Win this match, and the rest of the season may not matter. Such comfort could easily be ascribed to if the season’s auspices weren’t so promising for Hyndman and company in Dallas. With Houston visiting today in Frisco, much more than a 19th century howitzer will be at stake: the Dynamo need to rebound after a 3-0 CCL thrashing at the hands of Santos Laguna, knocking them out of the competition. FC Dallas need a full 90 minute showing offensively and defensively, and to prove that their offseason-acquired firepower isn’t going to waste.
But What of the Dynamo?
Houston comes to Frisco with a 3-0 drubbing by Santos Laguna weighing on their minds. Despite the loss, they are still 2-1 in all competitions in 2013, both victories happening within the safe embrace of BBVA Compass Stadium. It’s tough to gage a team’s road form off of a single match. The least FCD supporters could hope to do is generate the type of animosity and boisterous atmosphere Santos presented on Wednesday this past week. Given the turnaround and travel between Wednesday and Sunday, FCD will fancy their chances.
The Dynamo are no pushovers, and if anyone realizes that it’s certainly Schellas Hyndman. Historically, Dallas trails the series in a massive fashion, going 3-9-7 overall. Stalwarts such as MF Brad Davis, F Will Bruin, and MF Boniek Garcia will present the same challenges as they did last year, when FCD lost 2-1 at the BBVA (and after a late Jair Benitez red card). At least Dallas can take solace in one fact: the game isn’t in Houston.
Confidence Issues
Let’s let this sink in: three points from two games, out-possessed by Colorado, bullied around the pitch by Chivas USA, three dropped points in Southern California. The facts don’t instill confidence in FCD’s ability to really stamp their own style on the match and dominate the opposition. Cooper has misfired and hasn’t a goal to show for it. Half of Dallas’ goal production comes off a massive keeper blunder (and arguably the same for Ferreira’s goal against Chivas). As of now FCD averages two goals against per match – something that cannot happen against the Dynamo tonight.
But at least FCD is rested. At least this is a home match. At least Blas Perez will return to the lineup today. This is still the earliest stage of the 2013 season.
Strategies, If Any
What can Dallas do, if anything, to gain the derby victory it so sorely needs? Shutting the door, and keeping it shut, would be the first item: do not let Houston have any type of goal advantage, especially in the first half. If Dom Kinnear’s teams are good at one thing, it is closing out a match when it’s in their favor.
Secondly, FCD can answer 2013’s early overarching question: Is the 4-4-2 feasible? FCD started in the formation in the Colorado match and quickly switched back to the 4-2-3-1 once they lost the center of midfield. Hyndman didn’t even bother setting the side out in the 4-4-2 against Chivas and went back to the former. Blas Perez’s presence changes that. First of all, reservations can be held at the talk of a strike partnership beginning in the third match of the season. But that is inherently what this match will be: a true test to see if the 4-4-2 can work.
Might this require more direct play from FCD? Sure, it will. Does Hyndman do the unthinkable and slide Ferreira to the flank, leaving Watson and Jacobson to fight it out with Adam Moffat and Boniek Garcia in the center midfield. Probably. This will leave a major battle to be settled in the center, one of which will have implications throughout the match. Should FCD let go of the middle, like in the Chivas match (and the first 45 against Colorado), George John and his back line will feel the full brunt of the Houston attack.
Yet in a derby match it’s nice to know that strategy can be thrown out the window, on occasion. Maybe it will be a match that boils down to simply which side has more desire. Hyndman and his squad certainly must: they have loads of promise, but have yet to fully reveal it in 2013.
(image courtesy of fcdallas.com)
