Let me just get this out of the way. If your youth are trying to learn the art of defending you may not have wanted them to see this game between the Dynamo and UNAM Pumas. Remarkably, these two teams are at the top or near the top of their respective leagues defensively. But as we all know mistakes and poor defending can make for entertaining games and this one surely was.
Lets not forget that no Mexican League team has scored four goals against UNAM as well as no MLS team has produced four against the Dynamo. Ok all those useless statistics are now out of the way. This game just proves that football can sometimes just not make sense yet entertain.

* PLAIN AND SIMPLE , THIS IS A GOOD RESULT IN MEXICO FOR THE HOUSTON DYNAMO and MLS as a whole. When more resources in the future are put behind MLS teams wins will occur in Mexico and the Concacaf Champions League will ultimately be dominated by MLS teams I believe. Lets not forget the differences in resources and money between these two teams.

* EYE POPPING POOR DEFENDING dominated the night but the flip side is that both teams took advantage and punished each other for their poor alignment and boatland of individual and collective mistakes. The Dynamo back four looked heavy and sluggish yet didn’t get enough protection from it’s midfield.

*GAME CHANGING MOMENT..well it may be hard to even say there was one in this game but go back when the Dynamo were up 2-0 and Stuart Holden laid prone on the field after getting kicked. The pass to Dante Lopez went right through the area that Holden laid injured on the ground. There is a question that UNAM could or should have put the ball out of play in the vein of fair play. It happened so quickly that one even wonders if the UNAM players had the opportunity to even think about it?

*YOUTH is KING! Players like Jeff Cameron, Cory Ashe, Stuart Holden, Kei Kamara have all benefitted greatly from international competition in Concacaf and the Superliga. These players have grown leaps and bounds yet come next year during the expansion draft it will be hard to prevent others from trying to acquire these players.
These international environments have been “golden” for these young players.

*STRENGTH AND POWER clearly was an advantage for the Dynamo and one has to marvel at the strong play of KEI KAMARA who grows game by game. His ability to hold the ball up now beginning to rival Dynamo striker BRIAN CHING. This is a good sign.

*BEAT OVER THE TOP…the DYNAMO were repeatedly beat over the top because of poor pressure on the ball in midfield yet this happened consistently to LOPEZ and even PACO PALENCIA.

*STRIKERS on defensive corner kicks…lets face it , we consistently see forwards back defending set pieces who clearly are just not effective. NATE JACQUA was clearly beaten off a set piece……we see this regularly around the world…

*How about two goal CRAIG WAIBEL, can’t say he was marked particularly well but he took his chances confidently including the 3rd minute opening goal.

*Unfortunately the DYNAMO did not defend or handle their 2-0 lead as one would have liked and in a perfect world would have loved to have made UNAM work much harder and over more time to get their opening goal. In fact the Dynamo when fatigued in the later stages defended better. Insert that last twenty minutes of defending immediately after the Dynamo got the 2-0 lead.

*Both managers brought on attacking talent in the later stages going for the win. Juan Cacho for UNAM and DWAYNE DEROSARIO for Houston.

*Four goals at Olympic Stadium against UNAM,a road draw in group play. This has to be applauded from the Houston Dynamo and even appreciated more due to their heavy, thick schedule of games!

Join me Wednesday night from 7-9 pm on 790thesportsanimal for DYNAMO ALL ACCESS WITH GLENN DAVIS….Manager Dominic Kinnear, Dynamo players and others will join me…..Call in number is 713-212-5790, also DYNAMO tickets will be given away.
We will break this game down and much more………..

It is serious business tonite in a serious soccer country. No MLS team has won in Mexico and that certainly is a distant thought tonite for Dominic Kinnear and the Houston Dynamo.
Both squads are expected to play a mix of veterans and youth based on league competition, fatigue and the overall importance of this game.
Remember that the Dynamo are in group play so this is not a true must win game. But any game against a Mexican club is a game of importance.
League officials and anyway associated with the game bled a little the night DC United got crushed 5-0 at UNAM a few years ago.

* The Dynamo will change their tactics tonite and will have to also in the future to accomodate the schedule and the work-load of players over the next six weeks where they will essentially be playing three games a week.
They will defend deeper and their three lines will need to stay close to each other in order to defend a highly skilled team.

* Young midfield of Stuart Holden, Cory Ashe, and Jeff Cameron will have to live up to the moment. Ricardo Clark has to lead this group in midfield tonite.

* EDDIE ROBINSON will return to the lineup it is assumed and will need to find his game and consistency with what lies in the future concerning the volume of games. Both he and Bobby Boswell could be a good match-up if they play against Juan Cacho and Francisco Palencia. Neither have earth shattering pace to get behind defenses. Have a good day of defending out wide and you can potentially keep much of the game in front of you.

* Goalkeeper PAT ONSTAD will have to saves of importance in Mexico. Timely saves. The Dynamo could gain an edge off free kicks and corners with their physical prescence through Boswell, Robinson, Jacqua, and Kamara……This is standard road stuff…defend deeper , stay compact, gain some posession and look for timely moments to go forward.
Kamara’s pace potentially on the counter attack could be an asset and overlooked by UNAM.

THE REAL QUESTION TONITE IS CAN THE DYNAMO PLAYERS ADOPT TO A CHANGE IN TACTICS OVER THE COURSE OF 90 minutes and play at critical times with an intelligent restraint?

Have your say about this game and it’s importance and don’t forget the game airs on both the FOX SOCCER CHANNEL and 790thesportsanimal
I will give my break-down of the game at halftime on the radio at 790thesportsanimal

Things are getting crazy in MLS as the fight to get in the playoffs continues……lets take a look at some wacky, wild games that were literally out of control yesterday, defending has been poor as well as decision making as teams are gripped by fear at this stage:

* SAN JOSE take a huge body blow last night losing to REAL SALT LAKE…..3-2 in San Jose! Maybe it was a two week layoff due to the postponement of last weekends game against the Dynamo but SAN JOSE couldn’t find it last night. The Quakes had not lost in nine and were playing an RSL side that had one only once on the road in 12 this year. Who would have bet against the Quakes?
YURA MOVSISYAN was excellent and a danger all night long against a re-vamped backline that had to be altered due to JAMES RILEY missing for card accumulation. Movsisyan scored three minutes in to shock the crowd but was countered by Huckerby who tied things in the 23rd minute.
An early second half goal two minutes in by Huckerby made you think that San Jose would find their game. No so as Movsisyan tied things up off the kick-off. Enter the talented and over-looked JAVIER MORALES whose spectacular free kick ended up being the game winner.
This was a street brawl with little soccer in the first half, poor decisions and emotions flying. Ronnie O’brien had limited influence and Huckerby was controlled over the final stages of the second half by RSL…….

COLORADO RAPIDS 5 NEW YORK 4

I must admit I always thought that CONOR CASEY was overated and over-hyped. The bald headed one blasted NEW YORK at GIANTS STADIUM with a hat trick in a wild 5-4 RAPIDS win. The “Professor” Juan Carlos Osorio must be pulling his hair out at the breakfast table this morning. Osorio prides himself on being a tactician and an organized detailed coach.
Nothing organized or detailed about this one and you lose to boot. Again the sense of urgency now is making players do crazy things.

CHIVAS USA 2 KC 1
You couldn’t script this out any better.
KC trades SASHA VICTORINE to CHIVAS USA and low and behold he scores against his former teammates in a 2-1 win.
VICTORINE sure is feeling great today…..

DYNAMO at TORONTO FC
A point is a point and the DYNAMO move on to concentrate on UNAM PUMAS this Tuesday in Mexico City after playing on the BMO artificial surface. Have you notice how many poor games have been played on this field due to the surface……its not good for aesthetics nor is it going to make things easy for Toronto in the future to sign players from overseas.
Clearly a disadvantage to have the “fake stuff” when it comes to enticing players to MLS…..
Dynamo fans give me your thoughts…..

So the DYNAMO head to CANADA for game to of a four game tour that takes them to four different countries.
Tuesday they play a huge match in MEXICO against UNAM Pumas in Mexico City and then head to the altitude of Colorado to take on ARSENAL…eerr, uh I mean the COLORADO RAPIDS. Or is it the CRUSH? Whatever.

Having called the Toronto FC / Kansas City game last weekend I can only say they were bad. Little effort, little organization and only two players who seemed to care. Defender JULIUS JAMES (excellent rookie out of UCONN) and goalkeeper GREG SUTTON.
At some point MAPLE LEAF SPORTS who owns the franchise is going to believe the TORONTO FC honeymoon with the fans will eventually want a winner. I can’t see this travesty of players coming in and going out lasting…..33 players used this year.
Soon every player in MLS will have had a stint in Toronto.
SO WHY HASNT A PLAN BEEN DEVELOPED AND WHY HASN’T TORONTO FC EVENTUALLY STUCK WITH A BASE OF PLAYERS TO BUILD A TEAM. WHY HAVEN’T THEY MONITORED THE SITUATION OF THE BETTER TEAMS AROUND MLS AND TAKEN A PAGE OUT OF THEIR BOOKS? WAS THIS REALLY PROGRESS IN TORONTO THIS YEAR?

OK off the soapbox and back to tonite. As bad as TORONTO was last weekend I can sense on the artificial surface in front of 20,000 fans some sort of pride will come out of their players. Pride not to be embarrassed , not to mention playing for jobs?
DANIEL DICHIO who played in Italy and is a hulking center forward should start in the place of CARLOS RUIZ.
AMADO GUEVARA is their midfield leader (scary thought). Oh don’t get me wrong, he is a beautifully talented soccer player but not a leader of men nor a player that will lead you to deep glory. In fact JOHN CARVER knows this.

As for the DYNAMO, expect some differences in the lineup from their last match in PANAMA and don’t expect to see much of BRIAN CHING. Dominic Kinnear is trying to win games, put out strong lineups while keeping the eye on the big picture of the volume of games in both MLS and CONCACAF CHAMPIONS CUP.

DYNAMO score first it will be a monster psychological blow to TORONTO FC…..here’s to a Dynamo win and leaving that fair city without injury.
As for me I am calling the SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES home match against REAL SALT LAKE tonite in SAN JOSE

You have to admit it is great to see that all these games now are beginning to have huge meaning in getting into the playoffs.
Getting through July and August is tough in MLS.

Don’t forget radio this Wednesday and hope you enjoyed last night’s DYNAMO SOCCER REPORT on CHANNEL 55. Catch the DYNAMO there this afternoon at 2:45 and then catch us on HDNET in SAN JOSE with the QUAKES and RSL’ers .

As I leave I want to know your pre and post game thoughts on the DYNAMO TORONTO FC match.

Glenn

I am hoping you were able to tune in to the Fire against LA last night on ESPN 2. If you did that means in Houston you have electricity back. As for those of you in our hurricane stricken city and around the country what did you think? Here are my thoughts:

What we needed to know heading into this gamw was that Chicago was a team with serious issues coming into last nights game.
There proud defense had been getting riddled with goals and they had lost 3 out of 4 and the question of even making the playoffs has come up.
In Houston they were emotionless a few weeks ago and last Sunday were embarrassed by FC Dallas to the point that they were booed. (Which by the way, we need more booing of home teams if you don’t think your team is putting in the EFFORT).
The BRIAN MCBRIDE trade has turned into a new coaching challenge for DENIS HAMLETT that needs to be figured out quickly. More on that in a minute.

Back to HAMLETT he made some interesting moves last night that could reap benefits. The GALAXY may not be the team to judge these moves on just yet……CUAUHTEMOC BLANCO is fatigued from the long season and was moved into a deeper role behind MCBRIDE…limit his running and hope to get plays out of him. They did, he had less influence in the game overall and you sometimes wondered if he was there yet in the end he produced a goal and a beautiful flick that unbalanced the LA defense and led to a CHRIS ROLFE goal. Two plays , two goals, economical running and HAMLETT looks like a genius. Overall Chicago defending better but one wondered if LANDON DONOVAN was even at TOYOTA PARK last night? GALAXY attack for the most part tame and you have to credit the FIRE yet the GALAXY have not been the best of road teams.

The goals CHICAGO scored clearly all came off poor defending from LA. The first CHICAGO goal ROLFE was allowed to move his away to the top of the box. A feeble ANTE JAZIC, hesitant defenders who clearly did not look confident or protective of this area of the field and Rolfe is allowed to shoot. 1-0 FIRE

The second FIRE goal gets created because of the poor communication between JOSH WICKS and LA defenders BLANCO sticks it in and empty net. Gifted goal 2-1

The third goal is a BLANCO backheel with a sucked in center back taken out of the play and ROLFE is found and scores his second 3-1

The overall night was exciting with a packed house at TOYOTA PARK and the place rocked. Tremendous atmosphere thanks to the arrival of BECKHAM, the playoffs looming and the FIRE fans lived up to it in a big way.

MCBRIDE TRADE REMAINS AN ISSUE

Here is why……..As a target player BRIAN MCBRIDE last night was wandering around aimlessly almost disconnected from his team. He got a little service from JUSTIN MAPP who remains in my humble opinion the key to McBrides (run of the play) future in Chicago. He has had only a handful of balls in front of him to attack since his arrival in Chicago. This is his lifeblood and you can sense his frustration
To beat the better MLS teams the FIRE are going to need to get something out of the legendary US striker. The Dynamo, Revolution and Crew will not present and gift opportunities to the Fire like they got last night if they encounter them upon getting into the playoffs .
DENIS HAMLETT has to pray that MAPP can find some of the best soccer of his career or MCBRIDE and his impact will not include goal scoring.

This is a trade that is still being worked out but credit Hamlett for coming up with something different last night pushing BLANCO higher up the field. Mapp and Rolfe as wide players in midfield must bring it in the attack from wide areas in order to get the best out of McBride. In short the team needs more width in their attack. Playing both Mapp and Rolfe wide brings some questions with the balance of defending and attacking in midfield which teams have identified.
A simplified version of what I think are the FIRE issues.

It’s all getting interesting. As for LA the win at home against DC was a nice moment of hope, maybe a tease. Can’t see this team making the playoffs even with Donovan and Beckham.

Has McBride been effective in your eyes and is he getting the correct support?

With so many in survival mode what you would have to think the recent disaster of Hurricane Ike could slow progress in getting the stadium deal finally approved and moving forward. Local and state government has to be focused on all those locally so will AEG have to pony up the remaining $10 million dollars to complete the deal and move forward?
Ironically I am in San Jose where a stadium is moving forward which was ultimately deemed one of the reasons the Earthquakes were re-located to Houston a few years ago. This is a tricky situation and not for one second am I discounting those who are struggling through Hurricane Ike….Timing in getting stadiums done with all the political red tape can be an issue.
Speaking to me yesterday team president Oliver Luck had nothing new to report on the stadium at this moment which you would expect. I can’t see the stadium being on the minds of many in city government right now and frankly nor should it be for the moment.

Fanaticos the site is up and running again and I thank all of you who inquired about where it was.
First and foremost I hope all of you are getting yourself back to a level of normalcy after Hurricane Ike.
Couple of quick hits for you:

*Former DYNAMO striker JOSEOPH NGWENYA scored at GALATASARAY in TURKEY for ANTALYASPOR in a 1-1 draw.
NGWENYA scored off a free kick heading home.

*The DYNAMO head into their second of four games in four different countries in 11 days. Expect to continue to see shared minutes with young players like Jeff Cameron, Cory Ashe, Stuart Holden ,Patrick Ianni continuing to get important minutes.
After Toronto FC on Saturday the DYNAMO head to UNAM PUMAS in Mexico City on Tuesday night in Concacaf Champions Cup play.

*Having called the KC win over TORONTO FC game this past weekend in Kansas City I can tell you they were poor. Even from an effort standpoint. It even bordered on unprofessional. I can only say Julius James a rookie defender came out of this one with any sense of pride. Maybe goalkeeper Greg Sutton as well.
I can also tell you it will be a different story this Saturday at 2pm in Channel 55 when the Dynamo take on Toronto at BMO Field.
Pride has a way of surfacing when you are in front of 20,000 home fans. Fact is this is a struggling team with no real plan in place as to how to go forward. Head coach John Carver clearly and admittedly is struggling with the MLS culture.

*When DAVID BECKHAM comes to town with LA it will be a night of star-gazing at Robertson Stadium. Lots of athletes and other will come out to see “BECKS’. That night could have huge implications for the Galaxy and the playoffs…….potentially.

*Don’t forget the podcast of last night’s DYNAMO ALL ACCESS with GLENN DAVIS is up on the 790thesportsanimal.com website
Interviews include Dominic Kinnear and Pat Onstad of the Dynamo plus Dean McNulty from the Toronto Sun with his take on Toronto FC’s struggles. Salman Mitha from Germany claims nobody is concerned about Bayern Munich’s 5-2 loss to Werder Bremen based on the fact that it is OKTOBERFEST…..

*HDNET heads to SAN JOSE this weekend for coverage of the EARTHQUAKES and RSL who is also in big playoff trouble.
With only one win on the road RSL is in big trouble having 3 of their final 5 games on the road.

Email me at gdavis98@swbell with your thoughts on the Dynamo vs. San Francisco FC this past Tuesday or anything else on your soccer mind and don’t forget the DYNAMO SOCCER REPORT with GLENN DAVIS this FRIDAY night at 9:30 pm on Channel 55.

I think not.
There is no other player in this league that can take a game over like LANDON DONOVAN.
Building a team who would you even consider over him? BLANCO? BECKHAM?
Last night was another prime example as the GALAXY star scored three times and assisted once in a 5-2 win over DC UNITED.
The Galaxy finally get a winning result for the first time in 12 games and are right in the hunt (amazingly) for a playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Having called the KC/TORONTO game in Kansas City we have to say that TORONTO FC is now officially done for the season.
Other than rookie defender JULIUS JAMES and goalkeeper GREG SUTTON no one stood out for this team that is going through the motions. Has progress really been made in TORONTO in year two? I think not. The club has used 33 players and at some point you have to say when does the insanity stop…..At some point you have to settle on some players.
Forgot to tell you the score…2-0 KC ……Josh Wolff, Herculez Gomez, Davey Arnaud play well for the Wizards who were rarely tested. Did AMADO GUEVARA and CARLOS RUIZ even play?

RSL lose in their final game at RICE ECCLES STADIUM 1-0 on a goal to ALECO ESKANDARIAN…….Next up is a rested SAN JOSE in SAN JOSE for the RSL’ers……..The REVS tied 1-1 at COLORADO who with a few results are trying to salvage their season……FC DALLAS try to avoid their slow faltering playoff hopes against CHICAGO today who quite frankly may have made a poor on field decision to acquire BRIAN MCBRIDE….The system CHICAGO plays does not afford the honorable striker enough service…watch this trade because in the end it may hurt CHICAGO….

Breakfast show today is MANCHESTER UNITED and CHELSEA…post your thoughts here!!!

*GAME ON! MANCHESTER UNITED takes on league leaders CHELSEA tomorrow….CHELSEA captain JOHN TERRY has won an appeal of a red card to play. TERRY was sent off against MANCHESTER CITY after a foul on City striker JO.
It is called a wrongful dismissal. BLUES fans are pumped. What is your prediction?

*AC MILAN in bizarre fashion at the bottom side of the SERIE A…nothing less than a win against LAZIO this weekend for under pressure head man CARLO ANCELOTTI….

*Oh, here is a great move to boost INTER MILAN..according to CLUB PRESIDENT MASSIMO MORATTI DIEGO MARADONA will work for INTER………What he will be doing no one reveals at INTER….What could DIEGO do for INTER?

*KROENKE now on board of directors at ARSENAL…more guys like STAN KROENCKE who just want to accumulate sporting properties are all over the world scene in soccer. STAN is now a GUNNER BOD….now if only he would be accountable for his poor MLS club in COLORADO…can’t remember their name. Neither can sports fans in Colorado…
On another note I can’t stand seeing entities like the DUBAI GROUP buying up historic soccer clubs and continuing to strip away their original identity.

*REAL SALT LAKE thankfully play their last game tonite at RICE ECCLES STADIUM before moving to Sandy, UTAH into an amazing new facility. REAL SALT LAKE win in farewell at RICE ECCLES.

*Goal of the week winner DAVEY ARNAUD and the KC WIZARDS take on TORONTO FC tonite on HDNET in a fight for playoff survival. KC wins this one.

*DCU at LA- Galaxy get first win under ARENA….

Fans due to HURRICANE IKE may have missed the DYNAMO game last weekend so tune in tonite to catch the highlights of the playoff like atmosphere of the 1-1 Dynamo draw last weekend at San Jose during the DYNAMO SOCCER REPORT WITH GLENN DAVIS at 9:30 pm on channel 55.

The show also will feature interviews with MLS coaches BRUCE ARENA of the LA GALAXY and STEVE NICOL of the NE REVOLUTION……rumors, rants and raves also is on tap plus we hear from you the fan in the viewer mail segment.

For more information or to contact Glenn Davis go to houston’s55.com