Between a season-opening 2-2 draw at Real Salt Lake and a 2-1 victory at the Los Angeles Galaxy in the second game of the season, FC Dallas head coach Steve Morrow made a few tweaks to his starting team and his system. But perhaps none was more unexpected than the inclusion of Dax McCarty in the lineup.
The 19-year-old McCarty, who was the sixth overall pick in the 2006 MLS Super Draft, made his 2007 debut when he played the final 24 minutes of the season opener at RSL. The former University of North Carolina standout's entrance into the match helped energize the FCD central midfield.
In the next game at The Home Depot Center he was rewarded with his first career start and McCarty again played well for the Hoops. On Sunday at Giants Stadium, he played the entire 90 minutes for the second consecutive match, a 3-0 loss to the New York Red Bulls.
Playing so early in the season or seeing time with the first team at all is a new experience for McCarty. Last season, he played a total of 12 minutes with the first team and that was spread across two matches. But where last year's FCD head coach Colin Clarke was reticent about playing youngsters, Morrow is not and McCarty has gotten his shot and couldn't be happier.
"I'm very happy getting my first two starts out of the way," McCarty said. "I feel like I earned the chance and really appreciate Steve (Morrow) giving me the shot. I just wanted to go out there and help this team get good results. Against L.A., we were able to do that and play very solidly. Against New York, the result could have been a little better and we all know that. I feel privileged and happy to get my first two starts and to be able to help us win."
After opening the season with three matches in a row away from Frisco, the Hoops will have their home opener on Sunday against the Colorado Rapids, the team that has eliminated them from the playoffs each of the last two seasons. McCarty could very well be in the starting 11 yet again.
That's not just because of his strong play so far this season. Against the Galaxy, defensive midfielder Marcelo Saragosa, who had started the first two games of the season for FCD, left the field with a knee injury. An MRI on that knee came back on Monday afternoon showing a sprained right MCL, which will keep the Brazilian on the shelf for between four and six weeks.
FCD is also awaiting visa approval for Argentinean midfielder Pablo Richetti, who has agreed in principle to a contract with the Hoops but is awaiting his final paperwork. That could come this week or next. But in the meantime, McCarty will be ready.
"That would be great (making my home debut this weekend)," McCarty said. "I'm hoping for the best with Marcelo (Saragosa). You never want to see a teammate injured and I hope he's back soon. Pablo (Richetti) is a very experienced and good player. There is tremendous competition for spaces and that's what is ultimately going to make you a better player.
"Right now, we're a little bit thin (in the midfield) and if I can get a few starts here and there, I am going to make the most of that," he added. "Until everyone gets healthy, the position is up in the air and I would love nothing more than to make my first home start against Colorado."
Playing the next three games at Pizza Hut Park will also be a nice change for McCarty and his mates.
"It's definitely a welcome change," he said. "We know all about our home record and how well we can play on our home field. It's good to get three road games out of the way and go 1-1-1. It's definitely a welcome feeling to know our next game is at home. I think that we can feed off the crowd's energy and ultimately reverse that result that we got in New York against Colorado. Hopefully, we can play well and get a victory."
After FCD turned in a great performance in L.A. last Thursday in front of a national television audience, the Hoops turned in an equally poor performance on a windy, rainy afternoon on Sunday. But despite the 3-0 loss, McCarty and the Hoops know there are plenty of lessons to be learned from that result.
"We can take a few things from it," he said. "We know that we have to be able to overcome pretty tough conditions. Soccer is a tough sport but when you couple that with freezing weather and rain, it's very difficult but the conditions were the same for both teams. I think we have to be mentally stronger and need to not let conditions affect us so much.
"We have a very technical team and I think the turf doesn't suit our style of play very well. It's more of a learning experience on how to play well on different surfaces and in different conditions. I think it brought us closer as a team."
Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
