FC Dallas is the stealthiest club in MLS. Combining results from 2014, 2015 and over half of the current season, it has earned the most points in MLS. North Texas soccer fans have had a very good team to enjoy for the better part of three consecutive seasons. Sure, there have been occasional dips and losing streaks as there are for any team, but cumulatively, FC Dallas is the winningest team in the league since 2014. This team has been so consistently good under Oscar Pareja that by now fans may have been lulled into taking the team for granted. More on that later.

FC Dallas is also "stealthy" in its player acquisition. Despite eschewing any recognizable, established stars, the team continues to turn up gems that have jelled into arguably the league's most cohesive, reliable lineup. This is why for example, FCD's latest signing, a Brazilian forward we've never heard of named Getterson, elicits smirks and shrugs from fans, yet I'm willing to give this coaching/technical staff the benefit of the doubt because of their recent track record. Getterson could very well end up being a genius find. Of course, it typically takes a new-to-MLS FC Dallas signing at least six weeks to even make the bench, but I digress.

In an article for 3rd Degree last season, I made the comparison between FC Dallas' academy system prowess and that of the EPL's Southampton. FC Dallas continues to distinguish itself in this facet, winning the U-16 and U-18 national championships last week. FCD's academy work is indeed admirable, but like Southampton, FCD may not be able to reap the long-term benefits of the program because it may not be able to afford to keep its best prospects. Just this week we learned U-18 forward Weston McKennie has been approached by Schalke. There's still a chance FCD may be able to work out a way to keep him, but ultimately -- and this is the club's problem with all its best talent --- it won't always be able to keep the cream of the crop, because of the economics of MLS vs. the wider soccer world. Reality is, virtually all MLS clubs have to be selling clubs, particularly if one of the top three leagues in Europe comes calling.

FC Dallas is a very good team, it's fun to watch at home and it has several terrifically talented players. If the club is ever going to win MLS Cup, this must be the year because if it's not, I fear this squad will be cherry-picked by richer teams sooner than later. In this regard, FC Dallas could soon be more akin to Ligue 1's Lyon, famous over the last decade for discovering under-the-radar talent and eventually selling players for big profits.

Sooner than later, Diaz, Castillo, Barrios, Hedges, Acosta, or Ulloa will surely depart for richer clubs in Europe or elsewhere. If Brek Shea can go to Stoke City from FCD, any of the previously mentioned would certainly have a shot. His health issues aside, I'm surprised Mauro Diaz hasn't been scooped up by another club yet; he is surely on borrowed time in an FCD jersey by this point. Eventually, Jesse Gonzalez and Walker Zimmerman could garner outside interest as well. Hate to say it, but even Pareja could be recruited. Pareja has done an amazing job developing these players and shaping this team, but the top talent will inevitably leave the nest.

I hope I'm wrong. I hope none of these players, or Pareja, leave FC Dallas anytime soon. But if I were a European scout looking for an edge, I'd keep an eye on FCD.

Back to my original concern that this terrific current FC Dallas team is perhaps being taken for granted by fans, and certainly by the wider North Texas soccer market. Despite its on-field success, FCD continues to register a tiny footprint in DFW with scarce local media coverage and little branding visibility. Despite lopping off the south bleacher end of the stadium this year due to National Soccer Hall of Fame construction (which still hasn't really begun, by the way), Toyota Stadium attendance remains stagnant and far from sold out. It's a head-scratcher because this team has rarely been so watchable.

So, if you appreciate fine soccer but don't typically make it out to Toyota Stadium, now is the time to buy a ticket. Get out there and enjoy this team while you still can -- before it becomes a victim of its own success.

Nathan Nipper is the author of the award-winning book Dallas 'Til I Cry: Learning to Love Major League Soccer.