FRISCO, Texas – In our latest installment of our weekly column featuring Schellas Hyndman, in which the FC Dallas head coach addresses 11 topics in brevity, the tactician discusses correcting the team’s mental lapses, team captain Daniel Hernandez’s commitment to charity and possibly switching up the team’s formation.
I. After only giving up one red card in all of the 2010 season, FC Dallas have found themselves on the short end twice through three games in 2011.
“We went through 35 minutes down a man in the first game [against the Chicago Fire], and then 57 minutes down against Columbus, and it’s not fair to those who have worked awfully hard for our team.”
II. Has the veteran coach ever seen two yellow cards to one player so quickly in his managerial career?
“I don’t think so. That only happens because of [the lack of] emotional intelligence.”
III. One skill set that Hyndman has may help his players cope with the mental difficulties of the game.
“I think one of my strengths, because of the martial arts [Hyndman is a 10th-degree black belt] is discipline, and this is unacceptable. We’ve already addressed it and we have to get that in order.”
IV. The starting XI featured five changes against Columbus, including Brek Shea’s return to center back.
“Fifty-seven minutes playing down a man, it’s really hard to evaluate people – good games and bad games – when you are in such a hole. But I thought he did fine.”
[inline_node:331615]V. Ugo Ihemelu also returned to the starting XI for the first time in 2011.
“The thing you have to understand is we started preseason without three center backs. Without Brek [Shea], we wouldn’t have been able to play with any center backs, so I think Ugo will continue to get better each game.”
VI-VII. Daniel Hernandez was named the MLS W.O.R.K.S. Humanitarian of the Month for April, an accolade the seasoned veteran received for his charitable contributions.
“Not only is he the captain of the team and leads by example, and so many people have such great respect for him, but he also gets so much done off the field and this is the perfect example.
“Being an ambassador where people recognize who you are coming straight out of a professional organization states a lot for Daniel."
VIII-IX. Opposing teams have limited the mobility of 2010 MLS MVP David Ferreira resulting in him once again leading the league in fouls suffered with 11 through three games.
“Last year, David Ferreira was the most fouled player in the league. Last year, David Ferreira was the MVP of the league. This year, he’s got a lot of attention. If he was the most-fouled player in the league last year, why would be not be this year?
“If we were concerned with some of the calls or some of the non-calls last year, it’s what we got this year. We have to forget these things; we have to move on and just play.”
X. Ruben Luna got his first start in MLS and joining him in the FC Dallas forward group is recently acquired striker Maykel Galindo, formerly of Chivas USA.
“Not only is [Galindo] a talented player, but also he adds a bit of experience understanding the league and age-wise.”
XI. Adding a striker means that Hyndman may be looking to make more changes in hopes of finding the right balance on the pitch.
“We may not stay with a lone striker now that we have [Fabián] Castillo and Galindo. You always have to understand that when you change something, you have to be prepared to give something else up and so we are not at that point yet.”
