(Sports Network) - For the first time in three seasons, the Houston Dynamo will not be entering the Major League Soccer season as defending MLS Cup champions. The Dynamo were upset in the first round of the 2008 playoffs by the New York Red Bulls after entering the postseason as the Western Conference's No. 1 seed.

Because of that, Houston hopes it doesn't have as big a target on its back this season as in past campaigns.

"It's going to be kind of nice not having the biggest bulls-eye on our backs with everybody getting fired up to face the MLS Cup Champions," Houston midfielder Stuart Holden told The Sports Network.

The Dynamo have been one of the most consistent teams in MLS since their move to Houston prior to the 2006 season, capturing back-to-back titles before last season's disappointment, and because of that, they know teams still get up to play them, however.

"I still think we are regarded as one of the better teams in the league," Houston coach Dominic Kinnear told SportsNetwork.com. "I think we feel our team is respected. It has been a little bit better because winning a title is hard but defending it is even harder because everyone is trying to beat the best. We don't have that target but I think people still regard us one of the better teams in the league and they need to play their best games to beat us."

The Dynamo enter something of a transition year in 2009, with mainstay attacker Dwayne De Rosario being traded to Toronto FC and rugged central defender Eddie Robinson expected to miss a large portion of the season after undergoing knee surgery.

Holden is expected to fill the hole left by De Rosario as the team's attacking midfielder, a role he has done well with on a limited basis the past couple years. He scored three goals and four assists last season while splitting time as a reserve and starter both on the wing and in the middle of the field.

"Obviously there is some responsibility on my shoulders and expectations from people, but I don't think about it a lot," Holden said. "I just go out on the field and try and do my job and try and score goals and try and set up other players and obviously just try to help the team win. Whatever my job may be, I'm going to go out and give 100 percent and hopefully I can have a good year and we can win some trophies."

"I think he's going to have a good season for us," Kinnear said of Holden. "I think he's a good player. We are not looking for him to fill anybody's shoes. We are just asking him to play and play well. He has played that position before and done very well."

For the Dynamo to be successful this season, the 23-year-old will have to elevate his game to a whole new level. But Kinnear also wants him to just play his game and not worry about trying to compensate for the absence of De Rosario.

"It's a big season for him and there are a lot of side stories about Dwayne going to Toronto and whoever steps into that position has to be the next Dwayne," Kinnear said. "But that's not the case, we just want Stuart to play like he knows how to play. If he's successful then we are happy with that. It's a big year for him, we know that, but I think it's something he is very capable of doing."

Holden will be helped in the midfield by a trio of veterans who have been there and done that before, which should be a huge benefit. Beside him in a more defensive central role will be Ricardo Clarke, with veteran wingers Brad Davis and Brian Mullen on his flanks.

"[Mullen] is one of the better right sided midfielders in the league," Kinnear said, "and [Davis'] service from dead balls and the run of play is excellent. [Clarke] quietly goes about his business. We really appreciate the work he does as well."

Richard Mulrooney, Corey Ashe and Geoff Cameron, among others, also provide depth in the midfield.

"The one thing that is good about our midfield is there are a lot of numbers and a lot of guys who can play different position," Kinnear said.

Up top the Dynamo feature Brian Ching (13 goals, 5 assists last season), Kei Kamara (2 goals and 2 assists for the Dynamo in '08) and Chris Wondolowski, but Kinnear is looking for at least one more option.

"I think last year we got Kei and we got Nate Jaqua and we had a good number of forwards," he said."Right now with Kei and Brian and Chris Wondolowski, we have three. It's more comfortable to have four but it's one of the most difficult positions to fill in the world. Everyone is looking for a forward that can play well and score goals for you. We are looking for a player who is versatile, that can start. If he happens to be a forward that would be an added bonus."

In the back the Dynamo feature former MLS defender of the year Bobby Boswell in the middle, with veterans Wade Barrett and Craig Waibel probably penciled in as the fullbacks. The other central position, vacated by the injury to Robinson, looks like it is down to second-year pros Julius James - who was acquired from Toronto in the De Rosario trade - and Cameron.

"The key for me is defense is a team thing," Kinnear said. "It's not just because you play defender. We don't just rely on four or five guys back there. It's a team attitude. We have young guys who have shown promise. Team defense is a team stat. When all our guys are working hard toward the same goal, making life difficult for the other team, it makes it easier on everybody."

And as usual, the steady veteran Pat Onstad will man the goal with youngsters Tally Hall and Tyler Deric being groomed behind him.

"We have a mix of old and experienced and newness and energy so were pretty happy with the goalkeeper situation as well," Kinnear added.

With an addition or two at some point in the season, it will not be out of the question to expect the Dynamo to be right back in the thick of the title chase for the third time in four years come November.

"I think any time teams come up against the Dynamo they expect a tough game against a good team," Holden said. "So we have to go out there and continue to do that. We want to have that feeling next year of defending the title again."



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