Top Five Pre-Season Roster Battles: #2 Starting Center Back

by Daniel Robertson on Jan 30, 2012 2:58 PM CST in 2012 Preseason

HOUSTON - MAY 05: Zach Loyd #19 of FC Dallas is harassed by Mike Chabala #17 of the Houston Dynamo at Robertson Stadium on May 5, 2010 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

We talked about one of the roster battles being who makes the last center back spot, but much more important is who starts next to Ugo Ihemelu on opening day against New York. The first thing I want to say on this is it's all contingent on George John not returning to FCD. If John returns, I think he starts the first game, especially considering he will be game fit from his time at West Ham, but if the Hammers choose to purchase his rights then Schellas Hyndman is left with a big decision.

There's really three options for Hyndman at starting center back if George John is not available so let's take a look at all three.

Matt Hedges

Schellas had very complementary things to say about Hedges after Saturday's friendly and the UNC center back has certainly been a standout of the first two weeks. There's plenty to like about the guy, good size, and good distribution out of the back, but I'm going to wait to see how he looks in practice against guys like Blas Perez and Brek Shea before drawing any conclusions. There's also the little detail of Ugo Ihemelu's niggling injuries that have kept him out of pre-season training and a chance to gel with Hedges.

The Tar Heel projects as the long term starting center back on FC Dallas unless Hernan Pertuz impresses more than some think he might. The problem is, will he be ready on opening day. The friendly tournament in Orlando should go a long way in deciding Hedges opening day fate in Frisco.

Keep reading for the other two options

Hernan Pertuz

Hernan Pertuz is the great unknown of the three candidates. At 22 years old, Pertuz has multiple years of experience starting for Independiente Medellin as well as the U20 South American championships, but the truth is no one really knows what he's going to bring to the table yet. Schellas Hyndman has to be frustrated at the visa complications that denied him a chance to join the team for the first two weeks of training, and while he should arrive soon, no date is locked down.

Pertuz could end up being the starter on opening day if he shows decently in pre-season and Hedges takes some time to adjust to the speed of the league. The Colombian would do himself a lot of favors in the Schellas Hyndman ledger by coming in ready to go from day one.

Zach Loyd

In the disappointing scenario that neither Hedges nor Pertuz prove they can be ready to go on opening day, Zach Loyd could very possibly slot next to Ihemelu against New York. There is a measure of familiarity there as Loyd has come into the middle before and Dallas would likely rather throw out a guy like Carlos Rodriguez at right back than put a question mark in at center back.

While this would be a purely stopgap measure, if George John does indeed stay in England, Loyd is the most likely option at this point to start at center back on opening day. It's up to Hedges or Pertuz to prove they can handle the pressure.

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Comments

If you're counting down, shouldn't this be #3, not #2?

by fennsk1 on Jan 30, 2012 3:01 PM CST reply actions

#3 got skipped

Too bad for #3

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by Daniel Robertson on Jan 30, 2012 3:04 PM CST up reply actions

I hate #3

by Philadallas on Jan 30, 2012 3:17 PM CST reply actions

Me too

Not quite the winner and not even second….F #3 IMO

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by Daniel Robertson on Jan 30, 2012 4:06 PM CST up reply actions

I doubt Shellas would consider this, but...

…I was very impressed with Andrew Jacobson when he filled in at center back last season. If Dallas is ever in a position where pushing Loyd to the center might be considered, I would much prefer to see him stay wide and have Jacobson play CB.

by Michael Krutak on Jan 30, 2012 3:20 PM CST reply actions

lol nice timing =)

by Timothy Winning Voyles on Jan 30, 2012 3:22 PM CST up reply actions

Great minds?

by Michael Krutak on Jan 30, 2012 3:43 PM CST up reply actions

not very often

at least not mine…

by Timothy Winning Voyles on Jan 30, 2012 3:44 PM CST up reply actions

Absolutely an option

but I think Schellas would be quicker to put Loyd back there because it upsets things much less to put Loyd in the center and Rodriguez out wide than to change one of your central midfielders.

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by Daniel Robertson on Jan 30, 2012 4:08 PM CST up reply actions

Mostly agree

I want Loyd to become the best right back in the league, not goofing around playing central defense. I think AJ should stay in central midfield though as he is probably our best passer not named David Ferreira. Ultimately, I want AJ to fill the CDM role in a 4-4-2. Put the youngster or one of the new guys at central defense. Basically, I don’t want anyone playing their 2nd best position when they could be starting at their best position.

by jyj on Jan 30, 2012 3:31 PM CST up reply actions

devils advocate

even if it’s his second position and he’s better than the other options, wouldn’t you want him there if there was an adequate person at his first spot? I understand it’s robbing peter to pay paul, but I’d want my back line solidified first if I had to start juggling Loyd to play out of position… still depends on who would slide into the RB spot for Loyd though lol.

Let’s be happy we’ve got options on our back line this year!

by Timothy Winning Voyles on Jan 30, 2012 3:37 PM CST up reply actions

its a slippery slope my friend :)

making your RB a little worse by moving your best RB to CB in order to make CB better…

the funny thing is that i think our 2nd best RB may actually be ugo

by jyj on Jan 30, 2012 4:04 PM CST up reply actions

But who's to say

RB would be worse if you put Rodriguez in there…I think he has potential to be almost as good as Loyd.

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by Daniel Robertson on Jan 30, 2012 4:09 PM CST up reply actions

true

all TBD but would be great if turns out to be anywhere near as good as loyd. thought c-rod looked great up and down the flanks against the US. honestly, not to complicate further, but i could even see him moving up to RM at times depending on tactics (e.g. on for castillo when we are ahead). another concern i would have is that i think loyd’s balls-to-the-wall style of play will wear him down physically against the often bigger strikers in the league…its one thing to butt heads with a little winger, quite another with a fat boy roy. its the equivalent of having your 2-guard defend in the low post.

by jyj on Jan 30, 2012 4:19 PM CST up reply actions