If there is one offseason story that has most Dynamo fans frothing at the mouth, it us the club’s pursuit of a Designated Player.
The Anschutz Entertainment Group, the club's majority owner, made it clear this summer it wants Houston to try to make a big splash next season in adding a big name. Last week, Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear shed some light on who the ideal DP might be.
“When you look at Designated Players in this league, it’s probably focused more on an attacking player,” he said. “You want the DP to be a game-changer and a winner. We have narrowed our positions on that, but you are dealing with some wonderful players in the world, and they have to list the Houston Dynamo on the list of teams where they want to come.”
Kinnear and his staff have already assembled a list of players they believe would fit the bill as far as DPs, but the Houston head man admits there is a huge difference between putting a list together and finding the right fit.
“We’ve done some fantasy football and put a list together, and we’ll see where it goes from there,” noted Kinnear. “It’s easier said than done, as now you’ve just entered competition with all the top teams in the world.”
While many would kill for a peek at that list, do not expect Kinnear or his staff to spill the beans.
“It’s not fair to single out players right now, especially if they are currently under contract,” explained Kinnear.
Houston’s initial foray into the DP era did not go as they had hoped with the acquisition of Mexican international Luís Angel Landín. While the term “Designated Player” was likely attached unfairly to Landín based on his modest salary, expect Houston to aim much bigger in their new search.
“With Luis, to be fair, it was a young player we saw many times and who came in with tremendous potential,” said Kinnear. “We thought he would be a good player in this league, but it didn’t work.”
The DP search will take time and may even require the team to wait until the summer transfer window before pulling the trigger. For now though, there has been no progress made toward signing one.
“There’s been no movement on that front, and it may be difficult to do in January,” admitted Kinnear. “It’s exciting news, and that’s as far as it goes.”
Dwain Capodice is a contributor to MLSsoccer.com. Questions or Comments can be sent via email to dwaincapodice@gmail.com.
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