Ahead of tonight’s clash with San Jose, the second in as many weeks, both sides find themselves meeting after road victories against Western Conference rivals.
San Jose comes off a dominant, crushing 5-0 defeat of conference rivals Salt Lake. Chris Wondolowski bagged a brace in the process and the Quakes looked more in their league-leading form than the past two matches. A fairly early red card handed to Salt Lake also helped.
Dallas has an UNdefeated streak to defend, which has quietly amassed under the radar and expectations of a league that has largely written the team off. In its 2-1 win against Colorado on Saturday FCD gained its first conference win of the season and first away win. David Ferreira, Fabian Castillo, and Carlos Rodriguez all starred in a rare come-from-behind victory for Dallas. In a city that became used to underdog victories from the hands of John Elway, FCD found form for the first time in thirteen matches.
Five thoughts ahead of the match:
- Will Hyndman switch Castillo to the right, instead of left, flank? Fabian was shut down, in many senses of the term, by Beitashour not two weeks ago. Beitashour’s high pressure compromised Castillo’s space and ability to turn and run with the ball frequently. Perhaps Brek Shea’s presence could strike fear into the heart of the newly-nominated all-star back.
- Let de Guzman enter the match late on. A start for the new signing would certainly be an affront to Daniel Hernandez, or Andrew Jacobson for that matter. Hernandez put in his best performance in weeks against Colorado, and should be rewarded as such. Still, de Guzman, while not being an offensive substitution that may benefit Dallas should the Friscans (I’m sure I’m using that properly) find themselves behind. But his passing ability is farily renowned, and if Dallas should find itself in a lead he may be a good shutdown option in the Dallas midfield.
- Responsibility in the back will stifle San Jose. Dallas did this once before; it can be done again. For one, the defensive center midfielders, more than likely Jacobson and Hernandez, need to handle this match just like the Colorado match, but rigorously. The 4-2-3-1 is designed to place two center midfielders ahead of the back line in order to sandwich forwards (between themselves and the center backs) and deny direct service. Jacobson and Hernandez did a decent job of this against Colorado (who were in a similar 4-4-2 to San Jose), save the first goal for Colorado, where their positioning broke down. Secondly, outstide backs Benitez and Loyd have double the responsibility marking up. The Quakes tend to generate play by moving the ball from the back, or the sidelines, into their set of forwards, who quickly drop the ball off, and it is finally sent through seams to the corner or the back post. It means that Loyd and Benitez will be called on constantly to mark runners flying off the ball that are critical to San Jose’s attack.
- Balance the attack: put Brek, along with Fabian, on the flanks. Ricardo Villar is out of position on the flanks. This was true in 2011 and it is still true now. He is still coming back to fitness and is not best used out wide. Starting Scott Sealy up top is not an ideal option, but he is at least a man who plays to his strengths. He has a small center of gravity and big frame that is capable of holding up a ball and combining quickly. San Jose tends to push its outside backs up high and they are vulnerable to counterattacks in the space vacated. Brek Shea and Fabian Castillo will feed on this space.
- This seems to go without saying: funnel the ball through Ferreira. His presence in every good FCD attack against Colorado, as well as against the Quakes and Toronto, is more than evident. But the San Jose center midfield isn’t as lethal as their wings, and can be seen as role players rather than lynchpins. No one can thread a ball through a back line quite like the Columbian. If nothing else an emphasis on Ferreira will open up other parts of the field for Dallas. Ideally, I’d like to see de Guzman as the holding midfielder with Ferreira and Villar pushing forward. San Jose’s physical play dictates differently, but perhaps if fortune favors Dallas the arrangement may be more likely.
FCD knows very well what it is up against in San Jose. The Quakes have only managed a solitary home loss this year at the hands of the Dynamo. Dallas, buoyed by long-awaited success will fancy their fortunes in Northern California, a place that was less than hospitable to the Texan side in 2011. Regardless, a scalp to bring home prior to Saturday’s match against Portland would hang proudly on the FCD mantle. Taking four points out of two games against the league leaders in a timeframe of two weeks would build amazing momentum for team that hadn’t any for the majority of 2012.
(image courtesy of Marc Piscotty/Getty Images)
