Entering the final 10 days of camp, no position represents the competitive theme of the Houston Dynamo preseason more than the battle at forward. No starting spots have been decided, but it is safe to assume the question is: “Who will partner with Brian Ching up top?”
The conventional wisdom is to play a speedster with Ching. Houston has taken a different approach and has brought in a diverse group this preseason to determine the partnership that works the best.
“It’s been great in camp,” said returning forward Cam Weaver. “Everyone brings something different, but all these guys are hard workers. I pride myself on working hard, and it’s a joy playing with guys who all share that mentality.”
The player that has made the most noise this preseason is also the youngest of the group. Will Bruin's four goals in the past two scrimmages have put the Indiana University product squarely in the mix for playing time. The goals could serve as a launching point for the 6-foot-2 rookie, who has impressed throughout camp by displaying deceptive pace and a good motor.
Another good all-around player in the mix is newcomer Jason Garey. Coming to Houston in a trade from Columbus, he has shown he can work well off the ball and is willing to pick up the slack in midfield. The former Hermann Trophy winner provides the type of veteran savvy that head coach Dominic Kinnear covets.
“Jason’s a smart soccer player, and he does things a forward should do, like making runs for him and the other forward,” Kinnear said.
Another veteran in the mix is Weaver, who has shown in two years with the club that he can score goals when healthy. A week from the start of the regular season, his fitness is good, and the big man is finding chances in the box.
“Weaver is the type of forward, like Brian, that can attack balls served from out wide,” Kinnear said.
With four big forwards in camp, Dominic Oduro is the wild card in the mix. The club’s second-leading scorer in 2010, the Ghanaian rejoined the squad last week and brought with him a unique skill: elite speed. Oduro arrived fit and in form, notching an assist in Monday’s scrimmage.
The spirited training environment and successful preseason has made handicapping the race extremely difficult, but it’s clear that Kinnear and his staff have a number of options. One thing is certain, the players are happy to be doing well and hoping to take their success into the regular season.
“Everyone’s been scoring that’s been up there,” said Garey. “We’ve got a great competition going and, depending on the opponent, it’s up to the coaches to decide who’s going to get the playing time.”
Darrell Lovell covers the Houston Dynamo for MLSsoccer.com. Follow him on twitter at @Dynamoexaminer.
