Dynamo notes from exhibition match against FC Dallas

Warning: Assuming too much from one pre-season match could be dangerous to your health.

Ok, now that I got that out of the way here are a few of my thoughts from the Dynamo/FC Dallas exhibition match at Robertson Stadium this morning.

* Goals were scored by CHRIS WONDOLOSKI, CRAIG WAIBEL and newcomer JULIUS JAMES.
WAIBEL and JAMES come from the air and WONDOLOSKI’s goal comes off a great cross from BRIAN MULLAN.

* Canadien Andrew Hainault played for the Dynamo on trial today and looked solid and came into the match not lacking confidence. He certainly was vocal and even could be heard above the El Battalon. What were your impressions.

*Always interesting to see how players approach a game at this point of the year. Veterans in alot of cases not pushing it. I think CRAIG WAIBEL and DAVE VAN DEN BERG of FC DALLAS made a gentleman’s agreement that went like this:

WAIBEL: Dave, your new to Dallas, work yourself in, take it easy it is a long year.
VAN den BERG: Craig your reading my mind, I’ve got an idea.
WAIBEL: What is that?
VAN den BERG: I won’t take you on once and every ball I get I will dribble back into my midfield and give it to someone else.
WAIBEL: That sounds good, and the only time I got forward will be for set pieces….Sounds like a deal.

You have to love the veterans and it reminds me of my time as a rookie and “advice” that I got from veterans.
BRIAN MULLAN and RICHARD MULROONEY were buzzing around like it was the MLS playoffs and KEI KAMARA showed tremendous hunger up front and I believe this will be a big break-out year for him in MLS. His play will be critical with BRIAN CHING off for national team duty and the Dynamo still looking for another striker.
A gorgeous morning at Robertson and so interesting to see a great turnout of fans on a work day all interested in seeing the Dynamo in pre-season. The game again was a reminder of the great diversity that the Dynamo draw.
Too bad these free outing wasn’t on Saturday and sort of a curtain dropper to introduce the team. It clearly would have drawn a couple thousand.
Rest assured the two teams put out early by each manager will morph and change alot before the opening day.
This is how the DYNAMO started:

ONSTAD

WAIBEL BOSWELL JAMES CHABALA

MULLAN MULROONEY DAVIS BARRETT

WONDOLOSKI KAMARA

*RED CARD MOMENT: A tackle between BRIAN MULLAN and BREK SHEA led to both being red-carded and benches emptying for a few moments. Shea played all of about 5-10 minutes in the final thirty minute period.

*BEST LINE FROM A FAN: “Ref come on I have to get back to work”, unidentified Dynamo fan.

*IMPACT AWARD: EL BATTALON with their drums and chanting making their prescence known along with all the DYNAMO fans that showed up on a work day. Were you in attendance? If so give me your thoughts? Also loved being serenaded by the EL BATTALON “sounds” ringing throughout Robertson Stadium.

*BREK SHEA FC DALLAS: SHEA has got size and speed and FC Dallas has to figure out what they want to do with him soon. He has played on youth national teams in midfield, was tried at center back by FC Dallas last year and was playing right back before his ejection. He’s young and needs to find out positionally where he can cut his teeth. Positional consistency will help this kid at this point after injury last year. Shea is from Bryan College Station.

*A visit with SCHELLAS HYNDMAN and JOHN ELLINGER. Two of the nicest guys in MLS.
I for one want HYNDMAN to be successful as he is a rarity making the jump from the college game to MLS. Ellinger is a gentleman and always willing to extend himself to people. As American coaches I would like to see them turn FC Dallas around. They will be under pressure now being in charge from the word “go” this year.
They told me that two players to keep an eye on that are less known include SEAN BUCKNOR from the UNIVERSITY OF TAMPA and defender STEVE PURDY.
BUCKNOR got behind the DYNAMO defense but was saved easily by PAT ONSTAD.

*WHO is number 33 on the DYNAMO?
That man was former MLS player ERIC QUILL now 30 years old and an assistant at UH. Quill formerly played at TAMPA, KC, DC, NY and was a teammate of DOMINIC KINNEAR at the TAMPA BAY MUTINY. Quill is doing some training with the club and has been playing locally in the HOUSTON FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION.

A good day for all and the Dynamo will now head to Dallas on Monday to play a return pre-season match as they build towards February 24th an their Concacaf Champions League quarterfinal first leg against ATLANTE.

DYNAMO ALL ACCESS with GLENN DAVIS on 790 The Sports Animal this Monday night will feature lots of talk and interviews around the UNITED STATES/MEXICO match this coming Wednesday.
I will preview this match along with JOHN HARKES former U.S. National team member , GUSTAVO RANGEL of RUMBO and DOMINIC KINNEAR the HOUSTON DYNAMO MANAGER. More guests to come!
I want to hear from both the fans of the UNITED STATES and MEXICO! More on the downtown stadium plus more updates from DYNAMO pre-season training.
The show airs from 7-9pm Monday and streams live at mlsnet.com

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