A look at the big questions surrounding the Houston MLS club looking ahead to the 2006 campaign:
WHAT DOES THE HOUSTON CLUB NEED TO DO TO REACH THE MLS CUP FINAL IN '06?
The biggest question of all is now answered as the San Jose Earthquakes will relocate to Houston for 2006.
The club's on-field issues have never seemed too great. Given the depth and balance displayed by the team, not much is needed, although more of a cutting edge up front would help. While head coach Dominic Kinnear said he hadn't yet given much thought to roster issues, only minor tinkering is really needed.
"I would take this team into next year again and I would bet on a different result come November," said Kinnear. "The key in MLS is keeping the team together. You can't keep everybody, but you try and keep as many as you can."
WHAT WAS THE TEAM'S BEST MOMENT IN '05?
In a season where the Earthquakes only lost five times in 34 regular and postseason games, there are plenty of matches from which to choose. The 2-0 late-season win against the New England Revolution that all but wrapped up the MLS Supporters' Shield stands out. But for Kinnear, the stretch in June where the Quakes swept a three-game homestand against the likes of Real Salt Lake, Los Angeles and Colorado lingers in the memory as well.
"That gave us a good boost," said Kinnear. "It proved to be a positive as far as guys being confident for the rest of the year. Just the way we played, it was a good moment for us."
WHO MADE THE MOST IMPROVEMENT OVER THE COURSE OF THE SEASON?
Given the balance displayed by the Quakes - not only from front to back, but also from wing to wing - picking one player is difficult.
"Different guys stepped up at different times," said Kinnear. "But over the course of the season, you'd have to say that Dwayne [De Rosario] was the most consistent and effective. But the people around him helped out as well and I thought Ricardo [Clark] was excellent this year also."
WHAT RESERVES ARE MOST READY TO MOVE INTO THE TEAM?
With RadioShack Best XI defender Danny Califf departing for Denmark, defender Ryan Cochrane seems the most likely player to make a breakthrough.
"[Cochrane] has got a couple of good seasons under his belt," said Kinnear. "Whenever he's played, he's played well. Kevin Goldthwaite showed some good moments with the limited time he had and Danny O'Rourke is also a good player in this league."
WHAT AREA OF THE TEAM NEEDS THE MOST IMPROVEMENT?
Given the fact that the Earthquakes had the best defense in the league, as well as stellar midfield play, the attack is probably the area that needs to be shored up the most, even though the Quakes scored the third most goals in MLS. Keeping their attacking players healthy, especially given the fact that Ching and Brad Davis were injured for much of the season, would help in this regard as well.
"I think our injuries hurt our versatility up top a little bit," said Kinnear. "But I look at the players on our squad, and I think 'We had a very good team.'"
Jeff Carlisle is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
