Off to the best start in team history, the Houston Dynamo have built quite a foundation for their 2013 MLS season. However, the summer's here and this is the time when teams will try and make the moves to put their team over the top. It’s something Houston have done well the past two years, most notably with the summer 2012 acquisition of Boniek García.
To catch up on the current state of the Dynamo and what can be expected this summer, MLSsoccer.com caught up with club president Chris Canetti to talk transactions, state of the organization and to get an update on negotiations on a jersey sponsor.
MLSsoccer.com: How have these first three months of the season gone for the organization?
Canetti: I think the results have been good, especially when you factor everything in. I don’t think we’ve been able to put our best team out there week in and week out due to a number of circumstances including injuries, call-ups and suspensions. When you consider all those things, we’re off to a great start and have to be pleased with where we’re at to this point.
MLSsoccer.com: We’re creeping up on the transfer window, what can we expect from the Dynamo this summer?
Canetti: We have a desire to make moves and get better if we can. We’re cap challenged right now and roster challenged. We’ll have to see what happens and what opportunities come about. We want to see if there’s something that can make us better.
MLSsoccer.com: If the organization does make a move in the transfer window, what type of deal will you be looking for? Something along the lines of the deals you made for García and Andrew Driver?
Canetti: The Boniek García deal with the way it was structured is something we believe in. If something along those lines presents itself and the player is what head coach Dominic Kinnear is looking for, then we’re willing and able to do that.
MLSsoccer.com: Saying that, does help have to come from outside the organization? Especially at the forward position where you have two players trying to come back.
Canetti: All along we’ve hoped that Calen Carr can come back at some point and make a contribution this season and it looks like that’s going to be a reality. From the start we’d expected Omar Cummings to contribute and play, but his injury’s been an unfortunate setback. We believe that if those players get healthy and can play to the level they’re capable of those would be two great additions right there and will help us achieve our goals this year.
MLSsoccer.com: Switching to off the field, what is the update on the jersey sponsor front?
Canetti: We’re engaged in several conversations with a number of partners. There’s deep interest in the shirt sponsorship and the value it can bring to our partner. We’re being hopeful and optimistic that we can reach an agreement this season.
Darrell Lovell covers the Houston Dynamo for MLSsoccer.com.
