Join Glenn Davis tonite for the best in soccer talk on 790 The Sports Animal.
Glenn welcomes in Houston Dynamo team president Oliver Luck, US National team defender Eddie Robinson and Fox Fone in host Steven Cohen.
Call in number is 713-212-5790, the show streams live at MLSNET.com and 790thesportsanimal.com
Join in the action and participate.

Young Brazilian Pato recently scored in his Serie A debut against Napoli at the San Siro in Milan.
Pato who is 18 years old, saw his transfer become official on January 4th of this year and wears number 7 for the Rossonneri. Milan fans remember the number 7 was the number used by Andriy Shevchenko in his career at Milan. Pato has shown already to be up to the task to caring on number 7’s legacy.
What did you think of the debut of for Milan?

The United States after a two week training camp got a well deserved 2-0 win over Sweden at the Home Depot Center tonite.
The U.S. started the game out lively and played with energy although many times lacking familiarity. Sweden on the other hand seemed easily agitated and frustrated on the evening.
There were noteworthy performances from a number of players:

LANDON DONOVAN: The best ever United States attacking player hands down scored in the second half from a penalty kick that makes him the all time leading scorer for the United States with 35 goals. What fans must focus on here is that he has achieved this at only 25 years of age. No player has scored more goals or more goals of importance for the United States. Donovan can fill a number of roles either wide like tonite if needed in specific games , as a central midfielder coming from deep and up front. The only downside to him being wide is that it moves him farther from goal.
Expect a big year from Donovan .

EDDIE ROBINSON- I love this story, at 29 years of age he gets his first cap and scores…with his feet no less. In Houston fans have seen Robinson score key goals with his head like against Pachuca but he took his goal like a forward turning a loose ball in off the post . A great finish, Robinson also looked comfortable and solid at the back in his 45 minutes.

BRAD DAVIS- Solid game out wide and his set piece taking clearly opened eyes. Solid performance.

RICARDO CLARK- How badly do you think he wanted to play in his first competitive game since the Carlos Ruiz incident in MLS.
Clark reminds us quickly how much ground he can cover and did wonderful switching the play away from pressure. His tracking and defensive postions may not draw notice but were excellent.

BRAD GUZAN: El Guzano produced some key saves i in goaln the first half to keep things tied and makes us realize the tremendous growth his has achieved after year one at Chivas USA where he was shelled. His prescence make the makes the goal look small.

JOZY ALTIDORE: Go back to the penalty kick that he earned and measure his strength to fend off a defender. That an his ability to gain that position in the penalty area are noteworthy. His positioned and strength drew the penalty. That strength and power is key at the international level . He’s only a teenager but a mature one at that. Great things to come from this teen.

MAURICE EDU- Watching this game I reminded myself of the depth in central midfield in the holding role. Maurice Edu, Ricardo Clark, Michael Bradley, Benny Feilhaber and Pablo Maestroeni. Lots of choices in the future here for Bradley. Youth just might be king.

Your thoughts or addition of players.

After some serious work in camp with Bob Bradley the U.S. Mens national team takes on Sweden tonite in a friendly from the Home Depot Center. The players at this point must be dying to play in a game situation and have a game of opportunity tonite to make an impression on the U.S. coaching staff.
Not sure what this lineup looks like tonite but I would imagine a number of players will get a run in this one.
Come February 6 the game and team should take on a much different look against a Hugo Sanchez led Mexico that is thirsting for a win over the U.S. yet may not admit it.
What are your thoughts on tonite’s U.S./Sweden match? Any specific players that you want to see?

I settled in with great interest this morning to watch Clint Dempsey and Fulham take on Arsenal knowing the importance of this game for two teams at both ends of the table.
In the end it was a glowing example of the difference between the the cream of the crop in the EPL and a team that may not be there next year.
Emmanuel Adebayor scored two out of three goals for Arsenal who cruised at Craven Cottage.
Before I play armchair quarterback and break it down a bit we must realize the difference in the quality of players favoring Arsenal in a grand way. From their comfort on the ball to the way they carry themselves it is just different. On another level.
Here are some observations starting with Clint Dempsey whom I had a wonderful conversation with early in the week:
*One has to credit the desire of Dempsey yet he was left on his own as a lone striker against the Arsenal defense with manager Roy Hodgson going with a five man midfield. Despite that Arsenal still cut the Fulham midfield to ribbons and proved as usual to be great in tight spaces. It was a slow comfortable kill, disciplined.
Back to Dempsey, he had told me during the week the type of ball he was getting was not good enough. Translation: not getting much service and that was the same against Arsenal today. They couldn’t pass him the ball and the few rare times they did he had no support playing with his back to the Arsenal defense.
In his defense he worked extremely hard and persisted with his effort trying to do it on his own.
Jimmy Bullard provided a little lift in midfield for Fulham who started off in the first 15 minutes with vigor and threw a little at Arsenal in and around the 70th minute when they brought on another striker.
Carlos Bocanegra and the Fulham backs looked tenative and two clear headers right in the heart of the defense looked too easy for Adebayor who was hardly challenged going up. Not even anyone leaning on him?
Manchester United finally broke down Marcus Hahnemman (excellent vs. United) and Reading 2-0 with later goals from Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo (can anyone stop him?).
Now it’s time to catch King Keegan’s act and Newcastle against Bolton.
And don’t forget the United States and Sweden tonite in a friendly. Maybe a few Dynamo players will get a game in this one.
Glenn

Brek Shea who played his youth soccer with the Texans FC youth soccer club is headed to Dynamo rivals FC Dallas.
Shea who has youth national team experience signed Generation Adidas, players that don’t count against the salary cap.
Chance Myers of UCLA was picked first by the KC Wizards.

Some of you will be watching the MLS Superdraft today or following via your computer.
The MLS Superdraft is not an exact science and still remains very unpredictable, and this is why I watch. For the unpredictable nature of the event and to see the looks on the faces of young athletes who have an opportunity for a soccer career.
Well some. Lets face it, the gap has widened between the college game and the pro game and it is rare that a player straight from college gets alot of playing time in MLS.
Starters? Few. Dane Richards in New York (what a great back-up for Brian Mullan he would have been) and Maurice Edu with expansion Toronto come to mind. Both have benefitted from the playing time yet most are not so fortunate.
In fact for many MLS players they would be better off getting games in the USL as opposed to playing reserve team soccer in MLS. I will watch the draft today mainly to see the looks on the faces of potential professional soccer players.
Few will make an impact in year one.

* Silly Soccer Talk:
Who can take this rumor of Brian Mullan being traded up for a draft choice for Brek Shea serious? Oh well, better to have silly soccer talk than none at all.

*Fulham have signed Norwegian defender Brede Hangeland from Copenhagen on a three year deal. Hangeland was born in Houston, Texas.

*Scottish International James McFadden has moved from Everton to Birmingham. McFadden played with Everton a few years ago in Houston at Reliant Stadium.

*Ghana opens up their Africans Nations Cup against Guinea on Sunday. Think what hosting this event means for this country.
The expectations on the team and players must be beyond belief. Lets hope they can cope.

*The Dynamo Power Hours with Glenn Davis has moved from 7-9p on Monday nights . I appreciate everyone following the show around as at times we have to be moved. Spread the word on the show as it is important in my mind for the growth of the sport. Talking the game is interesting and will help with awareness.
Dynamo team president Oliver Luck will join me as well as Steve Cohen of the Fox Phone in show. I will also secure a US National team player after their game against Sweden this Saturday night to also come on the show.

*Nery Castillo of Manchester City will not be available for selection for Mexico on February 6th against the U.S.
Castillo is out for 5-6 weeks after fracturing a bone in his shoulder for Manchester City in FA Cup play.

Thanks for coming to www.glenndavissoccer.com

Don’t expect alot of answers out of tomorrow’s MLS Superdraft when it comes to addressing the Dynamo’s needs.
Needs which are pretty clear. What is there to change after winning a second consecutive MLS Cup?
Next year fans will have the amazing opportunity to follow a team that is going for an unprecedented third straight MLS title.
If that in itself doesn’t get one ready for next year I don’t know what will.
The needs are clear, like last year with international call ups, a larger volume of games due to success and limited salary cap the pressure will be on players more than ever to get through the season successfully. Key areas of concern:

Strikers: After producing their best MLS seasons ever both Joseoph Ngwenya and Nate Jacqua become important pieces to the puzzle. Not only did they produce key goals throughout the season but the helped absorb the abscences of Brian Ching due to injury and national team call ups. With Ching injury prone throughout his career of late the needs are clear up front.
Dominic Kinnear last year had the option of two target type strikers with Ching and Jacqua in the line-up that was a good fit at Robertson Stadium. Ngwenya is the x factor here with his ability to take people on off the dribble and stretch defenses with his speed while creating space for others.
My feeling is that Ngwenya is the closer of the two to stay in Europe but I would not be surprised see both return.
The Dynamo will have to scour MLS for options and certainly find a striker in the mold of Nwgenya to give them variety up front.

Goalkeeping: Pat Onstad is the bionic man and comes off a fantastic season. To watch a goalkeeper play the game mentally as much as he does is inspiring. Trading Zach Wells to DC gets the depth at center back but puts pressure on Onstad to play alot of games this coming season. I know that he is pushing himself in the off-season to prepare yet if he goes down injured or needs a break where do the DYnamo turn?
Will they find a goalkeeper in the draft that is capable of being a potential back-up? All college goalkeepers will make mistakes in transition to MLS.
The draft will yield few that can step in and start and as the college game and professional game continue to pull apart to make the jump becomes more difficult.

*Many of you have emailed me with concerns as to where my column in the Houston Chronicle is.
I am now only once a week on Tuesdays in the soccer page due to budget.
Thank you for the support and I look forward to continue to bring you quality soccer pieces.

*Don’t forget the Dynamo Power Hour’s with Glenn Davis is each and every Monday on 790TheSportsAnimal from 7-9pm
Call in number is 713-212-5790

Devin Brown has shown us what a true die-hard fan of the Houston Dynamo looks like. Devin was running the 2008 Houston Marathon (in his Dynamo jersey, of course) when he heard that Mayor Bill White was to be at the finish line. Brown was quick to grab his sign and proudly display it as he crossed the finish line.

Other Dynamo fans were also sporting their jerseys as they ran the marathon, and over a hundred people yelled out, “go dynamo!” as Brown ran by.

Texas A&M senior Ashlee Pistorius has received the Honda Sports Award as the Nation’s Top Collegiate Female Soccer Player!
Pistorius, who has led the Aggies in goals scored since being inserted into the starting lineup four games into her freshman season, was the Big 12’s offensive player of the year after leading the nation with 25 goals scored. She won the award over three other finalists – Lauren Cheney of UCLA, Kristin Olsen of Southern California and Mami Yamaguchi of Florida State. The Honda Sports Awards are presented annually to the top female athletes in 12 NCAA-sanctioned sports.

Past Honda Award Winners for Women’s Soccer:
1989-90 SHANNON HIGGINS
1990-91 BRANDI CHASTAIN
1991-92 KRISTINE LILLY
1992-93 MIA HAMM
1993-94 MIA HAMM
1994-95 TISHA VENTURINI
1995-96 SHANNON MacMILLAN
1996-97 CINDY DAWS
1997-98 SARA WHALEN
1998-99 DANIELLE FOTOPOULOS
1999-2000 LORRIE FAIR
2000-2001 MEREDITH FLORANCE
2001-2002 ALY WAGNER
2002-2003 CHRISTINE SINCLAIR
2003-2003 CATHERINE REDDICK
2004-2005 LESLIE OSBORNE
2005-2006 CHRISTINE SINCLAIR
2006-2007 HEATHER O’REILLY