FRISCO, Texas – Eighteen. That’s the number of goals that came from players no longer in an FC Dallas uniform in 2010 – including 12 that came from Jeff Cunningham alone.
Time to hit the panic button? Not according to head coach Schellas Hyndman.
“Sure, we’re still looking for that special striker,” said Hyndman last week after FC Dallas’ second preseason training session of the year. “But we’re taking our time on this because if you get the wrong player, you’d be better off getting no player at all.”
“We’re looking, and if we’re unable to find our striker now, we’ll be bringing someone in our next transfer window.”
WATCH: Hyndman on finding a striker and more
However, Hyndman is not without options on the roster as it currently stands. For one, there’s veteran striker Milton Rodriguez, who was brought in last July and contributed five goals before suffering a groin injury that kept him from participating in FC Dallas’ historic postseason run.
“The end of the season was hard for me, not being able to play in our games and help the team with all my experience in the playoffs,” said Rodriguez. “It upset me so much not being there and watching the team not winning the championship.”
The Colombian said the offseason has helped him return 100 percent from the ailments that plagued him in the last third of the season, but at 34 years of age, the potential for injury over the long MLS season remains a concern. What doesn’t concern Rodriguez, however, is the responsibility on his shoulders in the absence of a big-name striker like Cunningham, who went to the Columbus Crew in the league’s first-ever Re-Entry Draft.
“When a team hires a striker, it’s to score goals. I’m prepared to have that responsibility,” Rodriguez said. “Always along my career I have had it, and I know this season there will be more goals than last season because I’ve adapted to the team. I know the guys, they know me and it will be much better.”
Rodriguez faces some heady competition at the striker position in Hyndman’s customary 4-1-4-1 formation from budding star Ruben Luna, who was signed last year from the FC Dallas Development Academy. In fact, Luna was FCD’s leading scorer last preseason and almost notched his first goal on September 4th vs. Toronto FC had it not been for a questionable offside call.
For his part, Hyndman has not shied away from calling Luna the future of the club, who earned their first Western Conference championship last season and appeared in the MLS Cup before falling to Colorado in overtime.
“I’m very pleased with Ruben. Not only has he improved on his strength and his body shape, but he seems faster, stronger, his finishing is there,” Hyndman said. “Last year was hard because the first guy we looked to was Jeff Cunningham, but the times Ruben did get on the field for us he did well.”
One of those times was in the deciding first round playoff match at Real Salt Lake, when Luna entered the match in the 77th minute with FC Dallas leading the aggregate by only a goal. The young striker held his own on hostile ground for a solid 20 minutes, helping FCD to their first playoff win since 2007. Add to that Luna’s recent stint with the Mexican U-20 national team (he scored his first goal for the side this week against El Salvador’s first division champion Isidro Metapan- Primera División) and the promise of a breakout season seems close to becoming a reality.
But does that mean he’s ready to shoulder the scoring responsibilities for the reigning Western Conference champions?
“We don’t want to put undue pressure, where we make him feel like he’s our answer and the responsibility would be on him,” said Hyndman. “Listen, we all understand what Ruben brings. What we have to do now is get him on the field more.”
Luckily for Hyndman, the resurrection of the MLS Reserve League and FC Dallas’ qualification for CONCACAF play means Luna will have the opportunity to do just that. But unluckily for Hyndman, Luna’s recent success with the Mexican U-20s may mean additional time away from the team – especially if he makes the squad that will participate in this year’s U-20 World Cup.
In Luna’s absence, Hyndman would be forced to turn to a largely unproven batch of forwards that includes Penn State alum Jason Yeisley and 2010 Generation adidas signee Andrew Wiedeman. A few trialists have generated buzz at the position in preseason camp, including former Chivas USA star Maykel Galindo and All-American Sheldon Palmer, but it’s more likely that added scoring weight will fall to attacking midfielders like Marvin Chavez and Brek Shea.
“With our system of play, we’re playing with one forward, so we’d love to have an exceptional striker here leading the way,” Hyndman said. “But it wasn’t a lack of hard work or effort trying to find that player. The ones that were brought to us were carrying too much of a price tag, or had a history of injuries.”
“Sometimes bringing in the wrong one is worse than bringing in no one.”
Time will tell if Hyndman’s assertion is correct, but for Luna’s money there’s only one person who can fill the void at forward – and that’s Ruben Luna.
“I want to be that player, so I have to continue to work hard, keep it up, and be that player in coach’s eyes,” Luna stated in an interview shortly after the start of preseason.
“I want to be a starter for FC Dallas. I want to start at striker. I want that weight on my shoulders.”
