Dynamo hoping end-of-year moves translate into wins

When the final whistle blew on the 2016 regular season, Dynamo general manager Matt Jordan ramped up his already ambitious effort to improve a roster that left the club at the bottom of the Western Conference table.

Last week, just in time for Christmas, Dynamo fans finally got to see the presents Jordan had been putting under the team’s tree.

In a span of four days, the Dynamo announced the acquisition of three highly coveted Central American stars, at least one of whom was the desire of more than a handful of other MLS clubs.

All of a sudden, the team’s attack has significantly more upside than when it scored 16 goals in the final 17 games of the season. During that time, the Dynamo scored more than two goals four times.

“Heading into the offseason, we were very clear with our objectives,” Jordan said. “We wanted to get younger. We wanted to get more dynamic. We wanted to be very aggressive. Our moves clearly support that.” Envy of league GMs

On Tuesday, the Dynamo acquired 20-year old Honduran striker Alberth Elis on loan from Mexico’s Monterrey. On Friday, they announced the permanent transfer of Elis’ Honduran national team teammate Romell Quioto from Honduras’ Olimpia.

Jordan said he had been inundated with text messages from other MLS general managers, all with pretty much the same sentiment: “You guys beat us to that one.”

Both players are proven threats who could play at the front of the attack or on either wing. Although he didn’t guarantee the same type of success, Jordan said having Elis and Quioto on the pitch at the same time could cause the same problem for teams that Supporters’ Shield winner FC Dallas posed with the duo of Michael Barrios and Fabian Castillo.

“When you have that dynamic speed and ability on both sides, it puts defenders on their heels,” Jordan said. “You have to be honest with the way you approach those types of players.”

The Dynamo also signed Panamanian center back Adolfo Machado, 31, on a permanent transfer from Costa Rica’s Saprissa. Allocation money key

Those three additions were made possible largely because of allocation money the club received in trading Giles Barnes during the season and Sheanon Williams and Will Bruin after the season. Jordan confirmed the Dynamo used targeted allocation money to help secure Quioto’s transfer.

Despite last week’s moves, Jordan said the club is still searching for a true No. 10 who can unlock defenses by making a devastating pass. As it stands now, the Dynamo likely will play a 4-3-3 formation.

No matter how the roster is configured, he said he trusts new coach Wilmer Cabrera to make it all work.

“That is Wilmer’s biggest strength,” Jordan said. “He has an outstanding ability to find the right pieces to fit into the right system and get the most out of his players.”