Houston Dynamo: DaMarcus Beasley must be signed soon

HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 21: Seattle Sounders forward Raúl Ruidiaz (9) attempts to keep the ball away from Houston Dynamo midfielder DaMarcus Beasley (7) during the soccer match between the Seattle Sounders and Houston Dynamo on October 21, 2018 at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, Texas.(Photo by Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 21: Seattle Sounders forward Raúl Ruidiaz (9) attempts to keep the ball away from Houston Dynamo midfielder DaMarcus Beasley (7) during the soccer match between the Seattle Sounders and Houston Dynamo on October 21, 2018 at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, Texas.(Photo by Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Houston Dynamo firmed up the players for the CONCACAF Champions League starting in February. They’re still missing one important person for a vital spot: DaMarcus Beasley.

Options on 10 players got picked up by Houston Dynamo for the 2019 season:

  •       M Eric Bird
  •       M Juan David Cabezas
  •       D A.J. DeLaGarza
  •       M Boniek Garcia
  •       D Kevin Garcia
  •       D Adam Lundkvist
  •       G Michael Nelson
  •       F Romell Quioto
  •       M Memo Rodriguez
  •       G Joe Willis

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Missing from the list? Team Captain DaMarcus Beasley; the defender’s contract expired at the end of the season. But it is too soon to panic. Beasley’s Houston Dynamo contract also expired at the end of the 2017 season. By the end of January 2018, the club signed him back up.

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This year, however, they will have to work markedly faster. That is because Champions League play starts in February when the Dynamo face Guastatoya from Guatemala. That is well before the MLS season starts up in March and Houston will be keen to have Beasley in the fold well prior to such a critical fixture.

The Dynamo fell far short of making MLS post-season in 2018. They came in eighth in the Western Conference. But the CONCACAF Champions League represents a completely different competition than MLS. Yet the Houston Dynamo will gain experience in a variety of competing styles in the league. They will hone sharpness there, especially if they win in the league.

As they return to MLS, they’ll have a leg-up in getting back to winning and moving back toward the MLS Cup. Captain Beasley’s proven leadership can push them to that point quicker.

Beasley qualifies as a free agent for the upcoming season. He can sign with any club he wants. The free agent window opened immediately following the December 11, 2018 MLS Expansion Draft. It’s possible that the Dynamo front office decided to maintain a strategy of awaiting any other offers for their star defender and then jump in and beat them. That is a risky strategy.

Beasley played a major role in the Houston Dynamo’s greatest achievement in 2018, winning the U.S. Open Cup and qualifying for CONCACAF Champions League. He’s played in four World Cups for the U.S. In fact, he’s the first American to play in four World Cups. His 11 career matches ties for second-most in U.S. history.

Beasley’s leadership and fire will push the Dynamo forward to take the Champions League, and then work their way back to compete for the MLS Cup. The only thing yet missing from that success is the Dynamo captain himself.

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Houston Dynamo can’t wait much longer. Get DaMarcus Beasley signed because he is the integral piece of this team.