It has now been almost 4 weeks since FC Dallas fired Steve Morrow as head coach and began a search for a replacement. The Hoops have only won one in the four matches under interim boss Marco Ferruzzi, but to their defense, the 2-2 draw against Houston on May 28 should have been a win and their 2-1 loss at New England last Friday likely merited at least a draw. In the days since Morrow's dismissal, several names have surfaced as candidates for the FC Dallas job, including current SMU head coach Schellas Hyndman, whom several media outlets have reported as the leading choice, former Hoops player and assistant Oscar Pareja, now with the US under 17 national team, and ex-Chicago Fire head coach Dave Sarachan. But there has been little news about the search since the change and one has to wonder, is the uncertainty affecting the players in any way? At least on the surface, it doesn't look to be impacting FCD forward Kenny Cooper, who leads the Hoops with six goals. "We all love Marco and I think he's come in and done a great job," he said. "Everyone is working really hard and is focused. Friday wasn't the result that we were looking for but I think we're doing the right things on the training field and everyone has the mentality. Marco is doing a great job. Hopefully we can carry the good work that we've done on the training field into the game on Sunday."
Midfielder Juan Toja admits that the coaching search has taken on a life of its own. "It's a weird situation because everyone says that they are trying to find a new coach," Toja said. "But we just have to do what we have to do, keep working hard and just playing. Now, our coach is Marco and whether he stays or goes, it doesn't matter for us. We have to play hard, practice hard and try to win game-by-game. No matter who it is, it doesn't matter for us."
Cooper went on to add that he can't speak for the rest of the team but feels that Ferruzzi has done an admirable job filling in. "Personally, I think Marco has done a great job and I have a ton of respect for him," Cooper said. "He's someone who has always put a lot of work in with everyone. While he's in charge, I'm sure the guys will stay focused."
Dallas is currently mired in a two match losing streak that has kept them winless in May. The Hoops' month started off on June 1 with a 2-1 loss to Colorado, a setback that ended a 12 match unbeaten streak against the Rapids. It was FCD's third match in nine days and they clearly looked tired. On Friday, the Hoops fell 2-1 to the Revolution, their sixth consecutive loss at Gillette Stadium. The Hoops looked a little flat out of the gate and found themselves down 2-0 at the break. FCD did show a lot of life in the second half and likely could have left town with at least a point.
One similarity between both games is that in each loss, Dallas surrendered the lead very early. At Colorado, it was Conor Casey who gave the Rapids an early edge with a seventh-minute tally. Adam Cristman gave the Revs a similar advantage by heading one home in the fifth minute. Ferruzzi attributes the slow start at New England to playing with too much emotion from the opening whistle.
"I think at least in the last game, it wasn't so much that we came out flat," he said. "I think we came out a little too exuberant. We were losing our shape and chasing positions that we shouldn't have been in. I don't want to say that we should've been sitting back because that's too negative. But maybe if we had been more conservative and solid in our positioning, I think we would have weathered the first 10 minutes and eventually gotten into our game. The second goal being a PK was kind of a hard call but we had to get into the half and sort it out. If we could have gotten through those first 10 minutes, then we would have been all right."
The road doesn't get any easier for FCD as on Sunday, Cuauhtemoc Blanco and the Chicago Fire, who have the second-most points in the league with 19, pay a visit to Pizza Hut Park. The Hoops are riding a nine match home unbeaten streak against their Brimstone Cup rivals dating back to 1999.