A Houston Dynamo cheerleader holds up a scarf that reads, “Home of Champions” during the pregame festivities on Friday, July 3, 2015 at BBVA Compass Stadium. Victor Araiza / Prost Amerika
In conjunction with Prost Amerika’s series “Three Hopes and One Fear” previewing the 2016 Major League Soccer season, here are my 3H1F for the Houston Dynamo:
Hope #1: An explosive year for the Houston Dynamo front line
Can Bruin, Barnes and Cubo get rolling and become the most dangerous trio in Major League Soccer? Credit: Houston Dynamo
It’s easy to look at the Houston Dynamo attack and immediately place the expectations on Erick “Cubo” Torres to have a double-digit scoring year, especially because he has that “Designated Player” tag next to his name. It’s certainly not impossible, and considering what he did in 2013-14 with Chivas USA it’s very realistic, but you’ll most likely be disappointed if you’re strictly expecting him to have an MLS MVP caliber year.
Let’s also remember the Dynamo have two other guys who should have as much expectations as anyone to perform on the goal sheet this year (and while they may not have the “DP” tag next to them, the salary numbers show their pay is not far behind Torres’). Will Bruin is second on the Houston Dynamo’s all-time scoring list and the club’s reigning golden boot winner. Giles Barnes was the Dynamo’s golden boot man the two consecutive years before that, and a catalyst in Jamaica’s 2015 Gold Cup run that saw them reach the final. Also, on the bench, you have a guy like Mauro Manotas who’s just itching to have a chance to prove himself.
The fact is I don’t really care where the goals come from or from whom but it’s no secret that the goal-scoring source will have to be consistent for the Dynamo to make the playoffs. It was a huge reason why the Dynamo struggled in 2015 and, down the stretch, defensive guys like DaMarcus Beasley and Ricardo Clark where the one’s winning games.
Cristian Maidana takes part in practice on Monday, January 25, 2016 at Houston Sports Park. The Argentine will play a major role in Owen Coyle’s lineup and is expected to be the catalyst of the Dynamo’s attack. Victor Araiza / Prost Amerika
Now, before you point the blame at last season’s defensive woes, let me remind you that six other teams had more goals allowed than the Dynamo and two of those made the playoffs: Toronto FC (eliminated in the wild card game) and Columbus Crew SC (MLS Cup runner up). You know what those two teams had? Giovinco and Kei Kamara respectively to win games for them.
As the adage goes, sometimes the best defense is a good offense. Now, I’m not asking for the Dynamo front line to be Messi, Suarez and Neymar or Bale, Benzema and Cristiano but if they get rolling they definitely have the potential to be the best trio in Major League Soccer. That’s my hope. That we’ll be talking about our own BBC (Barnes, Bruin and Cubo) throughout the season.
Hope #2: A dependable defense, bend but don’t break
Houston Dynamo defender Raúl Rodríguez squares off against Los Angeles Galaxy’s Robbie Keane on Saturday, July 25, 2015 at BBVA Compass Stadium. The Dynamo defense will have to contain players like Keane if they expect to win games in 2016. Victor Araiza / Prost Amerika
You’ve heard it plenty of times, “Defense wins championships.”
Only one team in 2015 struggled more than the Dynamo to score during the regular season and still made the playoffs: the MLS Cup Champion Portland Timbers. Now, granted that once they were in the playoffs, names like Fanendo Adi, Diego Valeri and Lucas Melano stole the spotlight but first they had to make it there.
Guys like Nat Borchers, 31 blocks in 2015 (MLS best), and Alvas Powell, MLS leader among defenders in tackles won (117) and dribbles completed (62), were the iron men that held down the fort for the MLS Cup Champions. The Dynamo defenders are definitely capable of doing that but just like on offense they will need one thing: consistency.
Houston Dynamo newcomer David Rocha will be a player to watch in 2016. Rocha will fill the void left by the departure of Luis Garrido. Victor Araiza / Prost Amerika.
Four defenders left the Dynamo and five defensive reinforcements were acquired this offseason: Bradley Bourgeois, Jalil Anibaba, Sebastien Ibeagha, Agus, and Aboulie Mansally. On top of that, David Rocha was brought in to replace the void left in defensive midfield by the Luis Garrido’s departure.
It will take some time for the team to build chemistry and rhythm. As the season goes on, tough, this defense is going to have to take on and be able to contain guys like Giovinco, David Villa and Robbie Keane in order to win games. Tyler Deric showed throughout 2015 that he is capable denying that kind of star power and, with a little more help, his clean sheets should increase in 2016.
Hope #3: Move over Portland and Seattle, make a place for Houston
This season will be just as big for the fans. It’s time for Houston to be talked about as a difficult atmosphere to play in besides the Houston heat and humidity. When you think of playing in places like Seattle, Portland, Salt Lake City, Toronto and Orlando, one of your first thoughts is the crowd. Right now Houston is hanging around with Colorado, a though environment to play in but in a stadium with empty seats.
The Dynamo supporters’ section moving to the new “Zona Naranja” in sections 215-217 on the north end of the stadium should help this cause and allow for support reminiscent of the Robertson Stadium days. As the Dynamo website states, the new area allows more immediate growth, more room for instruments and room for tifo displays.
My ultimate hope is that the supporters’ section extends beyond “Zona Naranja,” not necessarily physically but in a way where the rest of the stadium is involved in the songs and chants. It’s time to make BBVA Compass Stadium an atmosphere as unique as the orange seats in the stadium.
Fear: That the opportunity of having a breakthrough season isn’t maximized
KXLN’s Lester Gretsch interviews Houston Dynamo forward Erick “Cubo” Torres on Monday, January 25, 2016 at Houston Sports Park. The Dynamo have a golden opportunity to grow their brand in 2016 but they will have to improve the product on the field to do so. Victor Araiza / Prost Amerika
There is a huge opportunity this year for the Houston Dynamo to make some real noise and create some buzz throughout the Bayou City.
Who knows? Maybe I’m just fantasizing but it honestly feels like the team is starting to build some real momentum with this fresh start. Local TV channels have been trying to dip their toe in the pool the previous years with live Dynamo game broadcasts on KPRC 2 and KHOU 11.2 in English and Spanish broadcasts previously on Telemundo 47 (deffered) and this year on UniMás 67 (4 matches). This year CBS Radio joined in as the Dynamo’s new English radio partner, basically matching the situation the Dynamo had previously with Gow Media, with the caveat of promoting the team with mentions and ticket giveaways on sister stations KKHH Hot 95.7 FM and KLOL Mega 101 FM. Last but not least, 2016 Spanish radio broadcasts will be aired on KLAT- Univision Radio 1010 AM.
The media portfolio is great, arguably the best in Major League Soccer, but the problem has always been that there is hardly a long term agreement and that’s why the Houston Dynamo are always bouncing around looking for the best short-term deal each season. At some point,though, something is bound to bite but the Houston Dynamo need to do everything they can to help their cause.
Like a player waiting on a national team call up, the Houston Dynamo have to take care of their on-field product first and then the benefits will come because the interest is genuinely there, more so than ever before. The Houston Dynamo simply cannot let this golden opportunity go to waste which is why all around from the front office to the players on the pitch, 2016 has to be a big year and another playoff absence is unacceptable.
