FRISCO - Before we flip the page and turn the sights on this weekend’s match against San Jose, let’s answer a few of the questions that popped up in the Mailbag this week:
“First, unreal how Hedges went that long into the game after the head injury? Are there any concerns on the accuracy of our passes? Seemed we missed a few chances last night due to this.” - Garth
Hedges is a warrior, there’s no doubt about that. Kellyn Acosta said after the match that the captain would play until he cannot play anymore, and that was the case as he came off in the 85th minute in the third re-opening of the nasty wound on his forehead.
Secondly, your eyes did not deceive you. FC Dallas had their worst second half passing accuracy in a match this season vs. NYCFC with just 61.79 percent completed. This could be a factor of the visitors pushing to equalize, which they successfully did, or just a fluke downward tick in the productivity, but definitely something to keep an eye on. I’m not terribly worried at this point though.
“How far off is Maxi from becoming a FCD legend if his run of form continues?” - Marcus
I think we’re just a littleeee ahead of ourselves talking about a 20-year history of a club with names like Jason Kreis, Bobby Rhine, Kenny Cooper, Carlos Ruiz and Blas Perez - just to name a few - but Maxi’s six goals already this year are something to behold. He was just an inch away from another one after nailing the crossbar early in the second half.
Undoubtedly we’re watching a career season for a fifth year player and just how high he can climb with his bow and arrow remains to be seen. If he can string together a few years at this level or a similar level and he’ll be there no doubt.
“Will FCD ever learn to defend set pieces?” - Hudson Harris
While I get where you’re coming from, Hudson, based on some early season hiccups, but that set piece from David Villa that Tommy McNamara cleaned up was one that not many teams could’ve stopped.
Take a look at the screen shots below:
The world-class striker sent a ball over the jumping wall
It goes literally an inch or two out of the reach of Jesse Gonzalez, who was there if the shot had been on frame, but goes off the crossbar
McNamara charges the goal line and there was not a whole lot Jesse could do, having just hit the ground from his diving save attempt, or Matt Hedges, rushing back along the same line as Harrison, to clear that ball from just off the line. Hedges maybe could’ve stayed a little more on McNamara’s hip, but still would have faced a near-impossible task of clearing a ball off the line, while leaping over your goalkeeper and with a 5-foot-9, 170-pound midfielder barreling in on goal.
