Nate Jaqua has returned to Houston after a half season in the Austrian Bundesliga that saw him score six goals and increase his profile. Jaqua even earned a call up to the US National Team after an almost three year absence for the match against England at Wembley. I’ve seen some other publications hail the signing of Jaqua as proof that Houston will compete to win MLS Cup again, but I actually see this as a somewhat desperate move. No doubt exists that Jaqua will help the Dynamo, but the Oliver Luck and Dom Kinnear’s reluctance to overhaul more parts of the squad is leaving Houston looking old and somewhat worn down.

Houston’s 4-0 win over Atlante was good to see from an MLS perspective but how Houston fares tonight against a full strength and hungry to win Superliga, Guadalajara side will tell us if the Dynamo are really over the hump as many claim. From my vantage point the Dynamo need to acquire help on the right side of midfield and in the central defense before the transfer window closes next month. This way Brian Mullan can be deployed as an additional attacker, and the team doesn’t have to continue to sweat about Eddie Robinson’s injuries.

Other transfer news:

  • George Welcome, the Honduran international who scored the extra time winner that defeated the US in the CONCACAF Under 23 final in March is training with the Red Bulls. Whether he can actually sign with the club is another matter as New England filed a discovery claim with the league on him in March.
  • Scott Sealy, the Trinidad & Tobago international who has made 23 appearances for his country but was left off the 2006 World Cup squad has been acquired by San Jose from Kansas City.
  • San Jose has formally signed Darren Huckerby whose spat at Norwich with Glen Roeder led to the Englishman being available for a move to MLS.
  • Victor Sikora who plays former American international Earnie Stewart’s club in Holland, NAC Breda on loan from Ajax is training with FC Dallas. Speculation is that Sikora just needs the work before going to back to Holland is simply working out with the Hoops.