FC Dallas have taken care of one piece of business -- booking their ticket in the MLS Cup Playoffs -- but as the postseason approaches another key issue is still outstanding, that of developing some lineup continuity.
Striker Carlos Ruiz (suspension) and holding midfielder Pablo Ricchetti (groin injury) have missed the last two games, a 3-1 against Columbus that secured the Hoops' place in the playoffs, and the scoreless draw against Chivas USA last Thursday. As well, center back Clarence Goodson missed the Chivas game with a hamstring injury and center back Alex Yi has also missed matches after a concussion and back spasms.
Ruiz will almost certainly return to the field for Saturday's game against Kansas City, when the Hoops will be without right back Bobby Rhine, who was sent off in the Chivas match.
"I think it's been frustrating," said FCD head coach Steve Morrow. "We just haven't been able to get it (continuity). We would like to get a little bit of continuity in the last part of the season but with injuries and red cards, we haven't been able to do that.
"We will see that again this Saturday," he said. "We lost Bobby (Rhine) with a red card (on Thursday), so we'll have to change the back four around again. We've had injuries as well and that's been a little bit frustrating. But I've told the boys that it gives everyone else a chance to win a spot on the team going into the playoffs and some people have stepped up and taken that opportunity."
Up top, Ruiz looks to have a lock on one spot but competition to accompany him on the front line is stiff with Kenny Cooper, Dominic Oduro, Abe Thompson and Ricardinho all in the running.
"It's certainly better now than it was earlier in the season," Morrow said of his options at forward. "We started Kenny last week to try and get him as close to match fitness as possible. He played 75 minutes and could have played more. That's a positive for us going into the playoffs. Kenny is looking good and we want to get him more minutes this Saturday.
"We will have Carlos back and Abe is coming into form, which is good," he said. "Dominic (Oduro) has done great for us, played well at Columbus and is a good option. Ricardinho has done well when he's come off the bench. I think we've got good options in that position."
Both Goodson and Ricchetti returned to training and could return this week while Yi's status looks a bit more uncertain.
"It is early (in the week) and today was just a very light day," Morrow said after training on Tuesday. "Yesterday, we did leg work, a lot of strength and conditioning. They (Goodson and Ricchetti) joined in today and it was mostly technical. I would say they're still a little bit off.
"We'll see how they go later on in the week but it's certainly not a situation that I want to take any risks with going into the last game," he said. "They've both got muscle injuries and those things can be very delicate sometimes, so we don't want to risks with it."
Morrow reinforced that the news with Yi isn't quite as good. "He's got a back spasm that has taken a little while to settle down. He might be one that might come back into training on Thursday," Morrow said.
In Ricchetti's absence, Morrow has moved Adrian Serioux up from center back to take his spot and has been impressed with the Canadian international's performance.
"I think he's done well in there," Morrow said. "Adrian has played there throughout his career and knows the position well. It's something that we knew he could give us. I think it was a matter of him getting to full fitness first before we could play him in that position. He's done a good, solid job and I think we've looked more solid defensively in the middle of the field with him in there."
With Goodson injured and Serioux in the midfield, Morrow has moved Drew Moor from his normal spot on the right flank to a central defense role, a position he played all of last year, his first full year as a starter.
"I think there's still a bit more of a comfort level for him in the middle (than on the right)," Morrow said. "He (Moor) goes in there and looks a little bit more natural. I moved around myself during my career and always felt more natural in the middle. I see that in Drew as well. It's a different game, playing at fullback and you see the game differently. He's done a great job in both positions for us but I think if you ask him, he would say that he feels slightly more comfortable in the middle."
In the back, Morrow looks set to go with David Wagenfuhr on the left, Goodson in the middle once he returns alongside either Aaron Pitchkolan or Adrian Serioux with Moor on the right. If Moor moves back to the middle, Rhine is his likely replacement although the MLS veteran will be unavailable this weekend. He has more playoff experience -- 11 games -- than anyone else on the FCD roster than Ruiz.
"I would like to get a settled back four," Morrow said. "We've lost Bobby (Rhine) from last week but Drew (Moor) has come into the middle and done a great job for us. We've got to decide what we do at right back but we've got options."
Once Ricchetti returns, Serioux will likely return to the back but then again, Morrow could use he and Ricchetti together alongside all-star Juan Toja and Arturo Alvarez, who has three goals and three assists this year. But the wildcard could be designated player Denilson, who started slowly but has performed better lately.
A decision also looms in goal where Dario Sala has been solid for much of the year with an 8-7-3 mark and five clean sheets in his 18 starts. But upstart second-year 'keeper Ray Burse, who is 3-1-1 with two shutouts in just five starts and is allowing less than a goal per game has come on of late, making Morrow's decision even more difficult.
Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
