Landon Donovan who scored and had an assistant against Mexico in a 2-0 United States victory this past Tuesday will join Glenn Davis on the Soccer Hour this Tuesday at 8pm. NOTE THE TIME CHANGE.
Donovan will weigh in on the U.S. victory, playing with David Beckham and married life. Fans interested in submitting questions for Donovan can do so by emailing host glenndavis@thescoccerhour.com
Call in number for the Soccer Hour with Glenn Davis is 713-212-5790

On an additional note soccer fans have a great opportunity to become pro-active with two key issues that could effect our soccer community on the table. If you support mens NCAA division 1 soccer in Texas please take the time to sign the petition on this website and thanks to those who have. It remains amazing the sport does not have mens representation collegiately at the division 1 level and it is time that local players have the option of striving to play for a college or university in Texas.
You also may be aware that the City of Houston is exploring the potential of developing a sports complex geared towards youth with soccer the a large part of the facility. There is a shortage of soccer fields in the inner city and the proposed site is the Gus Wortham Golf Course on Wayside Drive just East of 1-45 in the historic East End. This is not where a stadium will be built but a youth park for soccer players. It would be an amazing opportunity to grow the strength of our youth through soccer in this park. This park could change young people’s lives. If you support this project contact Mayor White at P.O. Box 1562, Houston, Texas 77251 or mayor@cityofhouston.net
You can also contact Carol Alvarado at the same address or carol.alvarado@cityofhouston.net
These are two wonderful opportunities for the sport of soccer, takes some time to get involved if you believe.

Lets get active on these issues that only bode well for the game of soccer in Houston.
Glenn Davis

This past Thursday Real Madrid head coach Fabio Capello was full of praise for English midfielder David Beckham and his professionalism. It was quite a turn-around after making the statement that Beckham would not play again after signing with the LA Galaxy. Yesterday after his first start since December 20th David Beckham produced one of his patented free kicks in the “Galacticos” 2-1 win over Real Sociedad.
So what really happened to convince Capello to play Beckham again. Did senior players put pressure on Capello as reported? Did managment tell the autocratic coach to play him? Does Real Madrid want to get their full merchandising dollars out of Beckham before he bolts to the States?
Capello insists that the decision to play Beckham was his alone. Of course it was , would you expect Capello to admit making a mistake or reversing a decision on the advice of others?
Capello had said this last Thursday: “We had doubts after he signed such an important contract with the American team. We doubted he could train with the same enthusiasm after that, but he has been training perfectly. I spoke with him a week ago and again today . We are very happy, and he is too.”
Beckham has always been a model professional and has been a positive in England, Manchester United, and Real Madrid’s locker room.
Sounds for the moment that fans will have to wait until this summer to see Beckham in Major League Soccer.

glenndavis@thesoccerhour.com

Last week I threw out the chance to ask anything you wanted to know…..the questions were hard hitting and controversial, which is perfect for a guy like me. So here is the first round of answers.
Kevin, NO..the regular season does not mean enough. While we want to win every game, the only advantage gained is home field in the playoffs. That alone isn’t always enought to motivate us through June, July, and August. it is also common thought among the players that too many teams make the playoffs. Until that changes it is difficult to convince me that the weekly table is important Now it is simple to to answer your question about whether the players care about the Open Cup and Super Liga. Yes! Those two tournaments are worth money and at the end of the day the chance to make more is a great motivator.
Ashley…..thank you for the kind words and to everyone else….No I didn’t pay her off! I loved playing in San Jose but I learned very quickly as a pro that choosing where I go is not up to me. If given the choice to return I would have to take a good look at the coaching staff and then decide…..remember that Dom and John are one of the best coaching duo’s in America and a ton of fun to play for….I did not ignore the rest of you so stop whining. I just need to calm down now that Kevin got me all wound up. Thanks for the questions and keep them coming.
Craig Waibel Houston Dynamo

Editor Note: Craig Waibel and the Houston Dynamo leave for Orlando, Florida this Tuesday to continue preparation for their
Concacaf Champions Cup competition in Costa Rica against Puntarenas .

Its the fourth day of pre-season and so far we have had six training sessions and needless to say our legs are pretty much done right now. Saying that it has been great and I wouldn’t change it for the world, just getting out to training and getting the legs nice and sore is something that I desire. The feeling and vibe around our locker room is awesome, all the guys that you spend most of the year with and add in a few of the rookies and I would say there is alot of fun going on.
We are all very excited about David Beckham joining our team, I for one realize that we all have an opportunity to learn from him and perform under the spotlight he brings. He is going to bring alot to the Galaxy which is something to look forward to. So I’ll end with this, make sure you start watching Galaxy games because this year is going to be an exciting one. All the best with your football.

Josh Gardner LA Galaxy

*Editor Note: Gardner enters his fourth year with the LA Galaxy

Now word comes out of Colorado that the Rapids will keep their name but change their colors.
Does this mean that the supposed association with Arsenal is out?
Press conference at 1:00 Rocky Mtn. time.

The Rapids are expected to announce today a partnership with famed Arsenal of England, what type of partnership is the question? Will the Kroencke Sports Group actually buy a portion of Arsenal? The partnership should see the Rapids change their name to Arsenal Colorado or Colorado Arsenal and include potential friendly matches, coaching initiatives and development of players. All sounds good but for Arsenal this is all about exposure in America.
The Rapids will change the colors of their uniform as well to Maroon that Arsenal is associated with. Maroon is also the color of other sporting properties that Kroencke Sports the owners of the Rapids have include the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche, lacrosse team the Mammoth plus and indoor football team the Crush. Both out-draw the Rapids and have 5 or 6 fewer home games.
It is a bit humbling to think that the world’s game is being outdrawn by a lacrosse team.
So what is happening locally for the Rapids? Not much it seems. I would love to hear more about advances being made locally penetrating the soccer market and putting more fans in seats.
It is no secret that Rapids vice president and managing director Jeff Plush has been pushing for this relationship with Arsenal.
Plush is a long-time fan of Arsenal who has come on to the scene after Kroencke Sports purchased the Rapids from AEG.
This worries me. Why, simply because I am concerned about where the local ties, relationships and connections that don’t exist in Colorado. The team is just not important in their market after 11 seasons . The situation is the same in New York, Kansas City and Columbus. More accountability has to be placed upon the leadership of these clubs if we ever want to enjoy the fruits of stronger MLS markets.
Back to the Rapids I mean Arsenal Colorado.
The team draws poorly and has limited marketing in the Colorado area.
Consider this quote from the Rapids website from Plush after the Rapids announced the signing of Panamanian striker Roberto Brown.
“Fernando’s experienced eye for scouting talent, along with strategic partnerships that we are building with selected teams around the world, have led us to be able to reach out to players like Brown,” said Colorado Rapids Managing Director Jeff Plush. “The more prominently we position our club on the world’s stage, the more we will be able to benefit from the relationships we build around the globe.”
Reach out to players like Roberto Brown? No offense to Brown who could do well in MLS but were not talking about Thierry Henry here. Roberto Brown was signed through Fernando Clavijo’s talents and awareness of Concacaf players, nothing more.
MEMO TO JEFF: Build RELATIONSHIPS locally, reach out to your community. Put fans in seats, market your team on a daily basis and get aggressive selling tickets. Don’t rely on a new stadium and an Arsenal relationship to be your savior. Your players want to play in front of fans and you have been given a golden opportunity with a new stadium to build and create RELATIONSHIPS. Stop, look, and listen. Leadership is about building relationship. That’s the only free advice I will give.
For now, no one on the world’s stage knows who the Colorado Rapids are. More importantly no one knows who the Colorado Rapids are in Colorado. Today’s announcement will gain exposure , it will get some run with U.S. investors in the EPL now but the focus and future of the Rapids must be built locally in Colorado first.
Rapids fan are you frustrated?
Glenn

Goals from Jimmy Conrad and Landon Donovan both coming in the second half gave the United States a 2-0 victory over Mexico in front of a pro-Mexican crowd of 62,000 fans. On a night where Mexico created more chances it was once again the timeliness and the character of the younger U.S. squad that proved a difference.
After bold predictions from head coach Hugo Sanchez of Mexico in his debut he will gain huge criticism in the Mexican press.
The United States goes to 7-0-1 on U.S soil since 2000 and Mexico has not scored a goal in the U.S. since 1999 which is remarkable.
The U.S. got a timely goal from an unmarked Jimmy Conrad in the 51st minute and a late Landon Donovan goal after he drew Oswaldo Sanchez out of goal and hit an empty net.
Notable performances came from Carlos Bocanegra and Jimmy Conrad in central defense, Ricardo Clarke and Pablo Maestroeni in central midfield, Tim Howard in goal. Landon Donovan and Bobby Convey produced more in the second half from an attacking standpoint while Jonathan Bornstein, Clark and Chris Rolfe gained valuable experience.
Mexico clearly are psychologically at wits end against the United States and still struggles with the aggressive style that the U.S. presents. The United States knows the tempo has to be upbeat and agressive to beat Mexico and set pieces still tends to provide the difference in these encounters.
It is again a humiliating loss for Mexico whose best performance came from Andres Guardado who was a huge problem for the U.S. down the left side.
Their Euro based players like Rafa Marquez and Carlos Salcido looked rather ordinary and did not provide Hugo Sanchez the difference he hoped.
Heart, mentality, composure all continue to be a big part of the edge that the U.S. has over Mexico.
It was very disapointing to see the Mexican national team leave the field without shaking hands with the United States players.
Mexico unlike the U.S. has not figured out how to use the rivalry as a way of making their team better.
The old guard of Blanco and company need to be put out to pasture. Mexico still has not learned how to get out of their ego and grow from this rivalry.
Same old song and dance from the ‘Tricolore’.

Houston Dynamo midfielder Ricardo Clark should get a start in midfield for the U.S. National team tonite against Mexico in what would be the biggest game of his career. His performance against Denmark certainly warrants the start plus looking over the roster that Bob Bradley has chosen it makes the most sense. Clark will play alongside Pablo Maestroeni who can help guide him through the most intense atmosphere that he has ever played in. Expect Chivas USA’s Jonathan Bornstein also to get a start at left back.
Eddie Johnson and Taylor Twellman are struggling with injury, Chris Rolfe of Chicago could get a start up front.
With players like Clark, Bornstein and Rolfe in the starting line-up Bradley serves the side of the game that includes experience for young players.
A game that could be a defining game for young players that may jump start an international career that could be timed perfectly for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Glenn

So it’s on tonite, Concacaf’s greatest rivalry comes to us from Phoenix, Arizona with the game sold-out.
Remiinds me of the U.S. 1-0 victory over Mexico at the Cotton Bowl that I covered a few years ago for HDNETthat also was really a home game for Mexico.
That trend will continue tonite with Mexico and reminds us that they play more national team games on U.S. soil than they do in Mexico.
Mexico’s most historic soccer star Hugo Sanchez will make his debut tonite as coach of Mexico and has already made it clear since his taking the job that the future is a more confident Mexican National team under his tenure. With all his bold predictions Sanchez is under huge pressure to get a result tonite. If not the Mexican press will have a field day.
Bob Bradley will have it easier in the U.S. and will only get pressure from the strong soccer culture but not from the general sports media if he does not get a result.
A few points to consider: *The U.S. has had more time together in camp prior to this game.
*Mexico could have the edge physically having began training in December with their clubs.
*Emotional control has always been a strong suit for the U.S. in games against Mexico.
How important will composure be in this one?
*Wins for both coaches can support public sentiment. In the case of Bob Bradley it may
make a strong arguement for removing the ‘interim’ tag status he currently has.
* Whose European players will have the larger influence?
*What younger players will get opportunity in a defining game
* Although he won’t admit it. This looks to be the begining of Tim Howard as the U.S.
number one based on performance. He was excellent in the 0-0 draw against Liverpool
last weekend. Howard played in goal back in 2003 against Mexico at Reliant Stadium in
Houston.
Look for both teams to field experienced line-ups with players brought from Europe playing a role in this one.
In-experienced players at this level that could get their first ‘taste’ of this rivalry could be midfielder Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo) and Jonathan Bornestein (Chivas USA) defender midfielder.
Here are my thoughts on a U.S. lineup.

Howard
Albright Conrad Bocanegra Bornstein

Dempsey Maestroeni Clark Convey

Donovan

Johnson

A little concern defensively with Bornstein and Convey on the same side of the field ( remember the World Cup with Eddie Lewis and Convey against the Czech Republic). Are they good enough individual defenders? Bocanegra could be moved to left back and Bobby Boswell could be inserted but he like Bornstein and Clark have to prove they are ready for a game of this nature.
Bradley will have to balance youth and experience perfectly. Hugo Sanchez will rely on players like Pavel Pardo, Jared Borgetti and Cuahutemoc Blanco who may not represent the future of the national team but can help him achieve a result in his biggest ever game as a coach. Sanchez should start all his Euro based players at the including Carlos Salcido, Rafa Marquez, and Ricardo Osorio at the back in front of Oswaldo Sanchez.
This game was scheduled before either coach was named and both mentioned yesterday that a game of this magnitude comes too early.
8:00 pm central ESPN2 pre-game begins

*Let me know your thoughts on the U.S. lineup that you would like to see?
Also podcast of last nights Soccer Hour with Glenn Davis available at www.houstonchronicle.com and 790thesportsanimal.com

glenndavis@thesoccerhour.com

I attended Houston Dynamo training this morning over at UH and it reminded me of the soreness that comes with pre-season back in my day. Eat, sleep, train and rest is what it is all about. Not many guys are playing golf these days. Pre-season sets the tone for what will be a busy Dynamo year. I was surprised at the pace of training and the sharpness that the players showed this early. Which leads me to the Dynamo and pacing themselves throughout this upcoming season. Which leads to opportunity as I mentioned weeks ago. Opportunity for young players who by sheer numbers will have to get playing time at some point this season with the Dynamo in four competitions. Depth will be tested and players with limited experience will have to learn on the job and be quick learners.
Dwayne DeRosario will join John Harkes and Dominic Kinnear on the Soccer Hour tonite at 7pm on 790 AM radio.
Dwayne addresses his contract, Beckham, a long coming season, and FC Toronto.
Call in number is 713-212-5790 I want to hear from you. Show streams live at 790thesportsanimal.com and also will be available on podcast at Houstonchronicle.com and 790thesportsanimal.com
Glenn GlennDavis@thesoccerhour.com