The off-season is always a fun mess of who's staying and who's going. I won't get into anything like that today as we all know the transfer rumors won't really kick off for some FC Dallas players until after Christmas. I will get into a little post of guys I think the club does need to part from for the 2012 season. 

For the most part, I view Dallas has a club that has the youth in place that could make a serious impact in 2012. So with that kind of talent waiting in the wings, some folks will have to go to make room for the changes that are likely to happen this winter.

With the Re-Entry Draft and Waiver Drafts coming up, here are some players I think that could be apart of them.

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It has been a little while since I've written anything on this blog (forgive me for that). I've been thinking long and hard about FC Dallas' exit in the playoffs against the New York Red Bulls and what it means for this offseason. Every club in Major League Soccer has plenty of questions going into the offseason, but it seems like Dallas could have a few more than some clubs do.

Last year it seemed like the winter was short. Dallas lost in MLS Cup and immediately had to put together their expansion draft list. After that it was a quick December that went straight into 2011 with the MLS Combine and SuperDraft. Before we knew it the club was playing the Houston Dynamo in Corpus Christi and then going off to Disney World. 

From the potential moves that could make FCD some serious coin - to the questions about depth - to everything else in-between - this club has plenty to look at as we head into the long winter months.

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With the season over, it's time to look towards the expansion draft. With the Montreal Impact coming into MLS next season, yet another expansion draft will take place. Here are the rules for this year's expansion draft  which can be found here.

-Clubs protect 11 players. If a player's contract expires at the end of 2011 he will still be considered part of the club's roster.

-Generation Adidas players who have not been graduated at the end of 2011 season and homegrown players are automatically protected. 

-Clubs may make available a number of international players equal to their total number of international players minus three. 

-Once a player has been claimed from a team's non-protected roster, that team is eliminated from the expansion draft which is 10 rounds long. 

A look at the FCD roster and who could be made available after the jump 

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A second half goal from Joel Lindpere and a stoppage time gut punch from Thierry Henry  has eliminated FC Dallas from the playoffs in a 1-0 shutout. Plenty of problems from this game and the last two months of the season that won't be discussed by me tonight. This team and Schellas Hyndman have a lot of questions to answer. The season is over for FC Dallas and now the questions are who to retain in the expansion draft and who should not be brought back next season. 

Lineups are in

New York Red Bulls: Frank Rost, Jan Gunnar Solli, Stephen Keel, Tim Ream, Roy Miller, Dax McCarty, Teemu Tainio, Rafael Marquez, Joel Lindpere, Dane Richards, Thierry Henry

FC Dallas: Kevin Hartman, Ugo Ihemelu, Zach Loyd, Daniel Hernandez, George John, Jair Benitez, Marvin Chavez, Ricardo Villar, Andrew Jacobson, Brek Shea, Jackson Goncalves

A few quick pre-game thoughts, expect Chavez and Jackson to alternate between right mid and forward. Marvin Chavez scored twice at forward against New York earlier this season so I expect him to remain up top most of the night.

No Agudelo in the starting lineup for the Red Bulls, but look out for Richards and McCarty on the wings with Jan Gunnar Solli who loves to push up from outside back. 

Go FCD! 

Coming to you live from Tucumcari,NM(When I planned this vacation, FCD was in the Supporter's Shield race and we didn't even know that there would be a mid-week Wild Card round. Poor timing to say the least). The MLS playoffs have arrived. Tonight FC Dallas hosts the New York Red Bulls in the first MLS Wild Card round game with the winner advancing to face Sporting KC in a 2-legged Eastern Conference Semifinal. This season, FCD drew New York 2-2 at Red Bull Arena in a game where Thierry Henry scored a brilliant equalizer late. Dallas fell to NYRB 1-0 in Frisco during the middle of their historic scoreless run. 

Game Notes

No Luke Rodgers The biggest absence for either team will be NYRB's english forward Luke Rodgers. The stocky striker seems to be at the heart of every Red Bulls win and he scored the game winner in the 1-0 defeat of Dallas in September. It looks like it will be Henry and Agudelo up top for New York. 

Everyone rested and available Most of the starters were rested this past weekend and the ones that played pretty much took the weekend off anyways. I've read quotes from Brek Shea saying that he's ready to go and rejuvenated while Marvin Chavez always gives you a ton on the outside wings. 

Up against World Series Tomorrow's 8PM kickoff(FSC) will be going directly up against World Series Game 6, the potentially championship-clinching game for the little Rangers. While those that read this site probably won't be swayed by that, it's an unfortunate problem for a game that needs an intimidating atmosphere. 

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It took until the last game of the season, but the FC Dallas playoff picture is set as they hopefully make their run back to MLS Cup for a second straight year. The news for Dallas is actually pretty good with Dallas opening up as the #4 overall seed and hosting New York Red Bulls on Wednesday night at 8PM inside the friendly confines of Pizza Hut Park. The bad news is that game will be going directly against World Series Game 6 between the Texas Rangers and St. Louis Cardinals.

Should Dallas advance through that round, they will then go on to face Sporting Kansas City with the first leg Saturday night at 730PM and the second leg Wednesday November 2 at Livestrong Sporting Park.

If Dallas advances through that round, they will play either Houston or Philadelphia Union in the Eastern Conference Final on Sunday afternoon/evening.

Potential playoff schedule

Wild Card Playoff vs New York Red Bulls - Wednesday, October 26 8PM Pizza Hut Park

Eastern Conference Semifinal Leg 1 vs Sporting Kansas City - Saturday, October 29 730PM Pizza Hut Park

Eastern Conference Semifinal Leg 2 vs Sporting Kansas City - Wednesday, November 2 TBD Livestrong Sporting Park

Eastern Conference Final vs Philadelphia Union/Houston Dynamo - Sunday November 5 TBD Robertson Stadium/PPL Park

MLS Cup vs LA/RSL/Seattle/Colorado/Columbus Sunday November 20 8PM Home Depot Center

So there's the road ahead, how do you like the way things shook out? Can Dallas get out of this bracket and advance to the final? 

Tonight FC Dallas sent a mix of starters and reserves to San Jose for a game that, had they won, would have clinched the #3 seed in the West and a likely Champions League spot. They didn't win, in fact FCD was down 4-0 before scoring two goals to bring the final scoreline to 4-2. 

A few bright spots from this one are Ruben Luna's first MLS goal, Victor Ulloa's professional debut and Richard Sanchez making the bench for his first MLS game. There's not a whole lot else to take from this one. 

Dallas is the #4 seed and will play either New York or Houston in the wild card round on Wednesday. FCD will play Houston if they lose to Los Angeles tomorrow and will face New York if any other result happens. Should they win that game, FCD will take on Sporting Kansas City in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

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