(Houston Dynamo FC Twitter)
Welcome to the fifth Season Preview of the 2023 MLS season! We are continuing this journey with another club with a coaching change, Houston Dynamo FC. The Dynamo have made a lot of veteran signings this offseason and look to be very exciting on paper to start 2023. For those of you who are new to MLS Now's work, thanks for reading today and check out all of what our podcast and blog site has to offer. Let's get into it below.
2022 Recap
Record: 10-6-18 (36 points/13th in West)
Team Leader Goals: Sebastian Ferreira 13, Darwin Quintero 8, Fafa Picault 7
Team Leader Assists: Adam Lundqvist 5, Darwin Quintero 5, Corey Baird/Adalberto Carrasquilla 4
2023 Outlook
Manager: Ben Olsen (1st season)
Additions: CAM Amine Bassi ($1.5 million transfer from FC Metz/25 years old), RB Franco Escobar (free from LAFC/27 years old), CM Artur ($300k GAM trade from Columbus Crew/26 years old), LW Ivan Franco (loan from Libertad), LB Brad Smith (free from DC United/28 years old), GK Andrew Tarbell (free from Austin FC/29 years old), CF Ifunanyachi Achara (MLS Re-Entry Draft/25 years old), CM Charles Auguste (MLS Draft/23 years old)
Subtractions: LW Darwin Quintero (free to CD America/35 years old), CB Tim Parker ($500k GAM trade to St. Louis City SC/29 years old), LB Adam Lundqvist ($500k GAM trade to Austin FC/28 years old), LM Memo Rodriguez (free to LA Galaxy/27 years old), LW Fafa Picault ($250k GAM trade to Nashville SC/31 years old), CM Darwin Ceren (free to CD Aguila/33 years old), CM Matias Vera (loan to Argentino Juniors/27 years old), LB Zeca (free to EC Vitoria/28 years old), RW Thiaguinho (loan returnee to Flamengo/21 years old), RB Zarek Valentin (free to Minnesota United/31 years old), RW Tyler Pasher (free to Birmingham Legion FC/28 years old),
Designated Players: CM Hector Herrera, CF Sebastian Ferreira, CB Teenage Hadebe
Projected Starting XI
Four of the projected starters in Houston's lineup are new to the team in 2023: outside backs Franco Escobar and Brad Smith, defensive midfielder Artur, and attacker Amine Bassi. There is a lot of excitement added to the group as each of the three phases have received reinforcements. A lot of questions if Bassi can replicate what Quintero could do in the final third. The team's attacking success will be stronger if the team can get the kind of production Corey Baird brought in Real Salt Lake. If these two bring better playmaking, Ferreira should see closer to 20 goals. A midfield trio of Hector Herrera, Artur, and Adalberto Carrasquilla is one of the most underrated in the league. Artur was their biggest addition this offseason in my opinion. Franco Escobar and Brad Smith bring cup-winning experience to their back line. The biggest question though... is Ben Olsen a good manager? He starts the season with a tough road match against Cincinnati, so we'll get an early look how he plans to use all of these additions.
Thanks for viewing our fifth 2023 season preview. There will be a new one out about every single day leading up to MLS kickoff. If you are a passionate fan looking to write about your club, we are actively seeking contributors for MLS clubs this season. If interested, message us on either Twitter or Instagram @MLSNowPodcast. We want to provide an outlet for fans to discuss their club on the site and also guest star on the podcast throughout the season.
Bryce Leslie
Twitter: @bleslie19