Three Potential New Lineups For FC Dallas

On Wednesday's Post Game Show, I went ahead and assigned some homework to our Buildup crew for today. With Dallas picking up two points in three home matches, scoring only three goals across all three, and in general struggling on offense adjusting the lineup feels necessary.

Since I tossed myself in, I decided let's turn it into some content over here. While I settled on one for the show (this is being written prior to recording), I came up with three different options that could be feasible. Let's break them down here, why I think they're viable, and why they could be flawed.

But first, choosing eleven players

Before you can put eleven players in any order, you've got to settle on the eleven players themselves. For FC Dallas that's a bit easier than it used to be at the top end. The following are lock starters:

• Petar Musa
• Osaze Urhoghide
• Michael Collodi
• Shaq Moore
• Nolan Norris
• Kaick

That leaves five spots open. There's a midfield spot I'm keeping between Ramiro and Christian Cappis, a defender spot that could go to another center back (likely Sebastien Ibeagha) in case of a four man back line, and I don't have any official wing backs. If there was a formation where Dallas could only play with right wing backs, that'd be ideal. Unfortunately that's not plausible.

One player that might be surprised as not being a lock: Logan Farrington. It's not that he doesn't deserve it, he does. It's less about his performance, more crafting a more sustainable offensive product overall. That isn't to say Logan can't be a part of that, more that there are also options that make him the 12th man. Which is just as important as the other 11.

Formation #1: The Safe 4-4-2

True football heritage, nothing quite like it.

The positives here are simple: everyone knows what to do in this formation. It's the basics, the vanilla ice cream of soccer. Nobody complains because it just works, even if it's not sexy. Dallas could run two lines of four on defense, which would fit their ethos. This gets both your strikers on the field at the same time, with plenty of theoretical service coming from out wide. Specifically using Norris' left foot to get Moore and Johansson out on the run, and then Deedson as a third forward on the left.

Complications could arise from the same problems Dallas has now. If Musa and Farrington can't finish or receive quality enough service then it's all for naught. You've also got a lot of speed on the left side in Deedson, but more physicality on Norris. If Deedson gets lost up-field, Dallas could be exposed in that channel. Also this formation doesn't have a natural place for Santi Moreno or Joaquin Valiente, which limits Dallas' pressing abilities.

Formation #2: The More Modern 4-2-3-1

This feels a lot more natural to Dallas' current roster situation. It pushes Deedson higher up the field, using his speed more naturally. Moreno and Valiente both feature, with Valiente deputizing as a right sided 10 which he did at his last club. You've got a connecting midfielder along with a ball winner and presser playing in a double pivot. There's plenty of depth on the bench to support this formation, and if you bring Logan and Ramiro you can shift as needed. It's flexible, it's modern, and Quill used it a ton at both North Texas SC and New Mexico United.

This doesn't do much to take the scoring burden off Musa in theory. Everything is feeding up to him, so unless other players start putting balls in net there's still some scoring issues. That's the biggest and really only concern tactically.

Formation #3: The Wild Card 4-1-4-1

So you want offense and pressing? I'll give you offense and pressing.

We're min-maxxing the sliders here. Moving Kaick up a line to pair him with Valiente, Moreno, and Musa as presser is hyper aggressive. Deedson will need to press also, but he's more here for speed and crossing. Valiente could also move inside for Kaick and put Johansson out right side for more reliable crossing and size.

Meanwhile Cappis sits in the low middle to keep everyone in line as the field general. He'll also be the first to drop to form a line of five against the ball between the two CBs providing defensive width. With that quintet as a firm line, the other half of the field can retreat as needed. Plus if Dallas is losing the midfield, Kaick can drop back in and Ramiro can come in to create a more traditional 4-3-3.

This will require elite communication and discipline, which hasn't been Dallas' forte as of late. Everyone has to know where to be, when to be there, and what to do when they arrive. It'd require pinpoint precision to function properly, and that's not something we've seen most MLS clubs do.

Consider Bruce Arena, whose San Jose squad just dismantled LAFC 4-1 and blew out Austin 5-1. His philosophy is and has been simple, simple, simple. This is the exact opposite in theory, which considerably increases the risk factor.

Regardless of how, Dallas has to change up something at this moment. The absence of Bernard Kamungo has created a knock on effect vacuum that has disrupted the team's on field chemistry something fierce. While they wait for his return or the transfer window to open in order to reinforce the roster, this is the most immediate way to pull Dallas out of this early season slump.