The Informant! Galaxy vs. FC Dallas Edition

Each week before the weekend's match, us SB Nation editors get together and inform on our teams in hopes of staving off a longer prison sentence. Or perhaps something else. Anyhow, this week we've got FC Dallas blog Big D Soccer editor Daniel Robertson here to tell you a little bit about his team. And I did even have to go bad cop on him!

For my answers to his questions, head over to Big D Soccer.

LAGConf. FC Dallas still hasn't gotten a road victory this year. What have you noticed in your team's play at home versus on the road? What looks different?

I think perhaps the biggest thing is that Dallas has simply had much easier games at home than on the road. At home, Dallas played New York(1st game before they got good), Portland(not looking good), RSL(missing Espindola/Olave), New England & Montreal(Enough said). On the road, they’ve played SKC(Buzzsaw), DC(looking good) & Vancouver(not an easy road game).

It seems simple, but I think that’s the biggest thing related to home/away games due to the small sample size. Dallas is one of the few teams that really tries to play the same way at home as they do on the road which was evidenced by the fact that they nearly took a result at Kansas City, but also things can snowball quickly like you saw in their 4-1 loss at DC. FCD is not a team that will come into the Home Depot Center and park the bus, for better or worse.

LAGConf. The party line on Brek Shea has been that he overextended himself and has looked a bit fatigued. Do you think he's recovered from Olympic qualifying, or does he still show some wear?

Yes you’re absolutely correct that he had been overworked and fatigued, but I think we’ve gotten past that point with Brek. In the past few games, he’s seemed to get stronger as the game has gone on, rather than the other way around. One of the things I’ve really loved from his game in the past month or so is that he seems to be demanding the ball rather than simply waiting for it.

With Ferreira out, he’s become to primary guy they look to for creating chances. Brek has scored in two of his last three games now and really looks to be breaking out of the funk he was in for about 6 months. Obviously, this is great news for USMNT fans as well with World Cup Qualifying coming up in a little over a month.

LAGConf. Blas Perez has come in and gotten major minutes and leads the team in goals. Is he doing it on talent alone, or have you seen the team adjust to him and really include him in the game?

Blas is really an amazing player. He’s absolutely changed FC Dallas from the second he stepped on the field as that #9 target forward that Dallas has been searching for since Carlos Ruiz left. Right now, he’s doing it absolutely on talent alone. I don’t think Dallas has really figured out exactly yet how to adapt their game to hit his strengths, but his sheer work rate and desire has carried this team’s attack.

Prior to Wednesday’s game where he was suspended, FC Dallas had scored 8 goals. Blas had three goals, three assists and drew the two fouls that the other two goals came from, so the Panamanian known as Mighty Mouse has assisted in every FCD goal. He’s a big, strong forward that links up with the wide players very well and will pressure every.single.ball. played by the Galaxy back four. I can’t wait to see what it looks like when Blas and David Ferreira are on the pitch together

Bonus question: Who haven't I mentioned that you think Galaxy fans should be aware of?

I think that with the way FCD is playing right now, I’m going to give you two names and they’re both fairly familiar ones to avid MLS followers. The Dallas outside backs, Zach Loyd & Jair Benitez, play a big part in the way that FCD goes forward. Many, many times the attacks down the wings start with one of those two making an overlapping run or working a nifty passing combination. Dallas certainly attacks with their outside backs more than just about any other team in the league.