Wither the Houston Dynamo? The longtime MLS power may be falling apart

It’s not exactly that dire, but the club from South Texas finds itself in a state of alarming flux. Let’s look at the score sheet:

Ricardo Clark, the team’s rock in midfield, is reportedly in the final stages of signing with Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany. Aufedersein, Ricardo. Good luck to ya, and don’t take any crap off those grumpy schnitzel eaters.

Stuart Holden may soon sign with Braga in Portugal. Word to you, Stuart: Watch out for the Sagres, which flows freely over there for about a buck a bottle. That’s a good price for a pretty good version of the devil’s brew – and that could get a fellow in trouble quick.

I also have to wonder if his effectiveness will be further diminished when Clark and Holden, the fittest and most industrious of worker bees, aren’t around to help provide cover? That will leave even more running and chasing for Mullan, who will dutifully try to fill the void. But can he? The man turns 32 in April, after all.

Geoff Cameron, as versatile as a blue blazer, will certainly help as Dominic Kinnear rearranges things. And Eddie Robinson’s healthy return will be absolutely essential.

I have some degree of confidence that Kinnear’s managerial abilities and his MO – keep things simple, sign players with good character and demand ultimate accountability – can help the club maintain a steady course. Still, a manager can only do so much. Replacing Clark and Holden will be tough. Replacing their value will be absolutely impossible. They weren’t making $300,000 between them. At about $35,000, Holden was probably the best value in the entire league in 2K9.

Plus, I’ve got a feeling that Luis Angel Landin, signed late last year as the organization’s first Designated Player, won’t emerge from “bust” status. I’m not sure what happened there, but right now he’s on track to fall into the Denilson zone. Two words: Not good.

I have a hard time believing the Dynamo brain trust could be so wrong about the Mexican striker. This much is certain, the man reported to Houston last year in woeful shape, and he needs to get busy doing a few more push-aways. As in, “push-away” from the table, ya know?

Oh, one more thing: John Spencer, Kinnear’s friend and trusted assistant, is the only candidate to have been interviewed by Portland so far. That doesn’t mean he’s going to get the job, but he certainly could. That would further unravel a tight locker room.

Houston can still be a good team in 2010. The cupboard isn’t barren. But I don’t see the Dynamo challenging for a league title this year unless Kinnear can magically turn up some replacement parts with commensurate value – a nearly impossible task.