Welcome to my 7th annual MLS season preview. This year, each club is getting its own dedicated preview. Feel free to check out them all, or just for the clubs that intrigue you. So, here we go with the season preview for the Houston Dynamo...
IN:
M Memo Rodriguez (12/4/14 - Homegrown)
GK Joe Willis (12/8/14 - trade from DC)
D Samuel Inkoom (12/8/14 - trade from DC)
F Chandler Hoffman (12/18/14 - Re-Entry Stage 2 Draft)
M Nathan Sturgis (12/18/14 - Re-Entry Stage 2 Draft)
F Erick Torres (12/23/14 - transfer from Chivas Guadalajara)
M Leonel Miranda (1/8/15 - loan from Independiente)
D Raul Rodriguez (1/9/15 - free)
M Zach Steinberger (1/15/15 - SuperDraft)
D Oumar Ballo (2/23/15 - SuperDraft)
D Taylor Hunter (2/23/15 - SuperDraft)
M Rob Lovejoy (2/23/15 - SuperDraft)
OUT:
D Eric Brunner (retired)
D Anthony Arena (11/25/14 - option declined)
F Omar Cummings (11/25/14 - option declined)
M Andrew Driver (11/25/14 - option declined)
F Brian Ownby (11/25/14 - option declined)
F Bryan Salazar (11/25/14 - option declined)
M Servando Carrasco (11/25/14 - out of contract)
M Andrew Driver (12/8/14 - traded to DC)
GK Tally Hall (12/8/14 - traded to Orlando City)
F Mark Sherrod (12/10/14 - Expansion Draft to Orlando City)
F Erick Torres (12/23/14 - loaned to Chivas Guadalajara)
MANAGER: Owen Coyle
The big news for Houston came on three fronts this offseason. The first was the departure of manager Dom Kinnear after 9 seasons, 4 MLS Cup Finals appearances, and 2 MLS Cup titles, which led to the acquisition of former Burnley, Bolton, and Wigan manager Owen Coyle. The second was the Dynamo's move from the Eastern Conference to the West, where they will get plenty of chances to come face to face with former manager Kinnear. The third, was the purchase (and loaning back to Chivas until July) of Erik "El Cubo" Torres, one of the best young strikers in MLS.
Up front, Torres will be a huge miss until his summer arrival, but in the meantime, serviceable striker Will Bruin looks to take the lead, with Barnes or Lopez in a support striker role. Chandler Hoffman has also been brought in as an option off the bench. While a stable group, the season won't truly begin for Houston until El Cubo arrives.
In the mid, the veteran line up looks to be the same from last season, Davis and Garcia on the wings, with Garrido and Clark in the middle. New loan arrival Leo Miranda looks set to spell both Davis and Garcia on the wings, and several young faces looking to break in during sporadic appearances.
Defensively, Owen Coyle knew he needed a rock in the back to play the way he intends and stop Houston from leaking goals. So into last seasons defense of Beasley and Sarkodie at the fullback, and Horst at CB, comes new signing Raul Rodriguez. Wether or not he is the man to solidify the defense is a question yet to be answered. And into this mix comes the question of keeper. Both youngster Tyler Deric and veteran Joe Willis look set to compete (and flip flop) for the role.
Overall, the questions for Houston and the potential answers look like they could miss the playoffs for the second season in a row. Can they score enough goals before Torres arrives to still be in contention come summer? Can Coyle do what other foreign managers without solid MLS experience have failed to do and impress? Look for and up and down, mainly down, season for Houston.
2014 Eastern Conference Finish: 8th
Predicted 2015 Western Conference Finish: 8th
Thanks for reading my Houston Dynamo 2015 season preview. Please check out the other previews that may interest you, and as always, remember, MLS Matters.
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