Houston Dynamo forwards; Money well spent?

The Houston Dynamo have spent a lot of money of their guys up top. What is the end result of the money being spent. Are the forwards delivering the goods or is Houston overspending. Let's take a look in this final installment on MLS slaries as it pertains to the Houston Dynamo FC.

Let's begin by looking at who are the main forwards on the club. We begin with the two highest paid players Sebastian Ferreira and Darwin Quintero. .

Sebas is the highest paid signing coming into the season. His production has been right about what was expected. He has scored in two straight games heading into Saturday's match with Chicago. He has scored in five of his last eight games. When you're putting nine shots on frame and rippling the net five times, you are doing something right. Houston's highly paid player has also earned MLS Player of the Week and Goal of the Week honors. He is earning his million dollar plus salary.

Quintero has produced from the day he arrived in Houston particularly in the assists category. He has been at or near the top of the assists category every season since he put on the orange. This season has been a little slow for the 34 year old. He has just two assists on the season but with a passing percentage near 90% part of that low total has more to do with players failing for whatever reason to put the ball away. Listen to Tyler Pasher talk about Quintero.

"Personally, he and I have a great relationship on the field because his first instinct is to look forward and play a ball between lines, that's always his first instinct. When you have that kind of dynamic, four players make it very difficult to defend but make it very good for us in the attacking final third. Those balls are what really splits the defensive lines and get us in behind the team, which puts them on their heels. It is a big impact coming off or starting the game, whichever it may be."

Quintero at just over $650K is earning his keep with the Houston Dynamo.

Now we come to guys like Corey Baird who seemed like he was getting a new lease on life coming to Houston. Appearing in 15 matches with nine of those logging 50 plus minutes, he has scored just one goal and that came in Open Cup play. Of his 12 shots against across all competition he has put just four on target. He is one player not taking advantage of his opportunity and not earning his keep at $400K plus.

Another forward not earning his keep considering they are on the pitch to put the ball in the net is Fafa Picault. He has scored two goals in 15 appearances. Both goals came in the same game back on April 2nd. He only puts a third of his shots on frame and his scoring percentage is lower then that. It may explain why Dynamo head coach Paulo Nagamura has been looking to others of late.

The final forward is rookie Thor Ulfarrson. Nagamura has brought him along slowly but the young Icelander has shown a knack for putting the ball on goal. Four of his last six shots have forced the keeper to make a save. He scored his first MLS goal three games ago. He is proving that the more comfortable he becomes on the pitch the more dangerous he is. The league minimum for Ulfarrson seems to be money well spent.

In the final analysis, the Houston Dynamo have spent well but not as well as they could have. With Baird and Picault taking up a large chunk of the 41%, Houston has shelled out to its forwards they need to produce in the next three matches or move on. Houston has a young 17 year old Beto Avila waiting in the wings for a consistent opportunity, Now may be the time to give it to him especially with Herrera's arrival.