His job is to win. That is exactly what U.S. National team manager Bob Bradley has done in two World Cup qualifiers. Not artistic, not pleasing to the eye but wins no less.
Six points in two games…..hey the French would love to be in the position of the U.S. So Guatemala and Cuba are by the wayside and now the U.S. get their first home game of the semi-final round of Concacaf World Cup qualifying tomorrow night in Bridgeview (7pm CST on ESPN2).
So what do the SOCA Warriors bring? Probably alot of the same, athletic ability in some areas and an opportunity to shine in the states.
For the U.S. and it’s fans it is time to see some better football. Field conditions are not a problem at Toyota Park so my expectation is to see this team hit a FOOTBALL OVERDRIVE and present some special soccer tomorrow night. Better possession, penetration and more attack minded soccer. I am looking forward to seeing a change of attitude at home.

Now on to the veterans. There are a number of players that are helping during the qualifying phase that you would have to think could be short term solutions based on their age. FRANKIE HEJDUK, EDDIE LEWIS, PABLO MAESTROENI are ones that quickly come to mind that you know are helpful through experience in the short term but in the long term in 2010 assuming the U.S. qualify will they still be capable internationally?

Your thoughts?

On the EPL front MICHAEL ESSIEN is done for the year after tearing his ACL playing for GHANA in qualifying…..big blow for the blues.

SEBASTIAN GIOVINCO of JUVENTUS who starred with Italy in the Olympics is apparently being targeted by ARSENAL……Which begs the simple question…could the diminutive midfielder handle the pressure and physical nature of the ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE?

Clear and present danger in the form of the Kansas City Wizards. Not really.
Consider that the Dynamo were without Brian Ching, Ricardo Clark, Pat Onstad and Dwayne DeRosario and KC still gets a comprehensive thumping.
The 3-1 win may have been flattering to the Kansas City Wizards and the Dynamo proved out their depth again at home with Craig Waibel, Tony Caig, Stuart Holden and Kei Kamara all coming off the bench and not skipping a beat .
Now the 2pm kickoff is a disaster and is all about Telefutura and money not about putting the players in the best environment to play quality soccer.
Yet this game was entertaining and the players deserve credit for that as well as the 14,297 fans that braved the heat.
NATE JACQUA produced a two goals and an assist while BRAD DAVIS scored the first off a beautiful sequence that involved four players.
Kansas City just didn’t have it against a motivated MLS CUP Champion in one of the league’s toughest environments.

With the DYNAMO up 1-0 KC coach Curt Onalfo decided to stir the game up bringing on attacking players CARLOS MARINELLI formerly of Middlesbrough and new signing ABE THOMPSON (what were you thinking trading him Dallas?). The move was high risk with high reward .
It back-fired and after initial KC pressure the Dynamo hit KC on the counter-attack with Stuart Holden setting up Nate Jacqua. The game really stretched out and opened up. Made it fun for the fans but you got the feeling the game was over after the Dynamo second goal.
CLAUDIO LOPEZ, MARINELLI rarely threatened and KC was killed off slowly and comfortably through ball possession and the DYNAMO dominating every facet of this game.
KC continues to struggle to score goals……….and struggle on the road where they have only won once.
Special kudos to Davey Arnaud who despite being down 3-0 never gave up and produced a consolation goal for KC (hand ball ?).
DYNAMO are looking at two in a row against a motivated San Jose plus Champions league with a spicy match-up against UNAM PUMAS.
The seven point lead in the west is well deserved and one has to credit Kinnear and the players who stepped up.
Also, do not forget the value of Richard Mulrooney and his ability to move from right back to playing as a “balancing” midfielder. This is a critical piece of the puzzle and one can’t forget that he has been an MLS All Star in this position.
On an additional note DYNAMO owner OSCAR DE LA HOYA made an appearance outside the stadium and to loud cheers assured fans a stadium deal would get done. If fans want to get active and now is the time. Contact politicians EL FRANCO LEE and SYLVIA GARCIA and give them REASONS why a soccer stadium is need in our city! This could make a real difference! Also the folks at CHANNEL 55 would love to hear feedback on the DYNAMO SOCCER REPORT with Glenn Davis. Hey so would I so keep the emails coming. Go to Houstons55.com and CLICK on DYNAMO SOCCER REPORT and let us know about story ideas or opinions. All ideas accepted!
DYNAMO ALL ACCESS with GLENN DAVIS is this Wednesday night at 8-10pm, I will do this show from New York City. Call in at 713-212-5790
Thanks to fans of all ages who said hello and mentioned the radio and tv show, we have something special here on all fronts!
Your thoughts on the day at Robertson?

Here are some of my initial thoughts:

* Kansas City is desperate for points

*Will they start new signings Herculez Gomez and Abe Thompson? FC Dallas what are you thinking moving Thompson?

* Jimmy Conrad KC center-back is teams leading goal scorer and should match up with Nate Jacqua and Kei Kamara up front.

*Does Davey Arnaud play up front with Josh Wolff or does he play in midfield? By the way Arnaud is from Nederland and another area player that has built a strong MLS career. He played at West Texas AM and left college early. A player like Brian Mullan that is relished and admired for his honesty, effort and ability.
If Claudio Lopez plays in midfield for KC they will have serious match-up issues with the Dynamo …….Can Josh Wolff produce something for KC?

* Dynamo without regulars like Brian Ching and Dwayne DeRosario will still put out a strong looking lineup. Expect four changes which seem pretty obvious if you look at who is missing.

*How do the Dynamo transition with all the changes? Seamless?

* The start time of 2pm is a real test for the fans and the players. What will attendance be?

On an additional note having called the HDNET game in Columbus last night with the Crew and Revs I have not seen Crew Stadium as passionate or excited in years. Yes it was a depleted Revs but that produced a 4-0 win and the Revs never laid a finger on Guillermo Barros Schelotto who was allowed free reign. Almost 17,000 fans turned out for a huge win.

HDNET and COMCAST have made a carriage agreement that will allow more MLS fans to catch games on the high definition station.
“We’re thrilled to have a partnership that will provide Comcast’s customers with top notch HDNET programming. This agreement between the two leading HDNET providers will help shpae the ever expanding world of high definition programming,” said co-founder Mark Cuban.
HDNET’s independent programming which includes an MLS GAME OF THE WEEK will now be more accessible to cable homes across the country. Glenn Davis and Marcelo Balboa are in their sixth year of coverage for the network.

KEY GAMES today:
NE AT COLUMBUS- a battle of first place in the Eastern Conference takes place at Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.
Taylor Twellman expected to make his way back in starting lineup for Revolution while Guillermo Barros Schelotto the MLS player of the month and MVP candidate pulls the strings for the first place Crew.
Top of the East on the line today. 7:30 Eastern on HDNET

USA at Cuba: 8 Eastern on ESPN Classic
From Havana…the land of Hemingway, great rum and fighting Blue Marlin. Cuba coached by a German will try to rally fans who are getting free entry to the game. Politics aside the U.S. should not lose this one.

Tomorrow: Dynamo vs. KC at home
Streaking Dynamo look to continue to lead the west and grab that home field advantage in the playoffs. Squad will have a number of changes so expect Stuart Holden, Craig Waibel , Kei Kamara and Tony Caig to get starts. The game can be seen on Channel 55 at 2pm.
Wizards have local product Davey Arnaud who hails from Nederland and have acquired both Herculez Gomez and Abe Thompson in recent trades. Almost a must win for the Wizards and you would expect their newcomers to start……a rematch of last years Western Conference Final

With the final stretch of the season upon us, the Dynamo look to stay hot this weekend against the Kansas City Wizards. Remember, it was just last year that KC was is in Houston for the Western Conference finals. The Dynamo will be missing many of there key components including Ricardo Clark and Brian Ching who were called up to the National to take on Cuba. The Canadian national team called Pat Onstad and Dwayne de Rosario to compete against Honduras. Game time is this Sunday at 3pm on the University of Houston campus.
You dont want to miss this Saturday’s HDNET matchup between the first place Columbus Crew and the defending eastern conference champions New England Revolution. Game can be seen at 7:30pm on HDNET.

The podcast of Dynamo All Access with Glenn Davis is available at 790thesportsanimal.com and includes interviews with KC defender Jimmy Conrad, Dynamo defender Richard Mulrooney, Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear and UH Womens coach Susan Bush.
Go to website and click podcast, click Glenn Davis. Conrad talks about what it takes to beat the Dynamo at Robertson, Mulrooney on the Dynamo and training with a heavy volume of games while Kinnear reminds us the Dynamo have 10 games in 31 days.
Lots more in these interviews……….

Here is what the KC lineup could look like this Sunday against the Dynamo:

GK Hartman
Def Jewsbury
Def Conrad
Def Hohlbein
Def Harrington
Mid Lopez
Mid Zavagnin
Mid Morsink or Marinelli
Mid Gomez- will they start the new signing in midfield?
For Arnaud
For Wolff
Listen to the podcast here…..790TheSportsAnimal.com

DYNAMO all ACCESS with GLENN DAVIS airs in it’s new time slot on 790 The Sports Animal tonite at 8-10pm.
Guests include DYNAMO defender/midfielder RICHARD MULROONEY, coach DOMINIC KINNEAR plus we will hear from Kansas City Wizards players DAVEY ARNAUD and JIMMY CONRAD.
UH womens coach SUSAN BUSH will also weigh in…..
Call in number is 713-212-5790…..listen closely tonite as tickets to this Sunday’s DYNAMO/KC game will be given away.

THIS WAS UGLY.
It was a nightmare last night for MLS as both the NE REVOLUTION and CHIVAS USA crashed out of the CONCACAF CHAMPIONS CUP respectively to JOE PUBLIC of Trinidad and TAURO FC of PANAMA. Not exactly the cream of Concacaf in opposition with all due respect. Now in fairness both NE and CHIVAS USA are beaten up injury wise and in the thick of MLS schedules. It must be considered but can’t be an excuse.
MLS now has to continue to move towards expanding the salary cap if it wants to continue to enter all tournaments that come their way. Rumor has the MLS salary cap potentially being doubled in the near future with the Players Union agreement with MLS coming due.
If you watched New England you saw manager STEVE NICOL trot out a makeshift lineup that wasn’t up to it.
Poor individual performances were costly and MATT REIS had a rough night in goal where he has to be called out. Yes it was a rarity to see REIS struggle on 3 of the 4 JOE PUBLIC goals. Go back to Saturday against LA and REIS did not look as comfortable either. Since coming off injured in San Jose three weeks ago he has looked tentative by his standards.
NE dealing with all these games is a new challenge for them and something they have never gone through.
They resume play in MLS at COLUMBUS this SATURDAY on HDNET.
Did you see the Concacaf games last night and what are your thoughts?
Join me tonite on 790thesportsanimal for the best in soccer talk tonite at 7pm.

Forgive me Americanistas and lovers of the “goats”. Your teams are struggling in the Mexican Football League.
Now one can quickly look at the goals these clubs are leaking at the moment but are there deeper problems at these institutions? Is it coaching, player performance or selection?
Or in the case of Chivas is it clearly that Masa Rodriguez and Omar Bravo have not been replaced effectively?
Both these teams in group 2 are laboring with America in last place:

Chivas: 1 win, 4 draws, 2 losses
Club America: 1 win, 3 draws and 3 losses

CA produced an opening 3-2 win to the 2008 Apertura but that day revealed alot about this team. It just isn’t that good…..in fact it is average at best. CA has not won in 6 games as they head to San Luis while Chivas goes to always difficult Pachuca in their next game . Trying times for Mexico’s two biggest teams who by the way…….meet in what is being billed as a “Superclasico” exhibition in Chicago this Thursday. Please……..this is purely about money. I say make it a game that counts in the Mexican league standings in the future. Of course that won’t happen because it would cheat the fans in Mexico.