FC Dallas is about halfway through their spring training and has two scrimmages tomorrow (Saturday, February 9th) at Toyota Stadium: Bayern Munich U23s at 2 pm and San Antonio FC at 4 pm. These games should provide a good progress check on the team under new head coach Luchi Gonzalez.

You can stream the matches here or get tickets to watch the games in person. Either way, here are some things to look for while you watch.

Single Pivot

We've been asked a lot around these parts about Coach Gonzalez's tactics and formation. So here's a quick primer on what he's mostly been using in training and scrimmages.

I call this formation a 4-3-3 and it's distinguished by what coach G calls a "single pivot" 6 or in more common parlance a single deep holding mid in front of the back four. You'll also see two high wings playing off a center 9 and in midfield is either two 8's or an 8 and a 10 in front of that aforementioned 6. These two higher mids almost always make a triangle shape with the 6 that rotates through the game.

The latter 8/10 combo is similar to the way Oscar Pareja had this team playing circa 2016-2017 before Kellyn Acosta got hurt although the 8 in Gonzalez's system doesn't sit deep next to the 6.

Here are a couple of diagrams of the two basic shapes.

FC Dallas head coach Luchi Gonzalez's base 4-3-3 with dual 8's (left) or an 8/10 combo (right). (3rd Degree / Buzz Carrick)

Honestly, there isn't much difference between dual 8's and an 8/10. Mostly with the dual 8's you'll see one or the other pop forward into the 10-hole.

You can see, however, how key that 6 is going to be. It requires some serious range, work rate, and game reading to play that spot solo.

Clear First Team or a Mix?

So far this spring, Coach Gonzalez has rolled out a pretty clear first team and second team in scrimmages. Will this one be the same or might we see a mix this time?

Generally speaking, coaches start the spring with some mixes and tend to distill down to a clear XI by opening day. Since Gonzalez has started the spring in a first and second set up I expect that to continue.

If I were a betting man, I would put money on the first team versus Bayern Munich's U23s and a second team versus San Antonio FC.

Clear first team or not we clean learn a lot by looking at...

Combos

FC Dallas forward Dominique Badji (16) embraces FC Dallas midfielder Michael Barrios (21) with FC Dallas midfielder Santiago Mosquera (11) after Barrios scored a goal during the first half as FC Dallas hosted Houston Dynamo at Toyota Stadium in Frisco on Saturday , September 1, 2018. (Stewart F. House/Special Contributor) (Stewart F. House / Special Contributor)

Of the front three, we know of two lock starters at the 7/11 spots: Santiago Mosquera and Michael Barrios. So the important question is, which 9 partners with them: Dom Badji or Zdenek Ondrasek? So far it's been Badji this spring. Keep an eye on this one.

In the back line, we know Matt Hedges and Reto Ziegler are the first choice so who pairs with them on the outside and at keeper is important. Reggie Cannon has been with the US National Team and Bryan Reynolds took his place. But we should expect to see Cannon back with Hedges and Ziegler.

Left back is the more interesting question. The choice so far this spring has been Ryan Hollingshead as Marquinhos Pedroso continues to work back to full fitness after offseason core muscle repair surgery.

In net, will Jesse Gonzalez or Jimmy Maurer get the choice with the starting back four?

In the midfield, we know Carlos Gruezo remains the 6 with Brandon Servania second in this spot. In the few games so far we've seen Pablo Aranguiz, Paxton Pomykal, Jacori Hayes, Edwin Cerrillo, and Ema Twumasi all get looks at the 8/10 roles with Pomykal being the most consistent performer.

Who's getting the nod in the two more advanced spots of the three-man midfield is a vital question as only one spot of these two spots is probably available long run because...

Bryan Acosta

Honduras' Bryan Acosta (L) vies for the ball with Chile's Alexis Sanchez during a friendly football match at the German Becker stadium, in Temuco, Chile, on November 20, 2018. (Photo by Pablo VERA / AFP)PABLO VERA/AFP/Getty Images (PABLO VERA / Getty Images)

FC Dallas broke their transfer record for Honduran International Bryan Acosta. FCD worked on getting this guy for 18 months. He arrived in Dallas on Thursday night (visa delay) and should have gone through his entrance physical and baseline fitness testing on Friday morning. He's going to start as the 8 in this team at some point.

But not tomorrow.

I just don't see Coach Gonzalez throwing Acosta to the wolves by starting him on his second day. A good 20 minute run out at the end of one of the games sounds good to me.

Rookies

FC Dallas has three rookies that are important and a couple who are, no offense yo anyone, less so.

FC Dallas head coach Luchi Gonzalez with FC Dallas' two 2019 SuperDraft picks Callum Montgomery (left) and John Nelson (right). (FC Dallas / FCD)

4th overall pick Callum Montgomery isn't under contract yet but has been the second choice at left center back alongside new Brazilian defender Bressan at right center back in the scrimmages so far. He's almost a Matt Hedges clone, it's quite remarkable. He looks big and strong, so far his defense is solid, passing good, but his dribbling could use a little development. Ball skill matter in coach Gonzalez's build out.

10th overall pick John Nelson can play either outside back spot although he's predominantly a left back. He's been playing both sides in the spring but with Cannon's return will slide down the roster a bit. He really loves to get forward and is a very direct player.

Edwin Cerrillo is the wild card of the rookies having come right out of the Academy at the age of 18. A potential Homegrown, I'm stunned he hasn't signed yet, he's been playing as an 8 this spring and out playing some vets. I think he's a destroyer 6 long term (like Chris Armas). Just how far up the depth chart is he?

Later round draft picks Eduvie Ikoba, a 6'3" striker, and Sam Ebstein, a holding mid from Cal, may not see action tomorrow and probably have to carve out a spot with North Texas SC team if anything.

Shape in Possession

Last but not least, let's talk about one of the early tactical developments I've been watching coach Gonzalez implement with this side and it involves a tactically fluid shape when FC Dallas is in possession.

Now, this isn't earth-shaking tactics, as most modern pro teams do this kind of thing, but it's still something to watch for as you look to pick up on Coach Gonzalez's basic tactical principles he's been instilling in the side.

When FC Dallas is building out of the back the shape shifts with the outside backs pushing up to provide the width in midfield, the center backs split wider, the holding 6 sits in the gap and you effectively get a 3-4-3 formation going forward.

Thus making the holding 6 the "single pivot" around which the team shifts. Here's a diagram of what it looks like in possession.

A basic diagram of a 3-4-3 type shape adapted by head coach Luchi Gonealez's FC Dallas sides when in possession. (3rd Degree / Buzz Carrick)

Saturday Games

that's our list for this weekend. Two games for FCD: Bayern Munich U23s at 2 pm and San Antonio FC at 4 pm.

See you at Toyota Stadium.