Five areas in which FC Dallas is excelling

It is in the off-season, when we have lots of time to contemplate all things FC Dallas and Dallas Soccer. This is when we can take a big picture look at what the home town club is doing well... and not so well.

Today we'll start with the positives.

And before you label us cheerleaders, know the five negatives are coming.

1. The FC Dallas Academy

By almost any measure FC Dallas is doing an outstanding job with their Academy. Last time we looked into it, we heard there were about 5000 kids playing in the various FCD Academy, FCD Premier, and FCD Youth teams.

The FCD Academy sits at the top, playing in the US Developmental Academy. Just below that is the FCD Premier Development Program, an "elite…