FRISCO - We interrupt your World Cup addiction for another edition of the FCD Mailbag! We've all got to sleep at some point for these early-morning matches, so let's dive right in.
“Why does Pareja insist on playing 3 defensive mids in a match? Did he not learn his lesson last year?” - Adrian
Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I think you’re overlooking this year in your looking back on 2017. On the road in 2018, Dallas has gotten a result in every match where they’ve used three defensive mids at some point.
- April 14 at New England: Dallas starts in a 4-4-2 formation and brings on Carlos Gruezo for Maxi Urruti in the 68th minute to help close out the game. Jacori Hayes scores the game’s lone goal eight minutes later.
- May 5 at LAFC: Dallas once again starts out in a 4-4-2, but has trouble controlling numbers in the middle of the park Kellyn Acosta makes his 2018 debut in the 61st minute to provide support and close out a 1-1 game on the road in the 4-3-3.
- May 25 at Toronto: FCD plays a full 90 minutes in a 4-3-3 formation for the first time and earns a 1-0 win with less than 30 percent of possession while facing a season-high 23 shots, forcing 13 of them from outside the penalty area.
- May 30 at LA: A second straight game in the 4-3-3 with Acosta, Ulloa and Hayes, where Dallas takes a 3-0 lead before shifting away from the formation in what would finish a 3-2 win.
You might not like it, but on the road the strategy is clear from Pareja and Co.: stay compact at the back and grind out a result in a low-possession affair. They had more than 40 percent of the ball just one time in the four matches.
They had the same game plan in Kansas City and if not for a late mistake and a fantastic finish, I don’t think this is a point you try to make.
“Would you rather play in 100 degrees or 32 degrees?” - Tommy
There are many different conditions that could make each of these far better or far worse. Wind chill can cut through your bones, but a breeze in the heat is paradise. Similarly, a Houston-level humidity at 100 degrees is like jumping into water (because in-part, it is). But we’ll go based on temperature alone without outlying factors for the purpose of the question, which I know I’ve already put way more thought into than was ever desired.
I personally love cold weather in general, but I don’t think there’s anything worse than being frozen solid and having a frozen ball hit any part of you. Also, breathing in cold air while you’re running - count me out. The heat is brutal and exhausting, but I think most people would prefer the heat - especially here in Dallas.
Oscar Pareja loves taking full advantage of the Texas summer heat and, as long as you’re accustomed to it, you can play to your advantage.