Photo by Kory Brinton
I recently interviewed Houston Dynamo commentator Glenn Davis to get his thoughts on the upcoming match against Sporting KC. He talked about the Dynamo's season (it's similarities to Sporting's last year), Brad Davis, Geoff Cameron, and previewed the keys for Friday.
Below are some excerpts from the interview.
On Houston's season (7 away games to start season)
It's been quite an interesting season. I think there's been different phases to it but much like Sporting (in 2011), the Dynamo had to go on the road early in the year. They kept in touch in the Eastern Conference.
A lot of drama in opening the stadium and a lot of passion and excitement down here. It is a remarkable stadium (BBVA Compass Stadium). We know what impact your stadium had there in Kansas City.
So there was that phase and then the Dynamo kind of platformed a little bit and leveled out. And there was this phase where they went 6-0-2 and that was after they made a system switch to a 4-3-3 under Dominic Kinnear.
And really the big story this year was the signing of Designated Player Boniek Garcia from Honduras. He's just been absolutely outstanding for this team. They go 6-0-2 with him and then kind of leveled out and haven't played as well until recently, finally getting a result over Real Salt Lake in a game where both teams were missing a ton of players (with their national teams).
On Dynamo player Brad Davis
He's had an outstanding year. He's had to switch from playing out on the left to becoming more of an interior midfielder when the team went to the 4-3-3 setup. Him and Boniek Garcia have found each other in games. It's funny how these creative guys end up finding and working off each other. It's been an interesting season for him and he's scored some goals as well.
On Geoff Cameron going to Stoke City
This has worked out for everybody. This was a win-win for everybody. It was a win-win for Major League Soccer, a win-win for Geoff Cameron who provided great service here to the Houston Dynamo and loyalty during his career. It's a win-win for the Dynamo and their manager Dominic Kinnear. They all deserve great praise in this move but Jermaine Taylor's been a real key slotting in at center-back. He's athletic and been excellent positionally. That's really sort of lessened the impact of losing a quality player like Geoff Cameron.
On Sporting KC
Athletic, best team at playing the 4-3-3 setup in my opinion. Big, strong, athletic, competitive. Much in the mindset of their head coach, Peter Vermes.
It's a solid outfit. You start with the goalkeeper who is excellent in Jimmy Nielsen. You got Collin leading the way in the back. Industrious midfield with Roger Espinoza that's also got a lot of skill and vision and idea. Then you get up front with the Kamara's of the world, the Sapong's of the world. You've got big, strong, physical strikers that can play the game. There's not a lot of weaknesses in this team. I think everyone's pretty aware of that in MLS.
On how Houston will approach the match
I think anytime you go on the road you see a 4-3-3 moprh into a 4-5-1 and at times become more defensive. And really try to win the turf battle in the middle of the field with additional players in that area (midfield). But again, I think a lot of your mindset for a Friday game after World Cup Qualifying is the overall health of the team and what people have to give after traveling and being in a qualifying phase.
A lot of the Dynamo approach is going to come down to key players (after playing internationally) and that's only going to be determined a day or to prior to the game on Friday night.
Keys to Friday's match
For me, when you play Sporting Kansas City, you have to go there and match their work ethic. These are two of the hardest working teams in all of MLS.
Set pieces are always a big key when you have the likes of Kamara and Sapong. For the Dynamo you have the likes of Will Bruin and Bobby Boswell who can produce in the air.
In the end, for me, these two teams, comes down to something special somebody does. Someone pouncing on a mistake. You saw how close these games have been in the past. These are two highly competitive teams and two highly competitive coaches.
