Houston Dynamo 2024 position breakdown: Goalkeepers
(image via Houston Dynamo FC)
We have already looked at the forwards and midfielders for the Houston Dynamo in 2024. Let’s now take a look at what to expect from the goalkeepers this season. Last year Steve Clark and Andrew Tarbell were rock solid in net in both MLS and the US Open Cup run.
Steve Clark
Clark is the obvious starter for the Dynamo after enjoying two very good seasons in Houston already. Last year was much improved off his 2022 season with their actually being a capable defense in front of him. Steve amassed an incredible thirteen clean sheets in MLS last season which he will attempt to build off this year. Being 37 years old, people may expect to see Steve slow down his production, but he has already said that he feels incredible and in the best shape of his career, giving credit to the coaching staff in Houston. Expect more of the same from Steve in 2024, but maybe not as many clean sheets, as thirteen is a very hard number to beat.
Xavier Valdez
Valdez enjoyed another very good season with the second team in 2023. He has yet to make an appearance for the first team and he will look to change that this season. Interesting to note that he was on the bench over Andrew Tarbell for the Champions Cup game against St Louis. That could be foreshadowing that he is second in the pecking order now. Unfortunately, with the possibility of there being no US Open Cup run this season, it may be hard for Xavier to find many minutes while Steve Clark is healthy.
Andrew Tarbell
Andrew was very productive in net for the entirety of the US Open Cup run last season. He did have a huge blunder in the Leagues Cup that saw him benched for Steve Clark. Outside of that, he did not make many mistakes while also not standing out much. Sometimes not standing out could be a very good thing for a backup goalkeeper. We do not know if there was an injury, but he was not on the bench against St Louis. If he ends up being third choice, he could be a candidate to be waived or traded later in the season if there are loads of goalkeeper injuries within MLS.
