With the suddenness of Adam Moffat’s trade to the Houston Dynamo last week, there was little time for the midfielder to get acclimated before he was thrust into action.
After meeting up with the team in Los Angeles last Thursday night, Moffat got one training session on Friday before being thrown into the mix for the final 23 minutes of Saturday’s 3-0 loss to Chivas USA. All that took place before Moffat even stepped off the plane in his new home city.
“I’m still getting used to it,” Moffat said of his new home. “I’ve been here a day, and it’s different from Portland, but I’m looking forward to it because it’s a different challenge.”
The immediate game action was a departure for Moffat after the midfielder struggled to find the field in Portland. After being selected in the 2011 MLS Expansion Draft, Moffat never found his way into head coach John Spencer’s plans.
“Yeah, it was one thing after another in Portland,” Moffat said. “First it was the injury, and then it was some off-the-field stuff, so it’s been a hard year for me and my family. But it’s not over yet.”
Now in Houston, Moffat is ready to turn the page on what, he hopes, was a brief setback in his MLS career.
That chance to show his skill could continue this weekend with central midfielder Je-Vaughn Watson slated to serve a red-card suspension due to his ejection last Saturday. With Moffat being one of the few true central midfield options on the roster, Houston’s newest addition could be pegged to slot in behind Geoff Cameron in their four-man midfield.
Regardless of his role next weekend, Moffat’s chances of restoring his career in Houston are good due to the tendencies and system of his new head coach and team. Houston head man Dominic Kinnear likes midfielders who are hardworking and have the ability to break up play. With previous players such as Ricardo Clark succeeding in the role, Moffat has a good opportunity to shine in Houston.
“I’d played against them before, and [Kinnear has] screamed at me a few times,” said Moffat with a smile about his new head coach. “But these guys have been encouraging, and everyone I know who’s played under him has enjoyed his philosophy. That’s always good coming somewhere that the coach’s respected. There have been some quality players here over the years who’ve thrived in that position. I’m my own player, and I look forward to getting stuck in and seeing how it goes.”
