Lock down the middle: Galaxy v FC Dallas preview

The Sunday afternoon clash between the Los Angeles Galaxy and FC Dallas (4 pm FSW and Galavision) should, on paper, be a wide-open affair. A young team filled with speedsters playing in a warm-weather city versus a more mixed team of savvy veterans and young developing talent with a proven set of attackers should provide for many gol-scoring chances and back and forth action. In practice, I’m not so sure.

On the FC Dallas side, despite being fresh off an MLS Cup appearance, they are going through something of an identity crisis sure to be exacerbated by the loss of 2010 MLS MVP David Ferreira to a broken ankle. Confident in a young midfield, Coach Schellas Hyndman left Dax McCarty unprotected in the expansion draft which saw him ultimately land in DC, where he’s been a key in that team’s rise in respectability. Through six games this confidence has not been repaid as the team sits on seven points at 2-1-3 (w-t-l). Not panic time to be sure, but not the kind of start one might expect based on last season’s form. The play has been inconsistent with offensive spurts offset by defensive lapses and players like Brek Shea showing up in a range of positions from center back to left winger.

What should be an offensive powerhouse with the likes of Maykell Galindo, Eric Avila, Marvin Chavez, Fabian Castillo, Bruno Guarda, and Andrew Jacobsen on call has been inconsistent, though to be fair they have scored seven gols in the last three games. I think what I’m hinting at has been their inability to take the other teams out of the game. Being without Ferreira will only exacerbate this problem for the team.

On the Galaxy side has been their lack of gol production, notwithstanding the 3-0 victory over expansion Portland. I like 3-0 scorelines, but it was at home against a team that has shown a very leaky defense. I am not satisfied that any of the outstanding questions about the team’s offense have been answered. Going up against a talented team like FC Dallas, a team that should be in the top tier in the league will go a long way to seeing where the Galaxy offense really sits.

Also at play will be Bruce Arena’s tactical choice for the game. Arena, like most coaches in the league plays a conservative game on the road, packed in tight to absorb pressure, poised to counterattack. I don’t see why that will change this time, which will lead to a bit of an ugly game with a packed midfield set to clog passing lanes and make for a choppy affair.

The one factor in both teams’ favor is the weather. It is currently predicted to be mid-70’s and overcast with a chance of rain. This is much better futbol weather than mid-90’s and sunny. This will make lots of running much easier for the players and could help deal with the questions both teams are facing for offensive production.

No matter which tactical approach Arena chooses, his midfield is playing much better right now than Dallas’ is and I expect that to be the case during the game as well as Dallas struggles to adjust to missing Ferreira. The Galaxy could go with a number of combinations but in any of them Landon Donovan, David Beckham, and Juninho will feature and those three are just getting into a good rhythm with each other. That should continue. The Galaxy attack will likely start Miguel Lopez and Chad Barrett who are also starting to click, though I don’t know if that will continue. Add Paolo Cardozo or the Mike Magee from Chicago (not from last game) into the starting lineup and Juan Pablo Angel off the bench and the team has enough talent to put Dallas on their heels despite having defenders like Jair Benitez, Zach Loyd, and George John in the back line.

To get a result the Galaxy need to:

**Go aggressively after the unsettled FC Dallas midfield

**Ensure that AJ Delagarza can use his mobility to shut down FC Dallas’ quick strikers while Omar Gonzalez wins everything in the air

**Get behind the FC Dallas back line through the quick runs of Lopez and Cardozo and the short passes from Juninho or precise crosses from Becks

Predicted score: 2-0 Galaxy

What about you guys? Who will win and why? Who do you want in the starting lineup? What do you think the score will be? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

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Category: 2011 Season, Pre-Game Preview