The Houston Dynamo’s chances of an MLS Cup three-peat just got tougher.
The Houston Chronicle is reporting that forward Joseph Ngwenya has signed with Austrian club SK Austria. Ngwenya scored seven goals and added three assists for the Dynamo. He also scored the equalizing goal in Houston’s 2-1 MLS Cup final victory against New England in November.
Ngwenya’s departure, coupled with the imminent departure of Nate Jaqua, who is in Europe seeking a contract, leaves Houston perilously thin at forward. The Dynamo still has Brian Ching, but the pickings are thin after that.
So what will Houston do? Will the Dynamo switch to a one-forward system in order to take advantage of the embarrassment of riches in midfield? Will Houston deal some of that midfield depth for forward help? Or will the Dynamo use its designated player slot to find a marquee forward?
What do you think the Dynamo will do? Share your thoughts below.
its good you taste european soccer ngwenya
Quote from Nathan
“I’d like to see someone in the mold of Omar Bravo, a small, speedy, technically-gifted forward to complement Ching the way Donovan does. Plus, it would be good to have a Mexican on the team. I’m white, and even I think this”,
REPP!!!
Dom is gonna make it work
I will like to point out that jaqua and ngwenya have been over seas for quite some time now so this is no surprise to the Dynamo.
Expect to see the Dynamo experiment in the pan pacific tournament.
also i’m starting the rumor that Dynamo superdraft pick will be moved up to forward
i’m basing this on the fact that hes as tall as jaqua 6-3
Losing Ngwenya & Jaqua hurts the Dynamo depth-wise and we need to get some more forward depth. Problem is we do not have a ton of cap room so we need to trade for guys currently underperforming on other rosters and “coach ’em up” or go to the foreign market.
Is this a critical loss? Yes but mostly no. Ngwenya brought speed and really opened up the defense in several games. He had some great goals and also numerous missed chances due to poor finishing and no left foot.
The question with Jaqua and Ngwenya is: did Kinnear get the best out of them for half a season and they can’t repeat that over the long haul? Probably – a change of scenary and teams helped both guys and I don’t think Ngwenya could score 15 goals a year in MLS. Make no mistake, without those two the Dynamo would NOT have won the Cup last season.
Unlike many, I think Jaqua is a great player to have on your roster because he has some physical skills and versatility. He also worked his butt off for the Dynamo pressing the opponents’ backs. On the down side, he perpetually seems to want to go to Europe and his first touch can charitably be called average.
In response to Nate questions, Nate is trying out for the same team as Jo just signed with. He’s been there for at least a week or two and there have been mixed reports about how the team/players/fans feel about him.
Whether he stays in Austria is up in the air. The Dynamo, of course, have no comment.
And no one should feel bad for Ngwenya for leaving. He had a breakout year (for whatever reason) and while his value is high, he tried out the Euro market. I bet you he’s at least making double his MLS salary (~$60K) playing in Austria, which is a comparable league (talent wise). Why not make the move?
His contract is up in April, when the season ends, with a club-option 1 year extension. He could be back in the summer, he may not. Heck, he could do so good that he goes to Germany (where he also tried out IIRC).
One formation I like is this, as a temporary solution for the Dynamo’s problems (ie PPC, early CCC):
—-Ching——
—DeRo—Holden
Davis——–Mullan
—–Rico—–
Barrett–Boswell–Robinson—Mulrooney
—–Onstad——
Not perfect, but it wouldn’t be bad either.
Ngwenya’s gonna be showin’ Austria his O-face.
If I had a million dollars, I’d do two Austrian clubs at once.
Yeahhhhhhh.
Jaqua is always “going to Europe”. The more he goes to Europe, the more he stays here. I don’t think I ever saw a guy go backwards in talent as much as Jaqua. Jaqua leaving helps the Dynamo. I think he will end up with the Rochester Raging Rhinos.
I don’t think Ngwenya is a fluke. I admit I was shocked at how much he improved. He did seem pretty bad. I think he got smarter, or someone made him smarter. He didn’t just improve with his scoring. He became a good midfielder who helped his team in a lot of ways. He became an assist guy, and a guy who is always working hard to make something happen for his team. He became much less selfish and improved his attitude. No, I am not saying he is great, but if he continues to play with the intelligence and attitude he did last season, he could be a decent player. We may never know since he has gone into a black hole now. Good luck to him.
Bob —
Brilliant Post !!!
I can just see Garber saying the exact thing. In fact Garber could be Lumberg in the remake.
It gets worse kpugs: Someone, actually several someones, have paid Conor Casey to play professional soccer. (Even though he looks, and plays like, Kane, the professional wrestler.)
“Naga… nagahe… nagahe… Well, na gonna work here any more”
“I’m really getting tired of losing our great young talents to European leagues basically on the same par as MLS. The MLS needs to significantly raise the salary cap. This is getting ridiculous. We are nothing more then Europe’s Minor League.”
Ngwenya is from Zimbabwe and are you really all that disappointed about Jaqua leaving? Every day there are stories on the wire about players coming into the MLS this year. That is how international commodity markets work. If you haven’t figured out soccer is an international sport and players are leaving leagues around the world and moving to other leagues.
The leagues finances are improving and with the next collective bargaining agreement the wages will increase but you are certifiably insane if you think we are in any way ready to start financially competing with European leagues that generate billions of dollars in revenue.
Well it looks like DC United’s chances of winning the Champions Cup this year just went up.
DC is quietly building itself as like the Arsenal of MLS.
They will have at any given point 8-10 foreign players on the pitch (two hold green cards).
wow I’d love to know more details about Jaqua’s impending move across the pond. He was a big favorite of me and my friends when he was with the Fire, and I actually think he’s a really good player with a lot of potential. He is really good on the ball for a player of his size and while not the most clinical of finishers, does have a great knack for getting in really good spots.
What teams are looking at him? Is he out of contract right now or will his new team have to pay a transfer fee?
GOOD, GLAD TO SEE HOUSTON FANS SUFFERING, THEY GOT TOO MUCH TOO SOON
I don’t understand people getting so mad for at people leaving. MLS is a minor league, and when people leave it means it’s getting better. When the league first started I dont remember players leaving at this rate, which means the lvl of soccer in the MLS has risen. Maybe eventually it will rise to the lvl of maybe a championship lvl in England or seris B.. but for now it’s not there..
Damn, as an MLS fan I’m upset that this will set back Houston’s chances of winning the Champion’s Cup.
Ngwenya was a malcontent in the Crew locker room which is why he was dealt away for a lesser player with a better attitude (Alejandro Moreno). It only remains to be seen which Ngwenya shows up in Austria. If it is the malcontent we will have him back in MLS in two years.
I’m really getting tired of losing our great young talents to European leagues basically on the same par as MLS. The MLS needs to significantly raise the salary cap. This is getting ridiculous. We are nothing more then Europe’s Minor League.
If Bornstein leaves for Isreal, Houston could package Corrales’ rights and bit more for Galindo or Razov (since it seems Chivas has many forwards and few spare quality defenders)
I’m with EdHo. I never thought Ngwenya was any good. When he played on the wing with the Crew, he looked slow, lost and just plain terrible.
But there’s no doubting he stepped up his game when he moved to Houston and was placed as a forward. That did wonders for the kid.
But last year was probably just an aberration.
Hey all you Jacqua haters who say he’s crap Crouch: You obviously never saw his “Robot Dance” while he was in Chitown. If you had, you’d understand and respect the man.
The DeRo-Holden scenario seems logical. Or Holden on the left with Davis in the middle, because Davis did have a little spot duty there last season. But don’t forget that Ashe played forward at UNC, and he would be a nice foil running off Ching.
Brian Ching is from Hawaii.
I really don’t think Ngwena is very good. He came from no where to score som eimpressive goals this year, but somehow I don’t think we will maintain or improve that form.
And, i agree with the othe rposters that Jacqua is a poor man’s Peter Crouch. Just minus any skill. OK, I guess size is the only thing similar 🙂 I think Ching can play as a holding forward, so Jacqua’s loss is easier to handle. They just need to bring in some speed or a withdrawn forward and they’ll be ok. That shouldn’t be too hard
Was his MLS contract done? No transfer fee?
As Aljarov says, give Wondo a chance already!
jacqua is in europe???? who knew…
I am still wrapping my mind around the fact that someone EVER paid Nate Jacqua to play professional soccer. The fact that apparently someone in Europe will is just too much for my brain to handle. Does not compute.
It would have been funny if he signed with Red Bull Salzburg. 🙂
Oof… I don’t know what the Dynamo will do, but I’m starting to become alarmed by the rate at which serviceable players are leaving MLS. We better see an influx of foreign talent to match the talent that is heading out. And after Seattle joins the league, I think MLS needs to seriously consider waiting to see how the next season plays out before seeking further expansion.
I think DeRo will get moved up top with Ching, and Holden will take over DeRo’s old spot at attacking mid. I’m sure forwards will be added, but I don’t think they’ll be marquee names, but instead more in the mold of Ngwenya and Jaqua, project forwards.
I don’t think Wondolowski has what it takes to be a clinical finisher. In all the games I’ve seen him play, he seems too timid.
If we did go for a DP though (which we won’t b/c of cap issues), I’d like to see someone in the mold of Omar Bravo, a small, speedy, technically-gifted forward to complement Ching the way Donovan does. Plus, it would be good to have a Mexican on the team. I’m white, and even I think this.
They’re going to need to add someone.
I think Chris Wondolowski is due a chance to start after two good years in the reserves, but you wouldn’t want to rely on two players only up front. Especially with Ching’s injury record lately.
A DP would be nice, but they haven’t freed much cap space by losing Ngwenya and Jaqua who were both relatively cheap.