The new kid, Brunner, did a google+ or whatever. I have no idea what that is, but here's the link with video of him answering questions. http://www.houstondynamo.com/hangout
Getting older sucks. I seem to remember over the summer Houston being linked with a striker for a possible January move. But now I'm drawing a complete blank. Heck, it could have been 2011. It's time for my nap.
I can't remember his name but there was a kid from Africa, can't remember where, that was "allegedly" linked with us but nothing solid.
I can't wait for the Super/Supplemental drafts. We've done really well in the last couple of offseasons, which have really helped us get back to where we need to be in terms of quality depth. 2 starters (Bruin, Sarkodie) and 3 players who have really offered some valuable minutes (Creavalle, Ownby, Dixon). I think this next year could really see Creavalle play an even bigger role. I was really impressed with some of his qualities this year.
Dixon wasn't drafted. But we did acquire him within the last two years and I thought it was applicable. I believe he was going to be available for draft had we opted not to.
Dixon needs some playing time this season. I really want us to make a run in the US Open Cup. I was about to say he should get some minutes in CCL 12/13 but we're going against Santos, however, I would love to see him start EVERY game for CCL 13/14.
I have high hopes for Dixon, being a Houston home grown guy. So far, he has not had the development needed to break into the first team. If he can't get regular playing time this season, he should ask to be loaned out.
He'll have a tough time cracking our Starting XI for sure but he'd be a good sub for Oscar when he is busy qualifying for the WC. Or if we revert to the 4-3-3 he could slot in there, too.
We have the SA Scorpions whom are currently on a tight budget for next season. We can loan him out. He'll get some pretty good playing time there.
SA seemed to have a pretty solid roster this last year. I think he could get some good minutes there. I also think he could be really good in our 4-3-3. It seems like with Ownby and Dixon, we could afford to lose Kanji, but that was before Carr blew out his knee. I also think our target in the draft should be Dillon Powers. He seems like a hard working versatile midfielder that could fit in Doms system. I just dont know if he will be still around.
From what I have read, Powers will probably be GA. He is projected to go top ten easy. Maybe a horrible showing at the combine will help?
Canetti tweeted me that they have some players in mind "south of the border". I wonder who he's looking at. I'm hoping for another OBG!
Remember that we do have Portland's pick, so we do have a Top 10. Doesn't mean Powers will be around but there is hope.
I thought we lost that when we acquired Ching from Montreal? edit: Wikipedia says we get 13th overall pick. We lost our 18th pick to Montreal. Round 1 Any player marked with a * is part of the Generation Adidas program. Pick #MLS teamPlayerPositionAffiliation 1 Toronto FC 2 Chivas USA 3 Portland Timbers 4 New England Revolution 5 Vancouver Whitecaps FC[R1 trade 1] 6 Colorado Rapids 7 FC Dallas 8 Montreal Impact 9 Columbus Crew 10 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 11 Chicago Fire 12 Real Salt Lake 13 Houston Dynamo[R1 trade 2] 14 Sporting Kansas City 15 San Jose Earthquakes 16 Seattle Sounders FC 17 D.C. United 18 Montreal Impact[R1 trade 3] 19 Los Angeles Galaxy [edit] Round 1 trades ^ #5: Philadelphia Union → Vancouver Whitecaps. June 26, 2012: Vancouver Whitecaps FC acquired a first-round selection in the 2013 SuperDraft, allocation money, and the #12 position in the MLS Allocation Order from Philadelphia Union in exchange for a second-round selection in the 2013 SuperDraft and the #1 position in the MLS Allocation Order. Philadelphia used the Allocation pick to select defender Bakary Soumaré.[ref 1] ^ #13: New York Red Bulls → Portland Timbers → Houston Dynamo. January 12, 2012: Portland Timbers acquired a first-round selection in the 2013 SuperDraft and allocation money from New York Red Bulls in exchange for forward Kenny Cooper. Portland will receive the highest first-round pick that New York possesses at the time of the draft.[ref 2] On January 30, 2012, Houston Dynamo acquired a first-round selection in the 2013 SuperDraft from Portland Timbers in exchange for the MLS rights to forward Kris Boyd. Houston will receive the lowest of the first-round picks that Portland possesses at the time of the draft.[ref 3][ref 4] ^ #18: Houston Dynamo → Montreal Impact. February 16, 2012: Montreal Impact acquired a conditional selection in the 2013 SuperDraft, which became this first-round pick, from Houston Dynamo in exchange for forward Brian Ching. The traded pick was originally reported as either a first-round[ref 5] or second-round[ref 6] selection. The traded pick is Houston's natural selection.
I just hope that we can sign quality attacking talent during the off-season, instead of waiting for half the MLS season and the 2012-13 CCL elimination rounds to pass. I realize that Dom and Canetti don't start out planning to wait until the summer, although that may be what you have to do to get a free transfer. I'm just saying it would be great to have more quality on board in time for CCL elimination games so that we can give ourselves more of a fighting chance in those games.
I agree. I wish we could make a offseason move, but then again, we havent really dont that yet and it has worked out. But like you said, it would be nice to have those guys for CCL. A formula of regulars with some good new guys and a few young kids could be suscessfull without wearing on the team as a whole.
Dom said the same thing on Glenn's show the other night, he said he was about to go "south of the border" and check out a a couple of things and that hopefully a couple of them would pan out. Something like that. He said a lot without saying hardly anything.
Any interest in some of these young USMNT players who are in the lower Euro leagues? See: Joe Gayu, Mix Diskerud