Robert Earl Keen sang, “The road goes on forever and the party never ends” but for the Dynamo the long road to start the season is finally ending and the party is just set to begin. On Wednesday night Houston heads to New York to play its final game of a season opening 7 game road trip before returning home on Saturday to open BBVA Compass Stadium.
After a bye this past weekend the Dynamo should be rested up and they are going to need it. Starting with the match against the Red Bulls, the Dynamo are scheduled to play 4 games in 11 days. This is a grueling stretch that will test the team’s depth and fitness. The “Best XI’ will likely play in the home opener Saturday so there could be some changes in the lineup taking on New York. Midfielder Colin Clark will return from his 3 game suspension and will probably be back in the lineup.
If any players are going to rest, Brian Ching and Brad Davis would probably be the first on the list of potential starters rested. Je Vaughn Watson could take Davis’ place on the left with Clark coming in on the right or Corey Ashe could push to left midfield as he did when Davis was injured and have Jermaine Taylor play left back. Resting Ching seems like a no brainer as he is getting up there in age and the Dynamo have options at forward to fill in for the captain. If Will Bruin starts at one forward we could see one of Calen Carr, Mac Kandji, and Cam Weaver start alongside him. Even with Bruin in great form, we could see him rested as well.
The key for the Dynamo in this game will be to not overlook the Red Bulls ahead of Saturday’s historic event. Even without striker Thierry Henry, out with injury, New York is dangerous. Mexican Rafa Marquez returns from suspension and left back Roy Miller from injury, putting the Red Bulls close to full strength. The Dynamo defense will have its hands full even without Henry up front as Kenny Cooper has been scoring as of late and he can score goals in bunches. Cooper is a big physical forward that Bobby Boswell and Geoff Cameron will have to contend with and they can’t let him get loose in the box.
The Dynamo have not won since March 17th at San Jose, drawing two and losing two. A road win to cap off the road trip would be huge and build great momentum going into Saturday. Last year the Dynamo and Red Bulls drew twice. The Red Bulls are coming off a win in LA over the defending champion Galaxy on Saturday and will look to ride their momentum into this home match. Another draw seems likely and quite frankly I’ll take it. 9 points from the 7 game road trip would be huge with the surplus of home games on the horizon. Saturday is going to be special but let’s not let look past Wednesday
(image courtesy of Nigel Brooks)
