The spotlight will be on MLS again in 2008 because of the awareness and exposure David Beckham has brought the league since his arrival.

Many unfairly wrote off the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star last year, and in the end he was rushed into action to appease the excitement and the media.

The fact remains that the man has brought major attention to the league and sport.

His spotlight shines brightly in every MLS city and reaches youth fields all across the United States. Beckham’s reach goes around the world, helping put the acronym MLS on the tongues of individuals who had never heard of or considered the league.

Players from around the world have inquired about playing here because of Beckham’s choice to come to America. Former world player of the year Ruud Gullit might not have considered taking the Los Angeles Galaxy coaching job had it not been for the Beckham factor.

Yet the spotlight is only part of the story. It is the opportunity now for those to take their rightful places under it. Whether coaches, players or club staff, the time for those who want the sport to take a grand step forward into the stream of consciousness of sports in America is now.

The years of explaining why it is difficult for soccer to carve out a place are over. Here are some key issues to keep in mind ahead of this season:….for more on this story check out Glenn Davis’s article at chron.com

The challenge again for the Dynamo this year will be dealing with players getting called up to represent their country internationally.
Both Ricardo Clark and Brian Ching are off to Krakow, Poland for a U.S. National team game this Wednesday while Dwayne DeRosario is heading to Estonia to play for Canada.
All this ahead of their MLS league opener against New England this weekend and then Concacaf Champions Cup competition against the “Purple Monster” of Saprissa next week.
It will be a challenging year again with opportunity likely to come to some unlikely players.
Lets not forget the Olympics which should include defender Patrick Ianni and midfielder Stuart Holden.
It’s just a reminder that MLS must eventually open the purse strings more and expand the salary cap to strenthen teams for international competition.
Are you excited about the opening of the MLS season? I sure am!

What makes a player lose his mind in a game or just become overcome by the occasion or emotion.
That is what happened to Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano in one of the biggest games of the year.
Mascherano was agitated from the word go in this game picked up a second yellow card in the first half and was sent off.
Mascherano amazingly had to be restrained yet in the end failed his teammates and refused to get off the field until his manager Rafa Benitez stepped in.
By the way players confronting referees has been an issue that has been very public so the players that are thinking and aware of this would be expected to know a referee may just make an example of someone who crosses the line.
That someone was Mascherano.
A selfish act. Manchester United when on to crush Liverpool 3-0 behind goals from Wes Brown (31), Cristiano Ronaldo (79), and Nani (81).
Brown scored off a header but it looked as though Pepe Reina got this one wrong not getting off his line quicky enough. People forget how dangerous Cristiano Ronaldo is in the air and his header was all about movement and sharpness. Nani hit an absolute blazer from outside the 18 and celebrated with a few flips.
Is Didier Drogba the best striker in the EPL? Hard to argue.
He scored twice to give Chelsea a 2-1 come from behind victory over Arsenal at Stamford Bridge in front of 41,824 fans scoring in the 73rd and 82nd minute.
The standings in the EPL now show that my favorite to win the EPL Manchester United is in the drivers seat to win the title:

Manchester United 73 points
Chelsea 68 points
Arsenal 67 points
Liverpool 59 points
Everton 57 points

Liverpool and Everton are in a fight for a champions league place.

Take note “The Dynamo Power Hours with Glenn Davis” air this Tuesday on 790 The Sports Animal at 7pm.
Next Monday at 7pm the show will acquire a new name “Dynamo All Access with Glenn Davis” and will kick off a 13 week run at the Stags Head Pub on Portsmouth near Sheperd and 59. Each night we will have live guests including Dynamo players and coaches.
The Dynamo Soccer Report with Glenn Davis returns to Channel 55 this coming Friday night at 9:30 pm.
Dynamo highlights, Dynamo player interviews and everything Dynamo is a part of this show. I will also bring my rumors, rants and raves plus the popular viewer email segment. Combine this with previews of opponents and local and international news and highlights and you have a jam packed half hour of soccer information .
Also keep an eye on youth club profiles weekly.

This time of the year is great for soccer fans.
MLS is about to kick-off, Concacaf Champions Cup is underway and the Olympics and the European Championships are around the corner this summer. With European leagues in the home stretch most every game now has a level of importance with clubs trying to avoid relegation and those fighting for European places and hardware.
*Check your listings with Fox Soccer Channel and Setanta Sports because the EPL is where it is at tomorrow.

Fulham vs. Newcastle- American players Brian McBride, Clint Dempsey, Eddie Johnson, Carlos Bocanegra and Kasey Keller in the fight of their lives for EPL survival. Newcastle struggling under their “Messiah” Kevin Keegan.

Manchester United vs. Liverpool- The games have already begun between managers Alex Ferguson and Rafa Benitez. Can’t wait to see this one.

Chelsea vs Arsenal- Blues manager Avram Grant is under heavy media pressure and fan scrutiny. Arsenal in a fight with Manchester United for the league title.

More games of importance reign in Italy and La Liga and the MFL.

The big news is that the U.S. under 23 team have qualified for the Olympics after a comprehensive 3-0 win over Canada. Two goals from Freddy Adu and moment of brilliance from Sacha Kleijstan sealed the deal. This was the best performance of the entire tournament. The Dynamo will lose Holden to the Olympics this summer but with the win over Canada assured that Dwayne DeRosario would not be used in the tournament as an overage player had they qualified.
The great local tie here is that two Dynamo players are a part of helping the U.S. qualify. Midfielder Holden shined in the tournament and Patrick Ianni got minutes at the back for coach Peter Nowak. Other notes:

*David Beckham should get his 100th cap next Wednesday against France. Beckham was recently in the news as CBS 60 Minutes reported that he has the option to purchase the LA Galaxy in the future. MLS nor Beckham would comment.

*Next Wednesday the U.S. full mens national team will take on Poland in Krakow. The European competition is a great sign and the U.S. will play England and Spain in the future overseason. A good shift in competition and a much needed one.

*Its the Dynamo and Saprissa of Costa Rica in the next round of the Concacaf Champions Cup. Degree of difficulty goes up a notch but the Dynamo will hopefully have the trio of Stuart Holden, Brad Davis and Brian Mullan both returned from international duty and healthy.

*Amado Guevara back to MLS? Not sure who wants to gamble on this talented yet emotional player in their squad but I am sure their are some takers? Basically he was banished to Motagua in Honduras and I guess MLS is not looking that bad to him now.
Toronto FC has been rumored to be interested. So how will English coach John Carver deal with this complicated personality? Not sure about that fit if it were to happen.
Guevara was a former league MVP.

* Alex Zotinca will miss 6-9 months for Chivas USA after an ACL tear. Significant yes….Players like Zotinca that are versatile in MLS are important over the course of the season. He may not be a big name but it will alter things for Chivas and open up an opportunity for others.

*Dutch Striker Ruud Van Nistlerooy is out for 6 weeks after getting injured for Real Madrid.
This puts the pressure on Spaniard Raul to produce goals for the “Galacticos” in the final stages of La Liga play. A challenge that must be overcome.

* Texas Soccer Club (TSC) will play in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy League.
Will others follow? I say yes. Ultimately the Dynamo will need to be the pinnacle of youth development in the city.
I will update the Houston area teams in the Dallas Cup in the near future.

Rarely do I get the chance to watch the Dynamo with the crowd. Last night with no broadcast duties of any kind I had the pleasure and enjoyment of sitting behind the goal that the Dynamo attacked in each half. I walked in next to the Texian Army and El Battalon and all I can say is it is fantastic to see this passion move like an amoeba and breathe like a giant! It was great to meet and talk to fans that are all so passionate about our great sport and the Dynamo.
I was so close to the field that I could smell the grass on this beautiful crisp, clear night. The sounds of drums and fans chanting were phenomenal. In an era of disconnected fans this is as intimate as you can get. Sit behind the goal and you almost feel if you are on the field.
The field looked immaculate and the color orange vivid both on the field and in the crowd. Smiles on the faces of fans reminds me that people have a GOOD TIME at Dynamo games. MLS teams if you are listening let your fans have some fun. Create a meeting place that is fun and enjoyable!
To all I spoke with thanks for the enjoyable night.
Here are few comments about the game itself.

In my Houston Chronicle soccer column on Tuesday I had made the mention that Dwayne DeRosario had to make plays against Municipal.
A few minutes into the second half off a throw in the Municipal half Brian Ching held the ball near the top of the box and found DeRosario who got into the box, avoided some suspect defending. This was a night he needed to lead and did.
Dynamo attacking play from wide struggled in the first half.
A run from Cory Ashe into the penalty area brought a penalty kick ( it looked like a poor call but after coming home and watching the replay on FSC there was some contact from a Municipal defender) which DeRosario converted . The damage was done and you knew how Municipal would respond . Loved seeing DeRosario come to the aid of Chris Wondoloski, who also by the way got hit by a Municipal defender who was wearing a cast during the fracas.
It’s early in the 2008 season but it was great seeing DeRosario much like in the MLS Cup final take charge. In fact it was imperative on this night with a Dynamo midfield missing creators and penetrators like Brian Mullan, Brad Davis and Stuart Holden. This game was evidence that the Dynamo don’t have a threat of pace in behind defenses with the Brian Ching and Chris Wondoloski pairing. This is where Joseoph Ngwenya’s pace and possibility is missed.
The most dangerous threat in behind Municipal is when Dwayne DeRosario selectively came out of midfield as the deepest target.
Cory Ashe became more effective after the DeRosario penalty kick and Richard Mulrooney helped control his side of the field but is not the penetrator that Mullan is. Mulrooney rarely if ever got to the end line To be fair Mulrooney is playing out of position and is more of a “controller” here not a penetrator.
Back to Ashe.
Ashe is growing as a soccer player. His straight out speed can be one dimensional in the professional game but give him credit for coming central and getting into the box to draw the pk. He will need to develop more in combination with his teammates and learn how to set up defenders differently. Pushing a ball forward and running after it As for the hand-clapping after a yellow card was earned by a Municipal player I say that may be acceptable in the ACC but it didn’t look professional , most importantly it was just another way to agitate an already upset team into maybe kicking a few more people. At that point the Dynamo were just trying to get out of this game with an important result and their health. I saw Dominic Kinnear bring over Cory Ashe I believe he may have said somthing similar.
Goalkeeper Pat Onstad provided a very important first half save when a Municipal player broke in one on one.
Onstad has looked extremely sharp over the first two games.
In the end the Dynamo were effective but far from their sharpest soccer which in some ways is the norm at this time of the year. The ball didn’t move as quickly off their feet as we have become accustomed to.
In the semi-finals their game will need to elevate more . Looking on the bright side they get past Municipal without alot of minutes from Brian Mullan, Brad Davis and an absent Stuart Holden. An important result at this time of the year..
Thanks Dynamo fans for the great night, now give me your thoughts on the game and hope to see you at the Stags Head Pub Monday night for live radio!!

It is pretty disappointing not to see more buzz around this Concacaf Champions Cup but alot of that comes down to education and little media coverage. Concacaf needs to do more in the future in making this event bigger time. Lets hope they do that with the new Champions League….but don’t hold your breath.
Coverage has been minimal but the reality of this is that the Dynamo need this result against international competition.
Training sessions have seen the Dynamo use numerous players in starting roles especially around the wide midfield positions and up front. Should look like this:
Onstad
Waibel Robinson Boswell Barrett

Mulrooney Clark Ashe

DeRosario

Ching Wondoloski

*Franco Caraccio, Brian Mullan and Brad Davis I assume will combined have more minutes than down in Guatemala.
*The Dynamo are still seeking out who will partner Brian Ching, this still remains and issue of priority.
*Dangerous wide play in the attack in Guatemala was rarely seen. Will that change tonite with Ashe and Mulrooney.
How much will Mullan and Davis play depends on fitness levels and how much manager Dominic Kinnear wants to push them at this stage with the opening of MLS right around the corner.
* Expect the Dynamo to push the game more on the smaller confines of Robertson Stadium and their time on the ball should improve significantly.
* You can be assured Ricardo Clark will go 90 minutes as he still has to sit out two games in serving his MLS suspension for kicking Carlos Ruiz.
*This is the “real” home opener. A game of international significance, see you there!

What are your thoughts on the Dynamo starting lineup and what are the main issues for the squad?

Here are some notes from the world of soccer:

1.) Mexico is out of the Olympics……..So should this cost Hugo Sanchez his job as manager of Mexico?
Here is what Hugo said after Mexico tied Canada.
“We had many clear opportunities at goal and we deserved to win.”

My take: No one DESERVES to win unless you score goals.

2. Crew Stadium get ready for Toronto FC fans. Over 2000 fans are expected to hit Columbus for the Crew home opener against Toronto F.C. This is a statement from Toronto fans who continue to up the bar and I would have to believe this is one of the largest if not the largest traveling contingent to ever show for a regular season game. Hats off to U Sector, North End Elite and the Red Patch Boys. Now it is up to coach John Carver and the organization to improve on a 6-17-7 record. That is a whole different story.

3. Former San Jacinto College striker Dane Richards is out for three months for the New York Red Bulls after suffering a knee injury. Richards was up for rookie of the year in 2007 and was a key performer in an aging Red Bulls midfield last season.
How will New York play with Claudio Reyna in midfield this year? Word is he is going to be pushed closer to Juan Pablo Angel which may be a good idea.

4. No fans in the stands made Concacaf Olympic Qualifying in Tampa a real downer. Who are making these decisions ?
Is it too much to ask for both a tournament that determines who will go to the Olympics and one that can help push the sport forward by picking the right venue. Big RED Card here for whomever was responsible.
Empty seats on every broadcast open just saddens me.

5. Liverpool and Arsenal will go head to head three times in one week in the beginning of April with two Champions League games and one EPL match. This will be interesting to see how these games all which have meaning are dealt with by Raffa Benitez and Arsene Wenger.

6. Dynamo in the media.
Get ready for the DYNAMO SOCCER REPORT WITH GLENN DAVIS on CHANNEL 55 starting Friday March 28th at a new time of 9:30 PM.
Also DYNAMO ALL ACCESS WITH GLENN DAVIS airs on the radio beginning next Monday night at 7-9pm on 790TheSportsAnimal.
The show will run live for 13 weeks from THE STAGS HEAD PUB near Richmond and 59. All soccer fans are invited out to these events that will include Dynamo players and ticket giveaways. Support your game!
Additionally catch “Countdown to Kick-Off..Ten Greatest Dynamo games on Channel 55 beginning next Monday at 8pm.
To vote for your top ten games of all time go to www.HoustonDynamo.com

Whats up everyone, this is the site webmaster writing to you all around 7PM on Monday night. We got word that some of you site users were having trouble posting comments to the blog postings. Glenn Davis got after us because he enjoys interacting with you all and we immediately worked out the kinks but not sure what was happening in the first place. We’d like you all to take a quick moment and try posting to this blog POSTING.
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