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Goal.commentary: Houston Dynamo’s Continued Excellence
By Randy Davis, Goal.com 10 hours, 52 minutes ago
If you were to change the name of the Houston Dynamo, you may want to consider the Houston Dynasty. Although the nature of modern day sports in America makes it difficult, the team has been consistently good for a long time, including prior to the move to Houston from San Jose.
The team has had only one losing season since 2001, and that was a transition year as Frank Yallop had left the organization and handed the reins to his assistant, Dominic Kinnear.
Accolades
Before you scoff at the use of the term Dynasty, consider this: Since 2001, the Dynamo/Earthquakes have won four Major League Soccer Cups. That’s four out of a possible eight. Compare that to the other four major sports leagues: The New England Patriots have won three Superbowls over the same stretch and largely been considered a dynasty. The Boston Red Sox have won two World Series Championships during the same period. The San Antonio Spurs put together three NBA Championships, with the LA Lakers winning two during that eight season span. And the Detroit Red Wings have two Stanley Cups to their name since 2001.
Since 2001, Houston has averaged 49 points and 13 wins per season. To understand how remarkable that feat is, take a quick look at the 2008 season: only one team other than Houston had more than 49 points and 13 wins (the Columbus Crew).
The Secret to Success
Obviously it’s never just one thing when teams have the kind of prolonged success that Houston has had. For the Dynamo, it’s a number of things: consistency, coaching, support of the organization, and talent on the field. Head coach Kinnear had this to say about their successful track record:
"Guys are very unselfish, and they play hard for each other. And they’re good players."
To be highly successful for such an extended period requires some consistency. One constant that Houston has had since 2001 is Kinnear, who started out as an assistant in 2001 and became Yallop’s successor in 2004. Along with Kinnear comes his brand of the 4-4-2. Each of his teams has had an attack-minded midfielder that can be a serious scoring threat. In the past it was Landon Donovan and Dwayne DeRosario. This year it has been Stuart Holden. His six goals and four assists have erased concerns about whether or not he could fill the big hole created by DeRo’s departure. Holden has also emerged on the United States national team scene with stellar play in the Gold Cup this summer.
Houston teams also don’t give up goals easily. The Dynamo allowed the fewest goals in the league in 2007 and 2008, and currently sits in second in that category this season.
Kinnear has become known for getting the most out of players. Players that have bounced around without much success have flourished in Houston. The latest seems to be Kei Kamara. After pinging around between Columbus and San Jose, he appears to be settling in with Houston. He already has five goals and one assist this season – by far his most productive campaign.
Another key factor in Houston’s success is that the team plays as a team. The squad has had talented players like DeRosario, Donovan and even guys like Brad Davis, but the stars have never been allowed to dominate the team. Each player is willing to put in the work to help make the other players successful. This is likely the real magic to this team.
Looking Ahead
Houston’s start to this season is another ho-hum, remarkable, Houston-like beginning. It currently sits at the top of the standings with 39 points after 23 matches. It is also cruising along in CONCACAF Champions League, recently picking up a victory in the first round against Isidro Metapan of El Salvador.
With the departure of DeRosario some felt this may be the year that the team would stumble. However, Kinnear was never in this camp and was confident that his side would be strong again.
"I think we have a good team. I knew Stuart Holden was going to have a good season," he asserted. "And defensively I think we’re always strong."
Houston has also just introduced something new to the organization - a first ever Designated Player. Yesterday the addition of Mexican star Luis Angel Landin was announced. The striker most recently from Cruz Azul should help bolster the attack, and there is little doubt that Kinnear will successfully integrate him into the rest of the group.
It’s hard to see anything on the horizon other than continued excellence for this club.
