Dynamo’s Kinnear weighs in as Stuart Holden lands at Bolton

I’ve written before that Houston Dynamo manager Dominic Kinnear is successful, in part, because he keeps things simple.

He’s take a “burger and fries” approach to soccer. Let everyone else fuss over their fancy dishes, the duck confites and the mango chutneys and such. Most of us can find happiness with the $5 combo from our favorite local burger shack. Throw in a cold one and we’re happy as Porkie in a pile of pooh.

See, dodging temptation to over-think things really is a gift.

So it is with Kinnear and this situation with midfielder Stuart Holden, who has officially signed on Bolton. (Last week, when other outlets were telling you that a Bolton deal was dead –including me initially – I quickly reported from sources that Holden remained in Bolton, hoping to work it out. I’ll try not to bust my arm patting myself on the back.)

Any-who, I’ve heard the moans and groans that Holden will suffer for signing at the Reebok Stadium. First, Bolton is near the bottom of the EPL table. Besides, the club tends to be physical and direct, frequently bypassing the midfielders.

Should Holden have signed elsewhere, perhaps at a site where technical ability was valued more equitably? When I asked Kinnear about it, he broke it down like this:

“The important thing is that Stuart plays. With all these guys, it’s just important that they get minutes on the field.”

See? Simple, eh?

Now, as for Holden’s ability to get on the field: it’s far from automatic. First, he’s apparently carrying a slight thigh injury, according to the club. That’s not a good way to begin your time at a new club.

But there’s something else working against the budding U.S. international, who needs time on the field to keep his fitness and to make headway on his quest to make the U.S. 23-man roster this summer in South Africa.

Bolton’s winter additions will also include Manchester City midfielder Vladimir Weiss, who will move to the Reebok on loan for the remainder of the season. He’s a young Slovakian international who plays, essentially, the same position that Holden is likely to occupy, out wide in the midfield.

As Weiss is a known commodity in England (because he’s already played in England), he’ll have an edge in gaining a toehold on playing time. That’s just how it is, and Weiss will apparently have a chance to get on the field before Holden because of the American’s injury.

Holden will have more to prove. And he won’t get many opportunities to do so. He’ll have to exploit every little chance – whenever that is.