Houston Dynamo: The barriers to clear for 2018 success

The MLS season has a long way to go. Yet Houston Dynamo supporters remain a bit too rattled starting the season with two home losses. Here’s what they need to change to achieve success in this 2018 campaign.

Houston Dynamo assembled all the talent they needed before the season started. The team steadily picked up momentum through the 2017 season. They were, at the start of the season, at a launching point worth far more than two home losses in the first four games.

The entire situation, then, leaves everyone puzzled.

Last year, the Dynamo’s passing and possessional-play frequently fell short. That’s why they spent most of the season struggling toward the playoffs. And just like last season, in three of their first five games, Houston Dynamo completed over 75% of their passes. The big difference, however, in all these games, has been possession. Those numbers already have hiked. This year, they have two games over 50% possession. In contrast, only two games in the first five last year had them exceeding even 40% possession time.

So what’s to fix?

Well, Houston Dynamo spent their off-week before the past week’s road game working on the little things. Head coach Wilmer Cabrera acknowledged that the team has appeared to dominate in some statistical areas compared with previous seasons.

That means that the losses are especially frustrating. Cabrera said they would identify and isolate problem situations and improve performance there. Chris Seitz said the team used the off-week to fix performance kinks. The expected result: an improved version of the Dynamo. That version builds on the passing and possession improvement. They need to translate that into wins.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – MARCH The Houston Dynamo defense lines up to stop a free kick by Marvin Chavez /

Tailored formations/different lineups

In the first five games, Houston Dynamo showed five different starting line-ups. Now that DaMarcus Beasley’s suspension has ended, the line-up for the next home game may settle into what we may expect for the rest of this season.

In every game, the Dynamo utilised the 4-3-3 shape, but moved from defensive to offensive schemes within that line-up. It appears on the road they favor the defensive emphasis. It was what got them a draw last weekend in San Jose. But at home, they favor the offensive scheme like last year.

However, with the defensive scheme, they opened the season at home with a promising 4-0 win over Atlanta United FC. It is down to Cabrera to set his team up tailored to the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition. So far, he has struggled to do that, but the precedent for success is there.

Take better shots

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In four of the first five games this season, Houston outshot opponents to varying degrees. Yet their record stands at just 1-2-1 when outshooting their opponent. Last season, they finished 9-6-5 when delivering more shots than the competition. So what’s gone wrong?

Dynamo haven’t shied from outshooting opponents. ButtToo many on-target shots fly straight at the goalkeeper. Then too many off-target shots came with great areas of the net open for penetration.

Those shooting opportunities represent situations the team recently recreated and practiced. The team consistently wins the battles of possession and midfield passing control. But the goalmouth skirmishes have robbed Houston Dynamo of wins.

And all the players know their battle for the playoffs begins now. So keeping up the improvements over last year while emphasizing the little things will take them far into that battle. It will lock them into the playoffs earlier.

Next: MLS Power Rankings for Week 7

It will get them closer to the MLS cup since 2007, when they last won it all. It could happen again this year, but there are changes that need to be made.

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