will start scoring goals.
FCD's big offseason move, Mexican Defender Duilio Davino had a mixed game, making some good last-second clearances, but totally botching a late-game chance that lead to the Goats' equalizer. Still, the Hoops would have had no chance if not for Super Dario in goal, who is still playing out of his mind.
The stadium was pretty full, though there were, as always, lots of latecomers and empty red seats. Sigh. Still, the atmosphere was pretty good, and it was a fun game to be at. I'm looking forward to a season that I still suspect will be better than some (i.e. almost all) are predicting.
Anyway...
Thursday, March 27, 2008
OMG teh MLS NEWZeZ!!!11!!!!1!!
So, I am reading Goff's blog, and I see that Dick's Sporting Goods (Heh heh -- I bet I'm the first person to notice that the company's name includes a funny word for "penis."), a sponsor of MLS and the named sponsor of Colorado's home stadium, has finally started selling MLS gear on its website, including a very nice selection of FC Dallas gear. This is a nice step in the right direction for MLS, which still struggles to get its (non-Beckham) merchandise into stores, online or otherwise. On my way to the FC Dallas page, I see the following on the sidebar:
(See full screenshot here.) From this graphic, we can deduce several exciting tidbits and even some real shockers.
First, David Beckham has been realized for the beyond-world-class talent that he is, and has been elevated to being his own team. The Galaxy must be gutted, though now they have a good bit more salary cap room.
Second, Toronto FC management has finally realized that soccer will never work in Toronto, and has sensibly moved the team to be the second club in the Dallas area, reviving the proud name of the Dallas Burn. I can only assume the team will play in Southlake to overwhelming fan response.
Third, by cleverly announcing the expansion Orlando Pirates, MLS is finally returning to Florida, or maybe South Africa. FIFA is reported to be distressed either way.
Finally, the restored San Jose Earthquakes have seen the error of their ways and have wisely abandoned one of the few names in American soccer with any significant history, severing all historical and emotional ties with those silly MLS Cup trophies and that no-talent hack George Best, and revived the glorious Nike-name San Jose Clash. Somewhere in punk rock heaven, Joe Strummer is smiling.
So there you have it, folks, DSG is giving us all the awesome news! They are taking a true leadership position in the American soccer community, and we should all be thankful. Eat your heart out, MLS Rumors.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
UPDATE: As of 10am on Thursday morning, it's still posted that way.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
UPDATE 2: As of 5:45 pm on Saturday, it's still posted that way. Jeez. Am I missing something? I hit "Refresh" on the browser.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Disclaimer: I'm sure I'm not the first to notice this, but I have intentionally avoided looking up any other response to the story. I wanted to work in an unadulterated creative environment because I'm awesome like that. No really. I am. Why are you laughing?
(See full screenshot here.) From this graphic, we can deduce several exciting tidbits and even some real shockers.First, David Beckham has been realized for the beyond-world-class talent that he is, and has been elevated to being his own team. The Galaxy must be gutted, though now they have a good bit more salary cap room.
Second, Toronto FC management has finally realized that soccer will never work in Toronto, and has sensibly moved the team to be the second club in the Dallas area, reviving the proud name of the Dallas Burn. I can only assume the team will play in Southlake to overwhelming fan response.
Third, by cleverly announcing the expansion Orlando Pirates, MLS is finally returning to Florida, or maybe South Africa. FIFA is reported to be distressed either way.
Finally, the restored San Jose Earthquakes have seen the error of their ways and have wisely abandoned one of the few names in American soccer with any significant history, severing all historical and emotional ties with those silly MLS Cup trophies and that no-talent hack George Best, and revived the glorious Nike-name San Jose Clash. Somewhere in punk rock heaven, Joe Strummer is smiling.
So there you have it, folks, DSG is giving us all the awesome news! They are taking a true leadership position in the American soccer community, and we should all be thankful. Eat your heart out, MLS Rumors.
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UPDATE: As of 10am on Thursday morning, it's still posted that way.
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UPDATE 2: As of 5:45 pm on Saturday, it's still posted that way. Jeez. Am I missing something? I hit "Refresh" on the browser.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Disclaimer: I'm sure I'm not the first to notice this, but I have intentionally avoided looking up any other response to the story. I wanted to work in an unadulterated creative environment because I'm awesome like that. No really. I am. Why are you laughing?
Sunday, March 23, 2008
FC Dallas 2 - Clube Atlético Paranaense 1 (Friendly)
UPDATE: Great posts on 3rd Degree here and here.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sorry, didn't catch this one either. What can I say, real life is actually more important than soccer (Shhhhh, don't tell anyone!).
Clube Atlético Paranaense ("CAP") has partnered with FC Dallas to share business and soccer practices and to help each other out in training. Many MLS clubs have such partnerships, but the FCD-CAP one is remarkably productive, in that the clubs actually seem to, well, do stuff. FCD has two players on loan from the Brazilian club, and the Hoops have spent time training at CAP's facility in Brazil each of the last two years, and FCD has returned the favor each of those years. In fact, two of FCD's players are actually on loan from CAP, and there is the near-promise of more to come in future years.
As part of the partnership, the teams play a home-and-away friendly series called the USA-Brazil Challenge, and give the winner a ridiculously large trophy. Yesterday's winning performance was the final leg, with FCD having won the first leg in Brazil two-to-nil with each FCD goal scored by one of the on-loan CAP players. FCD takes the cup with a 4-1 aggregate score, and the rest of MLS trembles in awe of the Hoops' preseason might -- or maybe not.
What made last night's game interesting was the fact that CAP finished the game with nine men after someone knocked over the ref while their whole team had surrounded him to protest an FCD goal off of a quick-kick. It was apparently pretty ugly, and while some fans are pretty angry at CAP's behavior, I think that since nobody got hurt, it just adds a little spice to a relationship that had been altogether too Kumbaya to make for really exciting soccer on the field. With some of their players having been such big babies, I feel more comfortable posting something like the below.
Anyway...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sorry, didn't catch this one either. What can I say, real life is actually more important than soccer (Shhhhh, don't tell anyone!).
Clube Atlético Paranaense ("CAP") has partnered with FC Dallas to share business and soccer practices and to help each other out in training. Many MLS clubs have such partnerships, but the FCD-CAP one is remarkably productive, in that the clubs actually seem to, well, do stuff. FCD has two players on loan from the Brazilian club, and the Hoops have spent time training at CAP's facility in Brazil each of the last two years, and FCD has returned the favor each of those years. In fact, two of FCD's players are actually on loan from CAP, and there is the near-promise of more to come in future years.
As part of the partnership, the teams play a home-and-away friendly series called the USA-Brazil Challenge, and give the winner a ridiculously large trophy. Yesterday's winning performance was the final leg, with FCD having won the first leg in Brazil two-to-nil with each FCD goal scored by one of the on-loan CAP players. FCD takes the cup with a 4-1 aggregate score, and the rest of MLS trembles in awe of the Hoops' preseason might -- or maybe not.
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What made last night's game interesting was the fact that CAP finished the game with nine men after someone knocked over the ref while their whole team had surrounded him to protest an FCD goal off of a quick-kick. It was apparently pretty ugly, and while some fans are pretty angry at CAP's behavior, I think that since nobody got hurt, it just adds a little spice to a relationship that had been altogether too Kumbaya to make for really exciting soccer on the field. With some of their players having been such big babies, I feel more comfortable posting something like the below.
Anyway...
Sunday, March 16, 2008
FC Dallas 0 - 0 Los Angeles Galaxy (Friendly)
Mr. Beckham (finally) comes to North Texas.
First, here's a little background. Last season, FC Dallas played in Superliga, a made-for-TV tournament pitting MLS teams against Mexican teams. For a variety of reasons, these two leagues' futures are intertwined, though there is still much more money in the Mexican game right now. It ended up being a fun tournament, with in-season MLS teams holding their own against late-preseason Mexican clubs, and the $1,000,000 prize enough to motivate the players who took the field (many veterans and national teamers on the Mexican squads were held out, especially in the early group-stage games). LA and Dallas were in the same group, and Beckham was scheduled to make his only appearance in Dallas in the LA versus Dallas group stage match. The Dallas front office promoted this game like they have never promoted anything before. It was frankly kind of frustrating, as Dallas were in form in the league at the time, but only a scrawny English deadball specialist who plays for a different team could warrant a billboard on the highway. Whether it was the marketing or just the general cult of celebrity surrounding Becks, the game was an instant sellout with tickets going for well above the standard going rate. Fans of Man U and Real Madrid, celebrity-loving soccer moms, and thousands of other people who couldn't name a single player off the FC Dallas roster.
Needless to say, when Becks bowed out with an injury, these people were not happy. People were demanding refunds and complaining about a bait and switch, and the FC Dallas front office learned a valuable lesson about overpromoting, and trust me, this is not a typical problem for FC Dallas. To top it all off, LA won a ridiculous but fun match at Pizza Hut Park, 6-5 (ask me about Landon Donovan sometime).
Afterwards, FC Dallas and the Galaxy managed to put together a preseason friendly for charity to stem the Public Relations bleeding, with FC Dallas agreeing to give free tickets to anyone who had bought tickets to the Superliga match, and fortunately for FC Dallas, Becks has been healthy. Not that it really matted, of course. Once word was out that one of Fabio Capello's little helpers would be watching the game in Dallas, ol' Goldenballs would have had to be missing a leg before he'd miss this game. I think I may actually have heard the sighs of relief in Frisco from my house 50 miles away.
As the wife and I had got our tickets to last year's game on the secondary market for a very good price once people had found out there would be no Beckham, we didn't have free tickets to this game, so we just caught this one on the streaming internet video FC Dallas provided. It was a pretty good game for a preseason warmup. FCD's manager Steve Morrow is implementing a new formation with a three-man back line and trying to get more width in the midfield. While the finishing was sub-par even for MLS standards, the crosses were flying in and there was a lot of activity in LA's defensive half. Frankly, I'm encouraged, especially since Dallas keeper Dario Sala played lights-out, making several great saves. Beckham, as could be expected in a match where he was trying to prove his fitness, was everywhere: tracking back to defend in his penalty area, advancing all the way upfield (to the point of being caught offside twice), and I swear at one point I saw that son of a bitch intercept a pass from his own teammate intended for a differeant Galaxy player.
The game ended 0-0, but there were a lot of chances for both sides. LA's defense is not well-thought-of (almost half of the Gals' salary cap is spent on three offensive players), but I am optimistic that with a few more games together, FC Dallas will have a better offense this year than last and a defense that is at least no worse. Go Hoops!
Anyway...
First, here's a little background. Last season, FC Dallas played in Superliga, a made-for-TV tournament pitting MLS teams against Mexican teams. For a variety of reasons, these two leagues' futures are intertwined, though there is still much more money in the Mexican game right now. It ended up being a fun tournament, with in-season MLS teams holding their own against late-preseason Mexican clubs, and the $1,000,000 prize enough to motivate the players who took the field (many veterans and national teamers on the Mexican squads were held out, especially in the early group-stage games). LA and Dallas were in the same group, and Beckham was scheduled to make his only appearance in Dallas in the LA versus Dallas group stage match. The Dallas front office promoted this game like they have never promoted anything before. It was frankly kind of frustrating, as Dallas were in form in the league at the time, but only a scrawny English deadball specialist who plays for a different team could warrant a billboard on the highway. Whether it was the marketing or just the general cult of celebrity surrounding Becks, the game was an instant sellout with tickets going for well above the standard going rate. Fans of Man U and Real Madrid, celebrity-loving soccer moms, and thousands of other people who couldn't name a single player off the FC Dallas roster.
Needless to say, when Becks bowed out with an injury, these people were not happy. People were demanding refunds and complaining about a bait and switch, and the FC Dallas front office learned a valuable lesson about overpromoting, and trust me, this is not a typical problem for FC Dallas. To top it all off, LA won a ridiculous but fun match at Pizza Hut Park, 6-5 (ask me about Landon Donovan sometime).
Afterwards, FC Dallas and the Galaxy managed to put together a preseason friendly for charity to stem the Public Relations bleeding, with FC Dallas agreeing to give free tickets to anyone who had bought tickets to the Superliga match, and fortunately for FC Dallas, Becks has been healthy. Not that it really matted, of course. Once word was out that one of Fabio Capello's little helpers would be watching the game in Dallas, ol' Goldenballs would have had to be missing a leg before he'd miss this game. I think I may actually have heard the sighs of relief in Frisco from my house 50 miles away.
As the wife and I had got our tickets to last year's game on the secondary market for a very good price once people had found out there would be no Beckham, we didn't have free tickets to this game, so we just caught this one on the streaming internet video FC Dallas provided. It was a pretty good game for a preseason warmup. FCD's manager Steve Morrow is implementing a new formation with a three-man back line and trying to get more width in the midfield. While the finishing was sub-par even for MLS standards, the crosses were flying in and there was a lot of activity in LA's defensive half. Frankly, I'm encouraged, especially since Dallas keeper Dario Sala played lights-out, making several great saves. Beckham, as could be expected in a match where he was trying to prove his fitness, was everywhere: tracking back to defend in his penalty area, advancing all the way upfield (to the point of being caught offside twice), and I swear at one point I saw that son of a bitch intercept a pass from his own teammate intended for a differeant Galaxy player.
The game ended 0-0, but there were a lot of chances for both sides. LA's defense is not well-thought-of (almost half of the Gals' salary cap is spent on three offensive players), but I am optimistic that with a few more games together, FC Dallas will have a better offense this year than last and a defense that is at least no worse. Go Hoops!
Anyway...
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