Sports. Honestly. Since 2011

FC Dallas is the Brand of Soccer MLS Needs

For anyone who caught Sundays game between Seattle Sounders and FC Dallas, or has seen Dallas play almost anytime this season has seen how exciting they can be. In fact, which is almost never the case, the last ten minutes of extra time, were some of the most exciting moments of soccer I have seen in a while. Unrelenting offensiveness is how to best describe the FC Dallas team. It is a description that can be placed on few in the league, but something that is absolute necessary to turn the casual viewer to a full-fledged fan. The Dallas team is a great combination of youth, international experience, and a coach who knows how to best leverage his squad.

FC Dallas is the Brand of Soccer MLS Needs

FC Dallas is so young half the starting lineup could still be in college. Nine players in the starting lineup are 25 or under and this isn’t a rebuilding team. They were one point from the Supporters shield. If Dallas can keep this roster in place, they could have an impressive run the next couple of years. But never mind that now, this is a team that just beat the Seattle Sounders, the beloved MLS team, and could have beat them soundly if shots could have been an inch or two lower or more to the left or right. They play an incredibly fast paced game as they are blessed with players who look like they should be in track spikes rather than soccer boots. Fabian Castillo might be one of the fastest players in the game. He has single-handedly proven the rising power of MLS, resulting in a call up to the Colombian national team this year.

This team is a mix of domestic and international players yet the cohesion is strong. It is a blend of South American flair in the midfield and attack, with Argentina, Colombia and Uruguay represented, and a bevy of young Americans that are some of our best rising defenders in Matt Hedges, Zach Loyd, and Ryan Hollingshead (who plays as both a midfielder and defender). MLS has long been criticized as a rough and tumble league. One that isn’t technically savvy or for all intensive purposes, beautiful. FC Dallas turns this on its head. Mauro Diaz and Kelyn Acosta combine down the middle to be inventive and unique in their attack. This team is about the three T’s more than anything. Technique, Tactics and Texas. It is intentional and has been slowly build by Coach Oscar Pareja and technical director Fernando Clavijo.

FC Dallas possess a record 13 homegrown players. They do not possess a Kaka, Frank Lampard, or even a Sebastian Giovinco (although you could say Castillo and Diaz aren’t too far behind them). They intentionally focus on the right mix to balance possession orientated attack with a scattering of long ball tactics to keep defenses honest and look to exploit with their incredible pace. It has been called “the FC Dallas way” and Oscar Pareja, who built their leading academy and now leads their team, has spearheaded the culture. A collection of young hopeful players brimming with confidence is a source of excitement and cause for nerves. This is a same team that lost the first game of the quarterfinals to the Sounders and then needed PK’s to get out alive. They scored in the 84th and 91st minute while allowing Seattle to score in the 90th. Yet, they had 25 shots to Seattle’s nine.

They are exciting and nerve-wracking and everything MLS needs. FC Dallas is a team to keep fans on the edge of their seats. They have a style of play that can bring casual fans in. And to solidify a style of play that should exemplify how MLS should be moving toward the next 20 years of the league. FC Dallas should be America’s team. Unfortunately they don’t even have enough fans in Dallas to come to their stadiums let alone a national audience to turn on the channel. If FC Dallas takes down Portland and ends up in the Cup, hopefully all that will change, which will be great for the league and soccer.

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