The Houston Dynamo are doubling down on their forward line heading into the 2017 MLS season with the recent loan acquisition of Alberth Elis.
Houston played the majority of last season with a lone forward in a 4-1-4-1 formation under interim head coach Wade Barrett. The shift from a 4-2-3-1 under Owen Coyle stabilized the defense but did little up front as the offense kept on sputtering. Houston was one of three MLS teams to score less than 40 goals in the 2016 season, finishing at the bottom of the Western Conference.
The lack of creativity in attack, including service to a lone forward, was on display most games.