Big D Soccer: Trying To Complain Dax McCarty’s Unprotected Status

Of all the names to show up on the unprotected list, many - including myself - have identified Dax McCarty as one of the bigger surprises.

Sure, he made a fair amount of coin last season - about $180,000 - but he’s young (24) and trending upward. He also plays as a playmaking center-mid, something that always seems to be in high demand.

Well, Big D Soccer’s Daniel Robertson knows FC Dallas as well as anyone and he has some thoughts on why, exactly, McCarty is available.

If Schellas wants to transition to his preferred 4-4-2 diamond formation next season, there is no place for Dax in the lineup. We saw him get outmuscled by Jeff Larentowicz on Sunday and he simply doesn’t have the physical abilities to play the defensive mid position like Schellas wants it. There’s no doubt Dax is an above average MLS starter, but I’m sure Schellas seriously questions whether he can play the Daniel Hernandez position as it seems like Eric Alexander or Jackson are being groomed for that spot.

Robertson has some other possible explanations, including the possibility that it’s simply a calculated risk.

The reality is, Dallas had a lot of depth and plenty of players worthy of protection. All of them weren’t going to be protected.