Houston Dynamo midseason report card: Midfielders
(image via Gustavo Trevino)
We are nearly halfway through the MLS regular season with the Houston Dynamo having played 16 of their 34 games. This is the only competition the Dynamo are still participating in after being eliminated from both the CONCACAF Champions Cup and Lamar Hunt US Open Cup earlier this year. During the international break, we'll assess each positional group for the Dynamo and assign grades to each player based on their performance for the club up to this point. Today we’re grading the midfielders.
Amine Bassi - B
With two goals and three assists thus far, Bassi, alongside Sebastian Kowalczyk, has become the go-to pair for Ben Olsen to create chances and possibly score goals. Even though this role may seem awkward at times for both players, they have developed excellent chemistry. Bassi has adjusted well to this role, which is hopefully temporary, as the games progress, but he still lacks goals. Hopefully, his exceptional passing and goal-creating abilities will be utilized more after the eagerly anticipated summer transfer window for Houston Dynamo FC fans. Bassi needs to return to a more comfortable position that matches his abilities.
Contract status: Under contract through 2024 with options for 2025 and 2026
Chance of returning: 99%
Latif Blessing - C
Latif is, as they call it in the soccer world, a "depth piece." A player with championship experience, as Pat Onstad would love to point out, Blessing came in to finish off games and provide assistance in the middle of the field. He has scored two goals in the last three matches, showcasing his work rate as being able to serve as a workhorse on the defensive side of the ball, but also capable of contributing to the attack when needed. At only 27 years of age, I would expect Latif to at least get another year and continue to come off the bench, providing decent to great performances in his 20 to 45 minutes on the pitch.
Contract status: Under contract through 2024 with an option for 2025
Chance of returning: 50%
Adalberto Carrasquilla - D
Coco is a bit of an enigma. Sometimes you can go a whole game without noticing him until the second half, realizing that Coco has been on the field the whole time, yet the ball has somehow missed him. Then, there are moments where Coco demonstrates the talent that a mid-tier La Liga club is willing to pay 5 to 7 million dollars for. We can't deny that the 2023 Gold Cup Golden Ball recipient is talented, but it's unclear whether we expect too much from a young 25-year-old "potential European player" or if we should be pushing for a guy with great potential to provide more than one goal and one assist in 15 matches.
Contract status: Under contract through 2025 with options for 2026 and 2027
Chance of returning: 33%
Artur - A
Nine times out of ten, a pass from Artur reaches its destination. Nine times out of ten, Artur will recover a ball in the midfield and halt a counterattack from the opposition. Nine times out of ten, Artur will likely play an important role in the creation of a goal. Overall, Artur has been one of the best signings, if not the best, in this new "FC" era of the Houston Dynamo. Fans can always expect a solid performance from Artur, which earns him forgiveness when he makes occasional mistakes.
Contract status: Under contract through 2025 with options for 2026 and 2027
Chance of returning: 100%
Jan Gregus - C
Jan was another one of those depth pieces who got a lot of playing time in the beginning of the season due to injuries. However, as the team has gotten healthier and players have returned, Jan has been relegated to the bench. He was solid in most matches he played early in the season and fulfilled his role as a depth player in the latter part of the first half of the season. I was initially inclined to give him a D, but due to his early efforts, I bumped his grade up to a C.
Contract status: Under contract through 2024 with an option for 2025
Chance of returning: 45%
Ousmane Sylla - F
Unfortunately, the youngster hasn't been able to secure minutes with the first team (aside from a 5-minute cameo in the Champions Cup), which is the sole reason for the F grade. However, Kenny Bundy has been putting him to work at Houston Dynamo 2, entrusting him with important roles in many matches as a chance creator. Perhaps his time will come in the future, but for now, he remains under the tutelage of Bundy and company.
Contract status: Under contract through 2024 with options for 2025, 2026, and 2027
Chance of returning: 99%
Jefferson Valverde - D
There isn't much to evaluate Valverde on, as he has only played 13 minutes in the match against LA Galaxy. He was brought in to reinforce the midfield and serve as a backup to Artur. At only 25 years of age, the potential upside of the former LDU de Quito player will likely see him getting more minutes in the second half of the season.
Contract status: Under contract through 2025 with options for 2026 and 2027
Chance of returning: 90%
Brooklyn Raines - C
Brooklyn is one of those "gambles for future stardom." The teenager moves between the first team and Dynamo 2, and most of the time, he puts in decent shifts. Ben Olsen has been selecting him over other options in the midfield, at least in the last couple of matches, which speaks volumes about how the coaching staff views the young midfielder. He can be a bit of a hot-head, but hopefully, as he accumulates more minutes, he can deliver solid performances in the midfield and grow in this crucial role as a ball distributor.
Contract status: Under contract through 2025 with an option for 2026
Chance of returning: 100%
Hector Herrera - A
This is quite obvious. Hector is not only the captain of this team but also its best player. His vision of the game, his pace with the ball, his almost perfect passing qualities, and even his attention to detail, such as how to position his body to shield the ball from opposition, stand out in the league as a whole. Some people would rank HH in the top 5 best players in MLS, and many argued for a possible MVP for the Mexican star last season. His absence due to injury earlier in the season was palpable, highlighting the difference he makes when he's on the field wearing the orange jersey. Herrera is a complete difference-maker with one goal and one assist in 549 minutes, one can only imagine what he can achieve with more offensive pieces around him.
Contract status: Under contract through 2024 with an option for 2025
Chance of returning: 100%
