The Dynamo acquired Cristian Maidana and Andrew Wenger via trade from the Philadelphia Union on Monday, the first day of the trade window. On the one-year anniversary of his appointment as Dynamo head coach, MLSsoccer.com beat writer Darrell Lovell and HoustonDynamo.com spoke with Owen Coyle about the big trade and his view of the roster 88 days before the start of the 2016 season.
Maidana finished tied for second in MLS with 15 assists last season. Beginning with the Argentine, what did you see in the player to make this move?
Owen Coyle: “Cristian Maidana is a player I’ve admired for years. He is an outstandingly talented player who has a fantastic touch, he is very pleasing on the eye, he can cut open defenses, he’s got that final pass, and that’s why I think he leads MLS in assists over the last two years. When you look at the chances he’s created it's because he has that vision and he has wonderful touch. He has a fantastic understanding and the experience of different leagues and different cultures, so he is very worldly in his ways. This is a player that moved for $4 million to Spartak Moscow (in 2007), and at 28, I feel he is coming into, as far as I’m concerned, the prime of his career. We are hopeful we can get the very best out of Cristian Maidana, and that will improve our team, so we are very excited to get a player of his caliber on board.”
Early in the postseason you specified scoring more goals on the road, and winning more on the road as keys to improvement next season. How will Maidana help in road games, where it is generally more difficult to create chances and score goals?
OC: “First and foremost his touch is wonderful, which buys him time. When other players are trying to fight to control the ball, he is already in control of the ball and knows where he wants to play that pass. He has that vision and that wonderful knack of knowing where he wants to place the ball before he receives it. He will certainly add another dimension to our team, and I think there is more slope to get even better, coming into the prime of his career. We know we have goal scorers at the club, and what we want to do is find a player that can create those chances, and I think he can do that.”
Wenger is a player that won the Hermann Trophy as the best college player in the country in 2011 and was drafted number one overall in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft. What is your scouting report on the four-year veteran?
OC: “This is a young, talented player who everyone in MLS will probably tell you has probably not fulfilled his huge potential, and we see an opportunity to fulfill that. I think because he is versatile, when people have picked up injuries (in previous years), he is the one that can change places and play in their position. I see him playing in one place, and that’s in a wide area, with pace and power, and he can add a new dimension to our team. I spoke to Andrew at length, and he is really excited to come on board and he knows the role in the wide areas that I want from him. We hope to get Andrew full of confidence and have him fulfill all of his undoubted ability and potential. We feel he can be a key component for us moving forward.”
What are some of the ways you believe you can help Wenger fulfill his potential?
OC: “I think that’s a fair comment, but I think people have got to understand, and I certainly do from my own experience throughout the game, that it’s important he knows what’s asked of him. I specifically told him the role I’ve earmarked for him, and I think by focusing on that area and honing his talent, that he can really concentrate and be successful. The one thing that everybody wants at the highest levels is pace and power to go with their ability, and Andrew has that. It’s up to us to bring that out of him. And if he does that, then what a fantastic signing he is going to be for the Houston Dynamo.”
Many “Number 10” players around the world benefit from hard-working players around them, so they can focus their energy on the attacking part of the game. Do you think there is a need to surround Cristian with certain players to maximize his ability?
OC: “Within our team environment, we need everybody to know their role. Cristian is capable of playing his role within the team, and that is what he will do. Cristian will be a huge part of our team, and it is not about an individual player, but he is a key component. He will have a role to play in the team, both for and against the ball, and I spoke to him, and he is excited to do it. I do believe that there are more goals in him, and we can play him in a certain matter that fits his talent.”
Your current squad stands at 19 players, with a few players from last season still possibilities to return. What other needs would you like to fill this offseason?
OC: “We have to build a roster that is flexible, and if we want to play in a certain manner, we have players that can play in that manner. Bringing in Cristian as a No. 10, and bringing in Andrew, and re-singing the key players that we have to this point, and with others still in discussion, we still want to continue to add to that playmaking area in the midfield. I want to strengthen defensively, and we will leave no stone unturned to put the pieces together. I want a central midfield playmaker, and we’ve already added a No. 10. We have real firepower in Will Bruin, Giles Barnes, Erick Torres and Mauro Manotas, and there are still areas we want to continue to improve and strengthen. We have to be consistent. We look at the MLS Cup Final, and we beat and drew (and lost) the Portland Timbers, and we beat Columbus, so we know last year we had a team that can win games. What we want next year is a team that can win consistently, and that will give us a chance to compete for the ultimate prize.”
You joined the club as head coach at this same time last year, with the Re-Entry Drafts looming. This season, do you see a possibility for the club to add players through the Re-Entry Draft or free agency, which is new to MLS this offseason?
OC: “We will continue to add to the squad, and we will look at options from the Re-Entry Draft and free agency, but as always, it has to be the right player that fits into our dynamic. If we feel they can enhance our squad, then that’s what we’ll look to do.”
Note: MLSsoccer.com Dynamo beat writer Darrell Lovell led the interview with Coyle.
