FC Dallas more versatile since midfielders' return

01:35 AM CDT on Saturday, June 3, 2006

By STEVE DAVIS / The Dallas Morning News

FRISCO – Just call Richard Mulrooney that little something extra.

FC Dallas sprang quickly, if just a tad awkwardly, into the season. The team's record during April and early May was a respectable 4-1-2.

But something seemed unconvincing, even in those competent results. Manager Colin Clarke apparently thought so, too, as he continued tinkering with lineups.

That changed three games back when Mulrooney, a central midfield bundle of talent, endurance and a highly refined awareness of things developing around him, rejoined the starting lineup.

His reclamation of starter status came 364 days after the major knee injury that sucked so much life from FC Dallas' 2005 season.

In the recent three-game spell, FC Dallas has tied second-place Houston, 1-1, clobbered New England, 4-0, at home and came from behind to win at New York, 2-1. None of that surprised Clarke.

"When I got here, we tried hard for a long time to get a player like Richard here," he said.

The ripple effect of Mulrooney's 2006 return has influenced matters all over Pizza Hut Park.

Mulrooney gave Clarke the true, two-way central midfielder he needed to shift back to his preferred 4-4-2 setup. Previously, the team was using a three-man midfield, largely because it didn't have that one lynchpin to provide proper balance.

So Mulrooney's addition permitted Ronnie O'Brien to return to the spot in which he's most comfortable, as perhaps the league's most feared right-side midfielder.

And because Mulrooney is around, teammates could alter their games slightly. Captain Simo Valakari said Mulrooney's presence, along with the shift in formation, provides him more latitude to join the attack.

Previously, Valakari was the designated holding midfielder. As the defensive anchor of the three-man midfield, the fellow who holds his spot and covers defensively so the other two midfielders can attack, Valakari was hesitant to move forward.

Now he can comfortably contribute in the attacking third of the field whenever he wants.

"I can do that because I know Richard will be there to cover for me," Valakari said.

Having Mulrooney makes FC Dallas less predictable, too. Before, Valakari was generally responsible for moving back toward his defenders to collect the ball. Now, it might be Valakari or Mulrooney, or it might be one of the outside midfielders.

Valakari says his midfield partner has shown heroic stamina so far – remarkable for a player who lost significant muscle mass in his year-long rehabilitation.

"He's been excellent," the FC Dallas captain said, "and I think he's only going to get better from here."

Briefly: Striker Carlos Ruiz was named MLS Player of the Month on Friday. He scored in all five Dallas games in May.

• FC Dallas' plus-8 goal difference is second best in MLS after D.C.'s plus-13.

• Carlos Ruiz has scored in five consecutive matches, one short of tying the club record.

• Columbus got spanked Wednesday at D.C. United, 5-1.

• The Crew, under former LA Galaxy coach Sigi Schmid, has the look of a young, emerging team.

• Hit hard by injuries at goalkeeper, the Crew has young, largely untested Dan Popik in the net.

• FC Dallas forwards are scoring, but it's outside back Chris Gbandi and Bobby Rhine who continue to pressure opposing defenses by adding extra bodies in a relentless attack.

E-mail stevedavis@dallasnews.com

Columbus (3-4-2) at FC Dallas (6-1-3), 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Pizza Hut Park, Frisco (KXEB-AM 990, KFCD-AM 910 in Spanish)