HOUSTON – Houston Dynamo players returned on Sunday afternoon to clean out their lockers and to go through end-of-season medical tests.
MLSsoccer.com sat down with several players to talk about various topics pertaining to the season, the upcoming offseason and next year. Here we chat with Corey Ashe, one of two Dynamo players entering the offseason out of contract.
MLSsoccer.com: Any personal or team highlights for you that stick out in 2010?
Ashe: Just ending on a positive note. The season didn’t go as we wanted. Personally, I don’t think there is anything to brag about, but ending on a high note and building for next season.
MLSsoccer.com: One of the advantages of the Brian Mullan trade was that over the last month or so, you got regular playing time. Do you think you took advantage of that playing time to make a case regarding next year?
Ashe: It’s always good to get into a rhythm, and I felt after the Kansas City game that I started to get into a rhythm. I knew I was going to play on the right and I started to get comfortable. It’s tough for [coach Dominic Kinnear] as well to figure out the lineup when things aren’t going the way anyone would like. It’s hard, though, if you play well one game and the next you come off the bench. I thought the last month or so I started to get into a rhythm, but by then it was a little too late.
MLSsoccer.com: Talk about the upcoming expansion draft and the opportunities it provides for someone like yourself, who has worked in and out of the starting lineup.
Ashe: It’s crazy to know that two teams are coming into the league and two players may be selected. It’s nerve-racking because you don’t want to leave here. We have a great group of guys and we’re going to be split up if we lose two other guys. It’s unfortunate, but it could be a great possibility for a player and it’s obviously good for the league.
MLSsoccer.com: Is this team at a disadvantage with John Spencer coaching one of the expansion teams?
Ashe: Spenny knows us in and out, and he knows what he wants. He’s been with the team for four years and it’s going to be interesting to see who he picks.
MLSsoccer.com: You sit down with coach Kinnear later in the week, but what are your plans for next year?
Ashe: It would be good to come back, but I am open to all possibilities, whether it is here or overseas. Now it’s just a waiting game and we’ll see how the negotiations go with the organization. It would be great to come back to make things right and put the Dynamo back in the playoffs, but we’ll see.
MLSsoccer.com: What are your plans for the offseason?
Ashe: I will give myself a week off and let my body heal. I will be in the gym and stay active and continue to run in case I have to go on trial.
Dwain Capodice is a contributor to MLSsoccer.com. Questions or comments can be sent via email to dwaincapodice@gmail.com.
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