Houston Dynamo: Playing More like a Winner
By Louis Roesch
Five games into the interim head coach era under Wade Barrett, the Houston Dynamo are looking more and more like the team fans expected to see in 2016. On Saturday night the Dynamo can take another step forward towards reclaiming what appeared to be a lost season until May 25th when former head coach Owen Coyle resigned and went back across the pond. Houston will take on the Eastern Conference leading Philadelphia Union at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston.
So what are we seeing and why are we seeing it now.
First, the team is unified. As Will Bruin said recently. “Wade doesn’t play games.” He went on to explain that under Coyle, many players never know if they were starting, sitting on the bench or not even dressing out as they entered the last training session before gameday. In most instances, the practice before a game is designed to get the starting XI familiar with what tactics the coach wants to employ and the expectations he has for the squad.
Players were confused about their role on the pitch. A player let’s say of Bruin’s stature could never get fully comfortable under Coyle because he never knew if he really had the backing of the coach. You would hear Coyle talk about how hard he worked his socks off and how important he was to the team and then he would be on the bench. Under Barrett, the coach talks about the team and not so much about individuals unless pressed to do so. This was not happening under Coyle, however, and now each player knows where they stand with Barrett. It makes for a more comfortable and more professional environment or as we might say in Houston it’s more like the “Dynamo Way.”
Second, this team is learning to maintain under pressure. The team started with three ties under Barrett and although there are still moments were the side buckles, it is learning to hold its own in the most critical minutes of the match when the tide could turn for the worse. Take for instance Wednesday night’s match with Sporting Kansas City. Brad Davis, former captain of the Dynamo, scores just moments after entering the match for the SKC cutting Houston’s 2-0 lead in half with about 30 minutes to play. This is the time when under Coyle, the defense would wilt now though they holding steady. Instead of giving up the equalizer, the Dynamo scored to regain the two goal advantage and advance to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open Cup against FC Dallas.
Veteran defender DaMarcus Beasley points to the execution of the game plan for a full 90 plus minutes. Only a couple of controversial calls in the Portland match last weekend keep the Dynamo from being unbeaten under Barrett. The coaching staff according to Beasley gives us the game plan and the confidence to go out there and execute. He emphasized much like the coach that this team is playing relaxed and together and giving an effort that everyone can be proud of following a match.
Third and perhaps the most critical thing we have seen is a coach who is not above the game. A great example of this came following the loss in Portland when instead of pointing at the officiating or even at his team’s lack of execution in the closing moments, he pointed to himself as possibly the problem “I need to get better at second half management and I will.” This is a leader who understands that you lead from the front and you are responsible for the good and all the bad that happens or fails to happen and willing to accept both. This is the kind of leadership Houston had in Dominic Kinnear for nine seasons and now its back with Barrett. This is why fans have seen the resurgence they have seen over the last five games. In the movie Remember The Titans, Gary Burtier captain of the Titans hears these words “Attitude reflects leadership.” Houston has a coach who is proud yet humble. Houston has a coach that is personable not arrogant. Houston has a coach who believes in family on and off the field. Houston has a coach who expects nothing less of himself then what he expects from his players. Houston has coach who is a winner.
Philadelphia (7-5-5) comes into Saturday night’s match having scored more goals than any team in Major League Soccer this season yet only carry a goal differential of four. Houston (3-5-8) may be the best last place team the MLS has ever seen. Sitting nine points out of the last playoff spot, Houston has its work cut out for the remainder of the season. Only one team (Seattle) has more ties than Houston so a win on Military Appreciation night would be a big step forward.