Heading into the 2007 MLS season, one of the big question marks for FC Dallas was how a revamped back line would perform. Three games into the current campaign, new head coach Steve Morrow has yet to use the same starting combination in the back, but the reviews have still been mainly favorable.
Part of the reason for the mixing and matching in the back four can be chalked up to players not being available. But other changes have been due to personnel decisions.
In the season opener at Real Salt Lake on April 7, Bobby Rhine started at right back, Clarence Goodson and Drew Moor in the middle with David Wagenfuhr on the left. The latter got the nod because Chris Gbandi was serving a one-game suspension after receiving a red card in the 2006 MLS Cup Playoffs.
Then, against the Los Angeles Galaxy on April 12 at the Home Depot Center, Moor started at right back, Alex Yi came into the center with Goodson and Gbandi started on the left. And on Sunday in New York, Moor again played right back, with Goodson and Yi in the middle and Wagenfuhr on the left.
When Moor came to FCD as the sixth overall pick in the 2005 Super Draft, he did so as a right back. But for much of the past year, he has played in the central defense. However, the ex-Indiana University standout feels comfortable in either spot.
"I wouldn't say I'm more comfortable (in the middle compared to the right) but over the last year, I have played more as a center back," Moor said. "When they brought me in as a rookie, they saw me more as a right back but I felt more comfortable at center back.
"With the time I got there last year, maybe that is my more comfortable position but I'm fine with playing right back. If it's going to help the team out, then it's no problem for me to play out there. I feel just as comfortable either way."
The FCD boss likes having the 6-foot-4 Goodson and 6-foot-2 Yi paired together in the middle for a number of reasons.
"It gives us a more physical look in the back, which is what I like and what I'm looking for," Morrow said. "The back players have to concentrate on the defensive side of the game, get that right and do a solid job for the team. Alex and Clarence are both athletic and good in the air. They can both pass the ball well too."
Ideally, Morrow would like to see the same group of players in the back line start every week to develop continuity. He should get that with Moor on the right, Goodson and Yi in the middle with Gbandi on the left.
Gbandi had been the wildcard in the whole equation. He suffered a grade two ankle sprain midway through preseason and played the full 90 minutes against the Galaxy despite admittedly not being completely match-fit.
And Morrow's plan of having the University of Connecticut product sit for much of the game against the Red Bulls was squashed when Wagenfuhr took a ball to the face, suffered a concussion and had to leave the field, forcing Morrow to summon Gbandi in the 19th minute.
But the FCD boss feels good that his veteran defender will be ready to go for Sunday's home opener against Colorado.
"I think he (Gbandi) will be more ready come Sunday," Morrow said. "He had another week of training. On Sunday, he was hurting from the L.A. game and wasn't ready to start so close after that, especially on turf with his ankle problem. You have to be ready. You always have to be ready mentally as well. I think he'll be more prepared come Sunday on our home field. I do. I was surprised that he got through 90 [minutes] in L.A. He did well to get through that."
While the FCD back line has generally played well, over the first three games, the Hoops have surrendered three goals off corner kicks. That's not yet a big concern for Morrow, but could become more of one should that trend continue.
"It's not a huge concern," Morrow said. "You do look at it. We're putting ourselves under pressure in games and have given up a lot of free kicks in dangerous areas and a few unnecessary corners as well.
"Set plays against us are always pressure situations and we haven't done well against them so far. I thought against L.A. that we were very good on those apart from the late one that they scored from. It's a matter of concentration but isn't a huge concern for me right now. If we continue letting goals in off set plays, it will become one though."
Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
