Guess we better start talking about this. Last weekend, our 1st team beat Bayern Munich's "U-23s" 4-0. Then the 2nd string lost to San Antonio 3-1. Today, our 1st team beat Seattle 2-1 today to kick off the Mobile Mini Cup. Next up, RSL on Wednesday.
I watched most of the Bayern II and Seattle Sounders matches. Some encouraging signs from Luchi’s men. Bayern really didn’t have the horsepower to keep up and conceded four first-half goals. But even Seattle looked second best against Dallas. Nice to see Pomykal get the start in the #10 role. Did reasonably well, especially considering his age. When the second team took over with 15-20 minutes to go in each match, Aranguiz occupied that spot. I thought Jacori Hayes had a good outing against Seattle today. He was replaced by Acosta who will likely move into the starting spot. But Hayes offers nice depth for Gruezo and Acosta. Looking like Mosquera and Barrios out wide. Barrios hasn’t lost a step, and his speed is so dangerous. Unlike Barrios, Mosquera often drifts in from his left wing spot, which creates an advantage in other parts of the field. I’m still not convinced we have our forward spot sorted out. Badji scored in both games, but he was unmarked inside the six each time. He’s really reliant on others creating for him. Ondrasek might be a good complement to Badji. Lacks pace but can create. Had a nice goal against San Antonio. Pedroso seems to be working his way back from offseason surgery. He played with the second team while Hollingshead got the start at left back. The rest of the defense is set with Cannon, Hedges, and Ziegler.
Paxton has looked great, and the rumor that Aranguiz will be sent on loan, really highlights how good Pax has looked.
Any idea why Aranguiz has looked worse than last year or did I just overvalue the few glimpses I had?
I think everyone expected Aranguiz was brought in to replace Mauro Diaz. Looks like he doesn't have that quality. Probably the reason we only saw glimpses last season.
part of it is he's a 10 by nature, not an 8 and Luchi is playing w/ a pair of 8's - which Pax is superior. So, they're pushing him out wide as a false 7/11 kinda like they used Mauro last season.
Let's hope pre-season wins turn into regular season wins. Guess it's much better than losing every game but I'm in a wait and see mode.
They will. I'm not worried about early season. I'm worried about if this team can last. I guess "worried" isn't the right word, as I don't have any expectations about this season with a new manager figuring it all out.
The idea in MLS is to get stronger as the season wears on. Actually in all American sports because of playoffs and championship. Yes the Supporter's Shield is a nice toy but since the big prize is MLS Cup the savvier coaches may not try to win the Shield because it may compromise the other by wearing your team out and picking players who are best right then instead of at the end of the year. I hope Luchi is in the latter group but the formula may have changed a bit by the playoff format changes. MLS always seems to change the rules after they will no longer help FCD.
Another youngster signed! Whether we like the strategy or not, FCD has a clear mission statement and business plan. Build thru youth and academy development. I personally love it. Dante is signing a first team deal, but will likely be loaned to NTSC. He's young for the U19s! FC Dallas signs 25th Homegrown player, Dante Sealy. Sealy becomes second youngest FC Dallas Academy Product signed.📰 https://t.co/Z1N9ULX4RL pic.twitter.com/YBJ4KU9ouy— FC Dallas (@FCDallas) February 26, 2019
The FCD TV Network is back for those of you in Wichita Falls, Amarillo, Lubbock, Tyler, and Waco. Seriously, as much as we rag on HSG, this is one thing that they get right. Putting games on OTA station that isn't some rinky-dink low power station -- Channel 21 has a pretty strong signal across D/FW -- make the team pretty accessible for people across the area. And putting games on stations across north Texas and the Panhandle is great for building the brand. (But I see that they're not on in Bryan-College Station anymore. The Dynamo probably objected.)
Is that a thing? I get it for players rights per territory but also TV rights across the country. Be cool then to get sponsored by a big national TV player like Netflix, DirecTV etc so FCD can become the Atlanta Braves of the new streaming world.
To be honest, I don't know if it is a thing or not. I do know that YouTube TV carries LAFC... but only if you live in southern California. More locally to me, Altitude carries the Rapids, and Altitude is in Utah as well as Colorado, so I don't know if Rapids games are blacked out in Utah because of RSL, who are on a local OTA station in Salt Lake. I do know that territories are a thing when you're trying to watch games on ESPN+. I can't watch any Rapids games live on ESPN+ because I'm located close to Denver and thus have to watch them on Altitude. And since I don't get Altitude on my streaming service, I have to wait for the game to conclude. Fortunately, it's just the Rapids, so I only have to worry about this once a year, when the Rapids are away to FCD. But I can see the Dynamo raising a fuss about it to FCD anyway, just as they have when FCD has signed some young player out of "Houston's territory."