Uncle Sam - Comments

DONE DEAL: Erick Torres has been sold to FC Schalke. The $5.5M initial deal more than doubles the previous club record, which was $2.7M for Geoff Cameron to Stoke.

Our General Allocation Money now shoots up to $1.3M, which I can use for MLS transfers or to buy down the salary cap impact of specific players.

MLS TIP: This is basically how I run my club in MLS in FM. Here in the USA we call it "moneyball", and it can be especially effective in MLS. By selling players for big profits to foreign clubs I can keep my overall wages lower while also being able to give bigger contracts while staying under the salary cap. Obviously it sucks to lose Torres, but I can replace him and develop his replacement to earn another big pay day.

And 7-0 is now the club and US Open Cup record for largest margin of victory.

The Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Draw Semi Final draw sends us to New England. On the other side of the bracket D.C. United awaits the winner of the LA Galaxy-NY Red Bulls match.

Absolutely lethal finishing in the first half has helped us to prevail over Seattle in the Quarter Final of the US Open Cup. We scored on 4 of our 6 first half shots. Resting my US Open Cup squad before a match is obviously paying off big time.

Side notes: Zach Pfeffer came on as a sub and scored his first goal with the club. Also, I delayed Torres's transfer so he could play in this match. What a brilliant move that turned out to be as he scored two goals and served up four assists.

We played a team of mostly reserves in a match at Orlando City. Despite this and having Jalil Anibaba sent off in the 73rd, we hung on for a dramatic 2-1 victory.

League: 1st (12-4-1, 34 GF - 13 GA, +21 GF, 40 PTS)

Andrew Wenger suffers a damaged foot, will be out for 2-3 weeks.

Coincidentally Erick Torres brings home the MLS Player of the Week. His stiffest competition was teammates Tomas Martinez and Juan David Cabezas. Guess that's what a 5-0 win can do for individual accolades.

Offers coming in for Erick Torres now. His value is $5.5M, and that is minimum I am accepting BEFORE any bonuses. The offering clubs must hit this with their initial fee + monthly installments. Schalke have come in with an offer that could rise to $10.75M. I'll probably accept this offer and see if he accepts.

I have to assume I'm losing ET now. I fully believe that Mauro Manotas is ready to step in.

His backup could be any number of players, Alberth Elis being the most likely until the end of the season. Where I would really like to bring a guy during the summer window is at center back. Leonardo, De La Garza, and Machado have been getting the job done, but I could use an upgrade. I'll be sending scouts to Spain and Brazil to look for a loanee replacement.

This is how you get back on track after a tough loss:

Complete dominance. One of those occasions where no one flubs their lines and everything goes according to the script. Obviously the red card helped, but it was already 3-0 by then. The only blemish would be Torres' missed penalty in the 34th minute.

League: 1st (11-4-2, 32 GF - 12 GA, +20 GD, 37 PTS)

We have 5 more goals than the next highest team, and we are 7 goals better in differential than the next best team, however our position is somewhat precarious as our lead is only three points. We do have a game in hand on the next highest team, but it could unravel quickly.

Midseason Affiliates Update

Rio Grande Valley (USL) - 5th place (8-4-5, 31 GF - 18 GA, +13 GD, 28 PTS).

--Prospects. The best prospects are the three guys I have loaned to the club. Rafael Ramos (DR - 7.52), Christian Lucatero (MC - 7.35), and Cristian Roldan (M/AM RC - 7.02) are all carrying high ratings. Charlie Ward (M/AMC - 7.21) is a decent prospect who is producing, and Jorginho James (DM/MC - 6.97) is another player I like but isn't getting a lot of playing time.

Dynamo Academy (USSDA Frontier Division) - 1st place (10-4-1, 22 GF - 7 GA, +15 GD, 34 PTS)

--Prospects: My son (Jayden) that I added to have random attributes with an editor file (that I forgot I still had in my editor data folder) actually looks like a decent prospect in this game. He has a 7.14 rating from his M/AMC position. Goalkeeper Adam Bocanegra (7.03) and David Stern (AML - 7.35) are also rated to be prospects worth having a look at.

DC grabs their second choice, Ricardo La Volpe. The Argentine has extensive experience, managing several Mexican clubs, as well as the Mexican and Costa Rican national teams.

The Klinsmann to DC United rumors die as Basel swoops for the former German international and USA National Team coach.

Controversial penalty gives Portland 1-0 win over Dynamo team recovering from midweek shootout victory.

League: 1st (10-4-2, 27 GF - 12 GA, +15 GD, 34 PTS)

After controlling the entire match, (69-31 possession, 15-3 shots, 0 shots on target for Chicago), the Dynamo needed a penalty shootout to eliminate the Fire in the Round of 16 of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

Quarterfinal: at Seattle Sounders FC. (Path to the Quarterfinal: 1-0 extra time win at Louisville City, 1-1 (4-2) shootout win at home against Sporting Kansas City.

Interesting rumors flying around with Jurgen Klinsmann emerging as the fans' "leading candidate" for the D.C. United head coaching job.

After loss to Houston, D.C. United sack Ben Olsen.

Dynamo rests first team for the US Open Cup, reserves grind out 2-1 win over D.C. United.

League: 1st (10-4-1, 27 GF - 11 GA, +16 GD, 34 PTS)

Manotas, Quioto, and Martinez all score in 3-0 win at Harrisburg in US Open Cup Third Round. Here is a look at the draw the rest of the way:



It's a tough draw, as 15 of the 16 teams left are MLS clubs, and we will not be hosting a match until the final.

Houston Dynamo sign Zach Pfeffer on a free transfer:



Obviously not a world class player or anything, but Zach will provide some depth at midfield and we hope he can get a little better.

I have accepted a contract extension which will have me at Houston for 3 years, ending on 31 December 2018.

Erick Torres' 14th goal sets a new Houston Dynamo record for MLS goals in a season, breaking Brian Ching's old record of 13.

Erick Torres slots home a penalty and the Dynamo clinch the Texas Derby with a 1-0 win at archrival FC Dallas.



League: 1st (9-4-1, 25 GF - 10 GA, +15 GD, 31 PTS)

TRADE:
Houston Gets: 1st Round SuperDraft Pick 2017
NYC FC Gets: Oscar Boniek Garcia, 100K General Allocation Money

This was a tough deal to make because Boniek is a good player that can slot into several positions, but he is over 30 and we do get a first round pick in next years draft and we clear $245K of cap space.

Torres braces allows Houston to horde all three points in 2-1 win at Vancouver.

League: 2nd (8-4-1, 24 GF - 10 GA, +14 GD, 28 PTS)

Harrisburg holds on for 3-2 over Kitsap. Houston will begin the quest for the cup at the City Islanders on 28 June.

Lamar Hunt US Open Cup draw: The Dynamo will enter in the fourth round against the winner of Harrisburg City Islanders (USL) v. Kitsap SC (NPSL)

Scoreless draw at the Chicago Fire

League: 2nd (7-4-1, 22GF - 9GA, +13 GD, 25PTS)

Torres' hat trick nets him another MLS Player of the Week, and joins DaMarcus Beasley on Alberth Elis on the Team of the Week.

Torres hat-trick propels Dynamo to 3-2 win against Real Salt Lake and puts him in first place for the MLS Golden Boot with 11 goals in 8 apps.

League: 1st (7-3-1, 22 GF - 9 GA, +13 GD, 24PTS)

Eric Alexander's 89th minute strike gives Houston 2-1 win at San Jose.

League: 2nd (6-3-1, 19GF-7GA, +12 GD, 21PTS)