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View Full Version : Houston's Opening Day Roster and Starters for 2006


cristoforo7
15 Dec 2005, 10:31 PM
I was waiting to see if one of you guys would start up this thread but seeing none yet, let me give it a shot. The following is copied from a post I just wrote up in a San Jose forum thread:

So Garber said all coaches and players under contract will move to Houston.

But what will the reality be?

Will Dom really relocate to Houston? If he does, will John Doyle go with him? They both would have to give up their local youth soccer gigs and start them up anew in Houston. (They both grew up in the Bay Area and have lived here for most of their adult lives.)

Will all the young players who make peanuts and who have ties to the Bay Area but no ties to Houston pick up and move? Or will they seek something in the A-League? Or overseas? Or something that does not involve playing soccer for a living?

Cailiff's MLS contract expired and he went overseas. Anyone else's contract expired?

With a Toronto team starting up in 2007, wouldn't this be a great year for DeRo (and Onstad?) to enjoy the overseas experience?

Will a few of the older players simply retire rather than have to pick up and move again (Onstad, Chung)?

How will Waibel rebound from his year long injury?

Will AEG seek to add players with ties to Texas to the roster to assist in the marketing effort?

Will the new GM seek to remold the team, including the roster, in his image (and will the identity of the new GM affect Dom's decision to go or to stay)?

How many 2005 Earthquakes players will actually end up seeing any playing time on opening day 2006 (or at least available bench time) for the Houston team, when you factor in retirements, transfers (within MLS or to another league), moves to A-League, player loans, injuries, expiring contracts, trades, etc.?

Any predictions?

P.S. I am not wishing for Houston to have a bad year next year, but I do think by the time the dust settles, it will be a "rebuilding" year as far as the roster is concerned. (Of course, 2005 was supposed to be a "rebuilding" year for the Quakes, also. ;) )

ElJefe
15 Dec 2005, 10:33 PM
A lot of your questions will be answered by the guest list for tomorrow's dog-and-pony show at Houston City Hall.

truthandlife
15 Dec 2005, 10:41 PM
\

Any predictions?



I am sure they will pick up a Houston bred MLS player. Chris Gbandi, Arturo Alvarez, Ricky Lewis, Josh Gardner & Davy Arnaud come to mind.

cristoforo7
15 Dec 2005, 10:43 PM
A lot of your questions will be answered by the guest list for tomorrow's dog-and-pony show at Houston City Hall.I doubt that as a lot can happen in the next four months.

As to Dom, it is probably true that there is a better than 50/50 chance he will go. He has shown a willingness to travel in his playing career and chose a college back east (Hartwick) despite growing up in the Bay Area. Not only did he move from team to team in MLS (not his choice) but he played a year in Mexico (his choice). He also was born in Scotland, so travel is in his genes.

Of course, when you have a family with school age children, the moving calculus is not quite the same. However, as you noted before, there are only 12 MLS head coaching positions.

As to John, I would not be surprised to see him stay even if Dom goes and get even more involved with the youth and college level opportunities that abound in northern California. Just a gut instinct.

P.S. Just because someone shows up on a podium tomorrow doesn't mean that person will be in Houston come April 2006. ;)

scaryice
15 Dec 2005, 10:45 PM
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/3527562.html

The announcement by AEG concerning the move will take place at 10 a.m. today at City Hall. Among those expected in attendance are AEG president an CEO Tim Leiweke, team coach Dominic Kinnear, Houston Mayor Bill White and other city and league officials.

chapulincolorado
15 Dec 2005, 10:48 PM
tomorrow's dog-and-pony show at Houston City Hall.

http://www.pony-show.com/bild50.JPG

[Don Garber]Thankkkk you, Mayor! Now...Spunky...The Dog Clown...welcomes MLS! GO SPUNKY![/Don Garber]