The answer is always the same: “Competition for places is a good thing.”
Three times this offseason I have personally asked Owen Coyle about the strength of his squad. Most recently at the Dynamo media day, I asked if he had come to any kind of thoughts on his starting eleven for opening day versus Columbus Crew.
Coyle likes to play his cards very close to his chest. The Dynamo are blessed with two quality players at most positions on the pitch this season, something other MLS teams cannot boast.
The pairing of centre-backs is likely to be Jermaine Taylor and Raul Rodriguez because of the minutes they’ve had together this off-season, but when asked at the media day Coyle wouldn’t budge:
“Jermaine and Raul are a good pairing but i’ve got to say David Horst has been excellent as well. They’ve got got a bit of everything, they’ve got pace, they’ve got awareness, they’re very good technically so there’s good balance there. Those two [Jermaine Taylor and Raul Rodriguez] together look very good there’s no doubt about that.”
While Coyle was trying to keep coy about his opening day lineup, the way he talked about Jermaine Taylor hints that he may get the opening day nod beside Raul Rodriguez in the middle of the back four. Coyle said of the experienced Jamaican international:
“He’s been outstanding from Day 1. He gives you everything he’s got, wears his heart on his sleeve. I always knew he was a good player but when you work with him on a daily basis he’s totally enhanced that reputation. I’ve been delighted with him so far, he’s a key part of what we’re doing.”
The Dynamo have most of their “competition for places” in the striker department. Mexican international Erick Torres will not join the team until the end of June and so we will see a combination of Will Bruin, Giles Barnes, Chandler Hoffman, and JJ Johnson battling it out for starting duties.
Giles Barnes is the MVP of the team from the 2014 season, so expect him to start if healthy on opening day. The only question-mark remaining in this department is whether Owen Coyle will play two strikers together or one striker and a man playing off of him.
If it’s the latter, Will Bruin could suffer as Boniek Garcia absolutely tore apart Orlando City from the shadow striker position in the Carolina Challenge Cup. Boniek is primarily a right sided winger so it will be interesting to see if Owen Coyle decides to deploy him in such a role, especially as the Argentine Leonel Miranda has impressed wide on the right this offseason.
Unfortunately for some players, the strength in depth will mean that some won’t be involved this season with the Dynamo’s first team squad. The younger draft picks especially could see themselves moved on loan to new affiliate the Charleston Battery. Most of these candidates ply their trade in midfield and I wouldn’t be surprised to see rookies Zach Steinberger and Rob Lovejoy spend some quality developmental time with the USL Pro side this season.
This season the Dynamo’s pitch will be a total of 3 yards wider at head coach Owen Coyle’s request. With Houston playing a different more possession based game under Coyle the Scotsman thinks this will play into the Dynamo’s hands.
“We want to pass and move the ball through the different areas of the park. The three yards gives us room to do that rather than squeeze everything into small spaces. It’s only an extra three yards but for the way we pass and move and get out wide to cross the ball it can add a dimension to how we want to go about it.”
This will be an advantage for Coyle’s men, especially when the summer months come. The best way to beat the heat is to have the ball and move your opponents and in the Texan summers that are approaching, it’ll be a mean feat for most teams to keep up with the Dynamo’s possession football.
“The first day of pre-season right down to the number changes, we felt there was something big going on” said Giles Barnes of the Dynamo preseason preparations.
“We’ve brought in quality and kept that quality base too. We’re a good team, we can compete with anyone and we feel like we can beat anyone.”
The Dynamo open their season on Saturday, March 7th against the Columbus Crew at 7.30pm Central Time.
Local TV: ROOT Sports Southwest.
Expected Opening Day XI 4-4-2: Deric .(GK); DF: Kofi Sarkodie, Raul Rodriguez, Jermaine Taylor, DaMarcus Beasley; MF: Brad Davis (Captain), Luis Garrido, Alexandro Lopez, Boniek Garcia; FW: Will Bruin, Giles Barnes.
