By now, most readers of this blog will be well aware of the regime change in Frisco. FC Dallas has a new head coach, new technical director, and a new head of soccer operations. All of which comes with a doubling down on the FCD Academy to produce talent for the MLS side and first team.

But rather than just saying there will be lots of changes with the club this year, let's talk about some specifics. In another post, I'm going to talk about Coach Gonzalez's system and what you can look for tactically on the field.

Today, let's talk about some areas of concern that will most likely impact FC Dallas in the standings.

Five Factors

1. Growth of the Midfield

FCD mostly returned their back four, goalkeeper, and front three. In midfield, however, the pieces are new to the club and/or inexperienced - on top of there being a new system.

It's was always a fair certainty that Carlos Gruezo would be your starter at the 6 spot with Bryan Acosta as one of the dual 8s. When a club breaks its transfer record for a guy he's going to play.

FC Dallas midfielder Jacori Hayes (15) receives a pass while San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Luis Felipe (96) defends during the second half as FC Dallas hosted San Jose Earthquakes at Toyota Stadium in Frisco on Saturday, August 4, 2018. (Stewart F. House/Special Contributor) (Stewart F. House / Special Contributor)

The other spot, so far, is a battle between Jacori Hayes and Paxton Pomykal. Hayes started opening day with Pomykal on the bench. Also on the bench was rookie Homegrown Edwin Cerrillo who can play as a 6 or 8 and just missing the cut on opening day as the 19th player was Homegrown Thomas Roberts.

Whether it's Hayes or someone else moving forward there is some growing to do as a group. These pieces have hardly played together and are still learning the system. Some mistakes are going to be made like the one that contributed to the Revs goal on Saturday.

Given FCD's pace with Barrios and Badji, more teams may elect to sit in the mid to low block and force FCD to break them down. It falls on the FCD midfield to make those key splitting passes and contribute to the destruction of the opposition defense with penetrating runs. If the FCD midfield can't do that, break down the opposition, it could be a long season in terms of offensive output.

We got a taste of that Saturday against New England.

2. High Striker

The need for a big time #9 has been an issue in Dallas for a long time. Maybe since before Oscar Pareja even became the coach and he's gone now after 5 seasons.

I've talked about being optimistic about Dom Badji this year. I like his energy, positivity, and body language. With good service, he led FCD with 6 goals in the spring scrimmages.

But the question remains, can Badji get it done consistently against MLS competition? Service is key here. Badji needs balls into his feet in the box. He's making good runs, if the ball is there, he'll produce. He's not a guy who will make goals from nothing on his own.

As already mentioned, if every team that FCD faces sits deep and forces the Texans to break them down it could be a long year for Badji. FCD will need to make this tactic ineffective with some quality ball work and passing. Badji may have to do some hard, physical work in the box to get some shots off.

Against the Revs, Badji checked back to midfield a bunch to try and find the ball. That's the wrong idea. Be in the box kid. Even if you never see the ball, be where you are supposed to be.

FCD will also need to maintain some kind of quick counter punch from time to time as Badji, and Barrios, are fairly dependent on it.

3. Breaking Pressure

An underrated requirement of the Luchi Gonzalez system is patient build-up out of the back. But in order to do this, the back 4 and keeper need to be good with the ball at their feet and in passing. This isn't the strongest aspect of the club's defense, not bad, just not great.

FC Dallas defender Reto Ziegler, right, plays the ball away from Columbus Crew midfielder Pedro Santos, left, during the first half of an MLS soccer match, Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018, in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade) (Brandon Wade / AP)

To his credit, Jesse Gonzalez was much better passing against the Revolution than he as all last year, but the Revs weren't pressing. Reto Ziegler is a pretty good passer and Ryan Hollingshead should be. Matt Hedges and Reggie Cannon have both been working to improve their on ball work.

Learning how to build out and break a high press is going to be important and it's going to take some time. We may see some give away goals early in the year as they learn. Hopefully, we don't see FCD resort to booting it upfield when the press comes like often happened last year.

4. Youth in Depth

All the national media have been raving about a youth movement in FC Dallas, which local observers in Dallas know isn't happening quite like it's been advertised. Not in the starting XI anyway as there are only two changes in Hayes and Acosta.

What has happened is the jettisoning of veteran depth - a.k.a. expensive depth - depth that wasn't playing as much - in favor of youth.

35-year-old Maynor Figueroa is out for 26-year-old Bressan. 31-year-old Roland Lamah makes way for a 19-year-old Pomykal and 21-year-old Pablo Aranguiz. 26-year-old Tesho Akindele is out for the 18-year-old Jesus Ferreira. 17-year-old Roberts, 18-year-old Cerrillo are added to the squad... the only exception to this trend is 30-year-old Zdenek Ondrasek who was promptly beaten out by Ferriera.

But all this youth is bench-youth. This is going to matter a great deal when the squad depth gets tested in the middle of summer.

Paxton Pomykal of FC Dallas (#10 center) celebrates during the 2018 Concacaf U20 Championships with Juan Pablo Torres (#7 left) (USSF / US Soccer )

Gruezo could get called for Ecuador, perhaps for Copa America. Acosta will almost certainly make the Honduran Gold Cup team. Cannon could be gone for that tournament as well. Brandon Servania, Pomykal, and Ferreira - who are all depth players at this point - are all projected for the U20 World Cup and that will probably mean Roberts and Cerrillo getting PT off the bench.

And that's without even mentioning injuries.

So the question is this... can FC Dallas' very youthful squad - the youngest average age in MLS, by the way, at 24.12 - hold up over the course of the season?

Style and flair are one thing, results are something else.

5. Style vs Location

Coach Gonzalez's system sounds fun. It's the kind of system some of the best teams in the world use. A high press makes for lots of turnovers and a lively attack. The 4-3-3 needs flying outside backs to cover the length of the field. Gonzalez preaches patience and valuing the ball but pressing and working hard to keep the ball can take a lot of energy.

That all sounds great and the team is plenty fit enough for it... right now.

But what happens with it's been 100+ for three months? How's this high press going to fair in the dog days of summer heat?

The idea of a possession team isn't a bad one. I have long felt making the opposition chase while you let the ball do the work is a good heat remedy. But pressing back yourself... that might be hard to maintain when the sun is unmerciful.

We'll find out I suppose.