So somehow in this crazy world of MLS the NEW YORK RED BULLS make the playoffs. After DC UNITED lost 1-0 at COLUMBUS yesterday after hitting three posts the Red Bulls got a pass into the playoffs. Yes, the same team that was dis-mantled by CHICAGO 5-2 this past Thursday on MLS PRIME TIME on ESPN2.

So why is this a dangerous opponent for the defending MLS CHAMPION HOUSTON DYNAMO? Because over the course of a home and home series their is a fine line as we all know between winning and losing. Have a bad start to an opening game and you could be in an uphill climb to win a series no matter what your record was during the season.
DC United last year won the supporters shield yet played poorly at the back in their opener in Chicago and never found their game until it was too late at RKF last season.
Add to this the fact that the DYNAMO will be playing their opener on artificial surface and you must set yourself up in game one for game two back in Houston.
And simply, JUAN PABLO ANGEL who is the type of striker that gets two chances on an evening and will score them both.

Now as you know I am not a big statistics person (leave that to baseball and sports talk show hosts.) and nor is soccer a big statistic sport , though some steadfastly want it to be.
But one stat that does matter are wins and losses, so with that I present to you the DYNAMO record on artificial surface and it is not good.

*1-7-7 in all competitions including 0-2-1 in NEW YORK at GIANTS STADIUM
*0-1-3 in 2006
*1-3-1 in 2007 (the win coming at RICE ECCLES STADIUM against REAL SALT LAKE)
*0-3-3 in 2008

This year: Dynamo 1 (Brian Ching) New York 0
Red Bulls 3 (Angel, Richards, Magee) Dynamo 0

*Remember that the 3-0 loss at Giants Stadium broke a four match winning streak in MLS at the time for the Dynamo. It also came on the heels of a 4-0 win over CHIVAS USA.

The Dynamo are at FIRPO tomorrow night in CHAMPIONS LEAGUE play and expect the Dynamo to rest their veterans for the NEW YORK game.
Saturday the opener at GIANTS STADIUM against the RED BULLS at 3 central time.

What are your thoughts on the match-up?

*By the way LANDON DONOVAN scored yesterday on a pk in a 2-2 draw with FC Dallas and wins the GOLDEN BOOT with 20 goals. An interesting moment occurred in this game that tells you DONOVAN wanted this goal scoring title. He absolutely wiped out KENNY COOPER (18 goals) when COOPER looked to be breaking out of midfield.
COOPER has also had a great year and one wonders if he is off to EUROPE?

It has become an annual event the past two seasons. Important games, huge crowds and an opportunity to light the fire of passion underneath young soccer players. The HOUSTON DYNAMO play on November 9th in a playoff match at Robertson Stadium at 2pm.
Yes an afternoon match that fits in to the TELEFUTURA time slot on national television.
So once again youth soccer leadership has an oportunity to make an important player development decision in the name of youth players by re-scheduling games on this day to put the focus on the professional game and the Dynamo .

Hopefully a “GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY” to influence young soccer players will be taken advantage of ? Why would we not acknowledge the importance of this alliance with professional soccer and the DYNAMO by re-scheduling these games?

Every year youth soccer leadership which boils down to administrators with SOUTH TEXAS YOUTH SOCCER ASSOCIATION, EDDOA, TYSA , coaching directors of clubs and other organizations are thick into schedules that are to heavy and to crowded. Yes HURRICANE IKE this year has created a back-log of games but each and every year it is the same. So why haven’t schedules been pared down to benefit the players and create less pressure so that players can thrive with more of a focus on the sport. Real simple, because many still work under the archaic mindset of the more games you get the better the bang for the buck.
The U.S. Soccer Development Academy is up and running with fewer games knowing the importance of the proper balance of training and games.
One day decisions like these to consistently re-schedule games on the occasion of an influential professional game will become second nature. Yet for the time being one has to really wonder what is going on and what type of vision we have nurturing the future of young soccer players.
I have received numerous emails hopeful that leadership will make a very obvious smart decision.
I am hopeful as well because I have benefited myself from wise decision making when I was a young player. My coaches always encouraged going to watch the professional team I grew up with in New Jersey …the New York Cosmos. My coaches clearly understood the importance of the sport on the grander scale.

I am still hoping to hear from our local leadership if young players will be able to attend this playoff match. I also wonder where coaching directors of clubs are ? Are you pushing and encouraging for leadership to re-schedule?
Lets not miss an important opportunity to influence young soccer players in a bigger way. Bigger than one game on one day.

REAL SALT LAKE made history tonite getting a 90th minute goal from YURA MOVSISYAN to earn a draw at COLORADO which thrust them into the playoffs. RSL will take on CHIVAS USA who lost goalkeeper DAN KENNEDY to an ejection in a 1-1 draw with the HOUSTON DYNAMO.
To be fair COLORADO was the better team on this night but failed to capitalize during their best times to get the games second goal. Their intentions became very clear in the second half to defend the lead and in the end they were once again knocked out of the playoffs by their rivals in RSL.
NICK RIMANDO of RSL produced a number of critical saves to keep RSL within one goal throughout the night.

The DYNAMO drew 1-1 with CHIVAS USA and are set to take on either DC UNITED (depending on their result tomorrow) or NEW YORK. Both could pose different challenges in the first round of the playoffs. UNITED must win to get in tomorrow at COLUMBUS.
The CREW will take on KANSAS CITY in their opening playoff round.

Don’t forget to take in the SUPERCLASICO today when CLUB AMERICA takes on CHIVAS with both teams needing this one badly.

* ANOTHER hot MLS RUMOR that is moving around these days has PREKI potentially moving to coach SEATTLE next year. His ties to that area come from his days of playing indoor soccer. Now it makes you wonder that with SIGI SCHMID in his final year in COLUMBUS could he end up in LA with CHIVAS again if PREKI moves? SIGI SCHMID also has been mentioned with the SEATTLE job and the move in SEATTLE certainly is coming from within MLS or that person would have been hired by now to get going in the PACIFIC NORTHWEST. SEATTLE is waiting for teams to get eliminated or the season to be over but they better get after it quickly to put things together.

He is regarded as one of the top fifty players of all time at ARSENAL but looks set to become a DESIGNATED PLAYER for the SEATTLE SOUNDERS. FREDDY LJUNBERG, 31 has already been to SEATTLE and is reportedly heading back this week which makes one assume that the former Swedish international is about set to become a SOUNDER.
Ljunberg last at West Ham has retired from the Swedish national team so this is a DP that will be around.
The only concern is the artificial surface but this will be a marquee signing of a former Calvin Klein model.
Is this a good move from Seattle.

Who would have thought that this would be the marquee game of the weekend in MLS.
The COLORADO RAPIDS have done their traditional end of the season run while REAL SALT LAKE are on the verge of making franchise history. With a win or a draw, RSL gets the third and final playoff spot in the West. The RAPIDS are in a must win situation tonite at Dicks Sporting Goods Park.
These two teams have created a great history over a short amount of time and numerous players have played for both clubs.
Catch it tonite on HDNET.

DERO getting no love?

Silently DWAYNE DEROSARIO got his 5oth MLS goal last weekend against the LA GALAXY. So where is the DERO video tribute.
The man has only scored some of the greatest goals in MLS history but some of the most important.
Two MLS CUP WINNING GOALS, 2 goals of the year and we can go on? Surprised more not done on this. Maybe it is just that DeRosario has not been promoted as heavily nationally throughout his career.

*I have emailed youth leadership but have not gotten any response yet to the question of re-scheduling youth games on November 9th when the Dynamo have their playoff game.
Youth leaders have a wonderful chance to really take CHARGE and MAKE a decision that is IMPACTFUL!
So STYSA, EDDOA, TYSA and other youth organizations show us your leadership, don’t pass the buck and put it off on somebody else. You will not make everyone happy but you WILL BE MAKING THE RIGHT DECISION BASED ON THE POSITIONS YOU HOLD if you re-schedule.

DON’T FORGET SOCCER FANS your soccer program is on the air tonite. THE DYNAMO SOCCER REPORT with GLENN DAVIS airs on Houston’s 55 tonite at 9:30……I have some interesting things in store for you from the world of soccer…Ok, on to last night in Chicago…

It was MLS PRIME TIME THURSDAY on ESPN2 and the FIRE”S CHRIS ROLFE lived up to the bright lights. How you might ask? A first half hat trick in 33 minutes helped crush the NEW YORK RED BULLS at TOYOTA PARK in BRIDGEVIEW, ILLINOIS last night.
RED BULLS head coach JUAN CARLOS OSORIO called it “an embarrassment”, and it was.
CHICAGO now have some momentum going into their first round playoff game against NE but I am still not convinced especially against an opponent like the RED BULLS. Yet NE has been struggling themselves so this series should be interesting and hard to predict.

The Red Bulls could conceivably still make the playoffs depending on this weekends results from KC and DC United who are still in the running for playoff spots in the East. If they do make the playoffs it would be as the eighth seed and would mean a match-up against defending MLS CUP CHAMPIONS the HOUSTON DYNAMO.

And speaking of the DYNAMO, hey DYNAMO fans……..so where are the postings when the team got beat 3-1 from UNAM PUMAS this past WEDNESDAY night. I know you were there because the attendance of around 8000 fans was pretty amazing with severe weather in the area. So what gives? We only post when it is a win?
I want your feedback on what players performed well and why UNAM was the better side?
Dynamo will look to win the reserve division Championship on Sunday in Carson, CA. A $20,000 bonus is at stake.

It’s for the 3rd and final playoff spot in the West this Saturday night at DICKS SPORTING GOODS PARK as the traditional late run from the COLORADO RAPIDS is in full flight.
With a win they get into the playoffs. But what about the regal and high flying REAL SALT LAKE…….With a draw or a win they will make history and get into the playoffs for the first time in their history.

CRAZY RUMOR: Now I have been sworn to silence from my source but this is amazing stuff. Apparently the HUNT SPORTS GROUP in DALLAS have given their new coach SCHELLAS HYNDMANN a seven year deal at $400,000 per season!!!! Close to a 3 million dollar deal. Now lets examine this…….A college coach making the jump at this money is pretty amazing. One because few college coaches ever jump straight into MLS, only Bruce Arena and Sigi Schmid have done it prior and two because of the salary that he has commanded.
Now their is obvious personal ties between Hyndmann and the HUNT SPORTS GROUP but to give a coach a seven year deal is bizarre and to me truly kills incentive. Is this another example of poor decision making to offer any coach this type of deal. You wonder if this organization wants to win.
Now back to Hyndman, I do not blame him nor should any other bitter MLS coaches when they find out about his salary. He just set the bar higher so for all of you coaches that make the playoffs, just get in to the boss tell him what the standard for coaches pay is in Dallas and get that raise. And after you do that, make sure that you send Schellas a thank you note. Wow, amazing stuff that doesn’t seem to make sense but then again lots of decisions from Dallas have been baffling over the years. I long for the days of the Cotton Bowl and the Dallas Burn, a little more edge, Leo Alvarez in midfield, Hugo Sanchez bringing in the fans of the Mexican league. Jason Kreis bombing from long range and big Dave Dir lifting up injured players not to mention GM Billy Hicks. After that glorious move to Southlake (who made that decision? They should be fired?)….Don’t get me going.
FC DALLAS and LA take each other on this weekend ironically in a game that is meaningless since they are out of the playoffs.
And Dallas fans who read this, don’t get mad at me , get vocal with your organization. There is no reason this sport professionally should not be thriving more in BIG D. Put some healthy pressure on your organization.

Don’t forget it’s the SUPERCLASICO this Sunday between Chivas and CLub America. Both teams struggling in Mexico will want this one.

The DYNAMO eleven game unbeaten streak and ten game home unbeaten streak was broken last night as UNAM Pumas got a 3-1 victory. Both UNAM and the DYNAMO were without regulars.
SCORING SUMMARY: 19TH JUAN CARLOS CACHO 1-0 PUMAS
3OTH FERNANDO ESPINOZA 2-0 PUMAS
OWN GOAL UNAM 2-1 PUMAS
69TH MARCO PALACIOS 3-1 PUMAS

*The first goal may have been a “soft penalty” to many but Patrick Ianni was pulled out of the middle during the sequence leading up to it and put in a position where he was chasing Iniguez who he brought down. Not the best of starts.

*Goal number two was a beauty with the Dynamo committed forward on the set piece.
Five players had a chance to win the ball in midfield but couldn’t for the Dynamo and then it was a classic counter attack with a great finish from Espinoza. The UNAM youngsters were up for this.

* Good delivery from Cameron got the Dynamo a goal. Jacqua competing in the box helped to force the own goal.

*Marco Antonio Palacios’s goal was just a piece of amazing soccer that is rarely seen.
The back-heel has to be honored.

This now puts more pressure on the DYNAMO when they take on Firpo of EL Salvador in their final two group matches.

YOUTH LEADERS LETS GET IT DONE!!!

This is our yearly reminder to SOUTH TEXAS YOUTH SOCCER , TIMBERLINE YOUTH SOCCER ASSOCIATION and EDDOA as well as others. LETS NOT LOSE A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY TO RE-SCHEDULE YOUTH GAMES WHEN THE DYNAMO PLAY THEIR PLAYOFF MATCH ON NOVEMBER 9TH AT 2:00 PM AT ROBERTSON STADIUM.
THIS IS WHERE LEADERSHIP AND ADMINSTRATORS CAN SHOW THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CONNECTION TO THE HOUSTON DYNAMO, PROFESSIONAL SOCCER AND THE YOUTH PLAYER.
THIS IS A NO BRAINER FROM LEADERSHIP.
YOUTH DIRECTORS, PARENTS AND PLAYERS MUST STEP UP SO AS NOT TO MISS A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY.

Catch a special edition DYNAMO/UNAM pre-game show tonite from Robertson Stadium with Glenn Davis.
Fans are encouraged to call in at 713-212-5790 to talk about the important CHAMPIONS LEAGUE match.
Call in number is 713-212-5790

*Things are getting interesting with DAVID BECKHAM who reportedly according to Adriano Galliani the President of AC Milan will sign a six month loan deal in January.
This makes alot of sense when it comes to BECKHAM and his desire to continue with the English National team. Sitting in LA won’ get him games for FABIO CAPELLO.
It also fits into his dossier of “GIANT” clubs that he has played for. MANCHESTER UNITED, REAL MADRID and AC MILAN has a nice ring to it. Get me the white out for the GALAXY.
The BBC is reporting this as well. Speaking to MLS today I was told “No deal has been struck.”

*Dynamo All Access with Glenn Davis is proud to add sponsor HOUSTON FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION. The HFA as it is known has been a prime supporter of soccer on the radio.
Thanks HFA !!! For information on the HFA go to hfasoccer.com

Dynamo/UNAM thoughts:

* Don’t buy in to the theory that the Dynamo are fielding a reserve team tonite. The simple reason being numerous players on the bench could and would be starters on other clubs in MLS. Stuart Holden rested against LA will get a start in midfield tonite and has been one of the Dynamo’s better players as of late. Expect a line-up similiar to San Francisco if we look at the patterns developing from head coach Dominic Kinnear.
The Dynamo will not have a shot at history unless careful management of playing time takes place. That is what Kinnear has been doing.
*Fresh news has the league giving KEI KAMARA an additional game suspension which will be served against CHIVAS USA this weekend. He will be available beginning in the playoffs and you can bet he will be in the starting lineup tonite for the Dynamo I would think.

UNAM will also not use some of their key players only because they are struggling in the Mexican League. FERNANDO MORALES, FRANCISCO PALENCIA , DANTE LOPEZ amongst others did not travel. Yet they still will have JUAN CACHO who the Dynamo remember well from his days at PACHUCA. Rest assured this game will be competitive tonite.

*So what do you think of the DYNAMO home playoff time at 2pm on Sunday the 9th? This is another reason this team needs it’s own stadium. UH will be playing football the day before against Tulane at Robertson so a poor field could benefit a defensive mind team similar to what DC United did a few weeks ago. The Dynamo will go on the road their opening playoff game so coming back to Robertson in poll position will be important. Do you think playing the second game at home is truly a home field advantage?

*Concacaf Champions League has a long way to go before being taken seriously by the outside world. Where was the press conference? Why didn’t we hear from TUCA FERRETTI and UNAM? Strange to say the least when you are trying to build a tournament up in stature.

*Dynamo season awards will take place at Warehouse Live on November 11. Fans can find information on the event at HoustonDynamo.com

* Its for all the marbles this Saturday night at Dicks Sporting Goods Park when COLORADO hosts REAL SALT LAKE. A win or a draw from RSL and they are in the playoffs historically for the first time ever. The RAPIDS must win after an amazing late win over Chivas Usa this past Sunday. Catch this game in high definition on HDNET.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE:

JUVENTUS got a huge 2-1 win over REAL MADRID effectively saving former Chelsea manager CLAUDIO RAINIERI’s job. Alessandro Del Piero scored after being taken off in the weekend Serie A loss.

*I told you Wayne Rooney would run loco through CELTIC. The 3-0 win was convincing but don’t for a second think I am coming down on the “green and white” hoops. Great club and amazing history but playing in a weak league(SPL). The debate goes on………

Ok Mexican League fans I want to hear from you. PUMAS is coming to Robertson tomorrow night having scored only one goal in their last three league games and dangerously falling out of the playoff hunt under Tuca Ferretti. They are apparently not bringing players like Paco Palencia, Ruben Morales and Dante Lopez due to the fact that they are battling for their Apertura lives. No before you begin to offer up excuses or tell me that this is because Concacaf is not important ……well slow down.
This is no different than what the Dynamo are going through went it comes to trying to keep a squad fresh while competing in two competitions. The playing field is level.
UNAM has many talented players and will make their first ever trip to play at Robertson. Non-regulars can many times live up to the moment and when given the opportunity be out to prove something to their manager. Look for both squads to make numerous changes to what is the perceived starting eleven. The Dynamo pattern of players if you look at the last few games can be contemplated.
So is it MLS over the Mexican league on Wednesday? The Dynamo over UNAM?

DYNAMO PLAYOFF OPPONENT:

We know it will come out of the East and will either be DC UNITED, KANSAS CITY, or NY. It will come down to the final games of the regular season for all these teams in the wild MLS.
So lets look at these three squads:

DC UNITED: Huge win last Thursday to stay alive over NE. Are hoping for a result on Sunday at COLUMBUS who could be resting players. Need KC or New York to falter and then take the three points on Sunday. Dynamo have played United three times this year in Superliga and MLS play winning 3-1, 2-0 and 0-0.
TIPPING POINT: COULD BE A DANGEROUS FIRST ROUND OPPONENT IF THEY GET THEIR REALIZING THEY HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE. SKILLED PLAYERS LIKE JAIME MORENO, LUCIANO EMILIO, AND FRED COULD BE A SCARY FIRST ROUND GAME AT RFK BEHIND PASSIONATE FANS

KC WIZARDS: Wizards go to NE and the artificial surface on Saturday to take on the REVS who will want to put together a decent game with poor form lately.
Wizards riding emotion of come from behind win and may feel as though it is their destiny. DP Claudio Lopez after being rested produced a goal and an assist and the team since acquiring HERCULEZ GOMEZ has a bit more edge. Dynamo drew 0-0 and beat Wizards 3-1 during the regular season.

TIPPING POINT: EMOTION and carefree attitude heading into the playoffs could be dangerous.

NEW YORK RED BULLS: Will play at Chicago on Thursday in a spicy match-up of former Chicago coach JUAN CARLOS OSORIO coming back to Chi-Town with the RED BULLS.
They will play this game and watch their fate unravel on the weekend. DANNY CEPERO has come into goal and could be a liability with little MLS experience. All this comes down to players JON CONWAY and JEFF PARKE being suspended for failing a drug test after taking over the counter GNC product . Players ask your trainer and staff before taking and supplement or vitamins…is that really that hard or responsible ?
Dynamo have never had great success on artificial surface nor Giants Stadium losing there this year 3-0 and defeating the RED BULLS at Robertson 1-0 on a BRIAN CHING goal.

TIPPING POINT: Artificial surface and brilliant striker Juan Pablo Angel.

So who would you prefer the Dynamo match up with in the first round of the playoffs.

MANCHESTER UNITED takes on CELTIC in Champions League play today on ESPN2 from Old Trafford at 1:45. These two clubs have been linked throughout history.
Tune in today and watch WAYNE ROONEY and CRISTIANO RONALDO run in and around the “green and white hoops”.

So thankfully the GALAXY and TORONTO have finally been laid to rest and are out of the playoffs. It was almost a cruel tease to week in and week out remain optimistic about this two teams truthfully as they were trying to get into the playoffs. FC Dallas is also out along with San Jose. Lets quickly look at the futures of these teams:

LA GALAXY: Lets face it. This team was poorly put together despite what some people believe is a solid assemblage of talent. Too old, not enought team speed and too much reliance upon youth in certain areas of the squad. Really seems like no plan was in place. Bruce Arena’s influence wasn’t much when it came to results and I can’t even say after watching them this weekend against Houston that he even motivated them. Then again how motivated do you have to be while you are fighting for your job.
Clearly the worst team DAVID BECKHAM has ever been on…imagine from REAL MADRID and MANCHESTER UNITED to this. I more than anyone was rooting for the success of this franchise knowing what it meant to the league overall. ARENA will gut this squad, Donovan future is up in the air and DAVID B is training with AC MILAN in the winter supposedly.
Some veterans will need to be shown the door with grace on this squad and new talent needed. Bruce Arena will clean this squad like a fish and then ultimately move himself into the role of GM leaving Dave Sarachan the former FIRE coach in charge.

FC DALLAS: Crazy time in Dallas who pulled the trigger on firing STEVE MORROW too quickly during the regular season to bring on SCHELLAS HYNDMANN.
Not really quite sure the reasoning behind the firing of Morrow by Michael Hitchcock unless he felt the need to flex his muscles after a huge loss at home to LA in front of a sell-out crowd. This team is up and down and has one of the leagues great strikers in KEN COOPER JR. but one day will benefit from better management, a true plan and vision.
Last year from the brink of almost knocking out Houston to not making the playoffs……Far too many poor decisions over the years of this franchise. Duilio Davino has added little and one wonders if he is on a vacation.
Maybe FC Dallas should change it’s name back to the DALLAS BURN and re-hire former GM BILLY HICKS and coach DAVE DIR…the Cotton Bowl was more fun!!!

TORONTO FC- The two year grace period of great fans and support has worn thin. Time to put a consistent product on the field. Year three should show marked improvment but……This squad will continue to lose out on quality players because it trains on artificial surface. Find consistency and patience with player selection, don’t feel the need to jump at every deal and above all figure out how to get field changed to grass based on agreement with the city so that you can truly one day compete for a cup.
Great fans though!

SAN JOSE- The best positioned of these squads for next year due to calculated choices from coach FRANK YALLOP and GM JOHN DOYLE. The transfer window was good to this squad and the additions made this an entertaining and winning squad that was devasted by two late home losses to RSL and CHIVAS USA. Good times ahead from this squad who has experienced leadership in YALLOP. Hanging on to FRANCISCO LIMA in midfield will be an issue.