When FC Dallas tore through the Western Conference playoffs last year, knocking off both Real Salt Lake and the Los Angeles Galaxy, the two best teams in MLS during the regular season, it might have been easy for some to write the run off as another case of a team getting hot at the right time.
Anyone who thought that, wasn’t paying attention during the regular season. All FC Dallas did in 2010 was ride the momentum of a strong finish to 2009 and transform into a dangerous and balanced team featuring some of the league’s best performers. David Ferreira grew from dangerous midfielder to league MVP, Kevin Hartman came off the MLS scrap heap to deliver the best season of his record-setting career and a host of other players seeing their careers take off.
The result was a record-setting 19-match unbeaten streak and convincing playoff victories against RSL and the Galaxy. A deflected overtime goal cost FC Dallas its first MLS Cup, but the message had long been sent that this Dallas team would be sticking around a while to contend for a few more.
As much as Ferreira and Hartman deserved a large part of the credit for Dallas’ turnaround, head coach Schellas Hyndman received and earned a lion’s share. He molded together young players and veterans and gave his team the freedom to attack in waves, while putting a squad around Ferreira that let the Colombian maximize his playmaking abilities.
As masterful a job as Hyndman did in 2010, he has more work to do this season after parting ways with three key players. Dallas traded away U.S. national team fullback Heath Pearce and let Dax McCarty and Jeff Cunningham go.
While such losses might cripple other teams, they will only serve to test the impressive depth Dallas has built. With Brazilian Jackson and second-year standout Zach Loyd both capable of replacing Pearce, second-year midfielder Eric Alexander expected to step in for McCarty and Cuban speedster Maykel Galindo looking like a possible replacement for Cunningham, Dallas may not skip a beat.
In fact, if rumors are to be believed, Dallas could be bringing in a young South American striker who could give the Hoops a dynamic force up top. Colombian Under-20 national team striker Fabian Castillo is reportedly signing with the club for a sizable $800,000 fee. If Castillo does join Dallas, he could be the dynamic threat up top that helps FC Dallas compete with the revamped Galaxy and Real Salt Lake for Western Conference honors.
Castillo’s addition could be major for an already dangerous attack, but the health and form of a more defensive-minded player could hold the keys to Dallas’ attempt at another MLS Cup run. Captain and defensive midfielder Daniel Hernandez was the unsung hero and true heartbeat of FC Dallas last season, but nagging knee injuries took their toll on the 34-year old. Hernandez had off-season knee surgery, but if he struggles with his health, Dallas would be hard-pressed to replace his leadership, passing and defensive bite.
If Hernandez can put together one more solid season, and some of the crop of talented Homegrown Players on the roster can step in and contribute, Dallas will be a legitimate threat for both the MLS Cup and Supporters Shield. That may be hard to imagine considering how strong Real Salt Lake and Los Angeles look right now, but both teams also looked strong last year, when Dallas knocked them out of the playoffs.
FC DALLAS
KEY LOSSES: Jeff Cunningham, Heath Pearce, Dax McCarty
NEW ARRIVALS: Fabian Castillo (not official yet), Andrew Jacobsen, Maykel Galindo, Chris Seitz,
BIGGEST QUESTION: Who will replace Dax McCarty?
Letting Dax McCarty go in the MLS Expansion Draft rather than trading him before it, was easily FC Dallas’ biggest blunder of the off-season, but losing McCarty will be made easier if Eric Alexander can step in and be an impact replacement. Whether it’s Alexander, Eric Avila or Ricardo Villar, Dallas needs a dynamic force in midfield to help keep teams from keying on David Ferreira, and punishing teams when they do. McCarty did that very well in 2010. If a strong replacement doesn’t emerge, Dallas could struggle to match its 2010 success.
X-FACTOR: Ruben Luna. The FC Dallas academy product is seen as a future star forward. The battle for minutes at forward could get very ugly, especially if Castillo signs, but Luna has the tools to be special, and this could be his breakout season.
OUTLOOK: Dallas will score goals this year, but the question is whether the defense can play as well as it did in 2010. The back-line was solid, but was also bailed out repeatedly during Hartman’s incredible season. George John and Ugo Ihemelu must stay healthy, as does Daniel Hernandez. That trio, along with Hartman, may be the toughest players for Dallas to replace, and losing any of them would turn Dallas from steady defense to vulnerable one. If the defense can hold up, the offense will score enough goals to make Dallas a title contender again.
Ives Galarcep is a senior writer for FoxSoccer.com covering Major League Soccer and the U.S. national team.
