Rhine: 'New' Cunningham shines
Fatherhood, maturity helps FC Dallas forward enjoy breakthrough year
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Rarely have I seen a goal-scoring pace like this. His form has led me to one question -- what has gotten into this guy?
Recently, I had the chance to visit with Cunningham about his scoring surge, being a journey-man, his pursuit of the Golden Boot and how he is nearly single-footedly keeping FC Dallas in the playoff picture.
THE LONE STRIKER
Cunningham is motivated by the pressure of being the lone striker. His first stint in this pressure position came in 2006, while with Real Salt Lake. Though RSL had previously been an inconsistent attack, Cunningham leveled the offense, scoring 16 goals, registering 11 assists and winning the Golden Boot.
Fast-forward two years, and Cunningham found himself with FC Dallas, the fourth Major League Soccer team of his career.
"It was the best moment of my career; it was the best move for me. I had moved twice within a year and I'd not felt settled. I had injuries and was in a difficult situation in Toronto. I came here to play for coaches who knew me as a person, and as a player," said Cunningham.
Cunningham's 2009 campaign began in an on-field partnership with Kenny Cooper. While Head Coach Schellas Hyndman tinkered with the FC Dallas midfield, Cunningham was placed on the right side, a role he hadn't played since his rookie season in 1998 with the Columbus Crew.
Cooper's departure (first for the CONCACAF Gold Cup, then to 1860 Munich) opened the door for Cunningham to again play the role he most covets: the lone striker.
"Kenny left and I felt like the situation forced an opportunity for me, and I made the best of it. I'm happy I took my chance."
The results were immediate. Cunningham scored two goals in a 2-1 win over New York on July 4th. And the goals haven't stopped.
"My confidence keeps rolling as the goals keep coming."
VETERAN MOTIVATION
You could call 2009 a tale of two seasons for Cunningham, his first half adversity has caused second half success.
Cunningham started just nine of the first 15 games and was relegated to an unnatural flanking right midfield position.
The move left the 33 year-old, 11-year MLS veteran with doubt.
"I felt like at one point the door was being shown to me. I felt like I had something left in the tank and I needed to prove it," said Cunningham.
As a former professional player, I know that the best players are those who stay hungry. The key is finding what fuels their hunger. For Cunningham-it's doubt.
"I always feel I have to prove myself. I've been in a role where I have to play for my place on the team- I have to produce, and score goals."
In the wake of a slow start, discouragement about his position and public concern regarding who would fill the shoes of Dallas' former marquee player Kenny Cooper, Cunningham has had plenty to fuel him.
A NEW JEFF CUNNINGHAM
While Cunningham may have tied his career high in goals this season, this isn't the same player from 2006.
Stop by any practice or hang around the locker room and you can feel a new sense of maturity, born out of his arrival in Dallas and the birth of his daughter, just over one year ago.
"I've got a child to feed now," Cunningham joked.
More maturity has meant more focus.
But with a more balanced FC Dallas attack, why isn't Cunningham finishing every opportunity he gets? The goals he's scoring are of the highest degree of difficulty.
"The most difficult ones (chances) are more instinctive, and I think I'm that type of player. When I don't have to think much about chances I usually finish them off."
Jeff Cunningham is a reactionary striker. His natural instinct is to bury a goal from the most remote of possibilities, making him not only one of the greatest goal scorers in the history of MLS, but also giving us something to watch closely for the remainder of the season.
Father Time is coming for Jeff Cunningham. The problem is, like most MLS team defenses right now, catching Cunningham isn't as easy as it appears.
Bobby Rhine played for FC Dallas/Dallas Burn from 1999-2008. Rhine currently serves as the club's Manager of Community Development and performs Color Commentary duties for FC Dallas broadcasts.
