Fireworks.
That’s what the Dynamo were hoping for on the night they opened their 10th season in Major League Soccer.
A lot of preparation and re-branding had gone into Houston’s 10th season. The Dynamo now boast a new coach in Owen Coyle, a high profile DP in Erick Torres, a new general manager Matt Jordan, a TV deal that expands their reach throughout Texas, Louisiana, New Mexico and Oklahoma, not to mention a slight rebranding from “Forever Orange” to “Forever Orange, Forever One.”
Owen Coyle also made the decision to widen the pitch by a total of three yards this season. A decision that came as a result of the possession style of football he wants to play, and why not? With players like DaMarcus Beasley, Kofie Sarkodie, Brad Davis and Boniek Garcia, he’s right to try and expose the opposition with the width the Dynamo has.
When it was announced that Will Bruin would line up next to Giles Barnes up front for the Houston Dynamo against Columbus Crew SC the first thing I felt was confused not re-assured, and his performance in the first 57 minutes echoed my feelings.
During the first half, there was no width, and Columbus pressed the Dynamo accordingly. Giles Barnes and Will Bruin were limited to just two shots between them.
Bruin always plays hard, and the game vs Columbus was no different. He ran, and ran, but ultimately that’s all he did… he worked hard, he put in a lot of effort that came to nothing.
Unfortunately for Bruin that wont be enough for Owen Coyle this season — he must contribute. The Dynamo offense with Will Bruin in it is stifled, his role in the team demands so much more than it did last season under Dom Kinnear, and he may not have to tools to handle it.
In 57 minutes on the pitch the Dynamo front man had just one shot and it was nearer the corner flag than the target, he only completed 66% of his passes, and contributed almost nothing on the defensive side of the ball — something Owen Coyle’s players are expected to contribute to.
Bruin was removed and Leonel Miranda was brought on in his place, moving Boniek Garcia into the shadow striker position that Bruin was playing. As soon as Garcia was playing behind Barnes, like he did versus Orlando City in pre-season, the Dynamo’s attacking play opened up.
Garcia playing behind Barnes made an immediate impact. All of a sudden the Dynamo were more confident in their passing game, and attacked Columbus Crew. They kept possession so well that Columbus were forced to withdraw Federico Higuain who was rendered ineffectual in the second half due to the ‘Crew’s inability to keep the ball.
In the 66th minute a move started by Garcia was broken up, but the ball found its way to Raul Rodriguez. The Spaniard played a first time pass to Kofi Sarkodie who produced a moment of magic to find his way past Waylon Francis and then set up Giles Barnes to fire home for the Dynamo’s winning goal.
Kofi Sarkodie lays the ball into the path of Giles Barnes for the Dynamo’s opener
Boniek Garcia draws players toward him because of this ability with the ball at his feet. So when he plays out wide, that’s where the traffic is, that is the complete opposite of what Owen Coyle wants. Because of this, in the first half there were no probing runs by DaMarcus Beasley or Kofi Sarkodie. Boniek’s presence on the wing allowed Columbus to close the Dynamo down before they could open up the channels.
Once Boniek Garcia was in the middle of the pitch, the left and right channels both completely opened up for Kofi Sarkodie and DaMarcus Beasley. Beasley should’ve scored in the 80th minute after a fantastic run down the left wing, beating his man into the area. The former USMNT international beat Steve Clark at his near post, but his shot kept rising and somehow found its way over.
When asked about getting used to the width of the pitch, Kofi Sarkodie said it’s “not a case of getting used to it for me, that’s my game.” But conceded it was “difficult” to make the kinds of runs he made in the second half when Garcia was ahead of him.
“Boniek draws people in toward the ball. So when he’s playing up top with Giles [Barnes], it allows me and Leonel [Miranda] to work into the space a little more” said Sarkodie of the Dynamo’s change in attacking prowess, and admitted that Boniek Garcia “is making his case to start in that position, asking the questions” following yesterday’s performance coupled with he heroics versus Orlando SC in pre-season.
Garcia is surrounded by 3 Columbus defenders
But where does this leave Will Bruin? The American international scored 10 goals last season so one could forgive you for expecting him to start, but he simply does not fit the bill of an “Owen Coyle” player in this system.
Coyle wants his players to use the space and get crosses in, and playing Boniek in behind Barnes is the way to do this. For Owen Coyle the decision should be simple: Play Boniek Garcia behind Giles Barnes against Orlando City SC and Kaka and enjoy another victory over MLS’s newest expansion team.
Things will only become more compounded with the impending arrival of Erick Torres from his loan at Chivas Guadalajara. Only time and hard work will determine whether Will Bruin will ever fit in to Owen Coyle’s style of play.
