Yesterday I caught myself watching Boca Jrs. and River Plate, a friendly from Mar del Plata I believe in Argentina.
As we all know their is nothing friendly about this rivalry. You would have never know this was a warm-up match with the edge the game carried and some of the late tackles and elbows that were flying.
Both teams have become more interesting for the upcoming Argentine season. Both have immaculate playmakers that have represented Argentina and both of these creators are expected to link up with interesting forwards.
For River Plate, Ariel Ortega whom I used to watch perform while calling games for Fox Sports World (now Fox Soccer Channel) is trying to link up with Sebastian Abreu the tall Uruguayan who used to play for Cruz Azul in Mexico.
Boca Jrs. is relying on Juan Riquelme trying to find icon Martin Palermo up front. The teams are interesting on this night Boca was more aggressive and took the so called “friendly” 2-0 behind goals from Sebastian Battaglia and Palermo.
Riquelme is amazing with the movement on his free kicks.

News from DC: DC United are at it again when it comes to players from South America. Marcello Gallardo of Paris St. Germain who has represented Argentina has apparently agreed to a deal. The creative midfielder had been riding the pine at in France and was unhappy not playing.
“I don’t want to have to again live through that not playing in the last few months,” said Gallardo.
Gallardo spoke with Juan Pablo Angel of the New York Red Bulls for advice, the two had played together at River Plate in the 90’s.
“It helped me to think through this. I am satsified because I believe when one makes a well thought out decision and does it as a family, that’s the best.” Terms of the contract have not been revealed but United is re-shaping itself and have also re-signed Bolivian Jaime Moreno to a two year deal at a lesser salary per year.
One would see Moreno being used in a timely manner this year to keep him fresh and potentially as a later substitute when the edge of the game has come off and opponents have fatigued.

*The Pan Pacific tournament at the end of February apparently will be covered on ESPN Classic. So fans will have a shot at seeing those games.

*Derby County who sit in the relegation zone in the EPL and include American Benny Feilhaber and Eddier Lewis are expected to announce new American ownership on Monday.

Mexico manager Hugo Sanchez has been rumored to be bringing back player like Pavel Pardo (Stuttgart), Ricardo Osorio (Stuttgart), Jose Guardado, Rafa Marquez and Giovanny dos Santos of Barcelona to go for the win at Reliant Stadium on February 6th when the U.S. takes on Mexico.
Nery Castillo who plays with Manchester City is out injured with a separated shoulder and is not expected to play.
So who does U.S. manager Bob Bradley bring back?
His son Michael is having a career year with Hereneveen in Holland with 9 goals. One would expect Carlos Bocanegra, Clint Dempsey and Eddie Johnson to take a break from trying to stave off relegation with Fulham to participate in the U.S./Mexico game. Tim Howard , Steve Cherundolo, Bobby Convey and Benny Feilhaber are others that you would expect.
So whom will Bradley bring back for a game that both countries want to win?

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The official U.S./Mexico pre-game party will be held on Monday February 4th at Richmond Arms Pub on Richmond Avenue.
The evening will include a live radio broadcast of the Dynamo Power Hour’s with Glenn Davis from 7-9pm on 790 The Sports Animal and soccer fans are encouraged to come early. Wear your U.S. or Mexican national team jersey or if you like Dynamo jersey. Live guests are expected and fans who are listening to the broadcast on the radio can call in at 713-212-5790.
More surprises in store so mark your calendar for February 4th.
See you there!!

*The African Nations Cup continues to live up to it’s billing of unpredictability despite poor fields at certain venues. Tomorrow is a critical game for the “Super Eagles’ of Nigeria when they take on Mali. It is a make or break game for one of the tournaments perennials favorites. Super Eagles coach Berti Vogts who won the World Cup as a player for Germany in 1974 is not panicked.
Scouts from the world’s big clubs descend on this tournament in droves and if you haven’t been following the tournament try to find a way to watch it when it gets to the semi-finals. Interesting stuff.

*Alex Ferguson- Has to be the greatest manager in the history of the EPL. How he keeps the club bigger than all his multi-million dollar player is amazing. Recently he spoke out in defense of Rafa Benitez the Liverpool manager and in opposition to American Owner Tom Hicks and George Gillet who apparently were angling for Juergan Klinsmann to take over for the beloved “Rafa.” I love seeing coaches defend each other from egotistical owners who get into areas they don’t need to be in. How could going after Klinsmann be anything unsettling for a manager or a team. Do the meddling owners have anything to do with Liverpool being out of the title chase? Not to mention behind their rivals Everton. I say yes.

*Word has Hugo Sanchez the coach of Mexico recalling all his Euro players for the U.S. match at Reliant on February 6th. Whether they all come or not is another story but Pavel Pardo , Ricardo Osorio, Carlos Vela, Gio Do Santos, Jose Guardado and Rafael Marquez have all been mentioned. Will US manager Bob Bradley get Clint Dempsey, Tim Howard, Michael Bradley, Oguchi Onyewu ,Carlos Bocanegra and Benny Feilhaber back in the fold? I think yes.

*Speaking of US midfielder Michael Bradley he continues to tear it up in Holland for Herenveen. He now has 13 goals in all competitions including his 9th league goal against Venlo this past weekend.

*Iran has dipped into Europe to hire former Spain coach Javier Clemente who replaces Amir Ghalenoei. A little surprising.

*After the Pan Pacific Tournament which the Dynamo plays in the LA Galaxy and David Beckham will head over to the Far East on tour to dip into the Asian market and make a few greenbacks while showing off their brand. The Galaxy sold 700 times the amount of jerseys than the prior season buoyed by Beckham. Lets hope they make some news on the field for the sake of MLS. Meanwhile Beckham is expected to get his 100th cap against Switzerland in the debut of manager Fabio Capello for England on February 6th.

*Argentine creator Marcello Gallardo may be coming to MLS with one destination cited already in DC United. Would love to see this happen. And this is no news Pablo Maestroeni is being shopped by the Colorado Rapids. Maestroeni has come on my radio shows in the past and respectfully was critical of the lack of support from the Rapids organization in Colorado.

*The Austin Aztecs will play in the USL First Division and will be affiliated with Stoke City.

*UH Women will take on the Mexico womens u21 squad at Robertson Stadium in early March.

* Don’t forget to head over to the Richmond Arms on February 4th and join me for a a live broadcast of the Dynamo Power Hours on 790 The Sports Animal. This is the official 790 The Sports Animal US/Mexico pre game celebration Two hours of live soccer talk, great beer and English fare plus live guests. Call the Richmond Arms for more information at 713-784-7722

American striker Eddie Johnson is on his way to Fulham FC in England as his transfer has gone through. He has received his work permit after a tribunal and is expect to help the Fulham bid to avoid relegation. Johnson played his last MLS game at Robertson Stadium in Houston this past MLS season and will be expected to produce immediately.
“I have made no secret of the fact that I believe the squad lacks a certain balance in specific areas of the team and following the loss of Brian McBride to injury this is true of our strike force,” said manager Roy Hodgson.
The trade may allow Clint Dempsey to face defenses more yet alot will be expected of Johnson.
I am excited to see if he can prove himself out in the English Premier League yet am I concerned about his strength mentality. Maybe Dempsey can help him through the process. It is a known fact that Johnson was a high maintenance project in MLS. I doubt he will get coddled in England.
Lets hope he can adjust.

Mark the date February 4th down on your calendar to attend the 790 The Sports Animal pre-game party at Richmond Arms Monday February 4th starting at 7pm. The night will include a live broadcast of the Dynamo Power Hour’s with Glenn Davis from 7-9pm. Mark your calendars. More details to come.

Things came together for Chivas Guadalajara in Saturday’s 3-0 victory over UNAM Pumas to kick off Clausura 2008 play.

It was a demolition, a dismantling of an opponent.

First-half goals by Sergio Santana, Sergio Avila and Patricio Araujo left this one in no doubt at Jalisco Stadium . The second half was a formality.

A warning has been sent by the Chivas that they just might be favorites to take the Mexican league title this season.

Many will point to players such as Santana, Ramón Morales and Omar Bravo as the leaders of this team, yet it might just be coach Efraín Flores who is the trump card.

Flores knows the Mexican league and has a remarkable history developing young talent in Mexico . He has been influential in the careers of such players as Rafa Márquez…

….for more

There is nothing better to do when you feeling under the weather than tune in to live EPL action.
That is exactly what I did today watching the Carling Cup match between rivals Tottenham and undermanned Arsenal.
The passion and emotion was remarkable at White Hart Lane and the fans were rewarded only three minutes in when Jermain Jenas scored up the heart of the Arsenal defense. The young squad never recovered accenting the importance of the early goal to get the crowd into it.
They would not give up the lead and produced a second off an own goal in the first half which ended 2-0 . Wembley was not yet assured but quickly was only minutes into the second half when Robbie Keane produced a third goal to make it 3-0.
Two more goals from Lennon anm Malbranque killed off Arsenal in joyous fashion for Spurs fans 5-1 .
It was more than just a trip to Wembley but it ended a 9yr run without a win against Arsenal for Spurs.
Spurs drove themselves forward off the passion of the crowd.
This is was the EPL at it’s best and a great way to try and get healthy.

Catch last night’s podcast of the Dynamo Power Hour’s with Glenn Davis.
Joseoph Ngwenya has signed with Austria Kartnen a team that has struggled in the Austrian league and has had financial troubles. Might just prove out the desire Ngwenya has to play in Europe. Think Austria and I think Rapid Vienna.
Nate Jacqua is also in Austria at the same club on trial.
It creates a dilemma for the Dynamo who now need to either find a forward that has different qualities then Brian Ching and Jacqua (presuming he returns). Their is always the option to play Dwayne DeRosario underneath Ching as a second forward and use Richard Mulrooney and Ricardo Clark as holding midfielders. Yet doing that could work tactically against certain opponents it also could neutralize the overall contributions DeRosario brings to the Dynamo. From an attacking standpoint you would lose his ability to run at defenses out of midfield plus his great late runs that are often rewarded in and around the penalty area. Lets also not forget that DeRosario is a two way midfielder and does it on the defensive side as well. In effect he helps to control the middle of the field.
Interviews on the show included Dynamo defender Eddie Robinson who recently earned his first cap and goal with the U.S. National team. Steven Cohen of the Fox Phone in show plus team president Oliver Luck.
Podcast available at 790thesportsanimal.com and HoustonChronicle.com