Pick the Starting Lineup: Houston Dynamo vs. the Philadelphia Union

The Houston Dynamo are coming off a 1-1 draw with I-45 rivals FC Dallas. The Dynamo have had a congested schedule with the US Open Cup being in the mix and they’ll now play their fourth game in twelve days as they host the Philadelphia Union. Wilmer Cabrera has played many of his first team starters for the US Open Cup last week against Sporting Kansas City and against FC Dallas which may mean he gives some players a rest with the Portland Timbers on the horizon this weekend.

Up top, the usual three of Romell Quioto, Mauro Manotas, and Alberth Elis is unlikely to start with all three playing a lot of minutes this past week. I think Quioto could start as a center forward with Memo Rodríguez on the left wing and Arturo Álvarez on the right. Álvarez is still listed on the injury report, but was in the 18 man lineup against FC Dallas so I think he’s healthy. There really could be any combination of these players, but I think Quioto will be the center forward since he played the fewest minutes of the usual trio last Saturday. The Dynamo do have Venezuelan forward Ronaldo Peña as an option, but I think he still needs some more time before he plays – let alone start.

The middle of the park is also difficult to predict because it all depends on who is healthy and how much rest Wilmer Cabrera wants to give his players. I think his preferred midfield is Tomás Martínez in a central attacking role with Darwin Cerén and Oscar Boniek García behind him, but I don’t think that’s what we’ll see against the Union. Instead I’ll predict Luis Gil to start at the CAM spot with Cerén and Boniek as deeper midfielders.

Defensively I think we’ll see Adam Lundqvist start at his natural left back position with Alejandro Fuenmayor and Philippe Senderos in central defense. Next to them at right back I would think we see Adolfo Machado get the call to start, but it could be Kevin Garcia. In goal Joe Willis has played very well lately and even though Chris Seitz could get the start, I think it goes to Willis.

Injury Report

OUT: D - A.J. DeLaGarza (torn left ACL)

OUT: M - Juan David Cabezas (left quad injury)

OUT: F/M/D – Andrew Wenger (calf injury)

OUT: D - Dylan Remick (concussion)*

OUT: F – Mac Steeves (left hip injury)

OUT: M – Arturo Álvarez (right hip injury)

*Remick does not appear on the Injury Report, but is out for the season.

My Projected Starting Lineup

There are a ton of options, not to mention formations to play with so let us know who you think should be in the starting lineup against the Philadelphia Union!