By ADAM SERRANO
FC Dallas full back Heath Pearce has been on the sidelines for much of FC Dallas' run to MLS Cup with a hamstring injury, but Pearce is still aiming to return to the field for Sunday's MLS Cup Final. After undergoing a number of fitness tests on Friday, Pearce was bullish about being ready to take the field against the Colorado Rapids.
“I don’t remember the last time I had to do so many sprints in one training session beside pre-season training, but it felt good," Pearce said. “The staff’s going to have to sit down and discuss my situation. Obviously I haven’t been training and there’ve been guys putting in the work in the last weeks so I can’t expect to be on the field or on the bench.”
Brazilian right back Jackson Goncalves has been starting at right back in Pearce’s place, though he has struggled at times to match Pearce's effectiveness and consistency. Pearce has been out since an Oct. 16th loss to Real Salt Lake. Four days before that, he played 90 minutes in the U.S. national team’s 0-0 tie against Colombia.
“I’m working my hardest to make it a difficult decision for the coach,” said Pearce, who I feel like I’ve been a significant factor, just like everybody who’s played this year and contributed. Like anybody else, I want to get on the field and be with the team. I feel I did well in the fitness test and right now it’s out of my hands.”
Whether FC Dallas head coach Schellas Hyndman starts Pearce or not, it is looking like a safe bet that Pearce will see the field at some point in Sunday's final.
“I feel fit. Whether I can play 90 minutes is difficult to say because it’s difficult to replicate game-like situations or even training situations. The muscle feels good, and after today the fitness feels good.”
Who do you think Hyndman should start? Should he stick with Jackson, or bring in Pearce?
Share your thoughts below.
Pearce is overrated…There is a reason that they are winning without him.
Pearce’s look is a very tasteful blend of “gold rush” and “meth lab”.
I’m thinking…Kevin Dillon.
And it looks like Pearce just drank Casey’s milkshake.
Yep – it’s black, rubber and what Hatchet Harry used to beat Smithy Robinson to death.
Ives you should do a “2010 MLS Best Facial Hair XI” post.
With a mustache he looks like one of the guys on “To Catch a Predator”.
Saw that picture and knew I had to read the comments. They did not disappoint.
Is that mustache Pearce’s way of coming out of the closet?
Will the moustache be healthy enough to compete in the MLS Cup?
NO…”Homeless Eddie” Gaven lives under and overpass in Columbus, and only leaves his cardboard box to hit the pitch. I agree, though, that Pearce wins.
all I read was mustache mustache mustache, mustache mustache mustache.
Pearce wins easily out of that trio. He wears the hell out of that stache. Like Sam Elliot or Clark Gable. Gaven looks like a POW who has just been dragged out into the sunlight for the first time in two years. And I’m pretty sure thats just some kind of fungus growing off of that filthy hippy Beckerman’s face.
Tom Selleck would be proud of that ‘stache.
ya his stash is also questionable
When I was a young lad that used to be referred to as the Rollie Fingers ‘stache. Guess times have changed.
How did they get Freddy Mercury to grow his hair and wear a FC dallas jersey????? Time travel FTW
Not that I’m complaining or think it should be any other way, but I noticed that there has only been one comment about whether Pearce should play or not.
Mustache wins.
+100
LOL, I dont think it is; otherwise it would have killed (shaved) itself
Are you kidding? With the ‘stache alone he should be penciled in as our #1 LB for the ‘Nats
Who wins: Pearce’s ‘stache or Pickens’ giant beard?
That ‘stache made it a requirement to click on this article. Amazing.
As someone who is a fan of the team and has watched every game, I would disagree about Pearce’s effectiveness and consistency. I think he has been good some games, and bad some games, and when he is bad it’s been all about his turnovers. There is a reason there hasn’t been a drop off since he has been out of the lineup, and that is that he and Jackson play about the same skill wise, the only difference being that Jackson has more athleticism and Pearce has better tactical awareness. Pearce gets the love this season because he is a national pool member and the media love to rave about those guys, but I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if in the offseason he is moved to another team or allowed to return to Europe, as he is at position that the squad has depth at with Jackson and Loyd.
Is he hiding something hilarious behind his back?
Nope, he’s been rocking it on and off for the past few months.
The mustache is probably due to http://www.movember.com/
Im thinkin’ more Tom Selleck
Tom Beringer in the big chill or Magnum PI
The real question here is if his mustache is self-aware.
Best USMNT XI based on facial hair? I suppose even normal hair will do, too. Any suggestions? Pearce, Gaven, Beckerman?
“Actors”….is that what they call those people in those films.
What’s with these guys and the stache’s??? Just because the NY Cosmos name has been discussed within the MLS recently, dosent mean it’s time to do you best “Shep Messing” impression.
How can you not love that mustache? It’s classic.
Right, that’s approaching a ‘gangs of new york’ quality stache..
It was curly in Gangs. Just straight in Blood.
Very 1920’s Americana badass. MUSTACHE WIN
Where do you get these pictures from?!?
I just don’t roll with the ‘stache. Get the caterpillar off your face Pearce. You too, McCarty!
Well, if all else fails for Pearce, with that ‘stache he can move to the valley and begin his “acting” career
Or, am I remembering Gangs of New York only?
I would like to see it grow out to the sides into waxy curly-Qs. Very Daniel Day Lewis in “There Will Be Blood”…
The mustache is brilliant. If he shaves it I hope he never plays for the USMNT again.
what’s that on his face?
Would love to see him play, but please shave that ‘stache.