I'm concerned, home team, and I'm not sure if I have an answer for my problem. Watching the World Cup has given me a little perspective on our beloved Orange. I don't want this to be read as criticism or anger, more constructive frustration. I am a die hard, and as such we could lose every game and I would still wear the colors and show up at the games and cheer and yell just as hard as ever. This being said I have one thing to ask of the team.
Please do not continue to live up to the expectations of American Soccer.
Looking back, our season is comparable to the US National teams run in the Cup. We don't play to our level, we play the pace set by our opponent. Sometimes we pull out of it and make it work sometimes we don't. We play very well against good teams, and play very poorly against poor teams. This has to change.
I'm not what you would call a brilliant soccer mind. If you read the Free Beer Movement's webpage in the coming weeks you will see a story I sent in about only becoming a fan when the Dynamo came to the city. I'm not a strategist or a statistician, but I can see what is plainly in front of me. We need to go into games assuming we will win, assuming we deserve to win. We need to walk in with a swagger. We need to walk in with the pride of champions. Sure, this team is in transition. We've lost two world class midfielders, a GM who has been instrumental in our development and there are constant rumors about our Coaches being wooed away by other clubs. Life is tough when you're at the top.
All of this being said, we have an amazingly talented squad, passionate fans and a looming stadium deal. We have the pride of the third coast. It is time to start playing like it. We have looked downright timid at times this season and that is not acceptable to the fans. It shouldn't be acceptable to the players or staff either. We lost to dallas at home. Of course we will still support our team, but it is embarrassing to go out like that. The Houston Dynamo are better than that.
So home team, know that your fans will always be here. We will continue to bring our voices, drums, banners, confetti and any other accoutrements you will allow in the stadium. There will be nothing held back from your supporters, and even if we are last in the league we will still come out as if we were the best. But we don't have to go down that road. We have the talent and skill and support and atmosphere to have the top two teams in the league as long as we play like it. Check everything else at the door. We will sweat, we will cry, we will celebrate, we will blead with you. We are Houston. Let's start playing like it again.
Article contributed by Mike
Follow on Twitter @MikeP713 @KategorieH
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