MLS veteran Javier Morales is beginning to make his mark on FC Dallas’ 2017 season after watching the first three regular season matches from the sidelines. The 37 year old MLS Cup winner was brought in for his experience and playmaking ability. He was also signed to provide\u00a0cover in the wake of Mauro Diaz’s long term achilles injury. Some thought he might be just a bit-part player after FC Dallas’ free-spending\u00a0offseason. But six games in, he looks\u00a0primed to assert himself in the\u00a0starting XI.<\/p>\n
\u00d3scar Pareja started 2017\u00a0with the job of integrating several new players\u00a0acquired in the offseason. His early roster selections favored\u00a0a 4-4-2 formation that leveraged new DP Cristian Colm\u00e1n as a second striker alongside Maxi Urruti. That formation\u00a0was less dependent on the central playmaking role\u00a0that Javier Morales was born to play.<\/p>\n
Colm\u00e1n struggled\u00a0to capitalize on early season opportunities though. Pareja recently returned\u00a0to the\u00a04-2-3-1 that was preferred last season. In two of the past three matches, that formation was\u00a0used and Morales started in the #10 role.<\/p>\n
FC Dallas\u00a0won both matches, one against Minnesota United and the other against Sporting KC. Morales featured in the first match, scoring\u00a0the game winning goal (the 50th of his MLS career). Morales also cameoed\u00a0for 22 minutes off the bench in FC Dallas’ recent draw against San Jose. Over the\u00a0three matches he impacted results and effectively distributed\u00a0the ball with an 88% pass completion rate.<\/p>\n
Javier Morales may not be built to start several consecutive\u00a0matches after 19 years as a professional. Pareja\u00a0could\u00a0opt\u00a0to toggle between formations, based on tactics and which one suits the fitness of his squad. He also surely has not given up on Cristian Colm\u00e1n, and will look for opportunities to integrate him into the lineup until he settles.<\/p>\n
FC Dallas fans were\u00a0bolstered\u00a0by news this week that the\u00a0fitness of Mauro D\u00edaz continues to progress. He is now participating in drills with the team at a limited\u00a0volume. D\u00edaz is expected to return sometime in\u00a0June but\u00a0even then will be eased gingerly back into action. There is a slate of nine winnable matches between now and the end of June where Morales has the opportunity to\u00a0play a key role.<\/p>\n
This weekend’s critical matchup against first place Portland will\u00a0be telling. If Morales starts again, it’s likely he will play a key part\u00a0in the starting XI until Mauro D\u00edaz returns.<\/p>\n
FC Dallas has the opportunity to assume their familiar position at the top of the Western Conference on Saturday. To do so they’ll have to beat and unseat a dangerous Portland Timbers squad. FC Dallas will be at home though, and Portland will be without key starters Diego Valeri and Jake\u00a0Gleeson.<\/p>\n
FC Dallas in known for its youth and\u00a0homegrown talent, but a\u00a037 year old Buenos Aires native could be the key to whether this team can three-peat in the West and make a more definitive run at an elusive MLS Cup.<\/p>\n