In just 11 games after joining FC Dallas last year, Jeff Cunningham found the back of the net five times for his new side. And that total -- at a pace that would have put him in the top three in MLS goalscoring -- came despite a lack of strong flank play by the 2008 version of FCD.
However, with the addition of Dave van den Bergh on the left side of midfield and David Ferreira at center attacking midfield, as well as either Dax McCarty and Andre Rocha, who have led FCD in assists each of the last two years, the goal production forecast for the veteran striker could be going up in 2009.
Of course, the same can be said for fellow striker Kenny Cooper, who finished second in MLS with 18 goals last year, earning a spot on the league's Best XI.
FCD head coach Schellas Hyndman likes the possibilities presented by having such a solid group to deliver the ball to his front line.
"(Ferreira) is that No. 10 much like Oscar Pareja," Hyndman said. "He's got great vision, can pass the ball very cleanly and has great experience. He can also play that No. 8 position where he's right there as that second striker."
And he can't say enough good things about his attack as a whole after a month of preseason training.
"I think our strike force is going to be pretty good with Kenny (Cooper) and Jeff (Cunningham), two good strikers," he said. "Dave (van den Bergh) on the left side, he serves the ball as well as anybody in the league. On the right, Dax (McCarty) has had a really good preseason. You put (David) Ferreira there and that's a pretty good group of five."
FCD are set to close out their preseason on Saturday against Brazilian side Atletico Paranaense but could be without one of their top players for that affair.
"Kenny (Cooper) hasn't been out there for the last two days," Hyndman said. "When we played CAP (in Brazil), he took a pretty bad hit on the ankle. I think he's been trying to fight his way through it and yesterday, he removed himself from training. Today, I think he's still trying to recover. If it was a 90-degree day out there, maybe he would get out there, but I think because it's cold and he's sore, he didn't train. He may not even play on Saturday. We'll leave that up until game time. I don't know (if he'll train on Friday). The best person to answer that is him."
Whether or not Cooper is on the field come Saturday, Cunningham will again be front and center. And he likes the additions that Hyndman and FCD brass have made to the roster since the end of the 2008 campaign.
"It's definitely an improvement on the offensive side thus far and as a result, Kenny and I are getting more chances," Cunningham said. "I think overall, the team has been better going forward and when that happens, we're going to get more scoring opportunities. I think the coaching staff did a good job of adding some guys that can be difference makers. I know Kenny is going to find ways of getting goals and I will also. We're going to be OK. It's a long season, so we've just got to continue improving and getting to know each other better."
The veteran scorer also likes the various qualities that Ferreira brings to his new team.
"He's definitely talented," Cunningham said. "He has the ability to see the field and the game much quicker. He's going to find a way to use those abilities in his passing and ability to create chances for us. He's very good and sees the game much quicker than most of us."
Right after the end of last season, Cunningham said he felt like he could show the same form that he exhibited in 2006 when he was the league scoring champ at Real Salt Lake. He hasn't backed off that prediction one bit.
"I feel like I can contribute if I stay healthy," he said. "I'm not going to put a lot of pressure on myself but I think that we have a good team. I'm going to do whatever I can to contribute to the team's success. I know what I'm capable of doing and am going to do everything possible to make that happen.
"I think we're a much better team this year. I think the young boys have gotten a chance to gain some experience as well as the coaching staff did a good job of bringing in some guys that are going to be difference makers for us. As a result, I think we have a good mix of youth and experience. Everyone is willing to work hard and have success this year. I think everything is in place for us to have a memorable season this year."
Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com.
