2023 MLS Regular Season Record: 11W - 13D - 10L
What I said last winter:
They offloaded Franco Jara opening a designated player spot
They weren’t able to retain Matt Hedges
They should make the nine team playoff
What happened:
They never signed a new DP
They did bring in veteran midfielder Asier Illarramendi over the summer
They failed to score more than one goal in 27 regular season matches
They qualified for playoffs but were knocked out in the first round by the Seattle Sounders
Key Takeaways from 2023
I think they’re doing the right things… but the wins aren’t coming
FC Dallas was an odd team to dissect this year. Despite bringing in quality players like Alan Velasco, Maarten Paes, and Asier Illarramendi in recent years, their season results presented a mixed bag. The club dealt with injuries to Paul Arriola, Sebastian Lletget, and Geovane Jesus, sidelining them for ten or more matches. However, these injuries can't fully explain why they failed to show improvement from 2022.
Tactically, Dallas alternated between a 4-3-3 and a 4-2-3-1 formation. In the 4-2-3-1 setup, Paxton Pomykal and Illarramendi orchestrated the midfield, while the attacking lineup rotated around complementing USMNT striker Jesus Ferreira.
Dallas’ attacking stats were a bit of a paradox. They managed an above-average count of big chances created and ranked fifth lowest in missed opportunities. Yet, hey found themselves second-to-last in assists. Additionally, Dallas recorded the fourth lowest number of shots on target and the ninth lowest total goals. Despite possessing attacking talent, scoring remained a struggle. In fact, Dallas were held to one or fewer goals in 27 of their regular-season matches.
The club's Goals minus Expected Goals performance stood positive at +2.6, which perplexes me considering their scoring rate. I intend to re-watch a few FC Dallas matches to better understand their tactics. My current theory suggests they might not be taking the shots they should when these opportunities arise. It's plausible they pass the ball to another teammate instead of shooting, and the defense intercepts it. This is all speculative at this point.
Ferreira once again led the scoring charts for the team with 12 goals during the regular season, surpassing his expected goal tally of 9.6. Other notable overachievers include Bernard Kamungo (6 goals vs. 3.8 xG), Velasco (4 goals vs. 2.8 xG), and Jáder Obrian (6 goals vs. 5.7 xG).
However, Paul Arriola (2 goals vs. 3.7 xG), Jesus Jiminez (0 goals vs. 2.3 xG), and Facundo Quignon (1 goal vs. 2.4 xG) fell notably below their expected goal outputs for the club.
Dallas posted impressive pass accuracy stats and were average in their percentage of duels won. However, their ability to pass into the final third was lacking, which might have contributed to their lackluster scoring.
Paes had another standout year, featuring in all but four matches. Dallas ended the season with the fifth-best save percentage. The backline also performed well, limiting opponents to the twelfth lowest total of shots on target.
Dallas finished in the positive for post-shot expected goals at +2.4. Paes finished at +4.6, while backup keeper Jimmy Maurer finished at -2.2.
The Texas club’s season concluded in the third match of a best-of-three series against Seattle. Once more, season-long trends resurfaced as Dallas struggled to score in both the first and third legs of the series.
This season seemed like a regression for the club when it should have been a progression. They laid a solid foundation in 2022 but perhaps stagnated in reinforcing their roster for 2023. However,, Dallas boasts one of the top academies in MLS, reducing the constant need for hefty spending.
Here's to hoping that 2024 will mark a rebound year for them.
Top Sorare Fantasy Performers
Goalkeeper: Maarten Paes | L15: 43 | 60+ pts games: 8 | Clean sheets: 6 | Penalties saved: 1
Defender: Nkosi Tafari | L15: 51 | 60+ pts games: 10 | Goals: 3 | Assists: 3 | Clean sheets: 5
Midfielder: Paxton Pomykal | L15: 43 | 60+ pts games: 7 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 2
Forward: Jesús Ferreira | L15: 63 | 60+ pts games: 18 | Goals: 13 | Assists: 7
Extra: Alan Velasco | L15: 55 | 60+ pts games: 11 | Goals: 6 | Assists: 2
2024 Outlook
Last Updated 2/4/2024
GIF Rating:
Outgoing Players
Collin Smith - Right-back - Option Declined
Facundo Quignón - Defensive Midfielder - Option Declined
José Martínez - Centre-back - Option Declined
Jáder Obrian - Winger - Out of Contract (in talks with club for a new contract)
Incoming Players
Enes Sali - Winger - Transfer from FCV Farul Constanța
Alejandro Urzua - Central Midfielder - Homegrown signing
Malik Henry-Scott - Forward - Homegrown signing
Omar Gonzalez - Centre-back - Signed as free agent
Patrickson Delgado - Defensive Midfielder - On loan from Independiente del Valle
Petar Musa - Centre-forward - Transfer from Benfica (designated player)
“Well I’ll be”
I was a bit uncertain on what to make of Dallas this year at the start of the preseason. They’ll be without Alan Velasco to for most the season due to an ACL injury, and I thought Jesus Ferreira would leave this past transfer window. Ferreira was lined up for a transfer to Russia but the league blocked the move.
However, after the signings they’ve made, I’m excited to see what lineup Dallas rolls out with in their first match. They’ve added Enes Sali from the Romanian SuperLiga and Petar Musa from Benfica. Musa will be exciting to watch in MLS and likely lines up at the centre-forward role, which pushes Ferreira to another position. My guess is we’ll see a similar formation to when Ricardo Pepi played for Dallas. Essentially, take a midfielder out — probably Sebastian Lletget — and add in another attacker.
If Musa lives up to the hype, Dallas may very well have an answer to their scoring woes from last year. If so, playoffs should be the minimum expectation.