Impact vs FC Dallas: Q & A with Big D Soccer

A 3-0 record would be perfect start for the Montreal Impact after wins in Vancouver and at home against the New York Red Bulls. Now facing a mighty and young FC Dallas team,  Mount Royal Soccer has turned towards our friends at Big D Soccer to get some insight. To Drogba or not to Drogba? That is the question.

1. Can FC Dallas rebound from the tough loss last weekend? What is the main thing that went wrong last weekend and can it be easily fixed?

Last week FC Dallas showed their age in the worst possible way. Communication between Jesse Gonzalez and his back four was a mess. You have to give the Houston Dynamo a lot of credit to the way they approached the game by coming out with a lot of energy early to put Dallas on the defensive quick. Thankfully a lot of this can be remedied quick with the way this group approaches things. They typically respond well to tough losses like this and this week in training communication was far better than it had been over the last few months.

2. Who is the one player on FC Dallas that the Impact should watch extra carefully on Saturday?

I would keep an extra set of eyes on Michael Barrios on the right side of the midfield. So far he has been a bit quiet to start out the season but something tells me this could be a game that he opens up and finds a lot of space on the wing to use his speed and create some chances for Maximiliano Urruti up top.

3. Even if Didier Drogba only plays 45 minutes on Saturday, is FC Dallas equipped to shut down the former Chelsea striker?

Drogba is always going to pose a tough challenge for any club in this league but Dallas is used to seeing quality strikers on a weekly basis in the Western Conference with the likes of Robbie Keane, Clint Dempsey and Chris Wondolowski. All play the game in different ways from Drgoba but all four have one thing in common, they know how to score goals and frustrate defenses. I'd imagine FC Dallas will stick someone like Walker Zimmerman or Matt Hedges on him to limit the open space he is allowed to have around the penalty box. They know if he gets an inch, he will take it.

Lineup Predictions:

Jesse Gonzalez, Maynor Figuroa, Matt Hedges, Walker Zimmerman, Zach Loyd, Carlos Gruezo, Kellyn Acosta, Fabian Castillo, Mauro Diaz, Michael Barrios, Maximiliano Urruti

*A big thanks to Drew Epperley at Big D Soccer for taking the time to contribute to this article.