HOUSTON — Houston Dynamo newcomer Carlo Costly is well aware of the challenges ahead of him.
As with most midseason signings, the presumption for Costly is that he will be the missing ingredient that will put the club over the top. Unable to change those expectations, he is banking on his knowledge of MLS and the Houston’s style of play to overcome a steep learning curve.
“I know [MLS] teams like to play in the air and there are a lot of set pieces,” Costly told MLSsoccer.com via a translator on Friday. “I hope with my size, I can do great things with the Dynamo.”
One aid in the process is that Costly is coming into a good situation with Houston. While the club is bringing the 29-year-old forward in on loan from Mexican Primera División side Atlas to make an instant impact, he is not being asked to carry the load. With the presence of Brian Ching and Cam Weaver up front, the newest member of the Dynamo has the luxury of working his way into the team.
Time to acclimate coupled with the style and formation that Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear employs gives the Honduran international confidence that his new squad will benefit from his arrival.
“The team plays a 4-4-2 formation which is what I like because with my size it benefits me,” Costly said. “I talked to Dom yesterday and he explained the expectations of what he wants from me and I hope to contribute right off the bat.”
Making that instant contribution is a hurdle that historically has been tough for midseason signings to overcome.
“It’s complicated,” Costly said when asked about integrating into a new team this late in the season. “Having been training with Atlas ... there’s going to be a transitional phase.”
That phase can officially begin with Friday’s news that Costly’s P-1 visa and international transfer certificate have been approved. With the forward available for selection for Saturday’s match at the Philadelphia Union (8 pm ET, watch LIVE online), fans are close to seeing what the Honduran international can do in Dynamo orange.
“We’re very excited,” Kinnear said. “He has pace, power and a nose for goal. I think his passion will come through, and I think our fans will be excited because I know our coaching staff is. Hopefully he can get on the field soon and score some goals for us and help us get to playoffs and beyond.”
Darrell Lovell covers the Houston Dynamo for MLSsoccer.com. Follow him on twitter at @Dynamoexaminer.
