FC Dallas
8th place, Western Conference
1-6-1 Overall, 1-2-0 Home
Home Goals Scored: 4
Home Goals Conceded: 7

Form: T W L L L

Nobody Loves You When You’re Down
Dallas is in the midst of a 3-game losing streak, their second of the season. They have been outscored by a 2-to-1 margin both at home and on the road. Their last victory was a 3-2 home win against Toronto on April 29, a game only 6,813 fans showed up to watch.

Besides dismal form, record and attendance, Dallas has been horrible on defense. They have yet to record a shut out and have given up two or more goals in 6 of 8 contests. To make matters worse, starting goalkeeper Argentine Dario Sala, will miss 4-6 weeks after an MRI revealed bone bruising on the left knee he had operated on in March. Ray Burse will bring his 1.79 GAA (goals against per 90 minutes) and .600 AVG (saves per shot) to start between the pipes. To get an idea of just how soft the Dallas defense really is, compare that to Kasey Keller’s .32 GAA and .875 AVG.

Wide Shoulders
National team prospect and runner-up in the Budweiser Golden Boot last year, Kenny Cooper may only be biding his time in Dallas while he awaits the call from a European club. However, he is doing so in style with 4 of the side’s 7 total goals. He leads the MLS in shots (31) and shots on goal (19). The rest of his team has a combined 3 goals, 5 assists and 22 shots on goal.

Beyond Cooper, the midfield pair of Dutch national David van der Bergh and Brazilian Andre Rocha have shown some signs of life on offense. van der Bergh leads the team with 2 assists. Rocha has started at RM since April 2, and recently recorded his first goal of the season against DC United on May 2.

Seeing the gargantuan Cooper bang it out with Hurtado and Marshall should be fun to watch.

Local Boys
Rookie defender George John was born in Shoreline, WA and was a four year member of the University of Washington soccer team.

Seattle Sounders FC
2nd place, Western Conference
4-2-2 Overall, 1-1-1 Away
Away Goals Scored: 3
Away Goals Conceded: 3

Form: L L W T T

Discipline
Seattle has had 3 players ejected this season, all in the last five games. However, the club is only 12th (80) in fouls committed. Those two numbers do not add up. The fans must love the intensity players show on the field, but I would expect Sigi Schmid to run a tighter ship.

James Riley’s ejection for “violence” was warranted on Sunday, and definitely cost the Sounders points in a game that was there to win. I would expect Seattle players to be on their very best behavior on Saturday, lest they start to get a bad boy reputation with referees around the league.

Defensive Discipline
Seattle is tied for second in the MLS for goals allowed (5). Two of the five goals were scored while shorthanded. The CB duo of Tyrone Marshall and Jhon Hurtado has exceeded all expectations, aided by my MVP candidate Osvaldo Alonso and workhorse Brad Evans from the midfield. The man running the show, Kasey Keller has been playing like he was 30 years old again.

Spreading it Around
Seven players have combined to score Seattle’s 11 goals this season. Three players are tied for the team lead with three assists each (Alonso, Jaqua and Zakuani). Seattle’s leading scorer, Freddy Montero (3) will be back from suspension this week.

Finding his Form
Anyone watching the LA-Seattle game on Sunday might have noticed a bald 30-something-year-old running around the field, jump-starting attacks and controlling the tempo. That would be designated player Freddy Ljunberg finding his form.

Watching him play was a joy on Sunday, and it looks like he may have found a good chunk of his match fitness and pace that made him the 11th ranked player on Arsenal all-time top 50 list. If he builds on that performance he could end up making a major impact on the MLS in his first year.

Heating Up
Sebasiten Le Toux is on a tear in the last three games. On top of a two goal, two assist performance against RSL in the US Open Cup, he came off the bench against a tough Chicago side and played a key role in bringing the 10-man Sounders back for the tie. On Sunday, Le Toux scored his first MLS regular season goal by burying a dime of a pass from Jaqua into a wide open net.

He should get the start at the LM spot this week and cause plenty of problems for the Dallas defense.

Sigi Versus Schellas
Sigi Schmid saw Schellas Hyndman in the NCAA six times, going 4-1-1 against the head coach of SMU, including two NCAA Championship wins in 1985 and 1990.

Prediction
FC Dallas has given up an MLS-worst 15 goals this season, on pace for 56.25 goals for the year. That is one goal every 48 minutes. Things don’t look good as they welcome the high-flying Sounders to town, who score a goal every 65 minutes of play. Unless they catch some big breaks, this may be a very, very long day for the Hoops.

Seattle wins in impressive fashion, 3-0.

Projected Lineup

Position: Forward
Height: 6-0
Weight: 155
Birthplace: Mont-Saint-Aignan, France
DOB: 1/10/1984

Career USL stats (includes all competitions):

History:

On May 8, 2008 (though some reports were leaked as early as March), Le Toux became the first and, so far, only player in Seattle Sounders FC’s history. He is one of between six to ten players from the current Seattle Sounders who are expected to be signed to contracts with MLS’s Seattle Sounders FC.

The tall and lanky forward and midfielder hails from France where he began his professional footballing career at the age of 17 as a defender at Stade Rennais in Ligue 1. After failing to break into the first team and spending most of his 3 year stint with the reserves, Le Toux left on a free transfer to Ligue 2 side, FC Lorient. He spent 2004-2006 with the club where he made 15 appearances on defense, recording a single goal, before his release.

With his arrival to the USA, the lad’s luck began to change for the better. Le Toux went on trial with FC Dallas, but could not agree on contract terms with the club ($20K/year developmental contracts anyone???). Club officials refered him to the Sounders, who had previously scouted the Frenchman. Le Toux signed with the Seattle Sounders, who brought him in to shore up the defense. However, in his first season he ended up playing at outside midfield and forward. Le Toux notched 10 regular season goals and 22 points to establish himself as the MVP of the USL first division.

After his successful 2007 campaign, Le Toux received a trial offer from English 3rd division club Cambridge United. However, with impending news of Seattle’s MLS expansion, it became clear that the Sounders’ star player would take his chances in the MLS.

On May 8, that rumor became official. Some reports indicate that Le Toux signed with Seattle Sounders FC for as many as 5 years. According to reports, MLS is paying the strikers salary for 2008, a cool $84,000.

So far he is earning his pay. Le Toux is 3rd in the USL’s first division in both points (11) and goals (5) through 11 games. In his most recent match, a 3-1 victory against the Minnesota Thunder, Le Toux was downright dominant. He had a hand in all 3 of the Sounders’ goals.

The first goal came on a rebound from a 12-yard strike by Le Toux. 20 minutes later, Le Toux was taken down hard on the left side of the box, resulting in a penalty. The third, Le Toux put away himself when a corner kick landed at his feet near the far post.

Le Toux’s continued improvement and good form has helped the Sounders to overcome a slow start and a rash of injuries. The squad is currently tied for 3rd place in the USL first division with a 4-2-5 record and 17 points, just 5 out from the league leading Vancouver Whitecaps, with 22.

Scouting Report:

Sounders FC GM and minority owner Adrian Hanauer has nothing but praise for the young man. “Sébastien is an outstanding young soccer player with loads of upside. He has tremendous physical capacity, he is very good technically and tactically, and has the potential to be a very effective MLS player,” said Hanauer. “Sebastien is also a great individual, and has the kind of character that our fans will be proud of.”

Other qualities that attract scouts and coaches alike to Le Toux are his tireless running and his versatility. Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer originally installed Le Toux in the central defense, but moved him to midfield to take advantage of his high work-rate. According to the coach, at the MLS level, Le Toux has the ability to play either as an outside midfield or withdrawn striker in both the 4-4-2 or 3-5-2 formations.

In addition, according to an October 4 article on ESPN by Andrew Winner, Le Toux is one of the latest attacking prospects whose careers were sparked by Schmetzer. Other quality attacking players who have passed through Seattle and moved on to greener pastures include Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Maykel Galindo (Chivas USA) and Cam Weaver (FK Haugesund).

Schmetzer’s ability to develop talented young players into quality attacking options may pay dividends for Seattle’s MLS side in the long run, both on the field and financially. There is no word on his long-term career plans, but many successful American players, Beasley, Dempsey, and most recently Altidore, just to name a few, have used the MLS as a launching pad to a career in Europe.

However, not many foreign players have done the same in the MLS. Le Toux is a very interesting case considering he has gained the majority of his success after changing positions. Perhaps with his rising star, he could serve as an example to other foreign players that the MLS may be a decent place to build a reputation worthy of European club football. Such a trend would be an invaluable benefit for the league.

“My first idea was that you don’t come to America to [earn] a lot of money playing soccer, so I know that. I came to prove to people that I can play at the highest level in the USA,” Le Toux said. Perhaps a couple of spectacular years at the USA’s top level can earn Le Toux a ticket back to Ligue 1 in France and a fat transfer fee for a young Seattle Sounders Football Club.

Despite all the hype and goal scoring, Le Toux seems to be a humble character with his head in the right place. None of his teammates seem to be miffed by his (relatively) large contract or his inclusion on the new MLS team. In addition, his great motor, soccer instincts, versatility and nose for goal are great attributes for any club. I am just glad he did not end up in Dallas. I am sure he is too.

Best of luck to you Sébastien! We look forward to seeing who you will be teaming up with for 2009.

Some highlights and interviews:

Greeting his fans back home:

He knows how to celebrate:

Le Toux takes out the trash (Minute 2:33 of video)

Interview with Le Toux (Apparently he prefers Seattle to Dallas. Who the hell wouldn’t?):