In addition, more than most clubs in MLS, Dallas’ focus on developing youth has left the team thin at several positions because the kids just aren’t ready (Redzic? Smith?). For better or worse, I can count nine players that I don’t expect to see next year without impacting last night’s starting lineup beyond the expected sale of Ricardo Pepi, and I’m expecting they will be joined by two to three others who will cause me to lift an eyebrow. According to MLS Transfer Tracker, it seems the low end of expected turnover is about 7-8 players and the high end is closer to 12-13. We don’t know who the new coach will be, but he’s likely to have some flexibility when he arrives as current players make way for new faces.īut how many changes are indicative of normal turnover? Dallas said good-bye to eight players last winter (and I’m not including Sealy being on loan or Tessman who was sold later). One tale of the season is that several of those players did not have the impact Dallas needed, so this winter may bring more substantial changes. But I will take my opportunity to make my best guesses.īy my count, there are ten players on the roster who weren’t with FC Dallas last season (though only a few were brought in to make a difference this year). Andres Zanotta? The new gaffer? Probably not me.
The end of the season is here and there are lots of questions about the squad and the changes ahead – quite possibly beginning with who will decide the changes ahead.