FCD's Pearce open to position change in 2010
Versatile defender looking to build on strong finish last season
Related
"You look at our defense. We've got Heath who can play left back, right back, left midfield and right midfield," the FCD coach said. "He could also probably play defensive midfield. So he can do some things. The thing with us is who we bring in if we bring in another defender. It could be a right back. Now that would give Heath the potential to move into a flank position. Heath is a nice player because he has the versatility."
Pearce came to FC Dallas in September via allocation. He made his first appearance for his new club Sept. 19 at Kansas City. His first of five starts to finish the season at right back came the following week in a big win over eventual MLS champion Real Salt Lake at Pizza Hut Park.
Even though FCD didn't make the playoffs, Pearce's strong play didn't go unnoticed as he joined teammates MLS Budweiser Golden Boot winner Jeff Cunningham and Dax McCarty for a pair of November friendlies with the U.S. national team.
While Pearce and his teammates fell short of their goal of making the MLS Cup Playoffs, he still sees some positives from his short run in 2009.
"I think there's a lot of good to take out of it. If you saw us against Seattle (in the season finale), we weren't at our best but we also showed a lot of our weaknesses like not being very versatile in how we played," Pearce said. "When things aren't going the way we play and we're not playing to our strengths, we tend to start to leave holes in a lot of places. But beyond that, we won four straight, which I think if you would've asked anybody when I first arrived, nobody would have believed that could be possible. Do I think it's because of the additions that we made when a few of us new players came? No, I think it's bringing a lot more positive to the group. I think that changes bring belief as well.
"Obviously, it's very disappointing not to make the playoffs. When you go on a run like we did, there's only one goal and that's to make the playoffs. When you don't do that, it feels like a failure of a season. We ended the season in a strong way and with the group we have, are able to look towards next year," he continued. "With a season or two under their belt, a lot of guys are getting experience and are getting better. I think that experience is going to play well next year. I think that overall, you can look at it as a failure, not making the playoffs but it's also a success in the sense of us finding who we are as a team toward the end of the season."
Pearce admits before arriving in Frisco, he didn't know what to expect from his new club and from MLS. However, he is pleased with how things have turned out thus far.
"In the way we play, it makes (right back) an easy position to be comfortable with here. We play a good style of soccer where we keep the ball a lot and move the ball a lot," he said. "It gives me the chance to come inside and use my left foot and it's not just about hitting long balls all the time. I'm comfortable there. I like it there. When I first got here, I didn't really know what to expect. I watched a lot of the MLS games on my Slingbox when I was in Europe and stuff but until you're really in it, you don't know what style you're playing in. The style has definitely played towards me being able to play that position. So it's been a nice transition."
While he likes playing on the right, he also wouldn't preclude playing somewhere else on the field should Hyndman deem such a move a necessary one.
"I try not to limit myself to where I can and can't and where I do and don't want to play. When you have a group of players where the talent level is I think, among the highest in MLS in terms of actual talent and abilities, you've got to find where you're able to help, fit in and do your part for the team," Pearce said. "Wherever that is, I'm happy to do it whether that's in the midfield or in the back. It's something that I'm comfortable with."
Like the rest of MLS, he will now have some time off before preseason begins in late January or early February. In the meantime, Pearce will keep his focus pretty simple.
"I'd like to keep my fitness high. I need to stay relatively fit because I can get out of shape in terms of not physically but more like my lungs and everything," he said. "When I take too much time off, it takes me a long time to get game-fit again. I'd like to stay fit and stay active. I'd like to work on some strength training and try to stay injury-free."
Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com
