Meet the New Guys: Tim Parker

Previous Club: New York Red Bulls

Acquired by: In exchange for $300,000 in General Allocation Money in 2021 and $150,000 General Allocation Money in 2022 with additional performance-based incentives.

Position: Center back

As a Houston Dynamo (now F.C.) fan three things have been certain in the past few years: Death, Taxes, and suffering the last 15 to 20 minutes of each game with the fear of losing a lead we had held an entire game or losing a tied game due to a defensive mishap of some sort.

In the quest of finding some MLS experienced players with good defensive stability and trustworthiness, GM Matt Jordan and second year Head Coach Tab Ramos set their eyes in one of the most outstanding players in Major League Soccer at the center-back position, Tim Parker.

“Adding Tim Parker addresses our top priority this offseason of strengthening the center of our defense while getting younger, more athletic, and bringing a top-quality leader into our group,” said Senior Vice President and General Manager Matt Jordan.

The 28 year old native of Hicksville, New York who joins the Orange is a proven difference maker in the back with some great numbers under his belt. He finished with the second most clearances (58) and blocks (10) on the team in 2020. Played every minute of the 2019 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League for the Red Bulls, part of the 13 of New York’s league-best 14 shutouts during the 2018 MLS regular season which led to the Red Bulls to lift the Community Shield and setting a record 71 points earned in the regular season.

In the International level Tim has earned 2 caps for the USMNT with previous experience in the youth level for the U-23 and U-18 teams.

What Does Tim Bring to Houston?

“Tim is a winner, a leader, and a fundamental piece for our Club as we build for the upcoming season and our future, both on-and-off the field,” Dynamo head coach Tab Ramos said.

Experience: This would be his 6th year in the MLS, which is something Tab has mentioned plenty of time when asked about the “rebuilding process”, a player with a good amount of MLS experience.

Youth: At only 28, Tim comes from great years in New York and at the perfect moment in his career to be a veteran in the team while also being only 28 years old.

Winner Mentality: 2018 Supporter Shield, 2019 Eastern Conference playoffs, Quaterfinals in the 2019 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League. “Tough Times build Tough Men” or in this case “Tough games build Tough Men”.

Tim for sure will be ¹⁄₂ of the starting pair of center backs in the backline for the Orange, but the biggest question will be, can Tim lead the backline as a newcomer and another question, as important, can Tim take one of the younger CBs under his wing and help them become the other strong half of the CBs duo?

But one thing is for sure certain, Tim Parker has brought a good amount of peace of mind to those 15 to 20 nerve racking minutes at the end of each game for the Dynamo.

What are your thoughts on Tim, does he calm your 15 to 20 PTSD from previous years?

Can he be the strong, young, leader that we need in the backline?