by Ethan Johnson
March 31, 2008
Hoo boy, considering the off-season wasn't very long (compared to some sports) it feels like an eternity. But I've got a new seat in the stadium, which should mean a fresh perspective, right? Which is what this season needs big time. And now, FC Dallas fans, let's make some noise for YOUR investigative bullet points:
- In our last episode, FCD played Chivas to a scoreless draw. It was cool to see Brad Guzan up close and personal last year, as he made an unsuccessful break for the English Premier League. I assume at all times that he has one foot out the door, so as much as I love me some FC Dallas, let us respect the good guys when they're in town. Guzan is one of the goalkeepers for Team USA.
- For whatever reason, FCD opted not to have all of the youth soccer groups stand on the field before the game, and instead made everyone form a parade line so that they all got a chance to run across the grass near Sideline East (my new roost). Either the parade started late, or there were so many groups that by the end of the allotted time, the kids/adults had to run across the field (some girl did it in heels and a dress - sheesh). The parade dash was happening pretty much up to kickoff. Crazy.
- The FCD pre-season hasn't been a thrill ride for me. I went to see the scrimmage against SMU in the cold and dark a few months ago, which apparently ended in a 0-0 draw. I assume that FCD can more or less score at will on a college team - and they did against other schools - so I suspect that scoring wasn't their primary objective. Which means warning flags the size of Montana went up, because if scoring isn't a priority, what is? The last pre-season game I attended was against CAP (the partner team from Brazil) which was a complete debacle, with the referees threatening to leave and call the match before halftime. I left at the half in disgust, thinking if you (CAP) aren't going to take this game seriously, why should I? No scoring in the second half despite CAP being reduced to 9 players after red cards. Warning. Flags. Montana.
- As was to be expected, the home opener was off to a somewhat shaky start. I spent most of the time trying to get used to seeing new faces (and uniforms) on the pitch.
- Juan Toja scored thanks to an opportune moment in front of the goal. For all of the praise that Dario Sala has been getting over the off-season, and the fact that Brad Guzan is pretty stinkin' good, I fully expected another 0-0 draw. Guzan never had a chance at stopping Toja's strike. 1-0 to the good.
- Considering all of the Meat and Potatoes on the Chivas roster, I was amazed that FCD help Chivas scoreless into the second half. Not that Sala had to keep bailing them out and making save after save. If anything, it was significant that Chivas really couldn't put anything definitive together to drive in the equalizer.
- Turnout for the game was disappointing (alleged ticket number: 17,500 ish), but the game was counter-programmed with the NCAA men's basketball tournament, with Texas playing Memphis for a trip to the Final Four. Yeah... attendance wasn't going to be hot.
- FCDs lineup was essentially duct-taped together, so this isn't a completely fair arbiter of how ready FCD is to face the big guns during the playoffs. If anything, it's an indication of how deep the roster is - or isn't. I'll be interested to see the next home game (as opposed to this coming weekend) as we should have a clearer view of the starting lineup.
- Kenny Cooper Jr is rising to the top of my Shit List. I have soccer peccadilloes, no doubt. One is, I don't like defenders playing like attacking mids or forwards unless there's a really compelling reason (corner kicks). The other is, when you've got the ball in front of the goal, 18 inches of daylight, and a second to send signals from your brain down your nervous system to your foot to KICK THE BALL, uh, kick the ball. KCJ keeps getting an "ice cream headache" and freezing with the ball, only to get the eventual shot blocked or the ball swiped. This does not work for me. Neither does KCJ, so if his boss could coach him on the ball shooting thing, that would be great.
- Chivas USA has meat and potatoes on their roster, which means the inevitable happened and Maykel Galindo scored the equalizer around the 84th minute. That wrapped up the game: 1-1 draw.
- If anyone cares about this sort of thing, the turf at Pizza Hut Park looked amazing.
- Final thought: I was thinking smugly that FCD and Chivas fans can all rally around this shared enjoyment: Both teams are doing better in the standings after one game than Houston. Eat that single standings point! Eat it!
Click on the thumbnails to see the full-sized image. Enjoy!
Onward to Houston this coming Sunday. Please, please, please oh please FCD, beat Houston. That's my yardstick for how ready FCD is for the playoffs. <EM>
(Much, much more virtual ink has been spilled by me about Major League Soccer. The fledgling but growing MLS article archive may be found here.)
