Afterburn Soccer Show Nathan J. Hill

Jose and Nathan hit the show in this order:
* We started with the Open Cup victory, acknowledging that as long as FC Dallas keeps advancing, it doesn’t matter how pretty the soccer is. Logan Farrington deserves some love for stepping up.
* Then we dwelled for a long time on how to process the 3-3 home draw against Real Salt Lake. Yes, RSL is hot. Yes, FC Dallas was leading 3-0. Yes, the expected goals were somewhat even. Is it a fair result? A solid result? Or what?
* North Texas won its second straight against the Real Monarchs. This team is good. Good enough to compete for hardware? Survey says yes.
* Brutal road week ahead. Can FC Dallas get some points in LA? More coverage of those games coming soon.



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We got this one uploaded late.
It’s been a weird week.
But we can celebrate that FC Dallas found a way to win in the Open Cup even as a huge match with RSL looms.
Thanks for listening!


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Just a quick video note on this busy Thursday.
Do the stars align for a big result for FC Dallas?
Houston played midweek - will they have tired legs or be angry for the loss?
Dallas isn’t healthy yet. Who will step up?
Thoughts?


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Welcome to another episode of Afterburn Soccer Show.
Jose is back with us this week, as we look at the gritty Open Cup win that builds confidence for the team. We also dive into the rivalry win over Austin FC. Was it pretty? Did it show areas of improvement for FC Dallas? Nico Estevez agrees.
We hear from Jesus Ferreira, Nico Estevez, and John Gall in this episode.
Plus, we look ahead just a bit as Dallas prepares to visit Houston.
Thanks for listening!


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I love asking FC Dallas head coach Nico Estevez about tactical questions.
Some coaches aren’t interested in getting into the weeds around tactical decisions, but others, including Nico, don’t mind chatting about the technicalities.
Including what role he wants his midfielders to fill on the pitch - when to press, what kind of shape, what areas of the pitch. Sometimes, it is little things that need to be improved for a team to unlock their next gear. We may not see it from the stands or the live feed, but one positioning mistake, one miscommunication can be unforgiving in this league.
The midfield is being asked to do a lot in FCD’s tactical setup, both shielding the backline defensively, snuffing out counter-attacks, and knowing when to get forward. While Illarramendi and Fraser appeared to be the preferred starting duo, injuries have limited their ability to build chemistry. Maybe that will begin to change.
As Dallas welcomes Austin to their own house in a crucial match, my gut is to watch the midfield’s performance to see if they can clean up mistakes, trigger more dangerous attacks in key areas, and generally shore up a defense that has been too leaky this year.


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Jose was pulled away due to a family event, so Nathan had to fly solo on this one.
But we get into Nico’s reactions after the loss to Toronto.
We also get into how much fun North Texas has been playing.



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