The Houston Dynamo have been one of the most exciting teams in MLS to start the season, collecting 10 points in their first six games and scoring 13 goals in the process. Those 13 goals are the third-most in MLS and their forward quartet deserves much of the credit.
Erick “Cubo” Torres, Alberth Elis, Romell Quioto and Mauro Manotas have combined for 12 of the 13 goals while rotating in and out of the starting XI. Torres is the only player to start all six games, with Manotas starting the season on the bench and Quioto missing two games due to injury.
Torres, Quioto and Elis were the three starters up top for Wilmer Cabrera to start the season. But with Quioto out, Manotas has been one of the best players on the field for the Dynamo.
This fact has presented a problem for Cabrera – a good problem, to be fair – as only three of the four players can start for the team. None of the four are really equipped to play in Cabrera’s midfield three.
The Audi Player Index averages that each has posted when starting would point to Elis being the odd man out. The Honduran international has averaged 253 points in his five starts, which is the lowest of the four. Manotas has the highest average at 646, with Quioto at 615 and Torres at 399.
Manotas’ most impressive performance came on April 1 against the New York Red Bulls. The Dynamo won that game 4-1 and Manotas accrued 1,087 Audi Player Index points despite not scoring a goal.
He did this by getting five shots on target from inside the box, worth 136 points each, winning a penalty (190 points) and completing five dribbles (25 points each).
While Manotas’ performances have been impressive, there’s little doubt that Elis has all the potential in the world to be a top forward in MLS. The same applies to both Quioto and Torres.
Cabrera has a tough decision ahead of him but it’s clear that any three of these players can perform at an elite level.
