Catch the Dynamo Soccer Report with Glenn Davis tonite at 9:30pm on Channel 55.
Glenn welcomes Dynamo midfielder Stuart Holden to the program as well as Dynamo Youth Development Director James Clarkson. Rumors, rants and raves plus Dynamo highlights from opening day 3-3 draw with FC Dallas.

Saturday night it’s time for high definition soccer on HDNET starting at 8pm with the Dynamo at Kansas City.
How will they respond with injury problems and after suffering a 3-0 loss at Saprissa?
If you don’t get HDNET start making those game watching plans or find a friend that does.

Note from Glenn: If you missed the Bayern Munich/Getafe UEFA Cup game please do yourself a favor and catch the repeat tonite on the Fox Soccer Channel. You will witness one of the great collapses in soccer history. Do not miss this…..

Tony Caig gk- needed to keep Dynamo in this one by making key plays, first goal from Alonso Solis saveable.

Wade Barrett- worked hard trying to secure left side

Patrick Ianni- indifferent, needs a bit more edge, some untimely give-aways but will be better for the experience

Geoff Cameron- moved from wide midfielder due to Waibel early injury, couldn’t ask for more from this rookie who grows from the experience

Richard Mulrooney- hard work on the flank, moved central in later stages of second half

Cory Ashe- handcuffed by having to defend alot , could not get forward much in second half although did produce a decent cross or two, also grows from the experience.

Ricardo Clark- broke up numerous Saprissa plays to keep Dynamo in it in first half, would love to have seen him join in attack more but the night prevented it.

Brian Mullan- still not at sharpest although did create a few things, struggled on the ball a bit, header at 2-0 down in the second half that just went wide would have changed the game for the final few minutes.

Dwayne DeRosario-certainly the player that Saprissa was most interested in taking the edge of, had a hard time getting close to Brian Ching and Franco Caraccio to play off them, still looked dangerous in certain situations

Franco Caraccio- naive choices at times shows the difference between Sunday against FC Dallas and last night at Saprissa, a good game to grow but missed using Brian Mullan on a few occasions…..

Brian Ching- Dynamo had a tough time finding his feet…. Cordero , Drummond , Badilla gave him little space.

Brad Davis-moved central in midfield , his healthy return will help Dynamo on the ball

Chris Wondoloski-NR
Craig Waibel – went off injured early.

Finally back to my hotel room after the Dynamo 3-0 loss. The traffic around the stadium after the game was unbelievable…my driver Giovany took me through some backgrounds to get back to the hotel and the Dynamo team bus actually beat me,.
So lets open up discussion on the game…I want to hear your thoughts.
First goal took a deflection and I felt it was savable from Tony Caig…., second goal came right at the start of the second half Celso Borges finished strongly .
Now at 2-0 the Dynamo pressed, got Brad Davis on , aligned things differently with Dwayne DeRosario going forward. Now before this plan had a chance to prove itself out the third goal came ironically after Brian Mullan just headed wide.
Dynamo back line got caught high up the field the header off the goal kick came off a Dynamo defender and actually put Arrieta in who rounded Tony Caig for the third goal.
Fact is that MLS must take this tournament more seriously and quit telling us they want to win it while handcuffing it’s teams.
Schedule appropriately taking into consideration the teams in international play, increase the salary cap and get more quality on MLS rosters.
On a positive note young players like Cory Ashe, Geoff Cameron and Patrick Ianni take valuable experience away, yet I thought this was the year MLS would finally win in Mexico or a key game in Central America…..disappointed and realistic.
No MLS team can compete in games this important without 4-5 starters , the rosters are just not deep enough.
MLS has a problem and needs to fix it.

Off the plane, on a taxi drive through rural areas.
The first billboard I see has got Pele emblazoned all over it.
I find out that Duran Duran and the Smashing Pumpkins will be playing here in the near future in Costa Rica.
My cabbie is pretty confident that Saprissa will take care of the Dynamo tonite……..It is all over the radio and that is why these games are also so important for MLS. For players to experience playing foreign competition in foreign countries is a must as MLS continues to climb the latter of respectability.
Irregardless of what happens tonite this will be a game that benefits young players on the Dynamo roster, lets hope they are in it late in the match.
I settled in the airport lobby to have lunch as my room is prepared and I am watching Barcelona take a 1-0 lead over Schalke through YaYa Toure. Man , what a tasty match up that will be between Barca and Manchester United.
So the gentleman next to me is a dead ringer for Jorge Vergara the owner of Saprissa, Chivas USA and Chivas. I am convinced it is him and strike up conversation only to find out it is not him. Seriously, this guy is a dead ringer and I am wondered if he is just playing “possum” with me.

Ran into Craig Waibel, Brian Mullan, Richard Mulrooney and it is clear that the back four will see Waibel move into the middle with Ianni and Richard Mulrooney slot in at right back. Wade Barrett as always will be the left back.
Players seem confident and realize history could be made. No U.S. team either from MLS or representing the United States has ever won a game at Saprissa, then again it is not Manchester United whom the Dynamo are playing.

Throw all of that out the window, then again you have to have concerns with how young players handle this environment .
Did you know that Paulo Wanchope who played in England and with the Chicago Fire is the coach of Heredia in the first division here in Costa Rica?

What player would not want to be in this environment, this is what you play for….I have played against Olympiakos of Greece, Sheffield United, Middlesbrough, UNAM Pumas, FAS and Alianza from El Salvador, Linfield and Glentoran from Ireland and then some but most were so called “friendlies” apart from some tournament play. Never did I play in a foreign country in meaningful competition . It just didn’t happen back in the mid 80’s.
How can you not want to go to another country, into someone else’s house and try to get a result.
Looking forward to this one tonite and bringing you a sense of the environment on 790TheSportsAnimal.
Enjoy the game and lets hope the Dynamo and DC can pull off some MLS history tonite.

PS: Marc De Grandpre who was heading up the Red Bulls in New York has resigned, or been fired?
He seemed out of his element in soccer and again it brings up the question of leadership in certain MLS markets…There are a few more that need to follow his lead out the door in certain markets.
The danger of new ownership is sometimes organizations plug in upper level management that may have expertise in certain areas but can’t apply it to soccer…….You can figure out who is struggling……?

Amazing Arsenal/Liverpool Champions League game today.
Atmosphere at Anfield was amazing………Theo Walcott’s run of about 70 yards was mind blowing reminiscent of Michael Owen against Argentina. Now Walcott at the end of this run assisted Emanuel Adebayor to make the score 2-2 which if it had held would have put Arsenal into the semi-finals. Oh the agony and exctasy.
With only a few minutes to kill off it didn’t happen as only a minute later a penalty was called and I believe it was a “soft” penalty kick. Steven Gerrard scored off the pk and then Ryan Babel produced another goal to give Liverpool a 4-2 win and move on to the semifinals to join Chelsea who beat Turkish side Fenerbace 2-0 behind Michael Ballack and Frank Lampard.
Man Utd will take care of Roma and Barcelona will finish off Schalke. So the semi-finals should look like this in my opinion:

Liverpool vs. Chelsea

Manchester United vs. Barcelona

Now on to Saprissa and the Dynamo in Costa Rica. This could be a historic win if the Dynamo pull it off.
The game is sold out and the Dynamo are missing key players Eddie Robinson, Bobby Boswell, Stuart Holden, and Pat Onstad.
Keys for the Dynamo will be :

How do youthful players like Cory Ashe, Franco Caraccio, Geoff Cameron and Patrick Ianni handle Saprissa Stadium and the “Purple Monster”?

Some real keys will be for the Dynamo to get timely periods of possession and I put a circle around Brad Davis and Brian Mullan out wide in midfield. How much can the Dynamo get out of these two players? This to me is the difference. Ricardo Clark will re-join the starting lineup.

Can Tony Caig respond in goal after the FC Dallas game? The key will be to be in a place at the later stages to win it. If the Dynamo can pull this result off against Saprissa under this conditions with injury it will be a historic win in franchise and MLS history.

Projected Lineup 4-4-2:

Caig-gk

Mulrooney Waibel Ianni Barrett

Cameron or Mullan Clark DeRosario Ashe

Ching Caraccio

*Davis and where he gets his minutes will be key.

What are your thoughts on the Dynamo lineup in Costa Rica? Can it be done?

I will be in Costa Rica calling the game live for 790thesportsanimal tomorrow evening.

Soccer fans and Dynamo fans catch “Dynamo All Access with Glenn Davis” live tonite at the Stags Head Pub near Sheperd and Kirby from 7-9p. The on location event includes a live visit with Dynamo CEO Chris Canetti who will take questions.
Other guests on the show include Dynamo defender Eddie Robinson, Dynamo goalkeeper Pat Onstad plus Dominic Kinnear from Costa Rica on tomorrow night’s historic match.
Call in number is 713-212-5790, questions, comments email host Glenn Davis at gdavis98@swbell.net

Streaming live at MLSNET.Com or 790TheSportsAnimal.com

The Dynamo match at Saprissa in the semifinals of the Concacaf Champions Cup just got more difficult due to injury. Unavailable are goalkeeper Pat Onstad (shoulder), defender Eddie Robinson (swelling on knee). Both will not travel to Costa Rica.
Stuart Holden will travel but his chances of playing seem remote after a fitness test at Robertson Stadium today.
“Dynamo All Access with Glenn Davis” returns to the Stags Head Pub tomorrow night at 7-9pm. Live guests will be announced and their will be ticket give-aways.
Fans are encouraged to call in at 713-212-5790 or to email Glenn Davis at gdavis98@swbell.net
Guests tonight include Dynamo keeper Pat Onstead, Dynamo Head Coach Dominick Kinnear, and Dynamo Defender Eddie Robinson. Plus an exclusive interview with Chris Canetti.
And remember…..It’s Game On!!!

I want to hear what you thought about the Dynamo 3-3 draw with FC Dallas.
Couple of thoughts from my standpoint:

Positives: They fought on a day they did not play their best soccer and still produced a late point. FC Dallas must be wondering what it will take to win at Robertson. Missed opportunity clearly for FC Dallas.
Crucial minutes and experience for Geoff Cameron and Franco Caraccio who both produced goals, this will bode well down the road.
Brad Davis and Brian Mullan made a difference off the bench , one wonders what they can bring Wednesday in Costa Rica against Saprissa.

Negatives: Loss of concentration at key moments in this game. For instance the last ten minutes of the first half where the Dynamo invited FC Dallas back into a game that they deserved no invitation to.

Immediately after tying the game in the second half the Dynamo concede a goal.

The best and worst of Tony Caig. Worst the first two FC Dallas goals the best a late save on a counter-attack that kept them within one goal leading to Cameron heroics.

My fear here is that so much energy was expended in this game and the after effects it may have in Costa Rica…….

Fans were awesome and the atmosphere sparkling….your thoughts?

Numerous moments of a loss of concentration especially in the last ten minutes of the first half and immediately after getting the tying goal in the second half.

Should be a great day out at Robertson for the Dynamo league opener at 2pm.
There is more to this though. Yes it is rivals FC Dallas who have never won at Robertson but more importantly it is a game that the Dynamo could use as a platform to preparing for Saprissa in Costa Rica in Concacaf Champions Cup play on Wednesday.
Can the Dynamo move forward and cap the creation of chances that they had in the first leg against Saprissa by scoring goals today? A win and a good performance that includes goals could be a great confidence builder to go to Costa Rica and create history on Wednesday.
Your thoughts?

Don’t forget that tomorrow Sunday April 6th, the Houston Dynamo take on cross state rival FC Dallas. Houston has had tremendous success against FC Dallas with a record of 5-1-2 overall in which the Dynamo are 4-0-0 at home in this young rivalry. Kick off is set for 2pm at Robertson Stadium.