The best team in America

By: Robert | October 3rd, 2007

That’s the title the Hoops are playing for as they face the New England Revolution for the US Open Cup trophy at Pizza Hut Park. I don’t know if Vegas does soccer betting lines but FC Dallas has to be the underdogs considering their recent run of form. They‘ve lost just about everything from soccer matches to house keys since the beginning of September, in fact if there was a way to have this game postponed for like a month I’d be all for it. That isn’t to say Dallas has an inferior side, man for man the Hoops still have one of the most talented teams in the country, but the last time they played to their level Michael Vick was a free man.

This game can be won without the having to sneak laxatives in the Revolution pre-game meal, but it’s going to take some hard work and a bit of luck. However if you see these things happen, cackle with glee:

Denilson beats a defender and makes the correct pass – 1v1 I still believe that Denilson can beat defenders off the dribble. The problems arise because his udder lack of speed means that he has to beat them again three seconds later; plus, his decision making has been, at best, questionable since he’s been in the States.

Carlos Ruiz gets four or more shots – this is the best harbinger of success for the club this year. Four shots means he’s being given the ball in places were he can be successful. He never got four when Ramon Nunez wore the Dallas shirt because Ramon took all the shots. The only game Dallas has looked competent this past month (the 1-1 draw with Chicago, they looked terrible beating Toronto 2-0) was the only game Ruiz got four. Four is the key.

Arturo Alvarez shoots far post – there was a point during the middle of this season that Alvarez seemed like he was about to make the jump from solid MLS performer to somewhere across the pond, that’s all gone now. He still beats every defender with that same inside left foot-outside left foot move near the top corner of the box but keepers have realized that he always shoots near post and they have that side covered. The far post has been wide open for weeks, if he could see it.

Someone helps Pablo Ricchetti – Everyday that goes by is another day that shows how important Marcelo Saragosa was to this team. Since he was placed on injured reserved after the Denilson signing (he has had successful knee surgery since then,) the defense has been exposed as weak. The backline plays well when there are two solid defensive midfielders protecting it and while Dax McCarty and Juan Toja are wonderful players, they are asked to go forward and add to the attack, something Saragosa was never did. If someone can stay back and fill that particular void the score sheet should remain empty.

Juan Toja is Juan Toja – During the first half of the season Toja was the league MVP but since his ankle injury he’s been less than stellar. He’s supposedly as close to 100% now as anyone is going to be at this point in the season, but a return to early-season form now could lead to victory.

Dominic Oduro finds a better touch – His touch has gotten better over the course of the year but he still can’t control the ball with a vice grip. Late in a close game Oduro can create a goal-scoring opportunity because there is no one that can stay with him step for step. FC Dallas would need to be to that position though and not be out of it with 20 minutes to play.

Drew Moor takes HGH – The last time these two teams played Moor got thoroughly embarrassed by Khano Smith, he simply couldn’t stay with him. Nothing has changed since then but maybe Drew Moor called somebody up or found something on the internet if not, Smith is going to run rampant again.

That’s how the Hoops can beat New England, I won’t be able to watch the game live so I’m catching the 2AM replay on FSC (these are the times I dislike being in the media, no real 9-5 schedule.) So don’t expect a celebratory (or a drowning sorrow in liquor) post until tomorrow. But tonight in Dallas the FC might just stand for “finagle a championship.”

HOOPS PRIDE!

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