Monday's Evening Session
FC Dallas’ afternoon session on Monday bypassed the fitness training and went directly into small-sided action. Head Coach Schellas Hyndman ran a five-on-five drill in one area while assistant coaches John Ellinger and Marco Ferruzzi ran an eight-on-eight drill on an adjacent field.
READ: FC Dallas weekly training schedule: Feb. 7-13
The session was highlighted by the first appearance of FC Dallas’ newest signing, midfielder Ricardo Villar. The Brazilian midfielder began the session in the eight-on-eight drill, playing wide to the right side and going against FC Dallas Home Grown player Moises Hernandez. After the 15-minute session was up, Villar joined Hyndman’s five-a-side drill with teammates Ugo Ihemelu, Eric Alexander, Victor Ulloa and Jason Yeisley.
Villar began his second drill wide to the left side. He often came back to start the play by taking the ball off goalkeeper Craig Hill. Villar’s first few passes were sharp, cutting balls that were aimed at breaking down the opposing defense (Charlie Campbell, Andrew Wiedeman, Moises Hernandez, Sheldon Palmer and Jackson). The first four shots Villar took went high or were smothered by goalkeeper Chris Seitz, but as he warmed up his touch he seemed sharper and sharper.
Roughly 10 minutes in, Villar combined with FC Dallas Home Grown player Victor Ulloa. The pair bypassed a defender with a one-two pass that freed Villar in alone on goal. In tight against the 'keeper, Villar managed to slip a ball past Seitz for his first goal in an FC Dallas uniform.
“I hope I can bring some of the experience I have gathered over the years here to help FC Dallas,” Villar said. “The playing style of this team fits me. The style of play in MLS may be a bit less physical than it was in Germany, but it also requires more running.”
SMU product Craig Hill stood out late in the drill. He denied FC Dallas trialist Sheldon Palmer on three consecutive shots in a matter of seconds.
WATCH: Bobby Rhine recaps Tuesday's training session
Tuesday’s Morning Session
On a windy morning in Frisco, FC Dallas finally took to the adidas Field, the main training pitch of the defending Western Conference Champions. For the second consecutive training session FC Dallas welcomed a newcomer, a second Brazilian midfielder, trialist Bruno Martins.
“Martins was a player [FC Dallas Technical Director] Barry Gorman saw on a scouting trip,” Hyndman said. “We were looking for a forward, but this was a guy we felt may be able to help us, so we made the decision to bring him in.”
PHOTOS: Facebook photo album from Tuesday's training
The training session began with the usual warm-up before players broke off into three groups. The first was a two-on-two finishing drill conducted by Hyndman. The 2010 MLS Coach of the Year stressed spacing in the drill, pointing out the importance of spreading out offensively to maximize the amount of area defenders must cover.
During the drill, Andrew Wiedeman worked an opening against the defensive pairing of Marvin Chavez and Milton Rodriguez. Wiedeman, who has been used primarily as a right back during preseason, showed he has not lost his offensive touch, hitting a line-drive that kissed the inside of the far post.
Hyndman flipped the offense and defense, allowing Chavez to show off his one-on-one ability. The Honduran International did not disappoint. Running to his left, Chavez feinted a left and cut back hard to his right before burying a shot low to the near post.
While Hyndman worked at the north side of the field, Ellinger ran a basic possession drill inside the center circle. On the south side of the field, assistant coach Marco Ferruzzi and FC Dallas Director of Player Development, Oscar Pareja directed a crossing drill that focused on defensive clearing. The coaching staff ended the day with three 15-minute games of eight-on-eight. FC Dallas Home Grown player Bryan Leyva, trialist Sheldon Palmer and Eric Avila all looked strong during the scrimmages.
“Eric Avila was very good today,” head coach Schellas Hyndman said. “You saw what happened when Brek Shea was given an opportunity last season. He got the opportunity and he excelled. You don’t want to miss the chance to give a young player like Avila that opportunity to excel.”
