FRISCO, Texas -- One glaring weakness for FC Dallas last season was a lack of flank play. The Hoops likely solved that problem on Tuesday afternoon by acquiring left-sided midfielder Dave van den Bergh from New York for Dominic Oduro and a second-round draft pick.
In exchange for the left-footed Dutchman, FC Dallas sent Oduro and the club's first selection in the second round, the 18th selection overall. In addition, FCD and the Red Bulls swapped first-round picks, with New York getting the 11th selection overall and FC Dallas moving to the 14th pick.
"We entered the offseason having identified three areas that we wanted to upgrade the team -- a No. 10, an attacking mid, a left-sided midfielder and just adding depth to our backline and getting a center back," said FC Dallas general manager Michael Hitchcock said. "We started looking at each position, we came up with a short list of players that we felt would be a great fit to the club and also help us in those specific areas. At left-sided midfielder, the top of the list of players we felt like we could get was Dave. We worked very hard to make this deal happen and couldn't be happier that we finalized the deal and that Dave will be playing for FC Dallas next season."
In 26 games last season for the Red Bulls, Van den Bergh had seven goals and five assists. The talented Dutchman also netted the game-winner for New York in the 2008 Western Conference Championship, a tally that clinched his side's first-ever trip to MLS Cup. Van den Bergh began his MLS career with the Kansas City Wizards in 2006 and moved to New York the following season, after playing for Ajax (1995-97), Spain's Rayo Vallecano (1997-2000) and FC Utrecht in his homeland (2000-06).
"I think he'll bring a lot going forward, help us with defending the ball and help us with possession, which becomes the best form of defense," Hitchcock said. "He's the top left-sided midfielder in the league. To upgrade an area that we identified as one of our weaknesses with him is huge. He's an important piece of the puzzle and he wants to be here. He's excited to come to Dallas and feels like he can contribute to the team on and off the field. He brings a lot of experience and leadership, which should help our team on a lot of different levels."
Van den Bergh comes to a team with a solid forward tandem of Kenny Cooper and Jeff Cunningham, two players Hitchcock sees as getting major benefits from playing with such a great deliverer of solid crosses.
"Any time you add a player like Dave, he makes the players around him better," Hitchcock said. "The strikers will probably benefit the most. He's a great server of the ball who will help stretch out the other team's defense. We think Jeff and Kenny will benefit quite a bit from having Dave. Everyone is going to benefit from having a player like Dave on the field."
The seeds for the deal were sown late last year.
"We started having conversations with New York in early December," Hitchcock said. "It's been a long negotiation but I'm a firm believer that things happen for a reason. We couldn't be happier that we got the deal finalized and Dave is going to be playing here. Like any deal, there are times that you start to question is the deal going to happen or not? These things are seldom easy and that's because a player like Dave has a lot of value that New York placed on him. We just wanted to do a deal that was fair and equitable for all parties and we got that."
Earlier in the offseason, FCD parted ways with veteran center back Duilio Davino, who also was the Hoops' captain in 2008. Hitchcock definitely sees the club's newest addition as a possibility to wear the armband in 2009.
"I think at this time, it's fair to say that is a possibility," he said. "The coaching staff will make that decision based on what they see in preseason. He brings a great deal of experience and has done well in this league. He's fluent in a number of languages and has got the characteristics of a good leader that you're looking for. It's certainly a possibility."
With one area of need taken care of, Hitchcock admits that he continues to focus on FCD's other needs.
"We think we have a number of good players in the back," he said. "With releasing Davino, there's a hole that we need to bring someone in. I think we're close to finalizing a center back. Hopefully we'll have that done within the next week. There are actually two center backs that we're looking at right now. One is an American playing in Europe and the other is a player that is playing in Europe as well but he's not an American."
It's a similar story when it comes to FCD's search for an attacking central midfielder.
"With the No. 10, we are having a number of conversations with team both in our league and internationally trying to bring in a No. 10," Hitchcock said.
For Hitchcock, the deal is the first step in showing that FCD could truly challenge to win MLS Cup this season.
"We believe this team can accomplish really good things," he said. "If we can add some depth at center back and bring in a quality No. 10, we feel like we can really be a contender. I don't think we're that far off. We've got the right foundation and some good building blocks in place. I think with a full preseason under (coach) Schellas (Hyndman's) leadership, with adding Dave, a center back and a No. 10, there isn't any reason why we can't contend for a championship this year and for years to come."
The FCD GM added that it will likely not be the only deal that the Hoops make before the end of the week.
"This is when all the trade talks really start to heat up -- after the holidays and at the combine," Hitchcock said. "I think that's the natural timeline for our league. This week, we're having a number of conversations with a number of teams. I don't think is the only acquisition or trade that will happen this week."
