He is the most decorated player in English Football history and hails from Wales.
Ryan Giggs seems as though he has played forever for Manchester United.
Yesterday, at 35 years of age and playing as a midfielder mind you, Giggs came on in the 67th minute of United’s 1-0 victory over Arsenal at Old Trafford.
It was his 800th appearance for the club, yes 800th appearance for the club.
“If you asked me when I was 19, ‘Would you be playing in a Champions League semi-final at 35?’ I would have said, ‘No”.
Giggs surpassed the legendary Bobby Charlton’s 758 games played last May and recently was named the Premier League Player of the Year despite only playing 12 games.
The award is voted on by his peers.
Giggs has won 10 Premier League titles, two Champions League titles, four F.A. Cups and three league cups.
He credits yoga for helping him with hamstring issues and pays attention diligently to his diet yet there is much more here.
Giggs has never been portrayed negatively in the press which is a statement to his true professionalism. His insertion in to matches and playing time has been carefully monitored by manager Alex Ferguson.
This was said about Manchester United in the United Review back in August of 1937

“Manchester United” stands for something more than any person or player, any supporter. It is the soul of a sporting organisation which goes on season after season, making history all the time.”

Giggs debuted in 1991 and has certainly served this historic club. He is expected to sign another contract and when he retires he will go down in lore with Charlton, Best, Robson and all the rest………..

WWW.REVOLUTIONSOCCER.NET

I went on the “In the Net” yesterday for some heated discussion with Revs radio host Brad Feldman who touches on all things Revolution.
Check it out to get some insight on the Revolution from New England. A great way to get insight into Sunday’s Dynamo game in New England.

So did you see this one today?
Old Trafford was the site with two legendary EPL managers at the helm in Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger of Manchester United and Arsenal respectively.
In the end United were clearly the better team and deserved their 1-0 win on a 17th minute goal for John O’Shea. Yes John O’Shea.
Maybe he wasn’t the likeliest of goal-scorers but if you look at the replay he makes a wise play at the far post by pulling out and making space for himself.
Ironically, the ball fell perfectly to him and his perfect hit ends up the difference.

Arsenal will remain in this one thanks to the efforts of their goalkeeper Manuel Almunia who keep them in this two-legged affair heading back to the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal has to be happy losing only 1-0.

Arsenal failed to penetrate and did not get enough from Sammy Nasri and Emmanuel Adebayor who was never given a chance up front with the poor ball possession numbers for Arsenal.

BARCA CRISIS AT THE BACK
Barcelona heads to Stamford Bridge next week after a disappointing draw at the Nou Camp against Chelsea 0-0 . Not only that they will be missed Carlos Puyol due to suspension and now Mexican international Rafa Marquez who suffered a knee injury on Tuesday. He will now miss the remainder of the season plus World Cup qualifiers for Mexico in June.
They just might need the “ghost of Ronald Koeman” to play at the back against Chelsea. Another thing to consider with Barca is that the have a highly emotional match with Real Madrid this weekend ahead of the Chelsea 2nd leg next week.
Oh and all of you “Blues” fans there is the rumor now coming from the English media that Slaven Bilic is being lined up to manage the club. Of course the rumors still float about Carlo Ancelotti of AC Milan taking over.

DYNAMO AT NE
Things have not been easy in NE for the Dynamo on artificial surface. In fact the “Orange” have never won against the REVS at Foxborough a trend they hope to reverse this Sunday at 2pm on Telefutura. The Dynamo will train on Friday and Saturday before heading East. Will Ade Akinbiyi or Andrew Hainault feature in this one?
The Revs are coming off a 6-0 loss to RSL in Sandy, UTAH. All the goals were scored in the second half against a youthful Revs side that did not feature stalwarts like Steve Ralston, Taylor Twellman and Matt Reis. How do the Revs react after this lopsided loss.

Dynamo results vs. NE Revs

5/27/06 1-1 tie
7/22/07 3-3 tie
3/29/08 0-3 loss
8/5/08 2-2 PKS lost 6-5 Superliga

The format continues with the MLS All Star team playing against international teams of note.
It will be no different this summer when the Toffees of Everton under manager David Moyes head to Salt Lake City in July.
Lets not forget by the time they get here they could be F.A. Cup Winners if they oust Chelsea at the end of the month.
Everton of course is led by goalkeeper Tim Howard who is the number one for the U.S. National team but have other noteworthy players like Australian international Tim Cahill, Belgian Marouane Fellaini in midfield and former Manchester United defender Phil Neville.
Everton came to Houston a few years back and played Club America at Reliant Stadium.

Do you like the MLS format against international competition? Should it be dropped altogether?

One of MLS’s top referees and Cuauhtemoc Blanco are being investigated by MLS for a post game scene that sends mixed messages.
Cuauhtemoc Blanco of the Chicago Fire was seen tossing his jersey into the officials dressing room apparently as a souvenir to Marrufo.
Big mistake.
Marrufo and Blanco were seen talking prior to this past weekend’s Columbus vs. Chicago game that included a controversial sending off off Crew defender Gino Padula.
The Crew would ultimately blow a two goal lead in the final minutes and are now appealing the fine and automatic one game suspension of Padula.
So what makes a referee at this point in his career make the huge mistake of getting to close to the players? Of stepping over the line of doing his job and being a fan?
In a job that is all about integrity and not sending mixed messages why would Marrufo even take the risk whether there is bad intention or not?
A huge mistake and U.S. Soccer who provides referees is investigating.

It’s Manchester United and Arsenal today in the Champions League on Espn 2 at 1:30 CST. United will have EPL Player of the Year Ryan Giggs available.
Was Ryan Giggs (amazing career) really the EPL Player of the Year and is the award diminished by selecting someone for his career efforts as opposed to this season?

Dynamo back in action in training today ahead of Sunday match against the Revs in New England on Sunday. New England is hoping to get veterans Steve Ralston, Taylor Twellman and Matt Reis fit. Catch the game at 2pm on Telefutura. The following weekend our neighbors to the North FC Dallas invade Houston as the state rivalry continues in a history that has been dominated by the Dynamo.

Lets face it. Whether we like it or not the deep defending tactics of Chelsea were winners over Barcelona in their first leg 0-0 draw at the Nou Camp.
Chelsea was an immovable object in front of goalkeeper Peter Cech who made the saves he needed to. In the end Lionel Messi, Samuel Eto’o and Thierry Henry were an after-thought as the Catalan stars were rubbed out by space killing Chelsea who had a chance or two on the break through Didier Drogba.
Barcelona continued to remain true to trying to break Chelsea down central and came within a pass numerous times of doing it yet it was hard to over-look the fact that rarely did they use the width of the field .
Even when they had chances Chelsea players harrassed and altered shooting opportunities from the Barca stars.
The final minutes gave the feeling that Pep Guardiola’s squad might just produce a goal but 18 year old Bojan Kirkic headed over the bar while a bizzare sequence saw Michael Ballack injured keep Barcelona on side only to see them not take advantage.
So now the questions will follow the La Liga side who is so revered for their attacking soccer. Can they win at Chelsea and prove out their superiority in La Liga? Lyon of France and Bayern Munich of Germany were dispensed easily but how about this team called Chelsea.
Rafa Marquez for Barcelona went off injured and Carlos Puyol will not be available in the second leg at the Bridge. Mission accomplished for Chelsea while Barcelona will get labeled for the time being for not being able to deal with a hard hitting, space killing English squad. In the end this was not an attacking spectacle but now both teams will have to pick their moment to open up in England. Are we staring at another all English Champions League final with few English players actually playing?
Have your say?

Seattle Sounders F.C. of Major League Soccer are going into amazing territory in a short amount of time.
According to the Sounders F.C. blog of Jose Romero in the Seattle Times the team has sold out their first 9 games through June 28th effectively re-iterating that they have amazingly created a demand for tickets at Qwest Field in Seattle.
This is a defining moment for MLS for the mere fact that more weak franchises are being exposed for their lackluster leadership and their inability to connect and become more relevant in their markets.
Why aren’t more members of the press being more critical of these markets that are hurting the growth of MLS? Know I am a glass full guy when it comes to MLS.
I am also a realist and believe that markets that are struggling need to be called out for the sake of the growth of the game. I for one am tired of the tired consistent excuses.
After all accountability is necessary to grow the sport.
In the end it won’t matter what I say and it will matter what the fans says. If the small band of passionate fans continue to sit on their hands in certain markets and not demand more from their organizations and the media the game will remain mom and pop.
Compare the NFL investment from the Seahawks in Seattle to the Patriot owned Revolution in New England.

AMAZING TV RATINGS

The Seattle tv market is made up of 1,784,946 homes and one rating point is equivalent to 17,185 homes.
Saturday night the Seattle Sounders FC did a 4.1 rating that accounted for 73,185 households and approximately 182,963 people viewing their match that was sold out at Qwest Field.
The replay of the game did an amazing 1.5 rating immediately after the game on Fox Northwest so in total the SOunders reached 116,025 homes and 290,062 people.
This is outstanding!

PODCAST IS UP
Go to 790thesportsanimal.com, click podcasts and click Glenn Davis to listen to last night’s Dynamo All Access with Glenn Davis.
Guests: Sounder and former Arsenal midfielder Freddy Ljunberg, Dynamo coach Dominic Kinnear, Dynamo players Ade Akinbiyi and Andrew Hainault.

CARVER FIRES OUT AT MLS

According to the Toronto Star, Toronto F.C. manager John Carver resigned because of MLS meddling with his coaching style and putting too much effort into “controlling” the coaches actions.
“Iv’e had restraints on me ever since I got here,” said Carver who grew up in Newcastle, England. “If ever you do anything or say anything out of order, they’re straight on the phone complaining to the owners and that’s how they work because in my opinion, it’s all about image. Obviously I was not the right image for the league.”
MLS in response had the following to say. “The league prefers not to respond to Carver’s criticism.”

Carver also said he was ordered back to the field after coaching from a press area for a different vantage point.
Now, lets examine this. Carver’s personality may have been the “perfect” fit for Toronto which had an EPL feel to it. Maybe not.
But if MLS was meddling so much with his coaching behavior why did Toronto F.C. owners Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment not do more to stand up for him to the league?
Carver was asked by Soccer Operations Director Mo Johnston to take a two day break and re-consider.
Carver leaves with a record of 11-15-10.
Toronto F.C. and former Dynamo Dwayne DeRosario visit Houston on May 30th .

Former Arsenal star and Seattle Sounder Freddl Ljunberg joins me on Dynamo All Access tonite at 7pm on 790 The Sports Animal.
Dynamo coach Dominic Kinnear, defender Andrew Hainault and new striker Ade Akinbiyi also join the program.

Call in number 713-212-5790, streaming live on the internet at 790thesportsanimal.com so bring it tonite “fanaticos”!

Questions for the guests…..email me at gdavis98@swbell.net

Last night I had the opportunity to be a part of the magic that is occurring at Qwest Field in Seattle. The Sounders produced a 2-0 home win over the San Jose Earthquakes behind goals from former Arsenal youth player Steve Zakuani and Brad Evans.
This team has quickly established itself at home and will not lose many games at Qwest.
The blend of international signings, use of the expansion draft and savvy acquisitions in the Superdraft have this team humming and they could easily be 6-0 right now and have a high ceiling to improve even more.
The Sounders both on and off the field are the real deal and this is first class all the way starting with their training facilities which remind me of clubs in Mexico with a variety of surfaces and fields.
The crowd and game day experience is amazing in a stadium that sits right near the water in downtown Seattle.
An asset and a breath of fresh air to the city? You bet!

LIVERPOOL TAKEOVER

Indian billionaire Grandhi Mallikarjuna is said to be interested in becoming the majority owner of Liverpool after speaking with current owners Tom Hicks and George Gillet.
Hicks and Gillet have a huge loan that they need to get re-financing to complete the picture of what is going on with the legendary club.

MLS UPDATES (Home teams listed first like they should be )

RSL 6 NE 0

Six second half goals from RSL at Rio Tinto Stadium in a monster blow out.
Matt Reis can’t get back quick enough for the Revs.
Six different RSL goal scorers.

Columbus 2 Chicago 2

Blowing leads late has become commonplace for the defending champions who still have not won a game in 2009. Brian McBride in the 86th and Gonzalo Segares 88th brought the Nordecke to tears.

Colorado 1 LA 1

Rapids get one from Colin Clark that is countered by Landon Donovan (82) late.
The Galaxy have yet to win under Bruce Arena who needs to figure this MLS thing out.

Chivas USA 2 FC Dallas 0

FC Dallas get Dario Sala sent off to comlicate things on the road. The valiant effort falls short as Attiba Harris and Alecko Eskandarian score late. Hoops are the next Dynamo home opponent.

TORONTO FC BOSS STEPS DOWN

John Carver has stepped down at Toronto who just can’t get it right with a manager or on the field. Great fans who need to start demanding the on field product and some better choices and vision from the front office.
The whole saga reminds us that to find the right coach in MLS is difficult and for any foreign coming to manage in this league they had better have the right support system and a bank of MLS savvy and knowledge to lean on.

DYNAMO ALL ACCESS with GLENN DAVIS tomorrow from 7-9pm on 790 The Sports Animal.
We talk Dynamo and their next opponent the NE Revolution.
Dynamo players Ade Akinbiyi and Andrew Hainault along with Dominic Kinnear are guests.
Having experienced the Seattle soccer scene this past weekend doing television pxp for the Sounders I will give you insight.
Former Arsenal midfielder and Sounder start Freddy Ljunberg joins the show and we also focus in on the EPL race.

Thoughts on this weekend in soccer?

Growing up in New Jersey you had the choice of what teams to support.
In soccer it was obviously the New York Cosmos for me who had a huge influence.
In baseball I was a New York Mets fan.
So now it is apparent that Yankees head man Randy Levine likes taking shots at MLS and Commissioner Don Garber. Courtesy of Levine now you have another reason to dislike the Yankees if you want.

Garber was commenting to the AP about the economy and its effect on professional sports and commented on Yankees attendance.
“It is incomprehensible that you watch a game and there will be front row seats empty,” said Garber.
The thin-skinned Levine responded with the following:
“Don Garber discussing the Yankees attendance must be a joke. We draw more people in a year than his entire league does in a year. If he ever gets MLS in the same time zone as the Yankees we might take him seriously.”
Too funny and great publicity for MLS. Wonder what was making Levine so quick to be irritated?

DOMINIC KINNEAR RE-SIGNS

Dominic Kinnear has won two titles in three season with the Dynamo and has been re-signed by the organization through 2012 in an obvious and good move for the organization.
Kinnear will be at Carl Lewis Track and Field Stadium with his squad today in an exhibition against the Laredo Heat.

Check out my article in the Houston Chronicle about youth soccer and the importance of going to live games. Go to www.chron.com

Monday on Dynamo All Access with Glenn Davis on 790 The Sports Animal at 7pm I will bring you an interview with former Arsenal and Swedish international Freddy Ljunberg. Ljunberg was cordial and accomdating in an interview I did with him yesterday. He is here to achieve clearly.
As for me it is back to focusing on the Seattle / San Jose game tonite at Qwest Field.
San Jose is in dire straits right now after a poor start to this season. They are still trying to find a balance of attacking and defending and sorely miss defender Jason Hernandez.
They will be under pressure tonite at Qwest Field and will need a big game out of former Houston area youth player Arturo Alvarez.

What games are you focused on this weekend?

I am in the Pacific Northwest in Seattle the home of Starbucks, dungeness crab and more importantly the Seattle Sounders who have been the story of MLS this year.
I am looking forward to tomorrow’s broadcast and the environment that will present itself when the Sounders take on the San Jose Earthquakes.
Something special is happening here and it is obvious the Sounders front office have made so great moves but one can’t forget the great soccer history that Seattle has from the Sounders in the NASL with names like Tony Chursky, Roger Davies and Alan Hudson to name a few.
Indoor soccer and Preki was prominent in the Tacoma area as well as with Seattle who won a CISL Championship with a team called the SEADOGS.
College soccer is important in Washington with Seattle Pacific, U Washington just to name a few.
But much like Houston their are lots of immigrants here and a solid foundation of youth and amateur soccer with many unsung heroes promoting the sport through sheer passion.
I will bring my thoughts on the experience out here on Monday night’s Dynamo All Access with Glenn Davis at 7pm.

CONCERN

The disturbance behind the goal with the supporters group El Battalon and security/police is ..well disturbing. I have, like many of you heard the stories about the incidents and wonder what is the problem and why has it not been solved? Is the group being over-policed? Are a few spoiling it for others and hiding behind the banner of El Battalon? This is an extremely important situation to get worked out for all involved. Personal safety for fans is first and foremost.
It is critical this gets worked out because a bad incident at Robertson Stadium could paint a picture that condemns all of soccer and gives the “soccer bashers” ammunition to hold the progress of our sport back.
Remember we are also in a stadium process now and those who don’t like the sports growth are always looking for incidents to paint a bad picture of our game.
I have always reveled in the passion of supporters groups like El Battalon and the Texian Army who have a bigger mission of having fun and growing the sport of soccer. They have created atmosphere and have been a huge vehicle of promotion for the sport. I have mentioned these groups on national soccer broadcasts and their positive impact.
I hope this latest incident can be ironed out through level headed thinking about the bigger picture. If not, this would be a loss for the sport’s growth.

LOPEZ PK wins it for KC

I didn’t get to see this game on Espn but Claudio Lopez hit from the penalty spot a KC defeated the NY Red Bulls in Kansas City. Carlos Johnson was ejected for NY for pulling down Herculez Gomez. Did you catch this game and what are your thoughts? Enlighten me?

What does your soccer weekend entail? Youth games? Adult games? Catching the Dynamo or international games on tv?

LJUNBERG INTERVIEW

Don’t forget to catch Dynamo All Access on the radio this Monday at 7-9 pm as I will bring you an interview with former Arsenal star Freddy Ljunberg now with Seattle plus more on the Dynamo as they prepare for NE Revolution.

TICKET PACKAGES AMAZING

Great ticket packages for the Gold Cup and Dynamo are at houstondynamo.com
The Futbol Fanatic package gets you Gold Cup and MLS action while the McDonald’s Four pack is a winner for the next home game against F.C. Dallas….I want that cannon back!

FIESTA sponsors the weekly “Houston Soccer Unsung Hero Award” on Dynamo All Access with Glenn Davis. Send me your nominees at gdavis98@swbell.net
We want to honor those committed to growing the game in our community!!!