HOUSTON -- For the sixth time this season the Houston Dynamo drew a game under Wade Barrett. But Sunday night’s 1-1 draw against the San Jose Earthquakes felt different than the previous five.
Despite having more possession of the ball, 59 percent to the Earthquakes’ 41, and leading 1-0 at halftime, Barrett wasn’t pleased with his team’s performance noting that his team didn’t “pass the ball fast enough,” and played “slow.”
In his eight weeks at the helm, this game was the first time Barrett felt his team was off.
“We looked a little bit fragile against it and it’s the first time I felt that,” Barrett said. “Of course we made a push in the end and we had a couple of chances at the end, but for me, we really let one slip away.”
Sunday’s match saw the Dynamo return to a 4-1-4-1 formation, in the previous game Houston lined up in a 4-4-2, but Barrett says it was more a result of the players who were available.
Barrett has preached that he wants this Dynamo team to be disciplined and difficult to play against, the six draws are a testament to that statement. Another testament is the Dynamo’s new record of 550 minutes without conceding a goal at home. That streak was broken when Chris Wondolowski equalized the match in the 59th minute.
With a defensive foundation starting to establish itself, Barrett now turns his attention on the offense.
The subtraction of Giles Barnes can be seen two-fold. The Dynamo lose one of their difference makers on the field but his departure also frees up playing time for Dynamo forwards Erick ‘Cubo’ Torres and Mauro Manotas, two players for whom the Dynamo have high hopes.
Barrett admitted as such, noting that he plans on relying on Torres, Manotas, and Will Bruin.
“When Erick gets back from the Olympics, he is going to play a bigger role,” said Barrett. “Mauro has really come along. He’s a dangerous forward. There’s going to be more responsibility on those two guys' shoulders, in addition to Will.”
