This is one in a series of team previews preparing fans for the 2023 MLS season. Check out the full list; teams will be revealed in predicted order of finish from Feb. 10-24.
What Houston Dynamo FC did last year
Dynamo fans probably don’t want to talk all that much about what the Dynamo did last year. It wasn’t quite on the level of the 16-match winless streak that marred 2021 — breaking that with a win over Austin was easily the highlight of that blighted season — but 2022 did have an 11-match summer swoon in which they registered just a single win, and they finished just one point better than last-in-the-West San Jose, thanks a scoreless draw against hapless SKC on Decision Day while the Quakes were getting boatraced 6-0 by FC Cincinnati. Yeah, we’ll stop talking about last year now.
Key additions
Midfielder Artur (trade from Columbus), winger Amine Bassi (transfer from FC Metz), defender Franco Escobar (free agent), winger Iván Franco (loan from Club Libertad), defender Brad Smith (free agent), defender Djevencio van der Kust (loan from FC Utrecht) — and, of course, head coach Ben Olsen.
Key departures
Defender Adam Lundkvist (trade to Austin), defender Tim Parker (trade to St. Louis), winger Fafa Picault (trade to Nashville), forward Darwin Quintero (option declined), midfielder Memo Rodríguez (option declined, signed with LA Galaxy)
Making the case for Houston Dynamo FC
It’s very possible that Picault and Quintero did not particularly enjoy their times at Houston, and by offloading them and bringing in some fresh new players, the dynamic might be changed for Olsen as he steps into a head coaching role the front office hasn't been successful in filling of late. Between Hector Herrera and Coco Carrasquilla, there’s a solid midfield to work around, and Sebastián Ferreira had 16 goal contributions (13 goals, three assists) in his debut MLS season.
Players to watch
Franco’s an intriguing Paraguayan who could have made sense at Austin, and he’s got some history with Ferreira — they were once Libertad teammates — that might lead to the kind of cohesion you look for when you try to build a FIFA Ultimate Team and build links between players. If Brad Smith stays healthy, he’ll bring dynamism from the fullback position that could further free up attackers.
A nerdy tidbit
Tempers be flarin’ in Houston. Last year, the Dynamo shared the yellow card lead with Portland, as both teams got 91 (an average of 2.67 per match). The Dynamo also got six red cards, one “better” than the Timbers.
A fun tidbit
Some people (I’m not saying who) mock the Dynamo for the broad swaths of orange seats in their stands, but that’s now changing. The newly-named Shell Energy Stadium is getting a refresh, and the lower bowl’s done, reflecting color-palette sharing with the NWSL Dash and a welcome entrance into the modern era of stadiums.
Driven by a shared vision, we are proud to present Houston's home for soccer.
— Shell Energy Stadium (@ShellEnergyStdm) January 17, 2023
We can't wait to welcome you home to Shell Energy Stadium this season! 💙 pic.twitter.com/SGCoKseTiO
Swapping out seats for a less roasty variety doesn’t quite make Shell Energy an MLS 3.0 stadium, but it’s now more a 2.5 than its Frisco/Carson/Sandy counterparts.
Projected finish
12th in the West
Look, many MLS teams got better with bigger names in the offseason, and this is still a team spending a DP spot on center back Teenage Hadebe, which might not be the best use of DP money for a team that needs upgrades lots of places. At least signings like Djevencio van der Kust and Amine Bassi says, “We’re trying stuff,” even if it also says, “We’ll throw all this against the wall and see what sticks.”
