Houston Dynamo 1, Vancouver Whitecaps 2: Rate the Players and Quick Thoughts

At the beginning of the year I introduced a new way for the Dynamo Theory community to be a part of Player Ratings. After matches everyone will get a chance to submit how each player did on a scale of 1 to 10 which will be averaged out in a later article. These ratings are interesting because we all view how players perform differently. Rating websites like WhoScored.com view things from an analytical perspective, but a statistic, even one as big as a goal, doesn’t quite tell the entire story as some goals are bigger and more important to a game than others. I think seeing how we as a community feel can create fun conversations. Of course, how we feel individually matters as well so please comment about player performances as you wish in the comments.

Quick Thoughts about the Game:

1) Wilmer Cabrera deliberately left midfielder Ricardo Clark and forwards Cubo Torres and Vicente Sanchez in Houston to rest them due to the volume of games the Houston Dynamo would be playing. Three games in eight days is a lot and the scheduling needs to get better to stop coaches from resting players, but right now you have to deal with it. By leaving these players behind, specifically what Clark brings in the midfield, Cabrera began this match already in a hole that he hoped his replacement options would dig the team out of. It also didn’t help that the players left behind were not players close to yellow card accumulation. In short, the Dynamo played relatively well in a close game, but Cabrera taking the risk to rest players may have been the difference in this one.

2) Oscar Boniek Garcia was slotted in at right midfield or right center midfield to be technically correct to fill the void left by Ricardo Clark who, as mentioned above, was resting. Boniek filled in on the left side last week for Alex against the San Jose Earthquakes and did a more than acceptable job. In fact, this season Boniek has done well in his minutes off the bench as his accurate passing usually supports other midfielders and our forwards. However, with Clark missing Boniek had to step up his defensive responsibilities as the Juan David Cabezas – Ricardo Clark partnership has allowed players like Alex, Alberth Elis, and Romell Quioto to not track back as often. Boniek really struggled on the defensive side of the ball. Not only did he commit a very poor foul leading to a Vancouver Whitecaps’ penalty, but he gave away the ball to Yordy Reyna who put the Whitecaps up 2-0. Boniek actually passed very well in this game passing with 87.3% accuracy, but it wasn’t enough to overcome his mistakes and poor touch which often led to the Whitecaps gaining possession.

3) It was excellent seeing Romell Quioto getting back on the score sheet. He’s looked frustrated in other games and in this one as his efforts just aren’t enough to beat the keeper. The goal was a nice chip by Mauro Manotas to Quioto who then chipped Whitecaps goalkeeper David Ousted. The goal itself was a momentum changer. After going down two goals the Dynamo’s energy was a little flat, but the goal rejuvenated them as they finally started playing like themselves again.

4) The one upside of Wilmer Cabrera resting players is we’ll have some options fresh for our Wednesday game against FC Dallas in the final and deciding game of the Texas Derby. We’ll need those players because two players will be suspended that match for yellow card accumulation. Juan David Cabezas and A. J. DeLaGarza were both one yellow away from suspension going into this one (and I really wish Cabrera had pulled JDC before he saw yellow because it was definitely coming). Eric Alexander, who featured on the bench for the first time following his injury in May against Orlando City, could slot in for Cabezas as he did earlier in the year. If he’s not 90 minutes fit then it may be Ricardo Clark back at defensive midfield. For A.J. we could see Kevin Garcia get the go at right back or Jalil Anibaba. Both options not ideal going up against FC Dallas.

Rate the Players: