With lots of "New's", season is off to an old, familiar start.

 

Haven't we been down this road before?  Although the style is a little different, the lineup and the results are the same.  Through the first two games of the year, there has been little to be excited about.....well, on the pitch anyway.  Despite all the exciting signs that this Dynamo regime will be different, the early goings point to what many (including myself in my season preview) have been saying: this team isn't very good.  Despite all the focus behind the biggest signing in Dynamo history, only to be bettered by a move taking place this summer, there's just not enough on this roster to compete.  Despite the commitment to "being proactive", and all the talk of all of those who have come, are coming, and may come, there's still too much of last year on this team.  Through two games, we have yet to earn a win, we have yet to score a goal, and we continued the (mostly) 10-year trend of being terrible on the road. In this post, we'll look at the good, the bad, and the ugly through the first two games.  

The Best of All:

The news of Hector Herrera becoming official is tremendous news for many reasons.  It shows commitment by this regime, it shows that high-level players are willing to come here, and it shows that this organization actually has a plan.  For the first time in a long time, there are real rumors of high-level players coming here.  Herrera isn't the only one.  Ferriera coming here was huge, as well as a goalkeeper like Steve Clark.  I'm anxiously waiting to see what Zeka can bring to the table and if he can be one of the pieces we've been missing for a while.  From everything I've read and seen, he's a high energy back with skill.  Adding him to either side is an upgrade, at this point, it's just a decision of who sits and who you want to pair him with.  (Writer's note:  I'm also fairly hesitant that he's the next Jose Bizama, and I'm sort of sitting and waiting for this to play out)  The rumors of guys like Thiaguinho (Thiago Fernandes) and even Diego Lainez, no matter how far-fetched, are awesome.  Pat Onstad, Asher Mendelsohn, and Ted Segal have lit a fire under this franchise, and I'm hoping this is more than kindling with no logs.  The fanbase is starting to notice, the city is beginning to get excited, and I hope this turns into an "out of control natural disaster" sized fire that continues to burn.  The formation of the Dynamo Dos, the hiring of a technical director, and giving the Dash their own president, all speak of a professional organization willing to do what it takes to succeed.  Now let's get it going.

The Good:

Goals Against

The defense will actually make appearances in all three categories, but the fact that the Dynamo have only given up 1 goal in the first two games is definitely an early positive.  They've done that mostly by playing with a deep midfield, holding possession, and adding a goalkeeper who can make difficult saves. Through the first two games, they have only allowed 7 Shots on Target, which is good for a tie for 12th MLS and a slight uptick per 90 over last year's production (4.5/90 in 2021).  They've seen a slight improvement in shots against (13.09 in 2021; 11.5 in 2022), and they've been able to hold possession better (46.8% in 2021; 51.8% in 2022) which is giving their opponents fewer opportunities with the ball. Steve Clark has also been extremely solid in the net, saving 85.7% of the shots in front of him.   While there is some concern for the defense going forward when we look at the numbers (more on that later), holding two of the better teams in the Western Conference to 1 goal is also an encouraging sign.

Mattias Vera

I don't think I've made it a secret, I love watching this guy play.  Vera has been a solid workhorse for the Dynamo here in the early going, playing every minute of both games while leading the team in Tackles, Tackles + Interceptions, is second in balls recovered (16) and is being his usual, highly efficient self in the passing game.  He's been a bright spot in the midst of a very disappointing run by the midfield.

Steve Clark

Clark has been nothing more than what you expect from an experienced veteran with a pedigree for winning.  Clark has saved 85.7% of the shots he's faced, and it took a pretty good rocket off an unfortunate deflection to beat him.  While Clark's net protection has been really good, his distribution has been spectacular.  Clark is completing 85.1% of his passes, including 55% of his balls launched downfield (for comparison, Maric was 30.1% and Nelson was 30.8% last year).  His passes are normally on the money to the right people in transition.  Clark has been a solid addition to the back end of this defense.

The Bad

The Midfield

While it hasn't been all bad from the midfield, the problem still remains that we simply can't get the ball out of the midfield.  The starting lineup of Memo Rodriguez, Darwin Ceren, and Mattias Vera leaves no creativity, or the ability to take on a defender and beat them with the ball at their feet.  Both Real Salt Lake and Sporting K.C. took a page from every team we played last year's playbook and pressured the midfield heavy.  The Dynamo currently rank 24th in successful dribbles (43%) which is actually worse than last year (20th, 55%).  While the passing percentage has seen a massive improvement over last year (77.8%: 24th in MLS; 2021, 83.4%: tied for 2nd in 2022), the tendency is to always take the easy release back to Steres or Parker instead of aggressively looking upfield.  The midfield isn't connecting up to the forwards hardly at all.  Daniel Steres currently has almost the same number of touches (172) as Fafa Picault (70), Corey Baird (49), and Sebastián Ferreira (54) combined (173).  The Dynamo rank dead last in touches inside the opponents' penalty box (20) and 24th in progressive passes (44). The attack is noticeably better when Coco and Quintero are subbed on, but for the better part of the first two games the midfield has mired down any attacking chances with poor touches, backward passing, and the inability to play direct consistently. 

The Use of DP's:

Why one of our DP's has started both games and played 170 minutes, another (Quintero) has been our most dangerous playing going forward but seen only 46 minutes, the third has yet to make an appearance.  Over the last two years, it seems like one of the worst things a Dynamo player can be labeled is Designated.  Daniel Steres has been.....OK, but Teenage Hadebe needs to be in the lineup.

The Ugly:

The attack:

Apparently, being "proactive" is synonymous with "boring" and "punchless". 15 shots (24th), 5 on target (tied for 23rd), 0.8 XG (last) and 0 goals (last) through 2 games.  Sebastián Ferreira has managed 1 shot in the first 180+ minutes of action.  The Dynamo rank dead last in Shot Creating Actions per 90 (9.00) and the only real chances at goals in the early going have come through Darwin Quintero.  His shot off the crossbar in Week 1, and his chipper that he hit wide left against Sporting K.C. are the only serious threats to the goal to date.  Fafa has had trouble getting behind the defense or finding the ball in space, and Corey Baird has offered virtually nothing.  Tyler Pasher's ratios are better, but it seems like Tyler Pasher doesn't figure into Paulo Nagamura's plans.  Quintero and Pasher rank 1-2 on the team in shot-creating actions per game, and key passes per game, two categories in which the Dynamo sit bottom of the league.  The adding of Hector Herrera isn't going to fix this, and Paulo has to find a way to unlock this attack and get something going forward.   All of the numbers are roughly half of what last year's anemic attack managed to muster.   One note that Paulo should have taken from Tab, is that without Quintero, Pasher, and Fafa on the field, this team can't generate shots.  Vera, Memo, and Darwin Ceren aren't the kind of midfielders that can break lines and create chances for themselves or their teammates. This midfield has completed one pass this year between defenders into open space, and that one came from Zarek Valentine.  Zarek isn't the kind of full-back that can get the ball down the sideline and cross it into the box. We need to get Zeca on the field ASAP and figure out how to get more minutes out of 34-year-old Quintero.  As far as Pasher, if he isn't the option then we need to find another option for RW.  Baird has had trouble finding space, he's had trouble finding the ball, and he's done nothing with the touches he's gotten.  He's managed 1 shot (off-target), 1 cross (incomplete), and is creating 0.58 shot-creating actions/90.  His receiving % (passes to/times received pass) of 61% ranks 2nd worst on the team among regulars, right behind Ferreira.  Sebas has had absolutely no service, and often times is finding himself dropping deep in the middle third to get the ball, with no options to pass to.  He's managed only 25 touches in the attacking third, which is behind Fafa (27), Coco, (29), Zarek (29), and Memo (33).  The fact that Zarek, (who didn't come on until half-time of the 1st game) and Coco (who hasn't made it in the first half of a game yet) have more touches in the attacking third than our striker who was the biggest transfer deal in the history of our franchise shows you how bad this midfield has been at creating space for him and giving him service.  He's often found 1 vs 3 or 1 vs 4, and commands both CB's on most occasions.  Because there is a total lack of counter opportunities right now, Fafa and Baird haven't been able to take advantage of open space, and our midfield has done nothing to take on defenders and draw them from him.   Houston has to be better in the final third, if we are going to slow play and wait for opportunities, we need guys who can create and take on defenders in this area. 

Card Count:

Through 2 games, the Dynamo have racked up a league-leading 7 yellows.  While no one is in danger of suspension yet, Mattias Vera already has 2.   

Other Notes

While I don't have any general feeling about it yet, it's nice to see Thor out there the first two games.  While he has yet to do anything of significance, I think that it shows dedication towards developing these guys, and it's nice to see a draft pick get time.  I wish we were in a position where we weren't worried about throwing young kids out there every game, but at 20 years old with his size and athleticism, we have to give him every opportunity to develop.  Saying that, playing him in every game also makes this more of a rebuilding year than I'd like.  

This is most likely going to be tuff sledding, even after Hector Herrera gets here in July, so let's dig in, buckle up, and try to enjoy the ride.  It might take more pre-game time at Pitch 21, but I'm here for it.

Thanks again for reading.

Remember to #HoldItDown and stay #ForeverOrange

Brian