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Houston Dynamo: What Happened In 2009?
A look at the year that was for the Houston Dynamo.
Dec 22, 2009 5:48:01 PM
Another strong year for the Houston Dynamo in 2009 ended at the hands of the Los Angeles Galaxy in the Western Conference final.
After spending most of the season at or near the top of the table in the west, Houston had to overcome the Seattle Sounders in the first round of the playoffs, and fell victim to the streaking Galaxy, ending the Texas club's chance of making it three titles in four seasons.
As has been the case for Houston in the past, star forward Brian Ching came up big in the playoffs, notching the match winner in overtime of the second leg against Seattle, but Ching's decline in production over the course of the year could be the first signs in the decline of the Dynamo dynasty.
What Went Wrong?
Several things can be pointed to, but ending your season in the conference finals leaves very little to complain about. A missed opportunity in that game against the Galaxy will certainly leave a bad taste in the mouth of the Dynamo fans and team, but it was, in the end, another successful campaign for the Houston squad.
A slow start for the Texans ended up costing the team home field advantage. Four games into the 2009 season the Dynamo were still searching for a win, Stuart Holden was still searching (understandably after the loss of his father) for his top form, and the team as a group was still searching for a replacement for the departed Dwayne De Rosario.
The results didn't take long to turn in Houston's favor, and the team was soon lurking near the top of the table.
The CONCACAF Champions league also has to be considered a failure for Houston in 2009. A 5-1 drubbing of Arabe Unido was quickly followed by losses to Pachuca and crushing 3-2 loss to Isidro Metapan, which saw the team bounced from the competition.
What Went Right?
A lot of things actually went well for Houston in 2009. The team found a steady pairing in the back four of Bobby Boswell and Geoff Cameron, a combination that should be one of the best in MLS for years to come. Stuart Holden grew into one of the better attacking midfielders in the league. Dominic Oduro showed the type of workrate, speed, and technical ability that could help him blossom into a force should he ever figure out how to put the ball in the net, and the club acquired the Mexican star they had so coveted in the form of Luis Angel Landin.
Not everything was roses of course, but the 2009 version of the Houston Dynamo was not too much different than the 2006, 2007, or 2008 versions, and that in itself is a positive.
What Should The Team Do Differently?
To be honest, not much. Admittedly, before the season, the loss of De Rosario looked to be a huge hurdle, but Houston's front office has proven that they know how to build a team, and his loss was hardly felt after the team settled in.
Some additions will have to be made to cope with the impending loss of players, but the Houston franchise should still be in good shape. It's hard to find things that need to be changed with a franchise that is consistently one of the best in Major League Soccer.
Landin should play a much bigger role next season after a half season in the system and a full preseason to find some fitness, which should help alleviate some of the scoring woes. Getting the designated player involved more and allowing his style of play to dictate the tempo of games is the only thing the team should focus on doing differently.
What Changes Will Be Made?
It looks almost certain that Stuart Holden is heading across the pond, and Ricardo Clark may not be very far behind, leaving a huge gap in the middle of the pitch that Houston will have to deal with.
The loss of Holden can be offset with Landin getting more involved in the play, but a true central figure will have to be added if Houston plans on sticking to the style that has made them such a successful franchise over the last few years. The loss of Clark could also be a huge blow if it becomes reality.
The addition of some new talent in the middle of the field is a must if either of the aforementioned players heads to another club. It would also be prudent to bring in some depth on the front line, but the current setup does not make it an absolute must. Houston should have the luxury of picking the best available player in the draft rather than focusing on a specific need.
What Will Happen Next Year?
It's always a tricky job predicting what will happen in the future, but Houston's consistency makes it substantially easier. The Dynamo will be a hard team to handle in 2010, with or without Holden and Clark, and will once again be at or near the top of the west.
That's not exactly a bold prediction. Robertson Stadium is a hard place for visiting teams to play, the Dynamo will have a strong defense, the style of play will still be too physical for most teams in MLS to match, and the team will still have plenty of quality in the attack as long as Brad Davis, Brian Mullan, Landin, and Ching are fit.
The Dynamo dynasty may be on the decline, but don't look for it to end next season.
Allen Ramsey, Goal.com
Get all the latest Major League Soccer news with Goal.com's dedicated page.
After spending most of the season at or near the top of the table in the west, Houston had to overcome the Seattle Sounders in the first round of the playoffs, and fell victim to the streaking Galaxy, ending the Texas club's chance of making it three titles in four seasons.
As has been the case for Houston in the past, star forward Brian Ching came up big in the playoffs, notching the match winner in overtime of the second leg against Seattle, but Ching's decline in production over the course of the year could be the first signs in the decline of the Dynamo dynasty.
What Went Wrong?
Several things can be pointed to, but ending your season in the conference finals leaves very little to complain about. A missed opportunity in that game against the Galaxy will certainly leave a bad taste in the mouth of the Dynamo fans and team, but it was, in the end, another successful campaign for the Houston squad.
A slow start for the Texans ended up costing the team home field advantage. Four games into the 2009 season the Dynamo were still searching for a win, Stuart Holden was still searching (understandably after the loss of his father) for his top form, and the team as a group was still searching for a replacement for the departed Dwayne De Rosario.
The results didn't take long to turn in Houston's favor, and the team was soon lurking near the top of the table.
The CONCACAF Champions league also has to be considered a failure for Houston in 2009. A 5-1 drubbing of Arabe Unido was quickly followed by losses to Pachuca and crushing 3-2 loss to Isidro Metapan, which saw the team bounced from the competition.
What Went Right?
A lot of things actually went well for Houston in 2009. The team found a steady pairing in the back four of Bobby Boswell and Geoff Cameron, a combination that should be one of the best in MLS for years to come. Stuart Holden grew into one of the better attacking midfielders in the league. Dominic Oduro showed the type of workrate, speed, and technical ability that could help him blossom into a force should he ever figure out how to put the ball in the net, and the club acquired the Mexican star they had so coveted in the form of Luis Angel Landin.
Not everything was roses of course, but the 2009 version of the Houston Dynamo was not too much different than the 2006, 2007, or 2008 versions, and that in itself is a positive.
What Should The Team Do Differently?
To be honest, not much. Admittedly, before the season, the loss of De Rosario looked to be a huge hurdle, but Houston's front office has proven that they know how to build a team, and his loss was hardly felt after the team settled in.
Some additions will have to be made to cope with the impending loss of players, but the Houston franchise should still be in good shape. It's hard to find things that need to be changed with a franchise that is consistently one of the best in Major League Soccer.
Landin should play a much bigger role next season after a half season in the system and a full preseason to find some fitness, which should help alleviate some of the scoring woes. Getting the designated player involved more and allowing his style of play to dictate the tempo of games is the only thing the team should focus on doing differently.
What Changes Will Be Made?
It looks almost certain that Stuart Holden is heading across the pond, and Ricardo Clark may not be very far behind, leaving a huge gap in the middle of the pitch that Houston will have to deal with.
The loss of Holden can be offset with Landin getting more involved in the play, but a true central figure will have to be added if Houston plans on sticking to the style that has made them such a successful franchise over the last few years. The loss of Clark could also be a huge blow if it becomes reality.
The addition of some new talent in the middle of the field is a must if either of the aforementioned players heads to another club. It would also be prudent to bring in some depth on the front line, but the current setup does not make it an absolute must. Houston should have the luxury of picking the best available player in the draft rather than focusing on a specific need.
What Will Happen Next Year?
It's always a tricky job predicting what will happen in the future, but Houston's consistency makes it substantially easier. The Dynamo will be a hard team to handle in 2010, with or without Holden and Clark, and will once again be at or near the top of the west.
That's not exactly a bold prediction. Robertson Stadium is a hard place for visiting teams to play, the Dynamo will have a strong defense, the style of play will still be too physical for most teams in MLS to match, and the team will still have plenty of quality in the attack as long as Brad Davis, Brian Mullan, Landin, and Ching are fit.
The Dynamo dynasty may be on the decline, but don't look for it to end next season.
Allen Ramsey, Goal.com
Get all the latest Major League Soccer news with Goal.com's dedicated page.
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