FRISCO, Texas – The past two months have been a whirlwind for FC Dallas midfielder Andrew Jacobson. After being acquired on Feb. 18 from the Philadelphia Union, the third-year player has settled nicely in Dallas, starting his first game of the year in a 3-0 win last week against the Colorado Rapids.
MLSsoccer.com spoke with Jacobson, who sported a new Mohawk haircut, after the team’s final practice in Dallas before traveling to the Pacific Northwest.
MLSsoccer.com: How is the team feeling heading into the two-game road trip against the Portland Timbers (April 17) and Vancouver Whitecaps (April 23)?
Jacobson: Good. It was a good result in the last game and this is a good opportunity for us to go on the road and have two good opponents. I think we really should focus on us. If we focus on our game and do well, then I think we will be happy. I was on an expansion team last year and I know the nerves that can come with it and the feelings behind it and I think it’s important for us to jump on them quick.
MLSsoccer.com: How are you enjoying Dallas thus far?
Jacobson: I’m loving it. Everything’s been great. I feel very happy and my wife’s very happy. It’s a really good change. We live in the shops at Legacy [in Plano, Texas], so there are a lot of good restaurants and you can walk places.
There’s no traffic, there’s no smog everywhere like in Philadelphia, and it’s a nice change of pace, definitely. I’m from California, so I’m not a Tex-Mex guy, but I’ll make do with it.
MLSsoccer.com: What about the team atmosphere in the locker room?
Jacobson: It’s a great locker room. That’s a really important thing and just now people are really starting to realize how important a unified locker room is and it’s an extraordinary locker room. Everyone gets along really well. People hang out outside of practice a lot and I don’t think that happens very much in this league.
MLSsoccer.com: What are your thoughts on 2010 MLS Coach of the Year Schellas Hyndman?
Jacobson: You can see how he won it. He’s very supportive. He truly wants the best for every player on the team. Not just the guys who start the game or anything, but he really does want the best for everyone in every practice and it pushes the whole team. I think that’s what will help us elevate throughout the season. Every training is hard and every game people are competing.
MLSsoccer.com: You started the game against Colorado as the linking center midfielder. How did you feel in that position?
Jacobson: I am very comfortable. It’s a similar position that I grew up playing. I think the last two years I’ve kind of been pushed into defensive mid for my size, but I really like the [linking midfielder] position. It’s great playing with two other center mids who are some of the best in the MLS, so that definitely helps. What I need to bring is a high work rate and linking both sides of the ball.
MLSsoccer.com: Speaking of the midfield, what are your thoughts on David Ferreira?
Jacobson: He sees it right away. It’s almost as if he doesn’t have to look. He already knows where everything is before he gets the ball, which helps so much. If I’m open, even if he doesn’t see me, he finds a way to get it to me or every other player and he’s a tremendous passer. I knew coming in he was a great player, obviously as the MVP, but I never realized how good of a passer he was. He’s definitely one of the best in MLS in passing.
