The first I-35 showdown between Austin FC and FC Dallas was a little tepid. Find out what Ben, Jose, and I will be discussing during our FC Dallas live stream tonight at 9 PM central time.
With another busy week for FC Dallas in the books, the Big D After Dark show, a live video streaming sports experience, returns this evening at 9 PM CST/10 PM EST to talk Dallas’ draw at Seattle and win at home against the lowly Austin FC.
There is much to dissect including…
Schon Is Scintillating
Over the first half of the season, criticism has been lobbed at the FC Dallas front office for not getting transfers right. Players, including big signings like Franco Jara, are not delivering on their sizable paychecks. Jader Obrian has been hit or miss, and Freddy Vargas has struggled to get on the pitch.
Szabolcs Schön was another much-heralded signing, and the Hungarian international hasn’t had a ton of chance to impress with his presence needed at the 2020 Euros.
But now, with consistent starts, the kid looks legit. The sample size is small and teams are going to target him more and more – but he delivered two assists on Saturday and served as a bright spot for the team after a lackluster first half.
It’s okay to be on the Schon bandwagon.
Tafari Is Alright
Sometimes fans and sportswriters like to think of potential storylines that could grip a team over the course of the season, and the emergence of an unexpected talent is one that FC Dallas fans know well. How many seasons has this team found a player who emerges to be a key cog? Think Ryan Hollingshead. Think Atiba Harris or JeVaughn Watson in years past.
Nkosi Burgess, or Tafari, is that story in 2021. This is a youngster that had gotten minutes in the lower levels but hadn’t really made his mark in the senior team. Backed by a strong preseason and called into action due to a number of injuries, Tafari grows with each game in the back line, clearing out balls, showing confidence, and impressing with his passing skills. Is this a guy who can anchor Dallas’ back line for years to come?
I’m really looking forward to a Tafari/Hedges back line this weekend.
Austin FC Is Green
Austin promised to paint Frisco green on Saturday, and while it was nice to see a good contingent of away fans out for the first of this new rivalry, their squad’s performance exemplified tepidness. I give them credit for a first half that pressured Dallas, but after some adjustments, it was all FCD.
A decent game but not a huge beginning to the rivalry. More to come on that? Will the return trip to Austin be a little spicier? We’ll see.
Luchi as Head Coach
How would we grade Head Coach Luchi Gonzalez’ performance so far this season? A few weeks ago, there were questions about how much longer he would last. Now, he has guided this ship in a fresh direction. His positive energy and belief in the team flow onward.
At this midpoint, how would you grade him? An incomplete? A C or a B? Or even an A considering all the challenges this team has faced?
Links to the Live Show
Catch us tonight in the following places at 9 PM CST. We’ll take your comments and questions live.
Facebook Live: https://facebook.com/BigDSoccer1
YouTube Live: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpusJ_ER-TrIFQOUnk3lwEw
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