By Will Martin
We begin a new month that will feature three home games for FC Dallas. Two games will be played in the space of four days. In essence the weekend of Cinco De Mayo will be a bye week for the Boys of Frisco.
May 8th the Portland Timbers will be here for an 8pm kickoff followed by a visit by DC United on May 11th for a 7:30 start.
Schellas Hyndman would like to acquire as many points as possible before June arrives and the international duties shall befall many of the players. One name being rumored to get the call is FC Dallas’ very own George John.
The Month of April MLS recognized the Top Three performers.
Number Three went to Ryan Johnson (3 goals, 1 assist in 4 games) of the Timbers. FC Dallas’ next opponent.
Number Two honors went to Philadelphia Union’s Jack McInerney (4 goals in 4 games).
The Player Of The Month for April? That honor goes to (DRUMROLL!) the man we refer to as ‘Superman’ locally, Raul Fernandez!
In having a 2-0-2 month at goal Raul would successfully make 16 saves while attaining a 1.00 GAA (Goals Against Average). A good precursor to staying in the game and getting points, of which FC Dallas currently has 20.
Coach Schellas Hyndman has spent the bye week tweaking certain aspects of play. Especially on the issue of not having second half collapses.
“We’re really focusing on some of the things that we have to do a better job on,” Hyndman explained. “We’ve been giving the ball away a little too easily. We’re not so concerned that we have to have the ball 60 or 65 percent of the game, we’re more concerned that when we go up on an opponent, we seem to play a little bit erratic and give balls away a little bit too much.”
The schedule certainly favors FC Dallas for the month of May with 3 out of 4 games being played at home. June the team will be on the road for 3 out of 4. Here is where Coach Hyndman stresses the importance AND the urgency of winning.
“It is [important],” Hyndman emphasized. “I think you need all the points you can get and we all know how difficult it is on the road to travel in this league; the environments, the surfaces, there’s so many issues that you have to deal with. Getting the points at home if you want to be a successful team is a must.”
March and April have been pretty memorable. Here’s to May, and a twinbill in four days beginning May 8th! While the Eastern Conference is in a 4 way scramble for 1st place with New York, KC, Montreal, and the Dynamo FC Dallas sits all alone with a sizeable lead in the West at 6-1-2.