The Schellas Hyndman era begins Saturday for FC Dallas when the Hoops travel to face the New York Red Bulls at Giants Stadium.
Hyndman was formally introduced as the fifth head coach in club history on Tuesday and the following day took charge of his troops on the practice field for a first time.
In taking the position, Hyndman said there was a high likelihood that his team would switch from the 3-5-2 formation that was the norm under previous head coach Steve Morrow and interim boss Marco Ferruzzi, to a 4-4-2 system. But with two key starters from the back line -- Drew Moor and Adrian Serioux -- away on international duty, Hyndman admitted that he might play with three in the back for one more week because of limited personnel.
"I think the adjustment (to a 4-4-2) is coming fine," Hyndman said. "Whatever structure a coach is using, you need to work on it and give players time to adjust to their roles. We are looking at a 4-4-2 but at the same time, we have Drew (Moor) get called up yesterday after his first practice in a 4-4-2, Adrian (Serioux) isn't here and we don't know about Duilio (Davino), who is still injured and we don't know if he's going to be in there. We're still wanting to work with this structure, but personnel might be an issue."
FCD striker Dominic Oduro is intrigued by the switch to the 4-4-2.
"With the way this coach has come in with his formation, we will have a more solid defense," he said. "The attack is really good and we will be better in possession. I think we will go there, give it our best shot and hopefully, come out victorious."
The Ghanaian forward also feels that new formation will greatly benefit he and his striker partner Kenny Cooper, who is second in MLS with seven goals.
"A 4-4-2 is more solid and solidifies our defense," Oduro said. "It also helps us with balls on the wings and that can help us. With Kenny (Cooper) and the way he is strong on the ball and with my fast pace, I think we can get some balls in, create some one-on-one opportunities and get some goals."
After not training on Wednesday or Thursday, Davino returned to the training field on Friday and went through the entire session without issue. He should be ready to face the Red Bulls. Joining him in the back will likely be 10-year league veteran Bobby Rhine on the right with Blake Wagner on the left, two players that Hyndman wants to see get more involved in the FCD attack.
"You need width, one of the principles of attack, but this team doesn't have width," he said. "The only width this team has had in the past is strikers running wide. Our fullbacks, Blake and Bobby, are both attack-minded players and I'm trying to encourage them to be better in the attack and not 100 percent in the defending because I don't think they're natural defenders."
That's just fine with Wagner. "Being in a defensive role, I like to go forward," he said. "I like playing four in the back instead of three in the back because I can get forward a lot more. It works out more for me and in my favor."
Last Sunday, FCD handed the Chicago Fire a 1-0 loss on a steamy afternoon at Pizza Hut Park with the Hoops' lone goal coming from Cooper, who leads the team with seven goals.
New York is coming off a disappointing 1-1 draw with the New England Revolution, who scored the equalizer with 11 minutes later, but are returning to the Meadowlands where they have lost only once in 2008.
When FCD and the Red Bulls first met, on April 12 in Frisco, FCD prevailed 2-0. Arturo Alvarez put the home side ahead 1-0 just 51 seconds into the contest and Cooper followed with a goal of his own in the 66th minute to put the game away.
Out of the lineup that evening for the Red Bulls was Juan Pablo Angel, who has missed the last two games with a hamstring injury. He is listed as questionable. One player on the FCD roster who hopes he plays is fellow Colombian Juan Toja.
"Juan Pablo (Angel) is a great player from Colombia, my country," Toja said. "He's an icon for Colombians. I met him last year at the All-Star game. He is a great person and professional. If he's going to play, I have to play for my jersey, for FC Dallas. It's a great opportunity if I get to play against him."
FCD has won three of their last five matches at Giants Stadium and has an all-time record of 8-7-1 on the Red Bulls' home field. Their last trip to the Meadowlands wasn't a great one as the Hoops fell 3-0 on April 15, 2007 on a cold, rainy afternoon.
Hyndman is looking to become the third coach in FCD history to win his debut. The last to do so was Colin Clarke, who won 2-0 over Chicago on Sept. 23, 2003 in his first game as interim head coach. Clarke was named the permanent replacement after the season.
Dave Dir, the first coach in Dallas club history who now works on the club's television broadcast team, also won his debut, a 1-0 shootout win against San Jose on April 14, 1996, the first regular season game in FCD history.
Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
