Thank you COLUMBUS , thank you GUILLERMO.
As much as I admire NEW YORK’s effort, this would have been a disaster if they won the MLS CUP in my opinion.
The second half was much more interesting going back to 142 countries world wide on a day that MLS did not fill out the HOME DEPOT CENTER.
GUILLERMO BARROS SCHELOTTO played a part in all three of the goals for COLUMBUS that came from ALEJANDRO MORENO, CHAD MARSHALL and FRANKIE HEJDUK.

*Circle these moments: 1. When ALEJANDRO MORENO scored to give COLUMBUS the lead one has to be critical of NY goalkeeper DANNY CEPERO. This was saveable.
Not hit particularly well by MORENO. CEPERO did not look good on this play.

2. After NEW YORK produced a nice goal to tie it through DANE RICHARDS and JOHN WOLYNIEC. You could hardly begin to believe that the luck
and fate had returned to the RED BULLS before CHAD MARSHALL lost former DYNAMO KEVIN GOLDTHWAITE and pounded in a header to re-gain
the lead.

3. SCHELOTTO clip a little ball to FRANKIE HEJDUK for goal number three was a thing of beauty and the capper on a day they were clearly the better team.
That other SOUTH AMERICAN SUPERSTAR JUAN PABLO ANGEL clearly looked frustrated as all_____ in this one. Mentioned during the broadcast was
the potential of him going back to RIVER PLATE IN ARGENTINA. The way NEW YORK played in the playoffs was clearly not enjoyable for ANGEL and not
how he will want to spend the twilight of his career. JUAN CARLOS OSORIO will have to do a real sell job on the playing style of the team next year in
order to keep him.

4. SIGI SCHMID I believe will be the next coach of SEATTLE . Now this could potentially be embarrassing for Columbus if they don’t keep him after
what he has done for this club this year and leading him to the title. On my radio show last Wednesday remember SCHMID mentioned that coaches
in MLS were underpaid (a clear message that he wants to be paid for his success). Now I will be Sigi’s agent and say to Columbus management to give
me the same as SCHELLAS HYNDMANN in Dallas . That would be $400,000 per season. See nobody should be jealous of SCHELLAS, they should be
thankful that he has set the standard for coaches pay in MLS. By the way, FC DALLAS is also owned by the Hunt Sports Group. Match it or more or
SIGI is SEATTLE bound.

Give me your thoughts on the Crew MLS CUP win, the environment at the HDC and the broadcast presentation?

So it is all on the line today when the MLS CUP FINAL takes place in Carson. California.
So as soccer fans in the United States many of us who are not attached to the teams emotionally will want the product to be shown off in the best way possible. One hopes the atmosphere, play and production all lives up to the moment.

Lets take a look at what may happen on the field by breaking down the two teams briefly.

*GOALKEEPING: Does the kid from Univ. of Penn, DANNY CEPERO continue this amazing goalkeeping run? Positionally he has done well and has produced some very important saves throughout the playoffs. He has lived up to each hurdle he has had to climb.
WILL HESMER has been solid in goal in COLUMBUS and has given his backs reason to be confident.

*DEFENDERS: For the RED BULLS lets just say their backs have been brave. CHRIS LEITCH, DIEGO JIMENEZ, CARLOS MENDES, ANDREW BOYENS have given their all and clearly have the benefit of knowing exactly what their tactics are. This will change if the CREW can get the game’s first goal. The defending will become less comfortable for this group if they actually have to come out of their deep defending position.
COLUMBUS has gotten a great year out of CHAD MARSHALL who finally is showing some “teeth”. GINO PADULA was targeted by the KC WIZARDS but lived up to it all year and the ARGENTINE has become a huge signing solidifying that position. Former RED BULL DANNY O”ROURKE will have incentive while FRANKIE HEJDUK still brings intensity.
HEJDUK will try to join in down the right will PADULA will support mainly from behind.

*MIDFIELD: NEW YORK will again be workmanlike with LUKE SASSANO, SINISA UBIPARIPOVIC while their real attacking threat comes from their wide men DANE RICHARDS and DAVE van den BERG who brings experience and intelligence. NEW YORK will have to deal with the wide play of ROBBIE RODGERS (needs to get into this game early) and EDDIE GAVEN. You will know if COLUMBUS is on if those two are getting in front of LEAGUE MVP GUILLERMO BARROS SCHELOTTO with their movement.
BRAD EVANS (key season after injury to ADAM MOFFAT) and BRIAN CARROLL are the axis and platform from which SCHELOTTO plays off.
SCHELOTTO will look for space between the NEW YORK midfield and backline and if he finds it he will have a big day. It is up to SCHELOTTO to help the CREW find the game’s first goal.

FORWARDS: ALEJANDRO MORENO won’t run past you but he will hold the ball up for the CREW. He has produced nine goals and plays a vital role.
JUAN PABLO ANGEL doesn’t need a lot of chances and last weekend one journalist called him out for having a poor game? Are you kidding? The
guy was back defending and playing as a “worker” to try and help secure the win. The RED BULL players have taken the cue seeing a former EPL
striker at ASTON VILLA working for the “cause”.
JOHN WOLYNIEC has been a journey-man in MLS but is as honest as they come when putting in an effort. His key play against RSL in the Western Conference
final led to the tactically important game’s first goal which ended up being the game winner.

BENCH: I give it to the CREW here who have striker STEVEN LENHART and JASON GAREY. EMMANUEL EKPO brings pace off the bench and won a silver medal at the OLYMPICS for NIGERIA. He would be a starter on other teams in MLS potentially. EZRA HENDRICKSON brings experience having won MLS CUPS while ANDY IRO can fill in at center back.

NEW YORK has MIKE MAGEE who brings a creative edge along with foriegn talent like JORGE ROJAS and GABRIEL CICHERO from VENEZUELA and ARGENTINE JUAN PETRAVALLO.
I credit OSORIO for benching these players and following his instinct. On an additional not RICHARDS, CICHERO and ROJAS all traveled during the week to play internationally.

TACTICS: Lets hope this doesn’t spoil the final but why would NEW YORK change anything? They will defend deep and keep their lines tight as to limit space for the CREW, play direct, hope for some plays out of DANE RICHARDS, DAVE van den BERG and ANGEL. They will run into problems if COLUMBUS scores first forcing the RED BULLS to attack more and open up. The RED BULLS have been brave, have fought and deserve credit but this has been no defensive masterpiece or coach’s masterplan by OSORIO. This team has been out-right lucky (some of which they have made).
They have been very timely and opportunistic with their goals and have punished the opposition for over-aggressiveness at times while seeking out the games first goal.

The 2008 MLS season comes to and end today……

The EPL this weekend has given us some interesting results. The climb of Manchester City continues as they crushed Arsenal 3-0 after WILLIAM GALLAS was stripped of his captaincy. Manchester City is making the move with all this big money to be a “player” in the EPL and with results like this they will turn heads. They are also apparently willing to spend 90 million dollars in trying to acquire JUVENTUS goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon. Juventus says no go for the moment.

*OK Blues fans this will be a quite week for you as CHELSEA tied at STAMFORD BRIDGE no less against NEWCASTLE 0-0. I know it is because DIDIER DROGBA was not available due to suspension. NEWCASTLE’s SHAY GIVEN was excellent in goal.

*Mexican League playoffs are on today with CRUZ AZUL taking on PUMAS to kick it off . LEANDRO AUGUSTO could come back from injury in this battle of Mexico City.
Rough year for CHIVAS and CLUB AMERICA.

*BAYERN MUNICH scored four unanswered goals to defeat ENERGIE COTTBUS 4-1 in MUNICH.

*Check out JUVENTUS and INTER MILAN today on FSC….a huge game in Italy.

*Mexican media are all over SVEN GORAN-ERIKSSON to quit as national team coach after Wednesday’s 1-0 loss at HONDURAS.
Mexico advanced to the next round on goal differential despite the loss.
I never was convinced of this marriage between ERIKSSON and MEXICO….so was this just a grasp at a name coach?
The hiring and firing of the Mexican National team coach comes down to the presidents of the 18 Mexican League clubs who will meet in December.

*LANDON DONOVAN is reported to be headed to BAYERN MUNICH in January to replace a dis-gruntled LUKAS PODOLSKI. Donovan is expect to join the club on loan until March where one would assume if he does well he could be purchased in full.
“He was very good in training,” said Bayern Manager Jurgen Klinsmann to YA in Germany. “His speed adds components that we didn’t have yet.”

“I want to have four forwards for the start of the second half of the season to give us more alternatives in case of injuries.”

My take: Donovan will give options to Bayern but will always be most effective in the Bundesliga sitting in the “hole” as a withdrawn forward.
If he faces opponents and plays less with his back to goal he will be effective in Germany.
Donovan is the all time leading goal scorer for the U.S. at only 26 years of age.

* JUVENTUS unveiled plans for a new stadium that will replaced the Stadio Delle Alpi that was built for the 90 World Cup.
Many despised the Delle Alpi because of the running track that sourrounded the field. It is all about to change as Juventus in 2011 will return to a new version of that stadium that
will have 42,000 seats and a more intimate feel. It will resemble Munich’s Allianz Arena…..

*The EAST END CHAMBER of Commerce last night had a gala event at the Americas Hotel that featured support and desire to have a new soccer stadium in the East End.
So yes, support has become more prevalent lately with a lot of effort from Dynamo fans and press coverage. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SYLVIA GARCIA and EL FRANCO LEE did not attend the event yet the EAST END CHAMBER of COMMERCE again re-iterated their want and desire for the stadium. It included footage on the big screen of the DYNAMO in action.

Catch the podcast of DYNAMO ALL ACCESS with GLENN DAVIS by going to 790thesportsanimal.com, click podcasts, click Glenn Davis. The show features OLIVER LUCK DYNAMO TEAM PRESIDENT on the stadium, DANNY CEPERO and DAVE VAN DEN BERG (interesting comments on JOHAN CRUYFF).
SIGI SCHMID (interesting comments on MLS coaches underpaid) Columbus Crew head coach and ALEJANDRO MORENO from LAX Airport also of the CREW.

*County Commissioner EL FRANCO LEE has hired a local businessman and attorney to do research on the potential of a new stadium. Progress brought about by the subject being thrust back into the local spotlight. Fans deserve great credit here for taking the initiative to not let this remarkable opportunity pass.

*Talk out of Germany still centers around Landon Donovan moving on a loan deal to Bayern Munich through March.
I for one believe this a great career move for Donovan who goes to Germany this time as a more mature man.
For his career this is a great choice IMHO. This also will benefit the U.S. National team. If he performs well over the loan period BAYERN will swoop in and purchase him for the long term.
On another note this will make things difficult for BRUCE ARENA who is trying to re-shape the soccer culture in LA.

*The U.S. got a 2-0 win in Commerce City, Colorado over GUATEMALA. KEN COOPER JR. and FREDDY ADU scored the two goals in front of a sparse crowd. The relatively small crowd to see this game just reminds us that the fertile soccer ground that is Colorado has been wasted over the years. It has not had seeds planted, nor has it had enough nurturing thus it has not matured and that is why few still come out to games. My understanding is that Rapids attendance was down this year. And that with a brand spanking new stadium. Beware to MLS CLUBS, do not believe a stadium will solve all your problems.

*MEXICO witha a stocked lineup including veterans like PAVEL PARDO, CARLOS SALCIDO, OSWALDO SANCHEZ and SINHA lost at HONDURAS for the third straight time. IS ERIKKSON getting through to these players? Are you concerned about the TRICOLORE?

* Man the “friendly game” can be brutal somtimes, even when it is ENGLAND vs. GERMANY in BERLIN. Yes, of course young players are on trial……JOHN TERRY made amends for a horrible mistake and headed in the game winner in his typical leader type way. Nothing better than a players that can make a mistake and move on from it to still perform. The 2-1 English win will surely be taken out of context but nonethless a win is always great over GERMANY for any national team.

*Finally the recognition that was due. GUILLERMO BARROS SCHELOTTO is the league MVP…now GUILLERMO make sure that your side gets the games first goal on SUNDAY and asks questions of the NEW YORK RED BULLS from an attacking standpoint.

*CUAUHTEMOC BLANCO could be on his way back to CLUB AMERICA on loan to play in the INTERLIGA in JANUARY provided the CHICAGO FIRE and CLUB AMERICA can come to an agreement. The word from the MLS office is that they will back any deal that the two teams come together on…..

*A great day of international soccer Wednesday…ENGLAND and GERMANY on GOLTV at 1pm should be a beauty.
The US takes on GUATEMALA on ESPN from Commerce City, Colorado while Mexico is at Honduras…..

*NEW YORK will be missing three players from training who could see action in international competition Wednesday.
Dane Richards is with Jamaica who take on Canada and Gabriel Cichero and Jorge Rojas will represent Venezuela…

*San Jacinto Jr. College is at the Jr. college national championships in Phoenix, Arizona while Texas AM women will play #2 ranked Florida in the NCAA Sweet Sixteen..

*Argentina at Scotland: The DIEGO MARADONA managerial run begins Wednesday at Hampden Park in Scotland.
Maradona had already said they he would leave the job if he can’t have OSCAR RUGGIERI a
as an assistant. This seems to have been an off the cuff remark from Maradona simply
because this chance to manage his be-loved ARGENTINA will never come again.
“I needed the national team and they needed someone to guide them,” said Maradona.
In the end I don’t see this working…..How will Maradona respond to players that he will
at times consider inferior to him?

* Join me for DYNAMO ALL ACCESS tonite on 790 AM The Sports Animal……We will here from Columbus Crew head coach SIGI SCHMID, Crew striker and former Dynamo ALEJANDRO MORENO and New York goalkeeper DANNY CEPERO. More guests are being confirmed…..I will also talk more stadium updates plus take your phone calls at 713-212-5790, the show streams live at MLSNET.com and 790thesportsanimal.com
You can email me at gdavis98@swbell.net for questions or comments …..

The UNITED STATES have comfortably qualified for the final round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying while MEXICO is sweating it out tomorrow night.
The U.S. have already advanced and have secured a spot in the HEXAGONAL. So with this in mind U.S. manager BOB BRADLEY has brought in some new faces to the national team squad and passed on others that are in the MLS Cup Final this Sunday.
Finally we get to see KENNY COOPER of FC DALLAS and the wise beyond his years SEAN FRANKLIN who somehow survived the debacle in LA comes in to camp. Others who have had flirtations with the national team are back including CORY GIBBS and JOHN THORRINGTON.
DYNAMO players BRIAN CHING and RICARDO CLARK are both in camp and could start.
JOZY ALTIDORE has scored his first goal for VILLAREAL in Spain and should get a start as well as FREDDY ADU coming back across the pond.
Oh, the opponent GUATEMALA needs a win.

Time: 7pm ESPN 2 and Galavision

Where: Dicks Sporting Goods Park ( 10,000 fans I bet)

MEXICO goes to HONDURAS leading the top of teh “Group of Death” with 10 pts followed by HONDURAS with 9 and JAMAICA with 7.
JAMAICA has called in NEW YORK RED BULLS midfielder DANE RICHARDS. It will be interesting to see how all the travel effects his performance in the MLS CUP FINAL.
MEXICO can advance with any result but could conceivably be knocked out with a loss to HONDURAS and a JAMAICA win over CANADA by a large score that would put goal differential in their favor. JAMAICA will be hoping for a MEXICO win at HONDURAS a place they have lost in their last two visits. If they beat CANADA and MEXICO beats HONDURAS , JAMAICA will move forward.
So what is your take on Mexico? Is SVEN-GORAN ERIKSSON the answer? Is the “golden generation” living up to it so far?
With names like CARLOS VELA, ANDRES GUARDADO mixed in with European vets like CARLOS SALCIDO and RAFA MARQUEZ why is this team not better?
It is all in the mind…….

Meanwhile JOSE MOURINHO has said the world doesn’t like Italian Football? This was reported by Tuttosport at a meeting in Coverciano.
“I am interested in Italian Football as a product, but people abroad don’t like it-especially in Asia where it’s not sold very much. We have to improve upon this in the future”, said Mourinho.
Mourinho is right in that the Italian Serie A is not marketed and promoted globally like the EPL but maybe it would behoove him not to mention at the beginning of the season that his heart and mind was back in the EPL……..Does someone need more attention?

As opponents, they couldn’t be more different heading into the MLS Cup final.

The Columbus Crew had the best record over the course of the season and were a model of consistency.

The New York Red Bulls backed into the playoffs after getting dismantled 5-2 by Chicago on national television and having a tumultuous season capped by the suspension of two starters for violating the league’s drug policy.

The Crew and their culture have been reshaped by coach Sigi Schmid . Just when we thought the role of “traditional playmaker” was going out the window, Schmid figured out a way to revive it in Columbus.

Last year, Boca Juniors legend Guillermo Barros Schelotto was a frustrated ball of confusion who, well into his 30s, ran fruitlessly over 90 minutes with Columbus. I never thought he would return to MLS. Yet here he was, back for another go this season as the fulcrum of the Crew. Who can’t appreciate his sublime skills and ability to eliminate defenders with a simple flick or turn? Or his intensity?

Schelotto now spends less time in wide areas seeking the ball, and his running is economical, based on how Schmid has surrounded his star with midfielders Brian Carroll and Brad Evans.

Schelotto has responded to his teammates, showing he is adaptable.

Teammates have realized that it could be Schelotto who leads them to MLS glory. It was this realization from all involved that has reaped the rewards.

Wide players Robbie Rodgers and Eddie Gaven have learned that if they get in front of Schelotto, they will be rewarded.

Factor in former Dynamo striker Alejandro Moreno to give you a player who can hold the ball and create time, and…..to read the rest of this article click here

* ENGLAND will take on GERMANY in BERLIN this Wednesday minus both LIVERPOOL’s STEVEN GERRARD an CHELSEA’s FRANK LAMPARD. FULHAM’s JIMMY BULLARD and SCOTT PARKER of WEST HAM have been called in to replace the two in this so called “friendly”.
Boy do I despise that word “friendly”. I can’t tell you how many times I have had to explain it to friends not tuned in to the world of soccer.

* ANDRI SHEVCHENKO is reportedly being shopped to REAL MADRID by AC MILAN. The 32 year old SHEVCHENKO would be eligible to play in the CHAMPIONS LEAGUE for REAL who have injury problems up front with RUUD VAN NISTLEROOY out for the rest of the season. They love SHEVA in MILAN but not that much that they would offer him up to REAL.
SHEVCHENKO returned to Italy after a torrid time at CHELSEA in ENGLAND. All of this also plays in to the pressure that REAL MADRID manager BERND SCHUSTER and and SPORTING DIRECTOR PREDRAG MIJATOVIC are under.
Only three wins in the last 8 matches for the Spanish Royalty.

*CRISTIANO RONALDO is not the most modest of guys and has already proclaimed himself the winner of the world’s best player award. Can’t argue but a little humility would be nice.

*ADRIANO continues to have his struggles and with an autocratic manager like JOSE MOURINHO at INTER MILAN whose to say these two egos weren’t set to clash. Problem is that the talented ADRIANO has had so many problems fewer and fewer teams are interested in the headache. He is said to be on the way out and back to Brazil yet no teams publicly have desired to acquire the Brazilian. Adriano is only 26 years old.

*DYNAMO will take on FIRPO on the 26th at Robertson Stadium and I am planning on being there for this important match to advance in the Concacaf Champions Cup. It would make sense in the future if MLS teams did not compete in both the Superliga and Concacaf Champions Cup. Next year Columbus, NY, DC and the Dynamo will compete in the event.
Being in only one competition would allow other MLS teams to compete and help use the international competition to grow their product in their local markets.

*ROMA defeated LAZIO in the “Rome Derby” 1-0 on a goal from JULIO BAPTISTA. The loss was more significant because it helps ROMA get away from the relegation zone. LAZIO had won three straight in league play.

*Players a bit more vocal. JON BUSCH blew off COLUMBUS coach Sigi Schmid after the 2-1 loss and apparently used an expletive. Schmid had wanted to congratulate Busch on his goalkeeper of the year award? All a bit strange to me. Schmid traded Busch to Chicago.
Meanwhile also in Chicago, former Polish Int. Tomaz Frankowski was critical of FIRE coach DENIS Hamlett recently in the press trying to pin the playoff loss on the manager. Frankowski is on his way out in Chicago. HAMLETT was quoted as saying my door was always open while Frankowski says that he was not approachable.

These RED BULLS are one resilient bunch. Did I say lucky as well?
I am still in shock how they survived tonite’s 1-0 win over REAL SALT LAKE. Now I am not one to not give them credit for surviving but this was even harder to stomach based on last weekend’s game.
So the team that got crushed 5-2 on national tv and backed into the playoffs because DC United lost 1-0 at Columbus after hitting three posts is playing for the MLS Cup title.
A 28th minute goal against the run of the play from DAVE VAN DEN BERG was the difference.
New York produced the game’s first goal at Houston and again at RSL to give them the early tactical advantage.
Real Salt Lake hit three posts on the evening and did everything they could but could not be DANNY CEPERO who again produced a great performance.
Truth be told RSL played the football, had the overwhelming advantage possession wise and clearly produced the best chances.
At time New York was just kicking the ball over the halfway line. Juan Pablo Angel to his credit turned into a worker as opposed to a center forward.

TURNING POINT: A poor choice by Jamison Olave to try and win the ball was missed and John Wolyniec broke free down the left side which led to the goal from Van Den Berg.

THUMBS UP: Tremendous stadium, tremendous crowd, tremendous environment.

ADVICE TO COLUMBUS: Score the game first goal this coming Sunday…..