Time for a change in direction
Three years ago, former Dynamo coach Wade Barrett succeeded Owen Coyle on an interim basis in the middle of the 2016 MLS season. The team failed to qualify for the playoffs and Barrett was eventually replaced by Wilmer Cabrera that fall.
On Saturday, interim coach Davy Arnaud will begin his journey to try to help the Dynamo qualify for the 2019 postseason when Houston (9-13-3, 30 points) hosts the Colorado Rapids (7-12-5, 26 points) in the club’s first game since parting ways with Cabrera on Tuesday.
“I’m happy to get the chance and excited about what the next nine games are going to bring,” Arnaud said.
“I think the main objective and our priority is this Saturday; the playoffs obviously being the ultimate goal in this nine-game road that we’re on.”
Arnaud is familiar with the Dynamo having served as an assistant coach (overseeing the team’s forwards) under Cabrera since 2017. A Nederland-native, he served as an assistant coach to D.C. United after retiring from the team in 2016.
His experience as a player partially informs how he’s approaching the next nine games and his transition into an interim
coach.
“We had a coaching change in Kansas City. When I played there under Bob Gansler, Brian Bliss took over as the interim head coach,” Arnaud said. “So I’ve had this experience on the other side as a
player and I understand that it’s not easy, as much as we understand and accept it as part of the business. It’s still making a big change but I also knowthat the response fromthe players can be something that moves us back in the right direction.”
The first step will be against the only other Western Conference team
with fewer road wins than the Dynamo this year (Houston’s two to Colorado’s one).
“(The results) have been challenging for us,” general manager Matt Jordan said. “We believe in this group of players and in no way, shape or form do we think that our results the last couple months are reflection of the quality of
this group.”
Despite their shock at the abruptness of Cabrera’s departure, Dynamo players agree with the sentiment. But at some point, they’ll need to do the right things instead of just saying them.
“This surprisedmeand I was surprised because whether youwant to admit it or not, we have played
well. At times we have been the better team, we have just been unfortunate here and there,” midfielder Oscar Boniek Garcia said.
“This is a good group andwe have to have faith in each other that we can turn things around. To do that, we have to do our part and make that extra effort.”
As for Arnaud, his message to the team was short.
“He just wanted to get the guys out here after a couple of days off and get to work,” defender A. J. DeLaGarza said.
“I’m ready for the next step and to challenge the group.”