HOUSTON â What a difference a year makes.
For the Houston Dynamo, that phrase has taken on a deeper meaning when looking back at the state the club after the 2016 season. Dynamo president Chris Canetti alluded to that fact in the clubâs season-ending news conference as he and his staff geared up for another important winter.
âWe sat on this podium in late October [of 2016] when we announced the hiring of Wilmer [Cabrera] as our head coach. And I think there were a lot of questions surrounding the future of the Houston Dynamo and where we were going as a club,â Canetti said in his opening statement to the media.
âThankfully, we had a successful season and a lot of those questions were answered in terms of what is the future of the club and where weâre going.â
Reaching the Western Conference Championship a year after being one of the worst teams in the league is quite a turnaround, but such a feat isn't new in MLS.
The Colorado Rapids have a similar story to tell. In 2015, the Rapids finished dead-last in the league, only to nearly win the Supportersâ Shield and reach the Western Conference Championship a season later. This year, however, Colorado stumbled back to bottom-of-the-table status.
Houston see this cautionary tale and wants to avoid it at all costs.
âThere's a lot of positive signs about the season weâve had and the foundation that weâve set and the future thatâs ahead. So, itâs going to get tougher. Weâre not going to surprise anybody going into next season,â Canetti said.
âThereâs some work to be done on the roster this offseason and these guys [Cabrera and VP/general manager Matt Jordan] have already been working their tails off in making the moves that need to be made.â
Two of those moves â and arguably the most important â were acquiring Alberth âLa Panteritaâ Elis and Juan David Cabezas on full transfers from their respective teams, and last week the Orange did just that.
Jordan said the front office was pleased to retain Cabezas and Elis, whom he called âvital pieces.â And while the details of the deal havenât been released, Jordan alluded to these moves, along with signing Tomas Martinez earlier in the season, as statements that the Dynamoâs ownership group is willing to invest in the pursuit of sustained success.
âThese players fit into our strategic plan. All three players are at a great age with capacity for more growth. And thatâs something thatâs important as we move to next season and beyond,â Jordan said.
â[With] the acquisition of Alberth Elis, Juan David Cabezas and Tomas Martinez in the summer, I think we believe the future is bright. We know that we have a lot of hard work ahead of us but [these moves] are really positive for our club moving forward.â
The Dynamo have counted on DaMarcus Beasley for the past three seasons, but the left back now finds himself a free agent after his contract expired. Could the 35-year-old four-time World Cup veteran be back in orange next season? Jordan said the club is open to Beasley returning to the Dynamo and have had discussions with his representatives, though both sides are content to let him consider his choice.
âWeâll see. I have time to think about it,â Beasley told the Houston Chronicle at the âKick In For Houstonâ charity soccer game at BBVA Compass Stadium on Saturday. âI have spoken with Houston. Theyâre being patient. Theyâre giving me time. I appreciate that. Thatâs where Iâm at right now.â
Time will tell if Beasley comes back. But the preparations for 2018 are well underway.
âWe know that we arenât the underdog anymore,â Cabrera said.
âNow, they look at us with more respect so we need to confirm what we have done. We need to confirm every game what we have done throughout this season that it wasnât lucky. Itâs just the project and the process that weâve been working on here every day.â