A year ago, when Alex Yi saw the field in his second season in Major League Soccer, he performed well. The problem was, while the 11 games he played in (starting six) were a single-season high during his time back in the USA, the one-time UCLA standout wasn't able to lock down a regular place under head coach Colin Clarke.
But after the elimination of FC Dallas in the Western Conference Semifinals, Clarke was relieved of his duties and former assistant Steve Morrow is in charge. That could mean big things for Yi this season.
"I've got high hopes for Alex this year," Morrow said. "With Greg Vanney moving on, that gives him the extra opportunity to step up, take responsibility and be a starter on this team. I rate him very highly and think he's capable of doing that."
When Morrow talks about the former U.S. youth international, he lists a number of qualities he likes in the young center back, who will turn 25 later this month.
"He has great athleticism, is good in the air, is a good passer and is good in one-on-one defensive situations," the Hoops boss said. "He's starting to learn the game better as well. What he needed to improve on was being in the right place at the right time, adjusting to people around him and playing as part of a back four unit. He's done well in that."
Like the rest of his FCD teammates, Yi is ready to put the 2006 season behind him and focus on preparing for the 2007 campaign.
"The opportunities were not as frequent as I would have wanted them to be last year," Yi said. "But I got a lot out of the little (playing) time that I had. Steve (Morrow) has done wonders for my game.
"Just understanding the scheme that he wants with me, Drew (Moor) and whoever is back there has helped me," he added. "We all feel like we're on the same page. This is my fifth year as a professional, but I still feel very young and am still soaking it all in. The more experience I get, the better player I will become for FC Dallas."
Yi's signing was a major coup for Major League Soccer when he returned to the USA after two years in Belgium. A member of the U.S. team in the 1999 FIFA Under-17 World Championship and 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship (U-20), he signed with Royal Antwerp in Belgium in 2002 following his sophomore year at UCLA. But in his first season in MLS, he saw action in just one game -- a starting role against San Jose on Sept. 24, 2005 when Clarke rested a large number of starters in advance of the U.S. Open Cup Final.
One thing that benefited Yi last year was playing behind Vanney, an eight-year MLS veteran who had also played abroad and on the full U.S. national team.
"I learned tons from him," Yi said. "He took me under his wing. He's done it all, in MLS, abroad and for the national team. His experience is amazing and just to be able to sit next to him every morning, talk to him about the game and the different situations that come up was great. He pointed out things to me that I needed to work on. I keep those in the back of my head during training."
The biggest knock on the FCD back four last year was that they were perceived as soft and a unit that never put fear into opponents. Morrow is looking to change that this year and sees Yi as a big part of the new attitude.
"He definitely fits into that," Morrow said. "He has that physical element that I want. I want guys in the back that will concentrate on their defensive responsibilities more than anything. I think when the other guys know that you have guys back there with those strengths, then that helps the mentality of the whole team. I like the physical element and athleticism that he brings to the team as well."
Another big part of injecting some toughness into the FCD back line involves newly-acquired center back Adrian Serioux, who played for 2006 MLS Cup champion Houston Dynamo. Yi envisions a partnership with Serioux in the heart of the back four that could make things very difficult for opposing strikers.
"If you look at his success with Houston last year, you see the kind of defense that they had with him and Eddie Robinson back there. He had the reputation in this league for being a tough defender," Yi said.
"He's very well-respected and people don't like playing against him. He and I are rocks back there. We know what we have to do to put a mark on our defense and get a reputation in this league (as a tough defensive team). Bringing in Adrian will do nothing but help us in that respect."
Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
