Soccer Matters with Glenn Davis on Fox Sports Houston presented by Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine Institute at 3pm (ATT Uverse and Comcast cable systems)
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Podcast of last night Dynamo All Access with Glenn Davis features Toronto FC Dwayne DeRosario, Dynamo manager Dominic Kinnear, Dynamo midfielder Danny Cruz and Cory Ashe.
Got to Sportstalk790.com. click podcasts, click Glenn Davis

The Dynamo are expected to look at the following players at the end of this week at training:

Kadim Diouf- 26 year old from Sengal has been playing overseas and recently was on trial apparently at Birmingham City
Leandre Graffit- 25 year old from France has played for the French U23 national team, Southampton, Crystal Palace was his last club where he appeared 6 times, also has played at Rotherham, Southampton and Leeds.
Blessing Koku- Nigerian, 32 years old , member of 2000 Nigerian Olympic team, Genk in Belgium, Bolton , Derby….

Patrice Bernier- Dynamo have show interest in this player who has performed for the Canadien National team, Montreal Impact, 15 games Kaiserslauten, FC Nordsjaelland but he is not expected in to training this week.
Could the Dynamo find an addition out of this group of players?

INTERCOLLEGIATE FUTBOL FIESTA………Here is a great chance for youth players and their parents to get a sense of the college game as teams from the NCAA, NAIA and Jr. College level will be playing while donating canned food items to a great cause.

Date: Saturday February 20th

Location: San Jacinto College South (13735 Beamer Road, Houston, TX 77089)

Schedule of events:

4pm to 5:45 KICK FOR HUNGER CLINIC
Youth players can participate in free clinic with the donation of two canned food items or non-perishable goods. All items will be donated to local food pantry.

6pm University of St. Thomas (NAIA PROGRAM) vs. Houston Leones (PDL)
8pm Houston Baptist University (NCAA Div 1) vs. San Jacinto College

The first three expected in Dynamo camp this week.

SOCCER MATTERS with GLENN DAVIS on FOX SPORTS HOUSTON presented by Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine Institute tomorrow ……

Dynamo All Access with Glenn Davis Monday night on Sports Talk 790 AM radio. Call in number is 713-212-5790, streaming live at MLSnet.com and can be accessed at Houstondynamo.com

Dominic Kinnear the Dynamo manager will be on the show and we are expecting both Danny Cruz and Cory Ashe two players that could prove pivotal in midfield this year.
Other guests to be added so check back. I did love seeing the Saints win the Super Bowl on Sunday night to go along with another killer type performance from Chelsea against Arsenal.

JUST ADDED: former Dynamo and current Toronto FC midfielder/striker DWAYNE DEROSARIO tonight on the radio

What was the most important happening in the world of soccer in your opinion this past weekend!! I personally, loved seeing Jozy Altidore get his first premier league goal while watch Landon Donovan produce good moments in the Liverpool vs. Everton match. I will have my thoughts on Arsenal and Chelsea on the radio Monday night.

SOCCER MATTERS WITH GLENN DAVIS ON FOX SPORTS HOUSTON PRESENTED BY MEMORIAL HERMANN SPORTS MEDICINE INSTITUTE AND DANISH INSPIRATIONS CONTEMPORARY FURNITURE…………………

Now I was still ticked off last weekend when Hull manager Phil Brown inexplicably pulled Jozy Altidore off in the 70th minute.
Why you might ask? Simply because at the time he was the most dangerous player on the field and played a big part in setting up goal number one and drawing a penalty kick for goal number two in a 2-2 draw with Wolves.
After Brown took off Altidore the game became less interesting and in the end the spoils were shared. It is easy to question a manager from afar but one thing is for sure with goal scorers is that confidence is crucial and Altidore was in a confident zone so why not ride that out Phil and try to gain the full three points.
Which leads us to this weekend where Altidore continued his confident streak scoring his first premiership goal against Manchester City in a huge 2-1 win. Optimism for the young talent whom a few weeks ago technically looked lost.

On to Everton and Liverpool and in my prior post I wrote about how I thought I was watching two amateur sides with the crazed, reckless tackling that was going on. This was throwback to the 70’s and 80’s in the English First Division when a badge of honor was gained when someone went over the top on a talented player. Crazy during those times what players could get away with.
But the shining star was an American player at the end of this day despite being on the losing side , Landon Donovan provided the few glimpses of football from his right midfield position that pulled you out of your seat. If Everton can continue to get width in the future and find him a half dozen times in games where he has a bit of space it is clear that he can torment defenders in the EPL. As Everton grows in confidence with Donovan so shall his performance. Landon for your future, stay in England and continue to prove out your career as the best attacking player ever produced in the U.S.

RED CARD
Has to go to Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard who clearly was distracted by Liverpool’s Dirk Kuyt who headed in a goal that Howard should have prevented by cutting off the cross. Rare you see Howard make a critical mistake. Of course Liverpool won a kickfest on this goal 1-0.

YOUTH FOCUS
I am sometimes saddened by how much attention is placed in the youth environment on marketing and promotion and the next greatest thing. Yes, I understand the clubs are money makers but from some it is clear that fund raising, marketing and image reign supreme over player development. How to achieve real balance is the key.
The Dynamo South Texas Academy branch is in town playing at a showcase in Conroe put on by the Texas Rush where 90 college coaches are in town.

FUTSAL AT LEGENDS
Legends in the Woodlands is organizing a Futsal tournment for youth player 6-16. These are great opportunities to play the game differently with the focus on the technical and not the physical. Also, it takes pressure off coaches who can put rosters together, make a few substitutions and sit back and enjoy. The perfect opportunity to allow youth players to experiment without the pressure of results that so often take priority to player development.

EUAN HOLDEN
Dynamo draft choice Euan Holden has signed in Denmark .

Dynamo All Access with Glenn Davis Monday night on Sports Talk 790 AM from 7-9pm, call in at 713-212-5790, the show streams live at MLSNET.com

Soccer Matters with Glenn Davis on Fox Sports Houston this Tuesday at 3pm brought to you by Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine Institute…….Dynamo All Access with Glenn Davis this Monday night from 7-9pm on Sports Talk 790 AM radio…….twitter.com: Soccermattersgd

LIVERPOOL vs. EVERTON

If you got up early like I did to catch this on Espn 2 then you saw like I did, little football, challenges with the intent to injure and a few instances of diving. This was not a great advertisment for the English Premier League but before you write in to correct me I will say that it was all about passion. Yes, derby matches or rivalry matches can take on a new meaning with players emotions getting the better of them but some of the tackle was downright comical, sad, dangerous and amateur all at the same time.
I do remember one Seattle Sounder named Freddy Ljunberg (I have huge respect for what he did last year in MLS in terms of commitment) last year complain that we did not know what a foul is in MLS. Just check this game out and you will know that maybe the same would apply to the EPL on this occasion. Players clearly going over the top of the ball with the intent to injure, players like Javier Mascherano feigning injury not to mention Steven Gerrard as well. Horrific tackles from Marouane Fellaini (how he was not sent off really must have been based on the referee’s position), Jamie Carragher, Steve Pienaar and others.
Landon Donovan clearly may have been the best footballer in this match with a few good runs down the right side and some decent delivery. I love seeing him in Europe where frankly he belongs. Lets hope that LD does what is right for him and stays where he is challenged daily.
The game was predictably won on a corner kick that was poorly played by Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard and headed in by Dirk Kuyt. Liverpool played the match with ten men.
This one left alot to be desired and did not live up to the billing. In fact in some ways was shocking.

DYNAMO NOTES

Ok don’t get crazy cause the Dynamo hammered HBU 6-0. Instead think about these things:

* What a great community piece for the Dynamo to take on HBU and make this connection. Those players will never forget the day they played against the Dynamo.
*Nice turn out from hard core fans and I expect more when they take on SMU next weekend.
* Two split squads competed in each half so it was a well planned training opportunity for Dominic Kinnear.
* Out of draft choices Steven Appiah did fine as expected against college competition. Fernando Navas the academy boy was ok and will be in a fight to win a developmental spot against collegiate players.
*Danny Cruz looked lively after apparently putting in alot of hard work in the off season. He could be a great bonus out wide this year!
* I would think the Dynamo at some point will be bringing in trialists in the next couple of weeks based on their search for central midfield help.
*Of course Geoff Cameron, Brad Davis and Brian Ching will be heading to U.S. National team camp next week which is good news…..

The TEXAS RUSH have a college showcase event going on this weekend up in the Conroe area which has 90 coaches from around the country in attendance. The Dynamo South Academy team is in this tournament.

Check out my article on Dynamo defender Eddie Robinson at Chron.com, click sports, click Dynamo/ soccer.

Soccer Matters with Glenn Davis on Fox Sports Houston brought to you by MEMORIAL HERMANN SPORTS MEDICINE INSTITUTE and DANISH INSPIRATIONS CONTEMPORARY FURNITURE Friday at 3pm with re-airs on Saturday morning at 11:30 and Tuesday at 3:00pm….The show airs on Comcast and ATT Uverse cable systems. Set that DVR!!!
We taped this show out at Dynamo practice on Tuesday and the atmosphere despite the ominous cloud of the CBA agreement overhead was positive and fun to be around!!

LIVERPOOL VS EVERTON

Don’t miss this great rivalry on Saturday morning on Espn2 at 6:30 AM this will be the first time that Landon Donovan gets a game against the “Reds”.
Evertonians vs. scousers…got to love it.

JOHN TERRY DROPPED as ENGLAND CAPTAIN

After a 12 minute meeting John Terry was dropped as the captain of England by manager Fabio Capello and replaced by Rio Ferdinand. Is this really that big a deal?
I mean, will John Terry on the field stop communicating and leading his teammates with his play despite the poor example he has set off the field?
A strong move by Fabio Capello who with his autocratic ways reminds us that his in charge of England, not the players like in the Sven Goran Erickson days.

US NATIONAL TEAM DEBACLE
I find it odd that this whole thing about the 98 U.S. National team has come out. Is it an attention grabber for some involved?
The moral issue in this is pretty disgusting but this issue alone was not the only reason it seems that the U.S. stunk up World Cup 98.
Lots of stories of the squad being isolated, U.S. manager Steve Sampson admitted to me he should not have brought Eric Wynalda who was injured and played, players like Alexi Lalas and Marcelo Balboa benched, David Regis and Chad Deering brought into the team at the last few minutes make us realize this was a screw up of large proportions. I do remember Frankie Hejduk off the bench against Germany looking as though he gave a damn. Egos and the personal stuff got in the way of this one in a big way.
Put it to rest.

For more head over to Foxsportshouston.com

Head over to the Denverpost.com and click on sports and soccer/rapids for comments from 98 World Cup coach Steve Sampson on a less then well kept secret about a divisive incident that occurred with the U.S. National team that ultimately ended up 32 out of 32 teams. Strangely it does have some similarities to the current situation with England and their central defender and captain John Terry. The question is where does the line between behavior off the field and in your personal life begin to impact a team.
Will players respect Terry enough to be their captain knowing what he did in his personal life?
As for Steve Sampson maybe he struggled with tactics and lost the team at the World Cup but this incident didn’t do him any favors with Harkes and Wynalda situation.

Soccer Matters with Glenn Davis on Fox Sports Houston brought to you by Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine Institute….Thursday at 5pm

England and Chelsea defender John Terry apparently had an affair with a French underwear model whom also happened to be the former girlfriend of England teammate Wayne Bridge.
Terry who is known for his leadership qualities now is at the center of a firestorm. What is the firestorm? Many now are questioning if England manager Fabio Capello should continue to keep Terry as the captain of England?
How disruptive is this incident to the England team and the personal life of Terry who is married to his high school sweetheart.
Should Terry remain as the captain of England?

Soccer Matters with Glenn Davis on Fox Sports Houston presented by Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine Institute this Thursday at 5pm.

Dynamo All Access with Glenn Davis on Sports Talk 790 tonight features DC United’s Jaime Moreno, Dynamo players Eddie Robinson and Richard Mulrooney plus head coach Dominic Kinnear.

Call in number tonight fanaticos- 713-212-5790

EPL UPDATE, Stadium, absorbing the loss of Stuart Holden and Ricardo Clark, African Nations Cup Champions Egypt plus much, much more…….streaming online at mlsnet.com

Dynamo All Access with Glenn Davis tonight from 7-9pm on Sports Talk 790 AM…call in number 713-212-5790, streaming live at Mlsnet.com and can be accessed at Houstondynamo.com….Dynamo open pre-season, Egypt win African Nations Cup, United over Arsenal as Rooney gets 100th, Donovan first Prem goal, Altidore shines for Hull, CBA extension, Adu-Johnson hook-up for Aris, Gbandi to camp with Kansas City Wizards, Monterrey over Cruz Azul, Cabanas improving, collegiate tournament at San Jacinto, Futsal at Legends in Woodlands plus Fiesta Houston Unsung Soccer Hero…did I miss anything?

Dynamo defender Eddie Robinson has been an All Star defender in MLS and many strikers around the league will tell you they don’t like playing against him.
Quickly after Stuart Holden was signed by Bolton in England both Robinson and Richard Mulrooney were re-signed by the Dynamo.

The Robinson ‘edge’ at times last year was missing from the this squad. On a number of occasions when I interviewed Eddie last season he alluded very strongly that due to his knee injury that he thought his career might be close to being over.

Currently Robinson says his knee is solid and he is elated to get camp and pre-season going for the Dynamo. Robinson’s health could and I said could prove to be a big piece in solving the loss of two of the most talented young midfield players in the U.S. in Stuart Holden who has signed at Bolton and Ricardo Clark who has signed at Eintracht Frankfurt.

A healthy Robinson would give manager Dominic Kinnear the ability to move central defender Geoff Cameron into midfield which Kinnear has made clear is an option to solve the problem. Here are some thoughts from Robinson who enters his tenth year in MLS:

GD: How is your knee?

ERob: It is great. It has been a long mental and physical recovery. There was a time I thought my career might be over. The last two months I have worked really hard. It’s
almost as good as new. I am ready and ready to compete.

GD: How much did the injury prey on your mind emotionally?

ERob: It was an emotional battle, few in my life would top this. It has to do with the unknown. I like to know what is happening. Not knowing was what bothered me most.

GD: How do you replace or absorb the loss of two talented midfield players in Stuart Holden and Ricardo Clark?

ERob: That is where the whole title of professional comes in to play. You have to find ways to get it done. I don’t think it will be a problem. I think it will be hard though
to find quality players in that role. The league is set up for parity. Our goal will be to outwork teams.

GD: Give me your thoughts on what it would mean to play in your own stadium?

ERob: For me it relates to other players in professional sports that have never won a championship. Most of us have never known what it is like to have our own place.
To not have to worry about hustling out of the locker room for a football team or if our car is going to have a ticket on it. You wonder how much that effects you mentally?
Would we have won more games if we had our own stadium? We would give anything to have our own stadium.

What do you take out of the Eddie Robinson interview?

Major League Soccer and the players Union have agreed to continue negotiations through February 12th as they work towards reaching a collective bargaining agreement.

“While we still have areas of disagreement, the talks have been constructive and both parties believe it makes sense to continue to work hard to reach an agreement,” said MLS Commissioner Don Garber. “This extension provides both MLS and the players the opportunity to continue to our discussions while clubs are in training camps preparing for the 2010 MLS season.”

“Both the Players Union and MLS have concluded that a new agreement will not be reached by February 1, but we have agreed to continue to talk and we will be meeting over the next two weeks to determine if a new agreement can be reached,” said Players Union Executive Director Bob Foose. “In the meantime, MLS Players are reporting to training camp, and preparations for the 2010 season will continue.

The current CBA agreement expires on January 31st.

SOCCER MATTERS WITH GLENN DAVIS ON FOX SPORTS HOUSTON TODAY AT 3pm BROUGHT TO YOU BY MEMORIAL HERMANN SPORTS MEDICINE INSTITUTE
So set the DVR or catch it live! (Comcast and ATT Uverse)

On the home front the Dynamo will start their pre-season on Monday with manager Dominic Kinnear, striker Brian Ching and midfielder Brad Davis addressing the media after.