Dallas, TX
Digging into the FC Dallas 3-4-2-1 depth chart for opening day – 3rd Degree
We have a depth chart on 3rd Degree year round, but with the season kicking off I thought it worth a dive into the depth chart for opening day.
It can and will change rapidly.
Factors
Injuries are having the biggest impact right now (in red on the chart) and I’ve taken them into account based on severity.
Long-term-injury players, I have dropped down to the bottom of the chart (Geovane Jesus & Alan Velasco).
The shorter-term-injury players I have left in their natural ranking or perhaps tweaked them a little if I feel a player may be threatening their job.
The short-term injuries range from Maraco Farfan who has a knock, to Ema Twumasi who is recovered and in training but not 100%, to Paxton Pomykal and Jesus Ferreira who have both been out most or all of spring with an unclear date of return.
The other consideration is that I want to list each player in one position. Obviously, in reality, that’s not how it works.
Center backs can shift across the line. 10s are interchangeable. Past Logan Farrington or Eugene Ansah at the 9 you might see Bernard Kamungo or Ferreira return rather than an unprover homwgrown.
Sebastian LLetget is probably 2nd in, at least, 4 positions, and could potentially play others. With Pomykal out, Liam Fraser will likely be in the XI with Asir Illarramendi in the double pivot rather than say, Tsiki Ntsabeleng.
The 3-4-2-1
People at the club have started calling the shape a 3-4-2-1, which is an improvement from calling it a 5-2-2-1.
Look, it’s a 3-4-3. But I’ll give in and go with the 3-4-2-1 that the club seems to want. I think it’s to emphasize the 2-1 up top, as I’ve written multiple times, that’s the key. But it’s all the same shape.
Notes and Comments
We understand Marco Farfan has a knock but Dante Sealy is a legit candidate to take over the left wingback spot anyway. The wingback in particular needs an offensive punch. Sealy has that.
Speaking of wingback and offensive punch, Herbert Endeley has also had a great spring. With the pile of injuries at the right wingback spot he got his chance and took it. Ema Twumasi is back playing/training but not yet 100% peak form so Endeley could get that opening day start. Right wingback will be a real battle this season, even more so when Geovane Jesus comes back this summer.
Don’t discount the idea that Paul Arriola can also play right wingback. He probably doesn’t want to, we haven’t seen it yet, and I would hate to “waste” a million-plus paid player in that spot, so I’m not putting it on the chart. But if and when everyone is healthy that might be a real option.
I think the ideal double pivot is Illarramendi and Pomykal. But Fraser will see plenty of action too and Lleget can also factor.
At this point, we have no clue how good Patrickson Delgado is, nor what kind of shape he’s in. So I stuck him on the bottom of the chart for now. Time will tell.
I’ve reported Antonio Carrera is set for a loan. I would expect Tarik Scott and Malik Henry-Scott to both start the season with North Texas SC. Henry-Scott was with them rather than going to Spain while Scott was with Jamaica U20s. I think both are in Los Toritos camp now.
Nolan Norris, Tomas Pondeca, Ale Urzua, and perhaps even Amet Korca could see time at NTX as well.
It remains to be seen what the club is going to do with Isaiah Parker. He too was with North Texas SC rather than going to Spain. I like him but it’s clear the gaffer doesn’t. They should be trying to trade the kid.
The search for the next general manager or president of basketball operations of the Dallas Mavericks has begun. They terminated Nico Harrison in November, which was about nine months too late, and gave any available candidates clear notice that they were open for business.
The plan was always to wait until after the season to start the search. While names popped up as the season reached an end, they didn’t begin turning over the staff until the Monday after the season ended. However, Dallas Mavericks fans are not going to like how the team is going about the search.
Patrick Dumont Leading Search for General Manager
NBA insider Jake Fischer reported that the Mavericks are not hiring a search firm in their hunt for a new lead executive. Instead, team governor Patrick Dumont is “acting as his own point person.”
This is an… interesting decision, to say the least. Dumont is not a basketball person whatsoever, and most organizations usually hire a search firm. The Chicago Bulls hired one as they look for their replacement for Arturas Karnisovas. Just because a firm is hired doesn’t mean a team will listen, though.
The Mavericks hired a firm in their last search for a GM. They let Donnie Nelson go in 2021 after a long tenure with the Mavs. Instead of listening to the firm, though, Mark Cuban ignored it to hire Nico Harrison, who had no previous NBA front office experience. Harrison had been an executive with Nike, which gave him connections with players like Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, and plenty of others.
For a while, that seemed to be working out okay. While he still had some questionable transactions, such as trading for Christian Wood and letting Jalen Brunson walk in free agency, they were still able to make a run to the NBA Finals in 2024. Then, he blew it all up, trading away Luka Doncic for an older and injured Anthony Davis, and the team hasn’t been the same since.
It’s imperative that the Mavericks get this hire correct. The interim Co-GM setup with Matt Riccardi and Michael Finley has performed admirably, but the 2026 NBA Draft is important for the Mavs to get right. It’s their best chance to pair Cooper Flagg with another young star, as they don’t own their first-round pick again until 2031 after this.
Hiring the right GM could help bring in more draft capital by bringing in bad contracts or flipping veterans into picks.
Dumont was able to convince Rick Welts, a Hall of Famer, to come out of retirement to be the CEO and lead the charge for a new arena. Maybe Dumont pulls another rabbit out of his hat for the GM.
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For a moment, it looked like FC Dallas was on its way to another statement win at home tonight.
Petar Musa scored two first half goals, to extend his Golden Boot leading tally to nine goals. But after Dallas grabbed control, the Galaxy found a way back before halftime with goals from Lucas Sanabria and Joseph Paintsil.
The second half brought more chances and more frustration for Dallas, which finished the night with 13 shots to LA’s nine. In the end, the point stretched Dallas’ unbeaten run to five games, though just like last week, it felt like another match where Dallas left points on the table.
Key Moments
7’ – GOAL! After a poor pass back by a LA defender, Petar Musa was free to go one-on-one with the LA goalkeeper. After a touch to get ahead of a defender, Musa slotted home his eighth goal of the season from outside the penalty box.
21’ – Offside! Joaquin Valiente sent a floating ball over the Galaxy defense, where Musa was able to get behind the defense and make an easy play for what appeared to be his second goal of the night. The play was called offside despite a fairly lengthy review period.
38’ – GOAL! This one counts! Musa gets his second of the night off a great ball from Chris Cappis. Logan Farrington picked off the ball in the midfield. He then played Cappis wide to the left of the penalty area. Cappis immediately played a ball back across the goal for Musa to slide in and finish for his ninth of the season.
43’ – Goal LA. Lucas Sanabria got the ball near the top of the penalty area. He took a couple of touches to get outside the penalty box before firing a shot that beat Michael Collodi at the near post.
45+4’ – Goal LA. Gabriel Pec got the ball near the top of the penalty area. He pulled the ball back a bit, which caught a pair of Dallas defenders. This allowed Joseph Painstil to get free behind the Dallas defense as Pec played him through inside the penalty area. Pec immediately smashed home a shot above Collodi to tie the game.
75’ – Another offside goal. This time on a corner kick for Dallas, after a scrum in the penalty box, Kaick hammered home what looked to be the go-ahead goal. But after a few seconds the flag was raised due to a deflection on Osaze Urhoghide, who was in an offside position.
Instant Reaction
Yeah, this is another disappointing result for this team. In a real way, it felt like the first half against Houston from last month. Dallas grabbed the lead, looked in control, but some defensive miscues opened the game up for the visitors to climb back.
With a double-game week coming up, this will certainly be another game where Dallas will wonder ‘what if’ more than anything else…especially when you factor in the two goals called off for offside.
About the Subs
Eric Quill went to his bench for the first time in the 66th minute, as he brought on Santiago Moreno for Logan Farrington. Quill went to his bench again 81st minute with Ran Binyamin and Nolan Norris coming on for Sebastien Ibeagha and Deedson. The final sub came during stoppage time with Herman Johansson and Joaquin Valiente coming off for Sam Sarver and rookie Nick Simmonds, who made his MLS debut.
Man of the Match
No question about it tonight, it has to be Musa.
Where does this fit into the season
As of this writing, the draw puts Dallas into a three-way tie for 5th place with Real Salt Lake and Seattle. Both are in action right now and look firmly in control of their games. I’d expect Dallas to be in 7th place by the end of the night.
What’s next for FC Dallas
Dallas wraps up a three-game homestand next Wednesday night as they host Minnesota United.
Dallas, TX
Akheem Mesidor selected by Cowboys by Blogging The Boys in SB Nation’s community mock draft
Akheem Mesidor, Edge, Miami
Pass rush has been an issue since the Micah Parsons trade. The Rashan Gary trade helped, but Dallas still needs an injection of talent. Akheem Mesidor fits here because his body size allows for some versatility inside and out, something DC Christian Parker utilizes. Mesidor is also a high-motor player with a deep bag of pass rush moves.
His last season at Miami was full of disruption in the offensive backfield and he shows an all-around game, not just a bend-around-the-edge pass rusher. Yes, he’s a little older than you’d like in a rookie (25), but his motor, pass rush toolbox, and ability to play the run matches up with a need and makes him a quality pick at number 20.
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