Schellas Hyndman Deserves High Marks for MLS Hot Stove Season
by Daniel Robertson on Jan 23, 2012 11:13 AM CST
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2011 did not end well for Schellas Hyndman and FC Dallas, I think everyone will admit that. A perfect storm of tragedy, injury, fatigue and fixture congestion saw a once-promising FC Dallas squad flame out of every competition with a whimper leaving major question marks entering 2012. At Christmas, many FCD fans were becoming impatient as the holiday season had not brought any new players to the thin squad, however Schellas Hyndman and company have sprung to life in January energizing the squad with four new players.
The forward position, a spot of bother for practically two years, has been solidified with the signing of Panamanian international forward Blas Perez. Mighty Mouse, as he is known in Panama, brings experience, guile and a goal poacher mentality to a squad with two highly talented but young forwards in Ruben Luna and Fabian Castillo. To have Perez, a forward that Hyndman has had on his radar for years, basically fall into their laps after the dissolving of his former club is a major boon for Dallas.
The defense, so thin that an emergency replacement signed from the NASL was thrust into a starting role for a CONCACAF Champions League game, has been improved more than any other spot on the pitch.
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With George John's departure to West Ham at "50-50", Schellas went out and signed Hernan Pertuz, a Colombian youth international center back, who figures to challenge for the starting center back position opposite Ugo Ihemelu. Should Pertuz take some time to adjust, FCD is still in good hands as Matt Hedges, the top rated senior center back in the MLS Superdraft, fell to Dallas at #11 overall. Hyndman was no doubt ecstatic to snap the national champion defender to provide further depth.
Perhaps the most under-the-radar, but highest impact signing of all could be Panamanian defender Carlos Rodriguez, signed on loan from Tauro FC. The 21 year old outside back, who will be in the Panama squad to face the United States on Wednesday, seems to perfectly fit the bill of a Schellas Hyndman outside back. Likely signed to a cheap contract, Rodriguez will provide fantastic cover for Zach Loyd and Jair Benitez while pushing both outside backs to not get too comfortable in their positions.
Holes certainly remain on the squad as the right midfield spot sits unoccupied and a forward to push Blas Perez would be helpful, but you have to say January has been a good month for the gaffer. As the MLS Hot Stove season winds down and the pre-season hits full force, the work off the field is mostly done save for one or two possible additions. The challenge now becomes turning a squad with the talent on paper to contend for MLS Cup into a squad worthy of contending for MLS Cup on the field.
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By the way
When analyzing transfer moves, I try to not operate in the hindsight is 20-20 mode…I thought the Maicon Santos trade was a good one when it was made so I try to look at a move before you see what happens on the field.
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by Daniel Robertson on Jan 23, 2012 11:53 AM CST reply actions
B
I can’t give an A while there’s a hole at RM. However, I’d take the issue on the right over voids at Central Defender and Striker any day of the week.
Realistically, the grade is Incomplete. Theoretically, it should be easier to find a RM than it was filling the other needs, and they’ve got time to do so. A month from now, I’ll be surprised if we don’t view this as an A offseason.
I agree
were the RM position not fully gutted from the quality and experience we had, this would surely have been an A month.
by Timothy Winning Voyles on Jan 24, 2012 11:56 AM CST up reply actions
completely agree
Can’t let them both go (Chavez/Jackson) and indications should have shown Jackson was not an “on the buss” guy despite his versatility. There is no way such a “heady” guy was in favor with SH. Chavez will find a way to punish FCD this season.
I don't get the panic here
There’s plenty of time to replace those guys, and let’s not pretend the were perfect players in the first place.
Jackson was had quite a few moment of ball-hogging, and would occasionally get moody and accumulate cards quickly.
Chavez was fast and had some nice moments, but he also led the league in blown “big chances” (0-6 according to Opta statistics):http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2012/01/04/climbing-ladder-looking-back-optas-insight
I’ll miss Chavez, but between whoever else FCD brings in, Castillo, Wiedeman, Leyva, Carlos Rodriguez, Villar, and Cruz, someone should be able to contribute from that spot. Basic contribution may be all they need there if Shea, Ferreira, and Blas are all on board and healthy this year.
Not sure it's panic, but maybe concern
I love your optimism and am extremely hopeful that things will work out.
First of all, totally agreed that neither Chavez nor Jackson were amazing finishers, but…
- I think our offense was really just lacking a poacher to finish the chances that guys like Chavez, Jackson and Brek created which is why I liked the M. Santos gamble last season. Now we MAY have the poacher but will we have the chances?
- I agree with bone that there is no way we can be expected to believe that Jackson fell off the bus in the time between the Chavez trade and his loan back to Brazil. SH had to see this coming and, even if there was a chance it could happen, factor it into the Chavez decision. Is it better to have a proven striker than a winger? Most likely so. Did we need to lose Chavez to get Blas? Inquiring minds…
- Ferreira coming back is great, but when and at what level? Shea and Blas will miss games for WCQ. We’re quickly run out of both wingers and starting striker for those games and will be fingers crossed hoping Luna and Castillo and whomever can replace Brek will be able to produce.
- Yes, I give points because we have acquired depth at defense for injuries and those extra competitions/fixtures…oh wait, we don’t have those this year (assuming SH would’ve rotated the squad anyhow).
Again, I’m hopeful and the email from FCD today with SH talking about the potential to move Jair up to left wing when necessary is a promising development that I’ve been a proponent of for a while. Seems like we will need to come up with something creative and I can’t give higher than a C because hoping is not a plan.
My main point is that the team has clearly improved over the offseason
Point by point:
- Absolutely agreed that lack of a finisher was the main issue last year. I think we’ll have the chances, because Brek should progress from last year, and Ferreira (even if he’s less than 100%) should be better than Villar and Cruz’s attacking mid performances last year.
- The Chavez trade is tough to swallow on a few level. Any trade for allocation money can be infuriating because the allocation system is convoluted and the actual allocation dollars are never disclosed. If they got $300k+, I’m OK with it in a vacuum because that’s a pretty nice haul for a Chavez, IMO, though I wish they’d worked it out with an Eastern team. As Daniel said, “if that trade gave you the money to sign Perez then I think it was a good deal.” If Blas was available right then, and they had to make the trade to get the financials right, I can’t fault it.
- The only issue with WCQ will be camps. MLS is finally avoiding games on FIFA dates this year. As for wing depth, a really think that between Jair, Castillo, Wiedeman, Leyva, Carlos Rodriguez, Villar, and Cruz someone can step up when needed. Striker’s more concerning, and I hope that SH follows through on his stated aim to sign another attacking player.
- Wait, you just switched from bemoaning a lack of wing depth to implying they shouldn’t have bothered getting defensive depth? Lack of CCL doesn’t make depth irrelevant. There will still be some fixture congestion. Check out August with it’s 4 games in 13 days.
Above all, the transfer window isn’t closed yet. I hope they sign another forward and/or RM, but even if they don’t this squad is better and far deeper than the one that ended last season.
B
With the improvements over the off season I would give Dallas an A.
However the trade of Chavez would drop them to a D, but the trade has given Dallas more flexibility and depth.
I’m not to upset about the loans of Jackson, and John so I didn’t account that into the grading. I think at this moment a B fits. To make an omlet you have to break some eggs.
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DTID!
by Keylock25 on Jan 23, 2012 12:32 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
The Chavez trade
is kind of a black mark, but if that trade gave you the money to sign Perez then I think it was a good deal.
The Jackson thing came out of nowhere and Schellas isn’t the type to keep a player that doesn’t want to be there. An unfortunate situation.
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by Daniel Robertson on Jan 23, 2012 1:13 PM CST reply actions
I gave them a B.
They addressed the biggest needs and then created a need. Well see what happens with the right midfield situation.
Is it just me ...
… or does it seem like the training wheels really are off some of these teams nowadays? The MLS I grew accustomed to didn’t have anything like this kind of 1.) coverage, or 2.) stuff to cover. Phenomenal. Thanks for the work, guys.
Oh, and the January adds are tops. I think Dallas had the best January in the league.
A solid C
Perez, Pertuz, Rodriguez – great moves. A-worthy material.
And then there’s the Chavez deal. You just can’t explain that away. We don’t (and may never) know all the details, but I have to suspect that there were many indications that Jackson wanted to return to Brazil before it actually happened. So unless this was 100% necessary to make cap or international slot space for Perez (and we don’t know that either) then I can’t even think about giving out an A-grade.
Not sure I would have liked it even then. San Jose could have offered up Wondolowski and I still would have paused and thought about everything Chavez brought to this team. So this deal just smacks of being out of touch with your players personal lives, and that tore a gaping hole in our spot at right mid. Maybe there’s a lot more to it that we don’t know – on Chavez’s end, on Jackson’s end, or in FCDs future plans. But barring some really good explanation – the 2012 offseason gets a C.
DallasTilIDie
MAJ, USA
stuck in Afghanistan, a long long way from the stadium formerly known as Pizza Hut Park
C+
If everyone had stayed from last year and you add depth at defense and a goal scorer then it is an A. Losing John which was a possibility any ways and losing two players who played both midfield and forward last year as starters makes for a big drop. So I go with a C+ with possibility of a getting back to the A if new additions work out and we find the right midfielder.
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