HOUSTON – When Boniek Garcia is in form and on the ball, it almost seems like he's dancing. Cutting, moving and stepping quickly in small spaces, Garcia has the skill to make any defender look silly.
It’s ironic, then, that a lack of rhythm that has tripped the Honduran up. Garcia may be one of Houston’s most talented players on the ball, yet so far this season his skill has not translated into consistent production.
“I had a slow start but the last couple of games I’ve felt a little better and I’m satisfied with the way I’ve been playing,” Garcia told MLSsoccer.com through a translator. “I felt like I lost rhythm and specifically because of a [right knee] injury and I kind of lost the rhythm and now I feel like I’ve gotten back on that rhythm.”
Garcia hasn't consistently shown up on the stat sheet since arriving in Houston. In fact, it's been hard to see his impact on the game from the box score at times. He scored seven goals and added 12 assists in his first two seasons with Houston before dipping to two goals and just one assist in 2014. Garcia has taken just five shots in 11 games this season, two coming via a penalty kick situation that produced his only goal of the season.
That production is low considering the reputation Garcia has built for both club and country.
But the recent slump coincides with injuries last year and early this season, as well as a crowded schedule that saw Garcia help Honduras qualify for the 2014 World Cup.
“It’s definitely difficult, it really is and to be totally honest I didn’t realize how difficult it really was,” said Garcia's teammate
Brad Davis
, who experienced a similarly hectic schedule going to the World Cup for the US national team last season. Garcia, along with club and country teammate
Luis Garrido
, will leave for international duty after Friday’s game against the New York Red Bulls (9 pm ET, UniMás) for two friendlies. “You want to be in those positions, you want to be representing your country because there’s nothing better but mentally and physically it takes a toll.”
Looking ahead, getting Garcia into the Dynamo attack to better effect is something everyone in Houston wants to see.
According to the Honduran international one of the biggest changes under Owen Coyle, who replaced Dom Kinnear in the offseason, has been an emphasis on taking players on more often. Getting him in those positions is something Coyle and Davis want to see more of.
“Honestly, Bonie’s one of the most unselfish players I’ve ever played with,” Davis said. “It’s one of those things where he’s trying to set up the next guy rather than go make that play. There’re a lot of times where he could probably finish but he lays it off to try and let someone else do it.
“It’s one of those things he’s been playing well but it’s one of those things where if you don’t feel like you’re playing well the confidence can tend to go a little bit sometimes,” continued Davis. “When the confidence is a little rattled, you kind of just want to make the simple play, but Owen and us players when he gets down in those areas no one’s going to be upset with him taking those guys on.”
Arriving at that approach is something that’s out of Garcia’s comfort zone, though he knows there's a better balance.
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“That’s something of my personal character,” Garcia said when asked about his low shot count. “If I don’t feel I have the shot, I’d rather pass the ball. If there’s a valid opportunity, I’ll go ahead and take the shot.”
Nobody expects Garcia to suddenly become a volume shooter, but adding a consistent threat from the flank could help open an attack that's seen 11 of its 17 goals come from Dynamo forwards.
Garcia stood out in a 1-1 draw against New York City FC and told MLSsoccer.com that he feels his game coming around. Now Houston just want to see that consistently.
“I thought Boniek was terrific against New York,” said Coyle. “You don’t want to say the word selfish, but more aligned to get shots on goal when it’s on to do that. We’re delighted with his play, when he can hopefully have that little bit of selfishness at times because he’s capable of scoring goals and creating goals when he’s in that form. He’s a handful against anybody.”
Darrell Lovell covers the Houston Dynamo for MLSsoccer.com.
