How quickly things can become bittersweet.
Dynamo defender Ryan Cochrane was selected in the expansion draft and is headed back to San Jose to play for the Earthquakes.
Cochrane had solid playoff performances as the Dynamo won their second consecutive MLS Cup and will go back to Northern, California where he played collegiately.
Cochrane will be one of the players that Frank Yallop begins to build the Earthquakes around.

I am not sure who asked the question about a “threepeat’ but it probably came only minutes after the Houston Dynamo did what has only been done once before in MLS history. Defend a championship!
You often wonder if people understand the degree of difficulty of winning a title let alone doing it back to back . Sure it makes a great soundbite ( I guess) but what is the player or coach going to say? No we aren’t going to try and win a third consecutive title?
How about letting everyone enjoy this title and just savor it a little bit, maybe like a good glass of wine.
Two titles in less than 24 months is remarkable for a team that was relocted, they have changed the sports landscape in Houston forever. Lets enjoy and remind ourselves what an amazing come-back the Dynamo produced this past Sunday. What more could a fan ask for? Oh yeah, I forgot a stadium.
To Dynamo supporters and fans you have been unreal and are an asset to this city as you continue to grow soccer and the Dynamo, the supporters group (Battalon, Texian Army) walk in to RFK was awe-inspiring but more importantly you are creating a healthy pressure for the sport of soccer that has been so desperately needed.
The synergy between the team, fans, media and youth and adult soccer communities are all elements that are needed for professional soccer to thrive.
The Dynamo will return to training in January ahead of lots of international competition next year. (By the way how great were the games against Pachuca, Club America etc. at Robertson?) and today will lose a player to San Jose as they re-make their squad.
Ryan Cochran, Zach Wells, Pat Onstad seem to be the most talked about players that could be lost.
Cochrane was solid in the playoffs but seems the main candidate to pack his bags. He broke up tons of plays during the post-season and has to be commended yet Patrick Ianni would provide the perfect cover and seems ready.
We all can’t forget the glimpses of Zach Wells in the Concacaf Champions Cup producing some memorable performances and I am not sure that Pat Onstad would be willing to pack his bags to go back to San Jose.
This is expansion draft is a tricky guessing game but the good news is that the Dynamo will only lose one player.
Thoughts?

Come be a part of the Dynamo title celebration tonite at City Hall from 5:30 to 7:30.
The MLS Cup, Dynamo players and coaches plus team president Oliver Luck and Mayor Bill White will be in attendance.
After the celebration the party moves to Christians Tailgate in midtown near West Gray for two hours of soccer on the radio with Glenn Davis and Dynamo players.

Two MLS Cup titles plus amazing fan support shows what we all knew already. That Houston needs a home for the professional soccer. No better time than now to use the momentum of fan support and on field success for what would be an amazing addition to our city downtown.
Fans need to speak out now, email Mayor White with your thoughts on a getting a new stadium: Mayor@cityofhouston.net

So for only the second time in MLS history a team has won back to back MLS titles.
The Houston Dynamo proved strong willed, resilient and provided a comeback for the ages. They again proved why they are “champions”.
A couple of thoughts from Washington DC.
*Lets first say we can’t forget that the Dynamo won this MLS Cup without two U.S. National team members in their lineup.
They also would not have won this a second time without the player acquisitions of Joseoph Ngwenya, Richard Mulrooney and Nate Jacqua. All three started and produced in this MLS Cup final. Most every other team in this league would not have been able to absorb the loss of the caliber of player like Ricardo Clark and Brian Ching.
*The New England Revolution failed to produce a second goal and allowed the Dynamo to remain in the game.
*Dwayne DeRosario produced at the appropriate time and scored a rare goal off his head. He also worked relentlessly to help kill and manage the game off. The game was begging for him to take it over and he did at the right time.
“I would normally volley it but I decided to head it and luckily it went in, ” said DeRosario who was the Cup MVP.
* Pat Onstad produced a stunning save on Jeff Larentowicz in the 86th minute to preserve the win.
*Joseoph Ngwenya’s tying goal capped off an important year of contribution for the Dynamo and on this day he stepped up…..
His goal produced an amazing moment of momentum change, you could just feel it at RFK.
* The goal stunned New England and set them back……
* I got a phone call in the morning from someone from USSoccer who said, “your Houston fans are making a prescence” It was an amazing day in the nations capital and many Dynamo fans from Houston were all over RFK and on the subway after. These fans made an amazing difference, their passion and commitment was remarkable, it was great to see such pride in and team and a city. It was great to be in the midst of it as opposed to a broadcast booth.
* I was fortunate to talk to alot of fans in the parking lot prior to the game and it was awe inspiring to see the orange clad Dynamo fans that are so crucial to the sport. After the first goal the white and orange flares were awesome and blanked out about 4 minutes of the game as I could not see the field, sitting above the Texian Army and El Battalon it was amazing to feel their energy and excitment, and they never let up ……To this group all I can say is amazing effort , commitment and you are growing the sport of soccer! Awe inspiring effort!!
*It was also awesome to see parents with their children at the game decked out in Orange, DC was a great place for a final that afforded families to then take in the sights of an amazing city.
*It is amazing that the Dynamo have done this incredible job of continuing to grab momentum….This all is postive for the future of a stadium. I have more trust in Mayor White in Houston than Mayor Fenty in Washington DC……
*Oliver Luck has been the perfect team president, connected locally, won’t take no for an answer, not one to give excuses but one that gets things done. He has used every opportunity to grow awareness for the sport.
*Hispanic fans are doing an amazing job of growing the passion and celebratory nature of the game! They remain so important to the future of this franchise and soccer in Houston
*The photo on the wires of the Dynamo holding up the Cup is awesome.
In the front is Dominic Kinnears son whooping it up, it is a coffee table picture for the Kinnear family. I loved how the Dynamo involved family in the celebration…..Dwayne DeRosario brought his wife and kids to the press conference.

Midfield is an area of interest today for the MLS Cup final.
The Revolution will use five midfielders against the four for the Dynamo so this is a real area to see who gains the edge.
The wide midfield match-ups between Brad Davis of the Dynamo and Khano Smith of the Revs is one to watch.
Brian Mullan vs. Wells Thompson though is my match-up of the game, can Mullan take advantage of him?
Shalrie Joseoph will have to take the edge off of Dynamo star Dwayne DeRosario.
The Dynamo must be aware of Steve Ralston who has moved centrally and could alter things in an attacking central midfield role.
Catch the game on ABC starting with the pre-game at 11:00 CST.

Just like they did last Sunday the two in-state rivals will square off in what is one of the great collegiate match-ups in Texas.
Never mind that this is womens soccer because the rivalry is just as intense. Add to the fact that UT defeated the Aggies last Sunday 2-1 in the Big 12 Conference tournament championship in San Antonio.
This time around they will have to go to the home of the Aggies where they are incredibly difficult to beat.
For local area womens players this is a great opportunity to catch two of the top teams in the nation .
The focus may be on the Dynamo/Revolution in the MLS Cup on Sunday but for local action this should be good.
The nations leading scorer Ashlee Pistorious of AM will be on display and she is more than a goal-scorer.
Texas AM will host the NCAA Womens College Cup in December.

Catch the Dynamo Soccer Report tonite with Glenn Davis on Channel 55 at 6pm and Saturday at 5pm.
The show features a look back at last years MLS Cup Final plus previews this weekend’s game.
Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear is interviewed as is star midfielder Dwayne DeRosario.
Rumors, rants and raves plus viewer mail is also featured.

Ok just kidding.
Today in Washington D.C. the MLS board of governors are meeting and one of the main issues is the designated player rule which allows teams to sign one player for any amount of money with it counting only $400,000 against the $2.1 million dollar salary cap.
With David Beckham in LA as a designated player and Landon Donovan on a salary of $900,000 per year the Galaxy have to figure out through the trading of draft picks or players a way to acquire another designated player slot for Donovan. This past year the rule was grandfathered in allowing Donovan to play with Beckham.
Donovan has stated his is not leaving LA, his wife is an actress and in his contract he has a clause that says he is to remain in LA. Being traded to Chivas USA is an option yet Donovan totally dismisses it.
Don’t be surprised if somehow this morning the MLS board of governors comes up with a way of adjusting the designated player rule in favor of LA. With all that is invested with David Beckham, Landon Donovan and now Ruud Gullit as a coach in the league is begging for success in tinsel town.

Now you may be wondering why the 12:00 pm Eastern Standard time start time for the MLS Cup this Sunday.
Many have brought up the point of going head to head with the NFL and why not a better Sunday time for the game?
Lets not so quickly forget that for the first time in MLS history networks are paying for the rights to broadcast the league. ABC/ESPN has a deal that pays over 20 million dollars, Fox Soccer Channel is in the millions and HDNET is paying out 8 million dollars for its agreement with MLS and are still in only 49% of the cable systems in the United States.
Significant, yes.
Back to the time slot for this Sunday. MLS clearly could have put the game on a Friday night on ESPN but chose this time slot on Sunday because they wanted to be on ABC and give it a more Super Bowl like feel.
Some might make an argument for Friday night. If it was Friday night it certainly would have put a crimp in fans from out of town trying to get to the stadium
The game will overlap the NFL and some will feel that a mistake but in the end soccer like all sports will be going up against “something” always.
One last question? Should MLS go to a home and home series with an aggregate goal winner so that fans of both teams get a home game? That could be in the future once MLS gets it’s stadiums set up and has control of it’s own scheduling.