Dynamo News of the Week
By Louis Roesch
Ahead of Friday night’s match with Orlando FC, the Houston Dynamo have had a busy week not just on the preparation but on the personnel side with regard to movement. On Wednesday the team announced the departures of David Rocha and Leonel Miranda and then came Friday’s announcement that forward Erick Torres had made the Mexican Olympic side.
Wednesday’s announcement far outweighs Friday’s for a number of reasons. Rocha, the Spanish midfielder signed in the off-season, and the team agreed to a mutual termination of contract. Rocha had appeared in the first three games of the 2016 season but then only one MLS appearance since along with the Dynamo Charities Cup and the two U.S. Open wins.
The loss of Miranda though appears at least on the surface to be a much more significant loss. The Argentine midfielder has been a regular contributor to this club and has been spoken of in glowing terms by interim head coach Wade Barrett. In fact, he had been a substitute used consistently in the rotation with first Coyle and now Barrett. It will be a bigger loss than the move concerning Rocha.
Miranda had been with the Houston Dynamo since they first obtained him on loan from Atletico Independiente in 2015. He had 14 MLS starts and 32 overall appearances to his credit. His loan expired on June 30, 2016 and the club was unable to work out a deal to keep him.
“We worked very hard to keep Leonel here,” Dynamo Vice-president and general manager Matt Jordan said. “These loan situations have a lot of layers. A lot of factors go into the equation.”
The loss of Miranda comes on the heels of Zach Steinberger’s loan to the NASL Jacksonville Armada that runs through the end of 2016. The moves of Miranda and Rocha leave the Dynamo at 22 on the roster and comes at a time when clubs are usually adding players at the international transfer window. The move probably opens the door for a more pivotal role for midfielder Collen Warner.
More from MLS Multiplex
- Javier Milei Elected in Argentina: Potential Impacts on MLS and Signings of Argentine Players
- Orlando City and New York City FC in the Battle for Matías Arezo; Grêmio Enters Negotiations! Who Will Come Out on Top?
- USA, Honduras, Panama, and Canada Close in on a Spot in the 2024 Copa America
- De Gea Turns Down Al-Nassr’s Lucrative Offer: Speculation Points to Possible Reunion with Messi at Inter Miami
- Messi’s Magnetic Impact in the United States
Torres being named to the Mexican Olympic side is not much of surprise considering he has seen more playing time for Mexico since arriving last July. The 23 year old was the only MLS player named to the Mexican U-23 national team for Rio and the only non-Liga MX player as well.
Since arriving in Houston, the all-time Mexican scoring leader in Major League soccer gained Best XI team at the 2015 CONCACAF Men’s Olympic Qualifying Championship in October after scoring three goals.
He also traveled to France earlier this summer to play with the Mexico U-23 team in the Toulon Hopefuls tournament and just returned this week from a two-week pre-Olympic camp with the team in which he scored twice in three matches. Mexico begins Olympic group play on Thursday August 4, 2016.