2008 FC Dallas preview: Defense

By: Robert | February 18th, 2008

(part 1 of three, maybe 4)

Welcome to the beginning of my three, maybe four, part 2008 FC Dallas preview; America’s favorite north Texas MLS side – I got stats to prove that claim. While last year could have, and probably should have been better, the Hoops made a cup final during the campaign and even though they came up short, everybody outside of your Manchester United’s and your Real Madrid’s would say it was a decent season.

That’s it for the rosy routine, onto the defense.

Last season: A sieve. A container with a bottom full of holes; that’s the best way to describe the defensive unit that Steve Morrow trotted out onto Pizza Hut Park every week. Outside of four games early in the season when their bodies were taken over by defensive soccer playing zombies, the FC Dallas defense was basically incapable of stopping anyone.

The hardest part of it all to fathom was that there were some solid defenders on last year’s roster. Clarence Goodson, now in Sweden, is a competent defender, who when at his best could actually see some game time for the national team. Drew Moor (more on him later) is actually a quality defender. Adrian Serioux, when he wasn’t hurt, is pretty good in the back as well. And while none of these guys should ever be confused with any of the defensive masters, they have all worn a national shirt at one time or another, for them to fail at that level boggles the mind.

Major Changes: Clarence Goodson flew to Sweden, Chris Gbandi got off a plane in Norway and in return FC Dallas decided to give some money to an aging foreigner with a built-in fan base in hopes of him selling tickets and re-capturing past glory. I’m sorry but after last season’s Denilson fiasco which some could argue torpedoed the season; I will not be sold on any former great until he proves himself on an MLS pitch. The Hoops also decided to babysit Brek Shea for a season or two while giving him pizza money for the weekends. I know there is a lot hype around this kid, but MLS is a league full of guys with middling talent who play very physically to make up for technical shortcomings, I doubt some 17 year old kid is ready for the beating he’s going to take.

Wow, I sound bitter and grumpy. Let me try a happier outlook.

Outlook: Things can’t get worse. Okay, they actually could, but worse probably isn’t possible. Drew Moor, who I’ve never understood in a US shirt, is actually a fairly good MLS defender – he’s just in over his head at the international level, but that shouldn’t make anyone forget that as a Hoop he’s good. He and Adrian Serioux would form a decent backbone to any MLS backline; questions arise however when we try to figure out who plays on the outside if Coach Morrow decides to keep four in the back. And that my friends (and I guess my enemies too who might be reading this off a dare or out of spite) is what training camp and exhibition games are for, because right now Blake Wagner, David Wagenfuhr, Aaron Pitchkolan and Alex Yi are all claiming dibs and someone is going to have to sit next to coach.

Although as last night’s results may lead you to believe; maybe Morrow decides to go with just three in the back…

That’s it for the defense. I know I came off as a little bit angry there, but you gotta remember how bad these guys were last year; giving up three, four, five and six goals in a game was almost commonplace. But fret not because tomorrow is the Hoops strength, the midfield. So tonight we deal with the pain because in Dallas last year the Hoops defense made us think the FC stood for “frustrated completely.”

HOOPS PRIDE!

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