It would seem having a World Cup veteran would be a better option than a former American college player who couldn’t break into the starting lineup on a second-division club in Germany.
In reality, though, the subtraction of Mexican defender Duilio Davino and the addition of Steve Purdy is a step forward for FC Dallas.Davino brought international experience, but unfortunately in his case, the wealth of experience had sapped his legs before he ever arrived at Pizza Hut Park.His signing smacked of the fantasy league mentality, where clubs go after a name such as Denilson rather than looking at how the player actually fit or his current form.FC Dallas got away from that philosophy by bringing in Purdy, a no-name defender who might just have what matters in size, speed and youth.MLS remains an athletic league with a high-speed pace where guile is rarely enough to overcome sheer athleticism.Last season, FC Dallas in particular struggled to clear crosses out of the penalty area and Purdy might just be the player to help correct this shortcoming.Purdy enjoyed a four-year college career at California and was expected to go in the first round of the 2007 MLS SuperDraft. Instead, he opted for a contract with 1860 Munich in Germany where he spent the past two years but never found a consistent place.Now Purdy must force MLS attackers to respect him.On Friday, FC Dallas announced right defender Marcelo Saragosa will miss four to six weeks with a knee injury.If that means shifting fellow centerback Drew Moor out wide, then an even greater burden will fall on Purdy to rule the penalty area. He has received early praise from coach Schellas Hyndman, who wasn’t responsible for bringing in Davino.Those who’d done their homework knew Davino was finished before he got here. As for Purdy, he’s exactly the kind of player who traditionally has found success in MLS.If he is, he’ll certainly prove to FC Dallas that reality is always better than fantasy.TOBIAS XAVIER LOPEZ, 817-685-3868
