View from the Booth: Dallas test awaits

Mark Rogondino

It finally happened, somewhat, like I said it would.

Looking at the Galaxy’s unbeaten streak heading into the game against Vancouver, I said that “the other shoe is going to drop” at some point. In all honesty though, I didn’t think it would happen against a team so far below the Galaxy in the standings. Adding salt to the wound is the fact that the Galaxy were never really in the game against Portland on Wednesday night.

If you are going to have a 14-game unbeaten run come to an end, at least have it end with a gritty, hard fought performance. I am not taking anything away from the Timbers; they played very well from the opening whistle, and beat the Galaxy in almost every facet of the game. LA on the other hand, were slow, lacking intensity and not at all sharp.

Should I go on?

The great news is that LA has to wait just three days to get back out on the pitch, and the team they face is FC Dallas, the last team to hand the Galaxy a loss prior to Wednesday night’s defeat in Portland. You really couldn’t ask for a better time to meet the Hoops again. Adding to the plot is the game is a match-up of last season’s Western Conference Championship that Dallas won 3-0 at The HDC.

The Galaxy need to rebound after a disappointing performance, while Dallas enters the game in great form, unbeaten in their last seven games in all competitions. All of this adds up to the possibility of an extremely competitive match with some of the best talents in MLS on display.

Mixed into FC Dallas recent run of good form are two wins against Alianza FC in the CONCACAF Champions League, including a 1-0 win this week at Pizza Hut Park against the El Salvadorian club. The win did come at a price though for the Hoops, as 23-year-old Brazilian, Jackson turned an ankle late in the first half and did not travel with the team to Southern California. Jackson is part of a solid contingency of South American talent on FC Dallas that head coach Shellas Hyndman has been able to gel together this season.

My best guess is that Marvin Chavez will play a bit deeper in the midfield and that will create a spot up front for the newest member to FC Dallas, Maicon Santos. Santos was recently traded from Toronto FC (yes, the Reds made ANOTHER trade) in exchange for midfielder Eric Avila.

Personally I don’t rate Santos that much, because aside form his speed I think he can be marked out of the game. If LA’s defense puts a body on him early in the game, he can be a non-factor.

So you may be asking who does put some fear into my eyes in the FC Dallas line-up?

Defensively this team is solid, and it all starts with former Galaxy ‘keeper, Kevin Hartman. The 37-year-old should let some of us in on the Fountain of Youth he has out there in Frisco, Texas. Still one of the best when it comes to reaction saves from close range, Hartman can read the game and anticipate movements on the pitch before they unfold.

Another former Galaxy player is also a big part of the defense for Dallas, center back Ugo Ihemelu. One of the quickest players in MLS, and the thing that plagued him during his time with LA, decision making, is now one of his strongest characteristics.

Like the Galaxy, FC Dallas is a difficult team to score on.

On the offensive side of the ball, Brek Shea leads the team in goals with nine. If you recall, he was the player that scored a wild game-winning goal against LA back on May 1, though I still have not officially heard if Shea intended to shoot the ball that looked more like a cross but somehow sailed over the head of Donovan Ricketts and into the back of the net. Shea has good size, pace to get after the ball and has developed into a quality finisher when he finds even a half chance around the penalty area.

Make no mistake about it; this will be a good game. It might not have a lot of goals, but as I mentioned above, some of the most technical players in MLS will be on display. You know the names that need to step up for the Galaxy: Beckham, Donovan, Gonzalez, Juninho.

I will be interested to see if Bruce Arena makes any changes to the back four in defense. That was one area against the Timbers that struggled and re-inserting veteran Gregg Berhalter might help organize things some. Regardless of who steps onto the field, LA has to show well in this game after the midweek game.

It’s time to put Portland behind them and get back to work.