JOSEPH NGWNEYA’s Europe venture has not be going so well.
Recently, it was clear he was not in favor at ANTALYASPOR in the TURKISH SUPERLIGA.
In fact he has only appeared three times for his Turkish club with his greatest moment a goal against GALATASARAY via his head months ago.
He also had a cup of coffee in Austria and a three week trial at BAYERN MUNICH courtesy of KLINSMANN.

Apparently now the man from PLUMTREE, ZIMBABWE has been released at his TURKISH CLUB.

It would be an easy transition back into the club for NGWNEYA and who can forget his best moments in MLS with the Dynamo.
He could come back to the open arms of Dynamo fans.

One wonders if anyone else has interest in Europe.
So should the DYNAMO swoop in and make an attempt at bringing NGWENYA back?

Ricardo Fuller Slaps His Captain Andy Griffin – Stoke Vs West Ham (New) – video powered by Metacafe

What an absolutely strange and fascinating season it has been in the ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE. The title is up for grabs or is it? One thing is clear, at the end of the season every team in the table could be playing for something in the final week of the season.

*Will LIVERPOOL grab the glory of winning the title for the first time in 19 years? STEVEN GERRARD has called this the best “REDS” side he has played on. By the way GERRARD as you alreadly probably known was involved in a bar-fight which apparently he came out the winner in. LIVERPOOL are rallying around their key man.
Is this the year of LIVERPOOL?

* CHELSEA got spanked by the “deuce” NACOGDOCHES CLINT DEMPSEY who scored a pair including a header in the 89th minute in a 2-2 draw. It is good to see DEMPSEY finding that form that gets U.S. fans excited. As for CHELSEA is it time to just stick with DIDIER DROGBA and NICHOLAS ANELKA up front? They can’t get JOHN TERRY and RICARDO CARVALHO back soon enough. FRANK LAMPARD was a beauty against FULHAM scoring twice.
Can the real CHELSEA step up?

* MANCHESTER UNITED are my favorites to take the title and have two games in hand after a 1-0 win over MIDDLESBROUGH. DIMITAR BERBATOV getting only his 3rd goal in the PREM but what an important goal it was to take the full three points at OLD TRAFFORD.
CARLOS TEVEZ was back in ARGENTINA dealing with family issues.
MIDDLESBROUGH manager GARETH SOUTHGATE hinting that officiating is less than fair by saying “several grounds you don’t get decisions”. Hmmmm sour grapes is or this just the reality? MANCHESTER UNITED VS. CHELSEA is just around the corner.

*THEATRE OF THE BIZARRE:
Fights in football occur all the time at training and in locker rooms but on the field? That is what happened to STOKE’S RICARDO FULLER and ANDY GRIFFIN during a 2-0 loss to WEST HAM. Bizarre to say the least.
Griffin gets beat on a goal and as STOKE goes to kick-off FULLER walks over to his captain GRIFFIN and SLAPS HIM! FULLER gets ejected.

*A DRESSING DOWN
HARRY REDKNAPP of SPURS absolutely crushed referee STEVE TANNER for what he believes was an incredibly poor performance as the man in the middle in a 2-0 TOTTENHAM loss to WEST BROMWHICH ALBION. He has some validity here but lets hope his team got the wrath of “Harry” also after a poor performance.

*DYNAMO defender BOBBY BOSWELL is apparently close to signing for ANTALYSPOR in TURKEY according to soccer365.com
Details are apparently being worked out but it seems as though we finally have found who has genuine interest in BOSWELL.
ANTALYASPOR currently sits 16th in the TURKISH SUPERLIGA and is the same club that Joseoph Ngwenya is at.

* FOUR DYNAMO CALLED IN TO NATIONAL TEAM CAMP
It is exciting to see what U.S. manager BOB BRADLEY has done with the selection for national team camp in January.
Lots of youth in this squad as well as players getting a second shot at the national team. Bradley has also rewarded those that have performed well in MLS.

GOALKEEPER: (4) Jon Busch (Chicago), Will Hesmer (Columbus) and Troy Perkins (Valerenga) Matt Pickens (out of contract)

DEFENDERS: (8) Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Danny Califf (Midtylland), Sean Franklin (LA Galaxy), Cory Gibbs (Colorado), Clarence Goodson (IK Start) , Chad Marshall (Columbus), Chris Wingert (RSL), Marvell Wynne (Toronto FC)

MIDFIELD: (9) Geoff Cameron (DYNAMO), Stuart Holden (DYNAMO), Ricardo Clark (DYNAMO), Brian Carroll (Columbus), Eddie Gaven (Columbus), Jack Jewsbury (KC), Sacha Kleijstan(Chivas USA), Robbie Rodgers (Columbus), John Thorrington (Chicago)

FORWARD: (4) Brian Ching (DYNAMO), Chris Rolfe (Chicago), Charlie Davies (Hammarby), Ken Cooper Jr. (FC Dallas)

These players have a tremendous opportunity to impress Bradley and his staff over a longer period of time and crack the lineup for the friendly against SWEDEN on January 24th (FSC, Galavision)

Have a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Ironically as I am in Mexico City today I drove by the Estadio Azul the home of CRUZ AZUL.
Little did I know that it would become the new club of MORELIA striker LUIS LANDIN whom the Dynamo have been pursuing.
The young talented MEXICAN player still remains elusive for MLS teams and financially a stretch, unless one wanted to exercise their designated player slot.
It is extremely difficult for MLS squads to compete with Mexican clubs financially for top players. It is even hard to say that MLS is competing to be fair at this time period of MLS outside of Cuauhtemoc Blanco in Chicago.
So while this deal had seemingly become more promising based on speculation and other moves in the MFL in reality it may never have really been “on” to Morelia management. The flip side is that the Dynamo made an effort and a play for Landin.
The time will come when a quality Mexican player will suit up for the “orange”.
I still firmly believe that young Mexican players can grow immensely playing in MLS under different curcumstances and within a different culture yet have to be convinced of the long-term benefit of such a move.
Yet until MLS can add to lifestyle change with offers with substantially more money few will make the hop, skip and the jump across the border.
And to use the DP slot on a younger, emerging Mexican league player would be a risk in many cases. Besides most DP’s in MLS come with the potential to put people in seats.

How great is it to see that ASTON VILLA has broken into the big four for the time being in the EPL.
MARTIN O’NEILL is doing a masterful managing job and the recent come-back after being down 2-0 to ARSENAL shows that this may just not be a flash in the pan effort. Goals from GARETH BARRY and ZAT KNIGHT proved that this team has back-bone.

Meanwhile, MANCHESTER CITY who has thrown truck-loads of money at their squad sits in the relegation zone under manager MARK HUGHES whose head is being called for by fans. MARK HUGHES is not content with the squad and says he has assurances for more funds to try and improve the squad during the January transfer window.

Do you think ASTON VILLA can stay in the top four of the Premier League for the duration. Do they have the depth?

There will always be one reason why a player will pick one country over the other.
Simply put it is called nationalism. Yet this one still might hurt a bit because NEVEN SUBOTIC played for the U17 and U20 UNITED STATES national teams.
When SUBOTIC recently made the choice to play for SERBIA one might think that was a driving influence in his decision.
So might have been the enticement from SERBIAN coach RATOMIR ANTIC who has penciled SUBOTIC in to play next to NEMANJA VIDIC of MANCHESTER UNITED at center-back.
I have had the opportunity to catch him playing for BORUSSIA DORTMUND and he has impressed. He also has proven as a center-back he can score a few goals as he has picked off 5.
U.S. Soccer President SUNIL GULATI issued this statement, “We wish Neven the best and all continued success.”
So sure it may be a return to “roots” for SUBOTIC but it would have been nice to see him in the mix at center-back for the U.S.
Then again it was his decision and he has his reasons.

Speaking of center-backs the COLUMBUS CREW have re-signed CHAD MARSHALL . This would have been a major blow if they lost MARSHALL to EUROPE especially after losing their head coach. MARSHALL really proved himself out last year finally as I would term it , being a bit more territorial and a little meaner. Yes, he was a dominating prescence.

Ok on to another center-back BOBBY BOSWELL of the DYNAMO. Can someone name a club that has interest in him in Europe.
Now I am not for one minute saying that BOSWELL should not desire the move and follow his heart but there is something said for being really “wanted”. If he stays BOSWELL will be deserving based on his effort last year and the fact that he was one of MLS’s best bargains.
I am looking forward to EDDIE ROBINSON finding the 2007 consistency in his game and I am sure so is head coach DOMINIC KINNEAR.
Don’t forget that CRAIG WAIBEL can provided cover at center-back as well as GEOFF CAMERON, CORY ASHE can do the same thing at left back.

Happy Holidays!

The day after Christmas in England is called “Boxing” day but has nothing to do with the pugilist form.
This term grew in the middle ages but the true origin is not known. Churches during this time period would open up a box that contained monetary donations that had come from parishioners and then distribute the money to those in need.
Another thought was that that the wealthy gave “boxes” or “gifts” to servants and this is how the name came about.
December 26th is also St. Stephens Day. St. Stephen is the patron saint of horses thus boxing day became associated with the “horses” and other sports.

Here is the boxing day lineup in England for December 26th with the home team listed first:

*Stoke City vs. Manchester United
*Portsmouth vs. West Ham
*Chelsea vs. West Bromwhich Albion
*Tottenham Hotspur vs. Fulham
*Wigan vs. Newcastle Utd.
*Liverpool vs. Bolton
*Manchester City vs. Hull
*Middlesbrough vs. Everton
*Sunderland vs Blackburn
*Aston Villas vs. Arsenal

*If you have watched Manchester United lately you have seen quite the contributions from their central midfield players when it comes to adding to the attack.
Michael Carrick has shown his ability to open up a defense with long, accurate passes from deep yet has also shown as desire to get in the box. Darren Fletcher has also proven dangerous……Sami Nasri of Arsenal hit an amazing long ball to set-up accurately the amazing piece of goal-scoring artistry from Robin Van Persie of Arsenal last Sunday.
The U.S. National team has a bevy of central midfielders in Ricardo Clark, Michael Bradley, Pablo Maestroeni and Maurice Edu one hopes that out of the three younger players a passing threat will develop in the future so as to be dangerous out of all areas of midfield. Hit a few decent balls out of this area and opponents have to honor the potential thus taking a bit of the weight off the wide players.

*Good times for the Dynamo on the stadium front as progress has been made with the recent announcement. Still some issues and demands are pretty cloudy but this is a huge positive for the future of soccer in this city not to mention just good business from elected officials. Captain Wade Barrett and assistant coach John Spencer have all re-upped and central defenders Jose Luis Perlaza (Ecuador national team in 2006 World Cup) and Andrew Hainault have a discovery option placed on the by the Dynamo.
But the big player signing could be LUIS LANDIN. Let me tell you why this would be perfect for the 23 yr. old LANDIN.
The DYNAMO could be the perfect stretch for LANDIN. Players at times in their career need to get out of the comfort zone. If he comes to MLS this is precisely what would happen as he would have to adjust to both a different level of play and culture. These are the times that athletes grown and can platform to another level if they are up to the challenge.
I once had a conversation with then CHIVAS coach Hans Westerhof who told me that all young Mexican players should spend two years playing in the U.S. early in their careers.
This would be a win for LANDIN and MORELIA as he could boost his value by coming to the Dynamo and producing.
What an interesting pick up this could be from both a playing and marketing stand-point.

*SUBOTIC picks SERBIA
DORTMUND defender NEVEN SUBOTIC has picked SERBIA over the U.S. for his national team career. SUBOTIC played for the u17 and u20 U.S. National teams and wrote a letter to U.S. Soccer officials informing him of his decision.

This came from under the radar. In fact it seems few even realize it right now with Christmas going on.
Last night Channel 26 broke the news that County Commissioners SYLVIA GARCIA and EL FRANCO LEE have tentatively agreed to contribute $10 million dollars in public money to the downtown stadium project. Now this is all provisional on the team and city agreeing to certain conditions.
Now check these conditions out closely:

*The $10 million dollars would be used towards public amenities and infrastructure serving the stadium (sewer lines, parking, trees etc.) and not the physical structure itself. Now the Dynamo had made it clear prior that they wanted the ten million to go towards the stadium itself.

* Texas Southern University will be allowed to play home football games at the stadium.

* Fifteen percent of the seats will never be sold for more than the average movie ticket price.
(“We want to make sure that that’s included in the agreement so we won’t see a situation where the stadium is built and they focus on suites or club suites and their prices double or triple in the first few years,” said Sylvia Garcia)

* If Harris County partners with Houston on the East Downtown TIRZ, each government would would agree to forgo $10 million of its share of the property taxes from the area to help pay for the stadium.

More meetings and negotiation will occur but this is a huge breakthrough into what could be a win-win for all involved. As long as both Garcia and Lee want to participate in the TIRZ, one would assume that the whole court would go along. Most likely Garcia and Lee would not have moved forward without the feeling that this is supported yet their still are a number of nebulous areas in the demands. Good lawyers and lots of poring over this issues is in store in the future. Still for now this is a postive.

This is a win for soccer fans and Dynamo fans who have worked hard to show officials the importance of this stadium and how it can benefit all involved. There are still steps and the process to go through but this is a huge development. Raise a glass to your hard efforts tonite!!!!! Since July it has seemed that Sylvia Garcia and El Franco Lee were not even aware of this issue. Alot of awareness has been created by all in a short amount of time from grass roots efforts from Homeforthedynamo.com, Dynamo Planet and those in all the supporters groups that have attended the rally and have appeared in front of city council. Also the efforts from all the chambers of commerce groups in the East End has to have been impactful. Lots of efforts and groups coming together is the story here.

When the AEG/DYNAMO and the city agree to the deal it could be submitted for approval by the County Commissioners court as early as January 13th according to the Houston Chronicle.

For more on the stadium issue go to Houstonchronicle.com

The HOUSTON DYNAMO have placed a discover option on two defenders. ANDREW HAINAULT has represented CANADA at the U20 WORLD CUP and has represented the full national team in front of PAT ONSTAD. HAINAULT has recently had a trial at BIRMINGHAM CITY and is apparently in FRANCE on trial at this moment.

ECUADORIAN JOSE LUIS PERLAZA is a long time ECUADORIAN FIRST DIVISION player for DEPORTIVO OLMEDO and was a member of their 2006 WORLD CUP SQUAD yet did not feature in games against Poland, Costa Rica, Germany and England. PERLAZA is 27 years old and also is being considered by the DYNAMO who still do not know the status of defender BOBBY BOSWELL and what his future may be.

DYNAMO CEO Chris Canetti has stated in the past that BOSWELL is a 50/50 to return to the squad.

*The stadium is not on the agenda today at County Commissioners Court but don’t read too much into this. It is not as though deadlines have not been met in this ongoing effort to get AEG, the City and County on the same working page but this also can’t go on forever. Check my article out today at chron.com with more thoughts on this.

*So here are my thoughts on Luis Landin and his potential to come to the Dynamo. I like the thought of a proposed loan deal. Landin comes to the Dynamo with alot to prove knowing he can boost his value to MORELIA where he is not exactly scoring goals by the bucketful. The Dynamo get a motivated striker and great marketing vehicle while MORELIA hopes he is successful and boosts his profile. Works for me.

*HUGO SANCHEZ has taken over ALMERIA in SPAIN. Now the clubs sits 16th in the LA LIGA table and has only produced one win in their last eleven games. Is this a marketing move or do they truly believe he has what it takes as a coach to get them out of the bottom end of the table. Just a reminder “HUGOAL” playing for Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid produced 218 goals in 318 appearances. Amazing stuff. Now is Sanchez still the greatest player in MEXICAN history or does RAFA MARQUEZ at BARCELONA rate with him? You tell me?

*Man, what little fanfare and love for ROBERT WARZYCHA who was named the coach of the COLUMBUS CREW. Seems as though nobody cares? Is it just the holidays? After all the CREW are the current champions of MLS. Oh and by the way, WARZYCHA’s former team EVERTON drew 0-0 with CHELSEA at Goodison Park yesterday denying CHELSEA of the top spot in the PREMIER LEAGUE. U.S. Male athlete of the year TIM HOWARD getting a clean sheet while JOHN TERRY was sent off for CHELSEA.
ARSENAL midfielder CESC FABREGAS is now out for four months after a serious knee injury suffered in the draw with LIVERPOOL this past SUNDAY. This just might put a new look on the JANUARY transfer window for the “GUNNERS”.

*BEST OF DYNAMO ALL ACCESS WITH GLENN DAVIS this WEDNESDAY from 7-9pm, yes I know it is Christmas eve but we must take every opportunity to provide our listeners with the best in soccer talk. Catch the show on 790TheSportsAnimal.