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MLS Week 1: First impressions of all 24 teams

By Christopher Dodson

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 3: Los Angeles FC's head coach Bob Bradley prior to Los Angeles FC's MLS match against Sporting Kansas City at the Banc of California Stadium on March 3, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. Los Angeles FC won the match 2-1 (Photo by Shaun Clark/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 3: Los Angeles FC's head coach Bob Bradley prior to Los Angeles FC's MLS match against Sporting Kansas City at the Banc of California Stadium on March 3, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. Los Angeles FC won the match 2-1 (Photo by Shaun Clark/Getty Images) /
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HOUSTON, TX – FEBRUARY 26: (9) Mauro Manotas of Houston Dynamo controls the ball during the match between Houston Dynamo and CD Guastatoya as part of the CONCACAF Champions League 2019 at BBVA Compass Stadium on February 26, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Omar Vega/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX – FEBRUARY 26: (9) Mauro Manotas of Houston Dynamo controls the ball during the match between Houston Dynamo and CD Guastatoya as part of the CONCACAF Champions League 2019 at BBVA Compass Stadium on February 26, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Omar Vega/Getty Images) /

Houston Dynamo

Wilmer Cabrera risked Alberth Elis in the opening league match and Elis took a beating for all 90 minutes. He only drew three fouls but the Real Salt Lake players constantly made him physically uncomfortable. Houston got a 1-1 draw, but only managed one shot on goal. The whole team looked uncomfortable, possibly due to the CCL fixture congestion.

But fixture congestion is not to blame for tepid, route- one soccer. Fixture congestion cannot explain away so many crosses or long balls to an isolated Dynamo jersey. Fixture congestion cannot even be used to explain away the attendance figures. This Houston team is thin on roster depth and the top-end talent barely moves the needle in modern MLS.

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