Heading into the 2007 season, one player on the FC Dallas roster whom many labeled as having a make-or-break year was fifth-year midfielder Arturo Alvarez. The Houston native spent his first two seasons in San Jose before being dealt to the Hoops in 2005 and has always been considered to have incredible potential but had yet to put it all together. And with his contract expiring at the end of this season, it was do-or-die for him.
The 2007 season has seen the 22-year-old midfielder start to do exactly that. He has started seven consecutive games for FCD and has three assists in those games. Alvarez has also started the Hoops' first two games in SuperLiga and netted his side's only goal in a 1-1 tie against CD Guadalajara last Tuesday.
FCD head coach Steve Morrow has been impressed with what Alvarez has given his team so far this year, especially over the last few months.
"He deserves a lot of credit and attention for the way he's performed in the last six games," Morrow said. "He's getting better and more confident every game and picks his moments to take people on."
Before the season, Morrow and Alvarez spoke about the new FCD boss expecting more from his young midfielder and he has responded.
"The thing that we spoke about was to raise the consistency of his play and to make good decisions," he said. "I think that he's done that and his finishing is getting better as well. When he gets in front of the goal, he is more composed and is hitting the target. He's scored a couple of good goals."
Morrow has also seen a new wrinkle from Alvarez this year. "The things that we have asked him to do, he's stepped up and done," he said. "He's working hard defensively, which is something that he needed to add to his game. I'm very pleased with him so far."
The FCD midfielder started two games early on but after being in the starting 11 for a 3-0 loss to the New York Red Bulls at Giants Stadium, Alvarez found himself on the bench and had to work his way back to a starting role, something he did in the ensuing weeks. As a result, Alvarez feels 2007 has been his best year as a professional.
"At the beginning of the year, Steve (Morrow) looked at me as a starter," Alvarez said. "I don't think that I was performing that well or the way I should have been. I sat a couple of games and that was good for me because it let me be alone and think about my future. In the past two or three months, I think that I have shown what I can do and think I have a little more that I can show. Hopefully, I can do that the rest of the year."
Morrow also feels that his conversations with Alvarez before and during the season about stepping up his game resulted in a light bulb going off in the young midfielder's head and him realizing that his fifth year in MLS would be a great time for him to put it all together.
"I think it's certainly a conversation that we had," Morrow said. "He's been around the league a long time now and has always had the ability. There comes a time where you only get so many chances and he has stepped up and taken them this time. He has earned a spot on the team and I've told him that if he keeps performing at that level, then he will keep his spot and that's what he has done."
When Morrow was hired last December to coach FCD, he promised he would bring an attacking brand of soccer to Frisco. Alvarez is clearly one player who has clearly benefited from such a change in coaching philosophy.
"Personally, I like the system we play in and feel that it fits me very well," Alvarez said. "Steve knows my qualities and in that system is where I am best at. I've worked hard and have been the last few years and now it's paying off. Hopefully I can go out there in each and every game with more confidence."
Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
