Dynamo Theory

Dynamo Sign Erich Marscheider As Third Keeper

2012-02-22T15:55:20Z

Dynamo announced today the signing of 19-year-old goalkeeper Erich Marscheider. He's been training with the club during the preseason and cleared waivers, allowed the team to sign the young keeper. Marscheider is listed at 6'2", 185lbs. and was born in Austria to American parents.

From what I can find about him, he's a rated fairly well and adds to the impressive group of young goalkeepers the Dynamo already have signed or are part of the team's academy program. More importantly, goalkeeper coach Tim Hanley likes him and that's good enough for me.

Here's the official press release on the signing:

HOUSTON, TX (Wednesday, February 22, 2012) -- The Houston Dynamo have signed goalkeeper Erich Marscheider, it was announced today. Marscheider cleared the waiver process after Major League Soccer signed the promising goalkeeper to a contract. The Dynamo then put in a player request to sign Marscheider. Per team and league policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Marscheider, 19, has been in training with the Dynamo since the beginning of preseason. He previously played three-and-a-half years for the Colorado Rush Soccer Club. The Colorado Springs-native was awarded the Golden Gloves as the top goalkeeper in 2011 for the Colorado Rush program.

"He has a good attitude, he works hard and has good size," Dynamo goalkeepers coach Tim Hanley said. "Age is also a factor because there is a big upside to a kid who is only 19 years old. Erich is very polished technically, which shows that he has been coached before, and I do not have to do a whole lot to change how he plays. Mostly important, he has a good attitude, which is something I value highly in my goalkeepers."

Since joining training camp with the Dynamo, Marscheider has seen action in four games.

Off-Season Orange Slices: The Season is Nigh

2012-02-21T23:56:26Z

Dynamo News

Brad Davis' long road to recovery (New York Times)
Dynamo score nine as they dominate the Academy (Houston Dynamo)
The back line looks to continue total awesomeness (MLS Soccer)
Rico on loan to Stabaek? (Soccer By Ives)
Houston Dynamo 2012 Preview (MLS Talk)
Houston Dynamo Disney Classic Preview (Behind the Mic)
What is Ching's role for the Dynamo in 2012 (MLS Soccer)

Tweet(s) of the Day

Goalkeeper Eric Marscheider, 19, has earned a developmental contract with Dynamo. @timhanley2 discovered him in combine. He's a big kid.
— Jose de Jesus Ortiz (@OrtizKicks) February 21, 2012

See you on May 26...RT @landondonovan Looks awesome, can't wait to play there
— HoustonDynamo (@HoustonDynamo) February 21, 2012

Meet the BBVA Compass Stadium Staff

2012-02-21T22:36:47Z

Meet the BBVA Compass Stadium Staff

BBVA Compass Stadium general manager Doug Hall today announced the addition of several new staff members as part of the stadium’s operational, business development and marketing initiatives.

Two videos to get your Orange blood a-pumping

2012-02-21T22:31:11Z

This first one is a fan-posted video that has quite a lot of nice images of BBVA Compass Stadium, the Houston Dynamo's 2011 season and MLS Cups past.. This video is like Lay's, betcha can't watch it just once.

This second one is from a player tour of the new stadium that was filmed by the team just today. I don't know about you, but I never get tired of looking at that big old Orange Cathedral being built. Drove by it again this morning.

As someone who attended Houston Hurricane games back in the days of the old NASL in the Astrodome, I can't even begin to tell you how great it feels to see this place and how much I am looking forward to its grand opening 80 short days from now.

Dynamo putting in some nice preseason stuff

2012-02-21T19:50:32Z

The Houston Dynamo just released this video today of last Saturday's 4-0 win over SMU, the team's first with Brian Ching back in the lineup. The Captain mentioned on Glenn Davis' program last night that Brad Davis told him he thought this might be Dynamo's most technical-oriented squad ever. Even allowing for the level of competition, you see some nice pieces of skill in this video.

About 12 seconds in, Corey Ashe, playing in an advanced position on the left (This must be preseason.) does a nifty little behind the back move to send in a cross that Bryan Ownby (I think) makes a mash out of. Come on Bryan. I'm rooting for you, but that little header? Yuck.

Oops, what was I saying? At the 30-second mark, Ashe again playing up on the left sends a pretty bending cross to Ownby, who this time buries it. OK, all is forgiven UCLA boy.

Rain obscures the lens somewhat at this point of the video, so you can't get clear views of two horrendous misses. But then, not letting Ownby be the only Bruin to score, the Dancing Bear Will Bruin comes in just past the minute mark to get on the board. What time! I've seen PKs more pressured than that.

Warning: Don't look too close after that, or you will see JeVaughn Watson still in a Dynamo uniform, congratulating Bruin. I wonder what he's saying. Any ideas? (Please keep it clean. This is a family site.)

Don't keep your eyes closed too long, though. A few seconds later, Brazilian trialist Emerson Sato rises to meet a long cross and buries it for his first goal in preseason. Then a few second later, someone (thankfully) cleans off the lens at halftime and Colin Rolfe scores the final after a pretty cross.

Preseason to me is like a gentleman's agreement, it isn't worth the paper it's not printed on. Still, in the context of meaningless friendlies, it's always nice to see some good play, and play that is getting better as we go along. For those of you scoring at home, here are Dynamo's scoring leaders in the preseason so far:

Bruin (4)
Ownby, (4)
Clark (3)
Rolfe (3)
Weaver (3)
Dixon (2)
Kandji (2)
Sato (2)
Sturgis (2)
Aseweh
Arreola
Escobar
Moffat

Next up is Dynamo's trip to Orlando, Florida this weekend for the Disney Pro Soccer Classic. Before taking the Emirates Cup last year, this was the New York Red Bulls' first and only trophy! Also, some team from Frisco beat us at PKs in the final of this event in 2011 for their only trophy. Charity is a wonderful thing, ain't it?

Friday at 5 p.m., the Orange play the Sporks, followed by Sunday at noon against Vancouver and, TA-DUM!!!, Wednesday, Feb. 29, at 7 p.m. against the Montreal L'Impact, all at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex.

Dynamo past and present, who should be in the Naranjall?

2012-02-21T00:42:19Z

Houston Dynamo past and present has been on parade over the last week. On the same day the reigning MLS MVP Dwayne De Rosario inked a new deal with DC United, the person those of us with an Orange persuasion consider the real 2011 MVP is back at work.

The Houston Chronicle is reporting that Brad Davis has been cleared by doctors for "all soccer activities." And what's more, Calen Carr has also been given the A-OK to get back to practice tomorrow.

In one sense, the Davis news is quite possibly bigger news than the return last week of No. 25. Not only is Davis the motor that makes the Dynamo go, he is quite possibly the third leg of the playing triumvirate that has been at the heart of all Dynamo success since the beginning. I'm speaking of course about the Flyin' Hawaiian (MVP of MLS Cup 2006 and the club's all-time leading scorer), the above mentioned De Rosario (MVP of MLS Cup 2007 and arguably one of the best players in MLS history) and Davis, the man of whom David Beckham wishes he was a right-footed version.

The discussion has been broached here and elsewhere of the need to create a Dynamo Hall of Fame (Naranjall of Fame?) that enshrines some of the great achievers in club history. The team does have an Orange Blazer Club that right now has a grand total of five members, broadcaster and former pro player Glenn Davis, Houston Mayor Annise Parker, Harris County judge Ed Emmett, tireless soccer advocate Victor Delgadillo and former Houston Hurricane and TV executive Jack Stanfield, with a sixth, former team president Oliver Luck clearly on the way. The organization adds one member ever year.

And the Orange Blazer Club is a very nice and classy move from a classy organization. One thing it is not, however, is a true Hall of Fame. The Houston Dynamo have not been in existence very long when it comes down to it, but I think the first members of any Naranjall would be obvious to all, starting with Brian Ching, Dwayne De Rosario, Pat Onstad and Brad Davis as players and Dominic Kinnear as manager.

The question I have for you, my dear Dynamo Theoreticians, is what players would you include in addition to those four? It would have to be a player or players with impeccable credentials, whose contributions to team and community are beyond question. I am not talking about debatable inclusions here, but rock solid and incontrovertible choices. My job was the easy one, as I gave you the first five obvious choices (four players plus one manager). I'm including a poll below with some other potential choices. For any choice you make, please in the comments field include your rationale.

This should be fun.

Poll

What players would you add to a Dynamo Naranjall of Fame?

2012 Dynamo Reserve League Schedule Announced

2012-02-20T21:35:19Z

Just in case you didn't hear, the MLS reinstated the Reserve League last season as part of the new collective bargaining agreement signed between the league and the player's union. If you'd like to check out all the rules and regulations associated with the Reserve League, you can enjoy them here.

Here are the basics. The Reserve League is broken up in to three conferences, based on regional alignment (to limit travel). The Dynamo are in the Central Division and will play each of their conference opponents twice, once home and once away. The clubs are permitted to schedule exhibition matches for their reserve sides against non-MLS opponents, in addition to their league schedule.

Here is the Dynamo's 2012 Reserve League schedule:

(date/time/venues subject to change, all times local)

3/13 Colorado Rapids - 10:00am - HASP

3/27 @ Sporting Kansas City - 7:30pm - LIVEStrong Sporting Park

4/10 @ FC Dallas - 7:30pm - FC Dallas Stadium

4/16 @ Chicago Fire - Toyota Park Practice Field

5/23 @ Colorado Rapids - 11:00pm - DSG Park Field 20

6/16 FC Dallas - 6:30pm - BBVA Compass Stadium

7/10 @ Real Salt Lake - 11:00am - RSL Training Field

8/14 Sporting Kansas City - 10:00am - HASP

9/7 Real Salt Lake - 10:00am - HASP

9/10 Chicago Fire - 10:00am - HASP

Off-Season Orange Slices: Dynamo Beat SMU 4-0

2012-02-19T16:57:16Z

Dynamo News

Dynamo dominate SMU with goals by Bruin, Ownby, Sato, and Rolfe (Houston Dynamo)
Dynamo players happy to have the cap back (Houston Dynamo)
Solomon talks Ching, and his dedication to Houston (Houston Chronicle)
Camargo ready for a big season in 2012 (Glenn Davis Soccer)
Media attention to Ching story good for soccer (Glenn Davis Soccer)
Ching gave up a lot to come back to Houston (Houston Dynamo)
Nickname for BBVA Compass Stadium Ideas (Glenn Davis Soccer)

Soccer News

This Week in "American Exports" (MLS Soccer)
There's something wrong with the US development system (Houston Chronicle)

Tweet(s) of the Day

Don't tell Roland Martin, who hates soccer and pink and even drew fire from gay groups recently, but Juventus was in pink today.
— Jose de Jesus Ortiz (@OrtizKicks) February 18, 2012

Dynamo Theory

Dynamo Sign Erich Marscheider As Third Keeper

Off-Season Orange Slices: The Season is Nigh

Meet the BBVA Compass Stadium Staff

Meet the BBVA Compass Stadium Staff

Two videos to get your Orange blood a-pumping

Dynamo putting in some nice preseason stuff

Bruin (4)

Ownby, (4)

Clark (3)

Rolfe (3)

Weaver (3)

Dixon (2)

Kandji (2)

Sato (2)

Sturgis (2)

Aseweh

Arreola

Escobar

Moffat

Dynamo past and present, who should be in the Naranjall?

What players would you add to a Dynamo Naranjall of Fame?

2012 Dynamo Reserve League Schedule Announced

Off-Season Orange Slices: Dynamo Beat SMU 4-0