Houston Dynamo midseason report card
(image via Houston Dynamo FC)
Last week’s win in Los Angeles officially brought the Houston Dynamo to the midpoint of their season. Houston has now played 17 of the 34 regular season Major League Soccer games this season. What better way is there to look back on the first half of the season than giving out midterm grades?
Goalkeepers
Steve Clark – A
Clark has been one of the better players on the Dynamo this season and has an outside shot at making the All-Star team. Clark is a veteran that demands respect from his defenders as well.
Andrew Tarbell – B
Tarbell has only appeared in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup matches but has helped lead the team to the semifinals. Not bad, for a cup goalkeeper.
Defenders
Ethan Bartlow – B
Bartlow started the season strong but has had some bumps in the road. He’s still growing into his role in a now crowded center back group.
Griffin Dorsey – C
Dorsey hasn’t played much, but when he’s had the chance he’s done well, like in last week’s win in LA. He could be called on more in the second half after he’s shown he can play a role.
Franco Escobar – B+
Dorsey’s time has been limited because Escobar has taken the right back job as his own. He’s even filled in at left back and has been one of the best defenders in the league.
Chase Gasper – C-
Gasper was brought in off waivers to fill a need at left back when Tate Schmitt went down injured. He’s filled in when needed, but that’s it.
Teenage Hadebe – B
Unfortunately, Hadebe is out with a long-term injury, but before he went down, he was playing at a very high level. Hopefully, he can come back late in the season with the team making a playoff run.
Micael – A
The Brazilian has been a revelation on the Dynamo back line. Micael immediately stepped into the lineup when Hadebe went down and has played very well while making the jump from MLS NEXT Pro to MLS.
Tate Schmitt – B
The Dynamo brought Schmitt in for free and he took over as the starting left back to begin the season. He played well, for the most part, until he tore his ACL against San Jose.
Brad Smith – D
If the Dynamo were expecting Smith to get back to his form from his Seattle days, it just hasn’t happened. He’s coming off a major injury and there is still time for his signing to come good, but he hasn’t played more than a bit part to this point.
Daniel Steres – A
Steres has played everywhere on the back line this season, even right back and left back which he hadn’t done before in his career. It’s crazy to think where this team might be without the veteran’s versatility and play on the field.
Erik Sviatchenko – A-
It took a while for Sviatchenko to get on the field but once he did, he has proven to be a rock on defense. He’s a great leader and has helped solidify an already strong Dynamo back line.
Midfielders
Artur – A
Artur is probably the signing of the season. His play as a true number six has been exceptional and has allowed Hector Herrera the freedom to play more freely.
Amine Bassi – B
The season started rough for Bassi but he has transformed since being moved to a more central role.
Luis Caicedo – B+
Signing Caicedo was the kind of move smart clubs make. He’s a veteran that can fill in at any midfield spot and do it well.
Coco Carrasquilla – B-
Like Bassi, Coco had an up and down start to the year but is finding success in a different role. He’s impressing with Panama as well, making fans wonder, could he be sold this summer?
Hector Herrera – A+
HH has been one of, if not the best midfielder in Major League Soccer this season. The Dynamo are where they are now because of Herrera.
Brooklyn Raines – C
The most important thing for Raines this season is that he is getting first team minutes. Hopefully the odd experiment of him playing wing is over.
Attackers
Corey Baird – B
Baird has been a hot-button this season but all-in-all he’s played well. He fits Olsen’s system, and he has begun to find his goal scoring boots.
Sebastian Ferreira – D
Whatever the reason is, Ferreira has been a big disappointment this season. His days in Houston are probably numbered.
Ivan Franco – B-
Franco has shown spurts during his loan spell that make it look like he could be a solid player in MLS. He’s also had some head-scratching moments and goes missing too often for long stretches of games.
Aliyu Ibrahim – A-
The Dynamo acted quickly to find a number 9 that fits Olsen’s system and Aliyu is exactly that. It’s hard to believe he’s still just 21 years old and is only going to get better.
Nelson Quinones – B
At the beginning of the season, most Dynamo fans were ready to send Quinones back to Once Caldas once his loan ended. He’s recently shown to be bought into Olsen’s system and is becoming a very complete player. Now, will the club keep him?
Thor Ulfarsson - C
Ideally, you want more out of a second year player. Thor hasn’t had many opportunities to that but he hasn’t exactly taken the ones he has gotten and run with them.
Head Coach
Ben Olsen - A
All of the anger about hiring Olsen from the fanbase this offseason should be dead by now. Olsen has proven he can implement a solid system, and most importantly, get the players to not only buy in to the tactics but to him as a coach and a leader.
