It was a day of gathering experience for a young U.S. National team in a 3-1 win over Denmark at the Home Depot Center yesterday.
Oh and by the way this was a very youthful Danish squad so lets keep it all in perspective.
The U.S. was outplayed in the first half and fortunate to get a late penalty to grab momentum going into the locker room.
Ricardo Clark was fouled outside the penalty area yet a spot kick was awarded. Landon Donovan’s ensuing penalty was hit poorly and should have been saved yet the USA went in to the locker room tied 1-1 undeserved.
In the first half Chris Rolfe a striker for Chicago struggled out wide, Donovan mostly invisible on the right side in midfield and both Eddie Johnson and Nate Jacqua lacked movement up front. For me Donovan needs to be closer to goal and central if he is our best attacking American player.
I don’t know if Bob Bradley was trying to give opportunity to Rolfe and Donovan in different areas but these choices did not produce enough if the first half.
The second half to Bradley’s credit he made changes that produced better soccer and two more goals. Both Jonathan Bornstein after a great move by Justin Mapp (poorly defended by Denmark) and Ken Cooper Jr. netted their first and memorable national team goals.
Good start, good effort, good changes but keep it all in perspective. One game means nothing. The real winner was getting young players opportunity.
Good first start for Bradley who is definetly the number one American choice for the job at this point.
Bradley may be embarrassed by the incessant amount of times that pal Bruce Arena reminded us that the ‘interim’ tag should be removed from his status as head coach during the broadcast. Other than that it is interesting to have the former national team coach on the broadcast but the incessant talk eventually wore me down in a very crowded booth.
A good start symbolic of moving on from the disappoinment of the World Cup in Germany this past summer.
Fair or not alot of judgement will be placed on both Bradley and Mexico coach Hugo Sanchez in February when the U.S. and Mexico meet in Glendale, Arizona.

The United States National team plays it’s first game under interim coach Bob Bradley today against Denmark. The game marks the begining of the road towards the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
After German candidate Juergen Klinsmann pulled out of contention for the national team job Bradley was hired last month.
Now if you heard my interview with him on 790AM the Sports Animal after getting hired you heard a very respectful Bradley when it comes to the honor of coaching the United States national team but also one that is confident in his abilities.
Bradley is right at home with this young group of MLS players that he has called in and knows them inside and out.
Word out of training camp has been that a tone has been set by Bradley and their has been a level of freshness achieved with the arrival of a new coach. Something gave me the sense that under Bruce Arena the U.S. National team had gotten ‘too comfortable and had lost the hunger that the team had in the 2002 World Cup.
A couple of quick notes….this is a team that know will be without numerous long time immediate selections in defender Eddie Pope
striker Brian McBride, and future Red Bull Claudio Reyna in midfield.
Landon Donovan has not scored for the U.S. in 18 straight international matches which is a statistic that caught me by surprise.
On February 7th the U.S. will take on Mexico in a game that both Bradley and new Mexican coach Hugo Sanchez will want to win desperately in order to gain the confidence of the public. Remember the U.S. has not lost since American soil since 1999 to Mexico.

Ok lets lighten things up for a minute.
As a radio host I get countless requests for guests from PR firms and organizations around the country.
Many of these are requests for guests that are not even soccer related.
I recently received one from a PR firm in New York that was promoting online sports betting and they sent me the following odds on what David Beckham will do in 2007.

Gets a DUI 10-1
Stars in a movie with Tom Cruise 100-1
Attempts a field goal in an NFL game 500-1
Wins dancing with the stars 500-1
Divorces Victoria and marries Paris Hilton 10,000-1

Here’s a few that I have decided to add:

Sets up Landon Donovan for 5 or more goals 1-1
Changes hairstyle three times throughout the season 3-1
Contributes funds to the Church of Scientology 5-1
Has Hollywood stars sucking up to him shamelessly Guaranteed
Dribbles past Chivas USA defender Claudio Suarez 20-1
Receives first foul of MLS career from Ricardo Clarke 50-1
(provided he is in Houston on opening day and the schedule isn’t changed by ESPN)

Give me your favorite odds on Beckham events.

Weekly we will be conducting a trivia question for all you soccer knowledgable fans out there.
Our first winner will be announced on Friday January 26th and that person will receive the Soccer Hour special edition Soccer/Futbol the world’s game t-shirt which comes in grey with blue print.

What former Dutch international started in the 1974 World Cup Final against West Germany played briefly with the Houston Dynamos in the mid-eighties?

His influence already is being felt.
All MLS teams have had a spike in season ticket sales due to David Beckham’s impending arrival. As John Spencer said on my radio show ‘The Soccer Hour with Glenn Davis’ there has been interest from other player’s overseas.
This is just another impact that Beckham will have. Players overseas will take a look at MLS purely because Beckham has made the jump. Some will look for a quick buck, happens all the time. It will be up to MLS to weed those players out.
The run in the media has been remarkable (I sit here in awe) as the entire world is gobbling this up insatiably.
After getting over how incredibly goofy and gaga we get over celebrity I subcumb like everyone else to the Beckhamania.
I now love the Spice Girls. (Just kidding) Saw the movie on 3 consecutive nights after dinner with my 6 year old niece dragging me by the hand to go watch it years back when Posh, Scarey, Sporty were in. See I even remembered the name’s I think. Was there a fourth? I digress.
Why you ask? Because he is helping the sport that I love, and that you love earn what we all hope is more respect mainstream so as to move the sport forward.
Beckham will bring more to the table, it’s up to all in MLS from front office personel, to GM’s, coaches and players to now give all they have as more eyes are upon MLS.
The Galaxy will re-brand with new colors which will include a dark blue, they will be offered all types of games and appearances with Beckham in the fold.
And to think that he will play on a team that includes a Houston area youth player that makes $35,000 a year.
Let’s hope Becks picks up the dinner tab.
As for the deal, stop worrying that he will break the league down. Most of the deal is paid in sponsorship or endorsement form and for once we all might just like single entity right now for the protection of the overall league it gives.
It is going to be an amazing interesting year.

Yes, I like the signing of David Beckham. I think that he has enough invested in the United States that he won’t ‘mail it in’ during his years in MLS like so many others have. With his academy in LA and his “A list” celebrity status the he shares with Posh he can’t afford to not pour his heart into his time here.
I like that the global representative of the sport is now going to wear the yellow and gold of the most catered to franchise in MLS (I have played there and now first hand how it is in LA).
I like that he will test his boots against the demanding schedule that we have here in the states. I like that his fame crosses over into the pop culture.
I am looking forward to playing against him and hope that he has a great regular season so long as I am not the dejected player opposite him in the ESPN highlight when he scores his first MLS goal. If you want to know how I feel about his salary….I applaud anyone that can make money playing this game.
- Craig

Join me tonite at 7pm on 790 AM radio as the Beckham madness continues.
Dynamo assistant John Spencer will join me on the program to talk about Beckham’s influence on MLS plus looks back to the time he played against Beckham in England.
I love the local ties to the Dynamo so draft choice Michael Sambursky will join me on the show. Sambursky played youth soccer locally and at the University of South Carolina. He hails from Katy, TX.
More MLS rumors plus more international news.
ALso as always I want your opinion on anything soccer related. Call in number is 713-212-5790.
Is David Beckham the most recognized player in the world?
Glenn

Today I am writing to you from Norway, yes nice cold Norway.
I’m here on a week training session with a team in the First Division called AK Start. The team is located off the South Coast on Norway in a beautiful beach city called Kristiansand.
The players on the team are nice guys and have accepted me as a teammate. In Norway it is all about team spirit.
They feel it is the only way they can compete with the big clubs of Europe. So when a player comes in they welcome them with open arms. That’s not the case in most countries (including the U.S.). I’m here on short notice because this club really needs a left back. If I play well enough and they want me they then must purchase me from MLS where I have a contract.
You never know what can happen ….one minute you are home training for the upcoming season and the next I am in Norway
Looking forward to my next blog and until then enjoy your family and your football.
Chris Gbandi