Schellas making an impact at FC Dallas

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From www.DallasSoccerNews.com
August 11, 2008

HYNDMAN CHANGING FCD OUTLOOK
Coach's influence getting positive results
By Phil Stephens




As FC Dallas comes off two straight wins, the pieces seem to be falling into place for new coach Schellas Hyndman, who took the team over June 17 and has posted just one league loss (his first game, at the New York Red Bulls). After three straight ties, the scales have tipped to the win side as FCD (6-6-7 and 25 points) has risen to third place in the Western Conference. Dallas is just two points shy of first place Real Salt Lake and one point behind the Houston Dynamo. Right now, they are sitting in a playoff position.

But Hyndman is just getting started. The most recent focus has been on player movement, both ingress and egress, and Hyndman has four new pieces to work with; newly signed flanker Victor Sikora, the 30-year-old Holland International player that the team has just signed after nearly three weeks of negotiation and well traveled but dangerous striker Jeff Cunningham, in a trade with Toronto FC that FCD general manager Michael Hitchcock announced Friday. Former RSL midfielder Jamie Watson came in earlier this week. Recently acquired midfielder Bruno Guarda will continue his quick transition into the MLS life after deciding to forgo his last year of college. That made him a special lottery pick that went to Colorado, but Hyndman went after Guarda via trade and Dallas finally got him into a Hoops kit July 27. His lack of practice time with the team didn’t stop him from playing nearly 30 minutes in a surprise substitution in Toronto August 3.

Argentinian players from River Plate (21-year-old striker Lucas Gomez and 19-year-old left-side defender Lucas Malacarne) were brought in for a look and appear to be headed back. Hyndman thought they looked o.k., but he already has young, promising development players.

“With maybe 12 games left, we don’t need someone that will be ready in two months,â€