Pick the Houston Dynamo lineup against the Vancouver Whitecaps

Houston Dynamo FC is coming off a double game week with a win and a loss first getting three points against Sporting Kansas City at home and then a loss against the Colorado Rapids on the road. This time they’re back at BBVA Stadium taking on the Vancouver Whitecaps and will have Head Coach Tab Ramos back on the sideline following his suspension for getting sent off late in the match against SKC. With the added rest hopefully the Dynamo will have players back in the fold and ready for another Western Conference challenge.

The Dynamo this season haven’t changed their first team too much. They did against the Rapids, but that was after many first team players logged heavy minutes with FC Dallas and then Kansas City. With a less congested schedule, rest that accompanies that schedule, and the head coach back I think we return to a more familiar lineup than the one we saw last weekend. Of course that starts with Marko Marić in goal. Even though he made a serious blunder against the Rapids, largely his big saves have kept the Dynamo in games and he was even the Dynamo player of the game against SKC so he’s a lock to start.

Defensively there are three players primed to start and one question mark for me. Adam Lundkvist and Zarek Valentin should start on the left and right wings respectively with Tim Parker at center back. The real question is does Tab go with the more experienced Maynor Figueroa or Oscar Boniek García whom he’s gone with more frequently. I think he goes with Figueroa, but this is me flipping a coin at this point and I could easily see either put in here.

In the midfield there are a few questions I have. The biggest is whether or not Tyler Pasher is starting on the left wing. He’s been injured the last few games, but if he’s fit I think he may start on the left wing which would push Memo Rodríguez into the midfield. However, I don’t think Tab Ramos rushes Pasher back into the starting lineup so I think we’ll see him in a roll off the bench if he’s ready to contribute. That will mean Derrick Jones and Matías Vera will play in a pivot as the deepest midfielders and exchange times pushing up the field with other staying back to defend. Joe Corona has proven himself with his passing and will occupy the number 10 spot as the most offensive midfielder player.

Up top I think we’ll see Maxi Urruti return as the center forward with Fafà Picault on the right and Memo Rodríguez on the left. This has largely been the most successful lineup without Pasher.

My Projected Starting Lineup:

This is just the lineup that I think we’ll see, but what do you think we’ll see? What should the starting XI look like in the Dynamo’s game against the Vancouver Whitecaps? Let us know in the comments below!