Questions to answer in MLS preseason camp: FC Dallas

(Through the week we’ll look at three Major League Soccer clubs per day, considering what they need to accomplish and what questions deserve answers during preseason training camps. Opening day in MLS is March 2.)

The trend line is moving the wrong direction around Frisco in suburban Dallas.

In 2010, FC Dallas seemed to be the better team in the MLC Cup final, although David Ferreira and Co. could not get past stubborn and stingy Colorado.

Schellas Hyndman’s team made the playoffs in 2011 – but then made a quick exit. That was better than in 2012, however, when the club’s late summer surge just wasn’t enough to make up all the ground lost during lengthy injury absences to key elements Ferreira, Brek Shea, George John, Ugo Ihemelu and Blas Perez.

There is clearly a big “to do” list in preseason, with plenty of questions to answer:

• Is Brek Shea part of the team or not?

The league’s earliest kickoff yet is adding some pressure to the ongoing Brek Shea transfer tussle. In the big picture, haggling over player value is probably an important and worthwhile exercise. But at micro-level, the team needs to know about its second-best player, about whether they need to go fetch a replacement.

In previous years, clubs had just a little more operating space; the March 2 kickoff means this needs a resolution ASAP.

Because if Shea is going to play at FC Dallas Stadium this year, he deserves a good, settled preseason training camp. That would give the big lefty the best chance to rally past last year’s injury-soaked, disappointing follow-up to the 2011 breakthrough.

Related, and whether Shea is part of the list or not, who are the outside midfielders on this club? Because there don’t seem to be many of them. Even Ricardo Villar, who has played along the outside at times, is awol now.

• What is Jackson’s role?

The club’s Brazilian utility knife has certainly been a valuable tool in Schellas Hyndman’s belt. He has played more or less all over the field, and what a nice asset that has been.

But he’s not really a striker. He’s not really trustworthy enough to be a central midfielder. Jackson’s best spot seems to be along the outside, whether as a defender or in the midfield.

It’s on Hyndman and his staff to sort out depth chart, pinpoint where they need the pacey, skillful veteran most, and then get Jackson settled into that role. It would surely be best for everyone.

We do know this: they don’t need the guy at center back, where the fortune of being able to select Walker Zimmerman on draft day has created something of a logjam at the spot. So, they need to get that sorted out over the next few weeks, too.

• Who fills the Daniel Hernandez role, and what’s the shape without him?

Hyndman had previously designed the system around Ferreira and Hernandez, a midfield destroyer and heady distributor, but one who was limited in range. So the formation has frequently been a hybrid 4-4-1-1 during Hyndman’s time, with a designated screener and a busy bee two-way man to hurry back and forth, supporting Ferreira on the attack and then sliding in next to the holding mid upon losing possession.

Incoming Frenchman Peter Luccin looks like the new Hernandez, so to speak. If he has a little more range in his central midfield game, the team may find itself settled into a more conventional 4-4-2.

MORE in ProSoccerTalk’s preseason camp series:

• Chicago Fire
• Chivas USA
• Colorado Rapids
• Columbus Crew
• D.C. United

Next: Houston Dynamo