{"id":7224,"date":"2017-05-30T09:00:16","date_gmt":"2017-05-30T13:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsoccer.com\/?p=7224"},"modified":"2017-05-29T22:37:10","modified_gmt":"2017-05-30T02:37:10","slug":"fc-dallas-need-panic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/soccer\/2017\/05\/30\/fc-dallas-need-panic\/","title":{"rendered":"Panic Time for FC Dallas?"},"content":{"rendered":"

FC Dallas had a strong start to the 2017 MLS season, going undefeated in their first nine games<\/a>. Expectations are\u00a0high for the back-to-back Western Conference champions. They won a Supporters Shield and US Open Cup double in 2016. Many marked\u00a0them down as preseason favorites to win the West again and capture\u00a0MLS Cup. Despite continued strength in defense, the goals have dried up. FC Dallas has\u00a0lost twice\u00a0and tied once in their last three matches. Is it panic time for FC Dallas and \u00d3scar Pareja?<\/p>\n

Panic Time for FC Dallas?<\/h2>\n

The short answer is no for three reasons.<\/p>\n

First, FC Dallas\u00a0has arguably\u00a0the best defense\u00a0in MLS, anchored by young standout center backs Matt Hedges and Walker Zimmerman. Hedges is the reigning MLS Defender of the Year. Zimmerman is making headway and getting caps for the US Men’s National Team. Their young top-level talent in the center is bolstered by experience at the wide positions. On the left\u00a0is Honduran National team captain Maynor Figueroa. He is a wall of a man. He’s also solid defensively and can contribute goals. Hernan Grana joined this season from All Boys in Argentina and is\u00a0an upgrade a right back. Homegrown goalkeeper Jesse Gonzalez has captured the first choice spot, and currently boasts\u00a0the best Goal Against Average (GAA) in MLS. Their stingy defense has conceded only nine goals in twelve\u00a0matches,\u00a0the fewest allowed in MLS.<\/p>\n

Second, they are well positioned in the West, despite the\u00a0recent dip in form. FC Dallas boasts the best points-per-game (PPG) average in the Western Conference. They’ve tallied\u00a020 points from 12 matches played. That averages to 1.67 points per game, which is third best in MLS behind Toronto FC and the Chicago Fire. They sit third in the West having played less games than Sporting KC or Houston, and\u00a0are positioned favorably to reclaim the top spot. However, FC Dallas doesn’t need to win the West this year. They’ve done that two years running\u00a0and it hasn’t led to postseason success. They simply need to finish with\u00a0a decent seed and save their best\u00a0for the MLS postseason.<\/p>\n

Finally, Mauro D\u00edaz is back. FC Dallas’ feature\u00a0Designated Player, team captain, playmaker, and talisman played 14\u00a0minutes against Houston on Sunday. Diaz was\u00a0sidelined with a season-ending Achilles injury last October and hasn’t seen\u00a0action since. Their best player is now back and will join Kellyn Acosta and Carlos Gruezo to make up a fearsome central midfield.<\/p>\n

Offensive Worry and Pareja’s Challenge<\/h3>\n

Any thoughts of panic at this point in the season\u00a0are surely premature.\u00a0The offensive productivity is a worry however.<\/p>\n

Only one team that currently occupies a playoff spot has scored less goals than FC Dallas. New striker and young designated player Cristian Colm\u00e1n seems jinxed and is still searching\u00a0for his first MLS goal. Maxi Urruti hasn’t scored in his last three starts despite a red-hot start to the season.<\/p>\n

D\u00edaz’s return should help create more chances. No other manager in MLS will face\u00a0the challenge that Pareja faces of integrating such a critical player one-third of the way into the season.\u00a0As their star DP\u00a0returns to full fitness, Pareja must decide how to best mold a\u00a0team around him that includes some new faces. He must do it\u00a0in a fashion that produces more goals if\u00a0FC Dallas is to live up to their lofty expectations, and earn more silverware in\u00a0the 2017\u00a0season.<\/p>\n

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Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>\n