It's weird lineup time in Dallas as we get ready for the first game of the 2011 MLS Cup Playoffs. First, we have the New York Red Bulls and their five-man bench. Yes, Luke Rodgers is out with knee inflammation and there might be some other guys banged up a little, but this is a one-off playoff match and Hans Backe decided to dress only five on the bench. New York in a nutshell. Or not? The Red Bulls appear to be playing a 4-4-2 with Dax McCarty as a right-sided midfielder, but Backe won't be crazy enough to do that. What it really is is a 4-3-3, or at least we're going to hope so.
FC Dallas Vs. New York Red Bulls Live, MLS Cup Playoffs 2011: Lineups
On the FC Dallas side, it's a different kind of weird. It's not the crazy weird like Backe, but more their regular, "we have four guys who can all interchange weird." The back four and Daniel Hernandez and Andrew Jacobson as holding midfielders are set, but there's the front four with four dangerous players who can really play anywhere up top. They're going to interchange all match and while they do a good job of job of keeping shape in that front 3-1, they're all always moving around so who is in what position at any given time is always different.
FC Dallas (4-2-3-1): Kevin Hartman; Jair Benitez, Ugo Ihemelu, George John, Zach Loyd; Daniel Hernandez, Andrew Jacobson; Ricardo Villar, Brek Shea, Jackson; Marvin Chavez
Bench: Chris Seitz, Jeremy Hall, Jack Stewart, Fabian Castillo, Maicon Santos, Bobby Warshaw, Daniel Cruz
New York Red Bulls (4-3-3): Frank Rost; Jan Gunnar Solli, Stephen Keel, Tim Ream, Roy Miller; Dax McCarty, Teemu Tainio, Rafa Marquez; Joel Lindpere, Dane Richards, Thierry Henry
Bench: Bouna Coundoul, Carlos Mendes, Stephane Auvray, Mehdi Ballouchy, Juan Agudelo
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