FC Dallas will conclude a stretch of three preseason matches in eight days on Saturday when they take on West Texas A&M University in an early-morning affair at Pizza Hut Park. Kickoff is set for 10:30 a.m. CT.
The Hoops began the busy run last Saturday, when they handed the University of Memphis a 2-0 defeat at Pizza Hut Park thanks to goals from Marcelo Saragosa and David Wagenfuhr. On Wednesday, they fell 2-1 to Mexican partner Tigres UANL in Monterrey with 19-year-old Brazilian striker Ricardinho netting FCD's only goal of the night in the 50th minute.
This Saturday's opponent is an NCAA Division II school from Canyon, about six hours west of Frisco. But no matter the opponent, FCD's approach in preseason remains simple.
"Like every match that we play against a college or professional team, we've got to go out there and work on our game and team shape so that we can all be on the same page," said FCD's Arturo Alvarez. "We have to take it one step at a time in preseason so that we can be a team once MLS starts."
Alvarez was one of a number of players for the Hoops who made their preseason debuts on Wednesday in Mexico. Others on that list were strikers Kenny Cooper and Abe Thompson, midfielder Dax McCarty, defenders Duilio Davino and Drew Moor plus goalkeeper Dario Sala. Each member of the roster making the trip played 45 minutes against Tigres.
Even though it's still early in preseason, the FCD players see Saturday's match as an important affair.
"I think it's an important scrimmage," said Moor. "In the Tigres game, everybody got 45 minutes and it was a different second half from the first half. The second half unit came on and did a great job. It's a credit to Steve (Morrow) that everybody is fighting for spots right now."
But if the first two preseason games have shown anything, they illustrate how deep the FCD roster could be this year.
"Not only are we looking to go out, put a good game together and get a victory tomorrow but guys are fighting for positions," Moor said. "This team is very deep and each practice session is competitive because of that. That will continue to make us better as we go through preseason."
While the depth that the Hoops have shown thus far in preseason has been a positive, inconsistent possession has been a definite downside and something FCD looks to correct.
"I think mainly we're looking to keep the ball a little better than we have been," Thompson said. "In the game a week ago against Memphis, we weren't too pleased with the way we kept the ball and moved it. It was a little bit better in Mexico the other day but still a little disappointing. It was hard for some guys to get into a rhythm because 45 minutes each for everybody made it hard to get into the game quickly. Tomorrow, we will look to keep the ball and move it."
Another adjustment for FCD has been playing in a new formation. Head coach Steve Morrow has employed a setup that employs a two-man front line with another striker withdrawn behind them in what is more of a 3-4-1-2. After playing in a 4-4-2 or 4-4-3 for most of the last few years, the switch has taken some getting used to for a number of Hoops players.
"It took a little bit of time to adjust, especially playing three in the back, getting used to the way Duilio (Davino) plays and how (Andre) Rocha plays. It's definitely an adjustment period but I guess that's why preseason is so long here," Moor said. "We're trying to take advantage of that by playing as many scrimmages as we can, which is a credit to Steve (Morrow). That's the way you sort things out. The Brazil trip will be a good sign of whether we can put things together and get the season off to a good start."
Thompson echoed Moor's sentiments on the new-look Hoops.
"I think we're doing well (with the new formation)," he said. "It really shouldn't be anything new for a lot of guys because we're all professionals and by now, you should have experience in different formations. I think it's coming along fine."
Following Saturday's match, the Hoops will face Southern Methodist University on Tuesday night at PHP before departing for Brazil next Friday, where they will train with South American partner Clube Atletico Paranaense for approximately two weeks before returning in mid-March to finish out the preseason.
Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
