The Biggest Game Since the Last Game That Was the Biggest Game!

by Zach Woosley on Sep 13, 2011 11:24 AM CDT in Match Previews

The Houston Dynamo's busy week continues tomorrow night in Columbus against the struggling Crew in yet another edition of "The Must Win Game". After the beat down in Kansas City over the weekend, Houston desperately needs points to hold on to a playoff spot, but it's not going to be easy.

Carlo Costly is suspended for his red card against Sporting Kansas City and be glad this isn't the EPL or he'd be gone for three match for violent conduct. Brian Ching is also doubtful with a groin strain that took him out of Saturday's game at halftime. So the Dynamo attack will have to be lead by Cam Weaver and possibly Will Bruin, depending on how ready he is to play.

Personally, I'd rather see a 4-5-1/4-1-4-1 formation with Luiz Camargo and Je-Vaughn Watson in the middle, backed by Adam Moffat with Geoff Cameron tucked neatly beside Andre Hainault in the central defense. Pipe dream? Probably, but it sure does make sense doesn't it?

Hall

Ashe - Cameron - Hainault - Freeman

Moffat

Clark - Camargo - Watson - Davis

Weaver

Why not play to the midfield depth and see what Camargo and Watson can do to try to ignite this offense and possibly force the Crew to pay less attention to Brad Davis on the outside?

Instead, we'll probably see the same old 4-4-2 with Weaver and Bruin up to and Cameron in the CAM role with either Taylor or Boswell in defense. After all, it hasn't been working consistently all season so of course let's keep smashing the round peg in the square hole until it somehow fits. Sure the Dynamo have managed to work themselves in to playoff position but at this point, why not mix things up a little. It's not like you could have any worse of a game tomorrow than you did on the weekend right?

I suppose we'll see what happens tomorrow roughly an hour before kickoff at Crew Stadium when lineups are released but one thing is for certain. A month ago, this game didn't look winnable at all, suddenly the Crew look vulnerable and if the Dynamo are serious about making the playoffs, which they claim to be, points must be taken. I'd say a win but come on, this team's kryptonite is travel of any form so I'm short on optimism.

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I like your line up

And playing to our strength (a surplus of midfielders) is the best idea. Weaver is good at holding the ball up and this would allow the midfield to get involved in the attacks and create more possession. This line up would do well.

by DynaNole on Sep 13, 2011 12:25 PM CDT reply actions

I <3 Ginge

I love the hope and optimism and I promise I share it, its just recent history has shown it won’t happen. Mind you, the outlier to that was when I believe we first faced KC and we went with a 4-3-3, which was shocking. I wish Dom had the swash-buckling mentality back because I like yours and rgleave0202’s formation suggestions (effectively the same: 4-5-1 or 4-2-3-1). At this point in order to make our 4-4-2 work we need a more advanced CAM and a quick forward to play off the larger target man. Since Cameron nor Watson are that advanced CAM (Camargo may be that guy but he isn’t being played), its best to use our midfield depth. I’m liking either variation suggested and I think it would really trouble Columbus’ or any other team’s defense because you would have dynamic players (Watson, Clark) playing with more skilled, possessive players (Davis, Camargo, Moffat) and with a solid forward up top (Bruin).

But of course, let’s please stick with our typical back-four of Freeman, Hainault, Boz/Taylor and Ashe because giving up 1.5 goals a game while only scoring 1.29 a game with Cameron as our trusty CAM has been shaking up the league.

Grrrr

by Michael_D on Sep 13, 2011 1:17 PM CDT reply actions

I don't see it

I like the idea of playing to the midfield strengths, but as Tim Vickery has pointed out many times, if you’re going to play with a lone striker, then that lone striker has to possess a combination of skills, speed to get open, strength to collect the ball, vision to pick out streaking midfielders (not to mention having some streaking midfielders!) and a knack for goal. How many of those qualities does Weaver possess? Maybe the second one, but not so much on the rest.

Really, there isn’t anyone on this Dynamo roster who can fill that role, maybe Costly on a good night, but that’s about it.

Instead, I hope to see this lineup:

Hall
Freeman/Sarkodie- Cameron – Hainault – Ashe
Clark – Moffat- Camargo – Davis
Weaver-Bruin

With a bench of Watson, Taylor, Garey, Carr, Boswell, Deric, Cruz

And of course, this is assuming that Ching is definitely out, which I think we all have to assume at this point.

"We don't care who finishes second." -- Celtic's Peter Lowrie

by Martek on Sep 13, 2011 1:20 PM CDT reply actions

More likely

Sad but true, we will probably will see the 4-4-2 trotted out. It’s easy to play and what we’re used to. It’s not the best but I don’t see Dom changing our formation, as much as I dearly want him to. And I think Bruin is probably the best candidate to be the “tip” of the spear, though of course he’s not the “ideal” choice.

That being said, it all depends on where Dom starts Cameron. If he starts him at CAM, we probably won’t bring Camargo on until either late (again) or half-time, and even then it might mean moving Cameron back to CB and subbing out Boz. But even then, I just don’t see that happening. If he does take the plunge and start Camargo I’d be thrilled, and regardless of what happens because it at least gives us an idea of what Camargo can do, rather than we what we have and know how well that works.

by Michael_D on Sep 13, 2011 1:41 PM CDT up reply actions

Just know this

if Cameron starts at CAM, we’ll probably lose. I’m not bashing him because I love Cam (and actually, I think I’m gonna get my tix to Saturday’s game through his charity) but as a CAM he isn’t helping to produce goals. Ball don’t lie.

And to me its directly related to the goals allowed v goals scored percentage we have…

by Michael_D on Sep 13, 2011 1:48 PM CDT up reply actions

Not a bad lineup

The pairing of Weaver and Bruin was pretty good at the beginning of the season, however, I think Cameron pairs better with Boswell than Hainault.

by DynaNole on Sep 13, 2011 3:36 PM CDT up reply actions

For me

Hainault-Cameron is the better pairing because Hainault knows what his role is (sweeper, basically) and plays it to perfection. He’s slower than Boswell and Cameron but strong and owns the box, which is effectively his job. The problem is that Boz is a lesser version of Cameron and when he gets beat, it requires Hainault to come out of position and that’s where he gets in to trouble. Also, going forward if Boz has to go (salary reasons) it makes sense to play the guy who will be staying (Cameron & Hainault)

by Michael_D on Sep 13, 2011 3:44 PM CDT up reply actions

I'm also up on Boz and Cameron

I want to see this in action before Boz goes to make a final judgement on Boz. Remember the 2009 Boz-Cameron pairing? I think this pairing would help the offense.

by playtherapy on Sep 13, 2011 3:52 PM CDT up reply actions

Intresting line up

Not sure i would go to a one forward system after playing 90% of the season with a two forward system. perhaps we could use a midfielder to play a withdrawn striker role to keep our shape.
Weaver should do ok in the one striker system but we are short on strikers vs the crew, one strikers get beat up in that system, and what would we do if he got hurt? Would love to see Cruz play the other forward or maybe play a withdrawn forward to work with Weaver on top. His pace would give us a stronger counter attack. Bruin could do this if he is 100%. Weaver and Bruin work together well.
Would love to see Danny play the attacking mid. We need his energy and pace in the midfield.
Clark has not played well the last two matches.
We need Cameron on the back line
Hall did not bail us out in KC. Liked he done earlier this season. He needs to throw the ball more on restarts. The dynamo do not fight hard enought for his long kicks.
After watching ACM tie BAR anything is possible
Go Dynamo

by tinman66 on Sep 13, 2011 4:31 PM CDT reply actions

Hmmm

just read an article in the Chron and it mentions that Boz will be returning to action and “Brazilian midfielder Luiz Camargo is also likely to make his first MLS start”. So it looks like formations discussed here will more or less be what’s out there tonight.

                                              Hall
Freeman/Sarkodie/Hainault – Cameron – Boswell – Ashe
                                           Moffat
                            Clark – Camargo – Davis
                                   Bruin – Weaver

I’m actually excited to see what we can do with that…perhaps this is our best, most realistic chance of getting those Holy Grail-like 3 pts on the road. If that line-up, the same one for the Monterrey match (except the forwards), can play as dynamically then I really think we can trouble the back four for Columbus. Let’s see!

by Michael_D on Sep 14, 2011 9:25 AM CDT reply actions

Let it be so

Plz, let it be so

by playtherapy on Sep 14, 2011 9:32 AM CDT up reply actions

Well

the other thing is, do I stay in the Bargaining stage and say that this is another silent opportunity for us? Columbus’ D has allowed 10 goals in the past 2 games. Ouch. They’re also missing their FW Renteria and a couple of their midfielders are questionable. Reading the fan preview sounds like we have kindred spirits over in Columbus; its a pretty frank assessment of where they’re currently at.

I’ll just say this: we have every chance and reason to win this game. Let’s see if we can follow through on that.

by Michael_D on Sep 14, 2011 9:49 AM CDT up reply actions

4-4-2

This still looks like our tired old 4-4-2 Diamond to me, which has worked wonderfully well thus far. HOWEVER, if report is accurate, then at least Cameron could be back in CD and Camargo gets a shot at the CAM. Not keen on Boswell at all – good agressive back, but severe lack of pace has him getting beaten and/or pulled all over the place positionally and Hainault has to vacate his spot to bail him out. Prefer the Hainualt/Cameron combo, particularly as Boswell is on $200k…..

by rgleave0202 on Sep 14, 2011 12:23 PM CDT up reply actions

Figured but

I guess we should count our blessings that Cameron should be moving back to CB and that Camargo should be starting. I’ll take that as an improvement both defensively and offensively…and who knows? It might make a relatively small change into a fairly large impact.

I could not have said it better precisely what you said about the defense: while I don’t mind a Cameron-Boswell pairing, I think Cameron-Hainault works better and of course it helps that if we’re going to keep the younger, cheaper defender (Hainault) then it makes sense to play him more; the fact that it works better for our defense makes it all the more succint a point to start him there with Cameron.

by Michael_D on Sep 14, 2011 12:57 PM CDT up reply actions