I know you are “up” for this Western Conference final.
Team Hollywood led by Landon Donovan and David Beckham up against the most successful team in the last four years in MLS …the Houston Dynamo!
The pre-game begins at 10:00 pm and the actual kick-off around 10:25 which means those on the east coast will see this kick-off at 11:25 pm.

So as many weigh in on this game they mention that the Dynamo must control Landon Donovan and David Beckham but they don’t tell people HOW this may happen. So lets look at a few ways the Dynamo can hopefull control both Beckham and Donovan.

1.) BALL POSSESSION: A good night of ball possession at the Home Depot Center for the Dynamo can be translated hopefully to less time on the ball for Donovan and Beckham.
The Dynamo need to take good care of the ball and that means few unforced areas and making sure that those on the ball are getting good movement and
alot of options.

2.) PRESSURE ON THE BALL- The Dynamo will need to get great pressure on both Beckham and Donovan so as to limit their time and space to see things. If Beckham gets his head up with time to see things he will be a major threat. Marry that with the explosive , intelligent movement off the ball and Donovan’s sharpness of thought and it is trouble.
A defense that is caught to high up the field can be turned and punished if the Dynamo don’t get good initial pressure on the ball. Whenever Donovan has the ball the Dynamo in a perfect world will try to get a second defender over to provide cover. An isolated Donovan running with the ball at his feet is the kiss of death.

3.) TRANSITION: When the ball is lost the Dynamo will need to think quickly and be acutely aware of both where Beckham and Donovan are. They must get good initial pressure on the ball to make LA play negative passes either to the side or backwards to allow the squad to get settled and balanced. Eliminating the forward penetrating pass is essential because Beckham is an amazingly accurate passer over distance and can turn a defense with a long range pass in a flash. One pass from him and an entire midfield or defense can be turned and chasing back towards their goal.

4.) DENY THE TURN- If Beckham and Donovan receive the ball with their backs to goal the Dynamo have to prevent them from turning.

The Dynamo got tight on Freddy Ljunberg in the Seattle series and made it difficult for him to play the game exactly how HE wanted to. They didn’t eliminate his danger but they controlled it throughout the two legs in a great effort. The Dynamo will need a repeat performance against Donovan and Beckham and it will have to be collective in nature.
It is simple to talk about it on paper but another thing to execute over 90 minutes. One also can’t look past the other players on LA that from an attacking perspective can make plays. Mike Magee, Edson Buddle, Eddie Lewis and Chris Klein come to mind………..It is a night where concentration has to be at an optimum from both teams!
Look how one mistake from Seattle was punished by the Dynamo……..

SOCCER MATTERS WITH GLENN DAVIS TODAY ON FOX SPORTS HOUSTON AT 3PM…here from ODURO, KINNEAR, CHING and check out the top ten goals of the week!!!!

TESARS restaurant tonight in the Woodlands will have food and drink specials for the Dynamo game. Hope to see you there! Tesars.com

Lets face it. He is not the same player he was a month ago but Dynamo striker Dominic Oduro is a large piece of getting a win at Los Angeles Friday night in the Western Conference final. Don’t for one second think that LA manager Bruce Arena is not concerned with this player’s pace and new-found ability to make plays on the larger surface at the Home Depot Center.
Before I get in to why Oduro could be pivotal lets look back to when he gained his confidence because after all you may have been one of the fans that wanted him shipped out on the next slowcar to China.
Fans got on Oduro for his in-ability to make plays after getting himself into good positions but his fortunes and confidence began to turn after scoring a wonderful game winning goal against Monterrey of Mexico in a friendly and producing a goal against Chivas USA in the 3-2 win to end the season.
In the Seattle series Oduro began to really show a great purpose to his movement and the type of runs that he was making off the ball. Along with that he made plays and married skill and execution with his amazing speed. In essence he helped to wear down Seattle and also to create space and take pressure off Brian Ching. Oduro’ movement constantly tested Seattle defenders and made them make choices.
Which all leads us to tomorrow night and the larger more spacious surface at the Home Depot Center where Oduro will have alot of room to roam.
Both LA center backs Omar Gonzalez and Greg Berhalter are not necessarily fleet of foot and the form of Oduro at this moment will have to be honored by the Galaxy.
If Berhalter, Gonzalez and company try to play a high line defensively you can bet that Oduro can get in behind provided the Dynamo have a decent night of ball posession.
Now Landon Donovan will provide that same element to the LA Galaxy which leads me to believe this could be a game of chances for both sides .
Dominic Oduro could be a real x factor in LA for the Dynamo and he is coming to life at the right time.
For more on Oduro check out “Soccer Matters with Glenn Davis” on Fox Sports Houston presented by MEMORIAL HERMANN SPORTS MEDICINE INSITITUTE today at 3pm as a Western Conference Primer.

If you are in the Spring or Woodlands area or want to make the drive …..Tesar’s Restaurant is having a game watching party with drink and food special. Tesars is located at 1701 Lake Robbins Drive in the Woodlands…www.tesars.com It is also where Dynamo All Access with Glenn Davis will go live next Tuesday.
If you don’t make it to the Woodlands then go to Lucky’s downtown , Stags Head or Mezzanine near Sheperd and 59. Be safe and enjoy what should be a great night of MLS.

Today I did an nteresting 20 minute interview with MLS Commissioner Don Garber which I will air alot of next Tuesday. He speaks on Seattle, commitment in Colorado, MLS navigating the economy, what it takes to compete in Concacaf Champions League and more….

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With both Oduro and Donovan (not to mention Beckham threat of long range passing ability) stretching defenses it could lead to more time and space in midfield for players.

Check out Soccer Matters with Glenn Davis today on Fox Sports Houston at 5pm.

Dynamo/Seattle highlights, interviews with Dynamo coach Dominic Kinnear and strikers Brian Ching and Dominic Oduro. Top ten goals, rumors , rants and raves and much more in this show!!

I remember the first game watching party I hosted in Houston back around the 2002 World Cup . These “get togethers” are excellent to enjoy soccer matches with like minded individuals and becomes a great social event. Just a good time! So for those not making it out to LA who want the group feeling there will be options Friday night.

*For those north of the city we are trying to build a soccer game watching culture.
So here is the venue:

TESARS Restaurant, 1701 Lake Robbins Dr. near the town center just off the Woodlands Parkway. I am planning at being at this event and they will host Dynamo All Access next week. They will be doing “SOCCER SPECIALS” beginning at 8pm with $1 dollar oysters, flatbread specials and $2 well drinks!!! Join me at TESARS as we continue to grow the soccer nation north of the city!!!! TESARS.com

*MEZZANINE LOUNGE will host a watch party . This is where the TEXIAN ARMY gathers near Sheperd and 59.

*LUCKYS PUB has been hosting Dynamo watch parties consistently now. They are located in downtown and will have El Batallon members in attendance.

*STAGS HEAD PUB also will be showing the Dynamo match near Sheperd and 59

It doesn’t matter where you go, just get out and take the game in with Dynamo fans at any of these locations. More on the game later on after doing interview with MLS Commissioner Don Garber today.

Munich, Germany – I spent the day yesterday afternoon watching two stories about lives cut short before athletes hit their primes – ESPN’s ’30 for 30’ movie about Len Bias’ death in 1986 and HBO’s ‘RealSports’ report on Nick Adenhart’s death in a car crash earlier this year. And then in the evening came the shocking news about Robert Enke, another promising career over. I was numb by the time I went to bed.
Enke, Hannover 96’s starting goalkeeper and a lead candidate to lead Germany in South Africa last year, committed suicide by throwing himself in front of a train a few miles from his house. Along with his successes, he suffered from depression. He was getting help and he seemed to be in a stable place in his life, but in his suicide note, he could not handle the pressure of people judging his sickness.
Enke leaves behind a wife and adopted 8-month-old daughter, whom the couple adopted earlier this year after they lost their first young daughter to a heart condition 3 years ago. He was afraid that his psychological condition would lead to losing his daughter.
The reaction came swift and heartfelt from all over the country. During the national team press conference, Oliver Bierhof was reduced to tears. “We are all shocked. Words fail me,” Bierhoff said before breaking down. “It’s hard to describe how I’m feeling. I am completely shocked and totally empty,” added national trainer Jogi Loew. “We’ve lost a friend. This is a time for everyone in football to take a step back and contemplate. We’re grieving for Robert Enke.”
And they will miss him on the pitch. In 8 national caps, he had 5 wins and only 1 loss. After backing up Jens Lehmann at Euro 2008, he was billed to be the #1 choice for Loew as the team started preparations for the upcoming World Cup. He did suffer a virus over the past weeks that limited his playing time, but that didn’t affect the status of Bundesliga’s best goalkeeper of 2009. Now without him, Germany does not have someone to bridge them from the Oliver Kahn/Lehmann regime to Rene Adler/Manuel Neuer, two of the countries’ young rising stars.
His club career was not easy road. After starting at smaller German clubs, Enke was at Borussia Monchengladbach until they were relegated. He decided to go abroad and he spent short stints at Benfica Lisbon, FC Barcelona and Fenerbahce Istanbul. Enke only played one during his time with the Catalans and was pelted by Turkish fans in his first appearance for Fenerbahce – he quickly cancelled his contract right after. He joined a club in Tenerife, where he was saved by Hannover’s management. Enke returned to Germany in 2004 and since then rose to his current football status.
How the rest of the season plays out for Hannover, it remains to be seen. They will be missing one of their leaders as they will try to climb the league table. For the German squad, they have to recover missing a key component for the summer. But all that seems trivial now. As Franz Beckenbauer said, “When something like this happens, all other problems seem so insignificant.”

Salman Mitha

Soccer Matters with Glenn Davis tomorrow at 5pm on Fox Sports Houston presented by Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine Institute…….NCAA WOMENS COLLEGE CUP hosted by TEXAS AM….got to 12thmanfoundation.com for tickets!!

ARENA LOOKS TO RE-BUILD IMAGE…..

Today Bruce Arena of the LA Galaxy was named coach of they year. Friday with a win over the Dynamo, Arena could return to the MLS Cup for the first time in a long time and help to re-shape his coaching legacy.
Arena won two MLS Cup’s with DC United and was the manager of the U.S. National team that went to the World Cup quarterfinals in 2002 in perhaps his finest moment.
In 2006 Arena made many questionable decisions at the 2006 World Cup where the U.S. seemed ill-prepared and did not get out of group play in Germany.
He was then removed by U.S. Soccer’s Sunil Gulati and seemed not to accept responsibility for the effort in Germany.
Arena was then hired by the New York Red Bulls but was removed before fufilling the contract.
He was ultimately signed by the LA Galaxy after the Ruud Gullit and Alexi Lalas disaster and has since re-built the squad and brought together Landon Donovan and David Beckham.
Come Friday night you can bet that Arena would love nothing better than producing a result that gets his squad to the MLS Cup final and once again puts him at the top of the MLS coaching order.
One also gets the feeling that MLS is hoping to have David Beckham on the big stage for the MLS Cup final in Seattle. Only problem for LA and Arena is that they must go through the Houston Dynamo and Dominic Kinnear.

Today is a great moment to reflect on those that have served and are currently serving in the military!
My father is 84 years old and a former Marine and served in Okinawa during World War 2. My nephew is currently in the Marines and training in California.
I have alot of respect for those in the military and like what the Dynamo’s Brad Davis has been doing for families of the military with BRAD’s BRIGADE!

Soccer Matters with Glenn Davis on Fox Sports Houston presented by MEMORIAL HERMANN SPORTS MEDICINE INSTITUTE Thursday at 5pm……..Hear from Dynamo manager Dominic Kinnear and strikers Dominic Oduro and Brian Ching ahead of the Western Conference Final……..top ten goals, viewer mail and much more with this episode shot from the House of Blues in downtown Houston…….

Thanks to the Texian Army members and soccer fans who made it out to El Pacifico Restaurant last night. A good time for all. More live radio next Tuesday from TESAR’S Restaurant in the Woodlands…I am hoping for lots of fans north of the city to come out and begin to make a game watching and live radio group in this part of the town!!
Tesars is located at 1701 Lake Robbins Drive just off I-45. I will be there Friday for the Dynamo LA game with other soccer fans for a game watching party!! Come join us or go to other parties including the Mezzanine Lounge, Stags Head Pub and I believe Lucky’s Pub downtown.
TESARS.com

GERMAN GOALKEEPER TRAGEDY
So sad to hear of the passing of German goalkeeper Robert Enke. The 32 year old Hannover goalkeeper committed suicide apparently putting himself in front of train that had been traveling between Norddeich and Hannover. Enke died at the scene and had been being treated for depression since 2003. Enke had lost his biological daughter Lara in 2006 when she died of a heart disorder. His psychologist Dr. Valentin Markser said he suffered from depression and fear of failure and said that Enke refused to be treated on the day of his suicide. Truly tragic and a reminder that it is tough to know what people are really feeling sometimes………….Germany has cancelled a friendly match with Chile.

DYNAMO NOTES…..Catch the podcast of DYNAMO ALL ACCESS WITH GLENN DAVIS last night which includes interviews with manager DOMINIC KINNEAR, defender MIKE CHABALA, TEXAS AM womens coach G GUERRERI and KANSAS CITY WIZARDS midfielder DAVEY ARNAUD who weighs in on the DYNAMO and the playoffs…..Soccer Matters with Glenn Davis tapes next Tuesday at Texas AM and the AGGIE SOCCER COMPLEX .

A BIG QUESTION……..With Mike Chabala locking down the left back spot recently the Dynamo have had consistency in that position. With a yellow card against Seattle Chabala is now not available for the Western Conference Final. Manager Dominic Kinnear will have a big decision to make concerning the left side of the field. Does he make a straight swap with Wade Barrett? Does he move Andrew Hainault to left back and bring on Ryan Cochrane and move more pieces in his back four? What do you think the Dynamo should do at the back based on the suspension of Chabala?

“No matter where they play the Dynamo are always a favorite,” KC Wizards midfielder Davey Arnaud from Nederland, Texas….

Join me on location tonight from 7-9pm for a live radio broadcast of Dynamo All Access with Glenn Davis at EL PACIFICO RESTAURANT 5800 Bellaire Blvd.
Dynamo players, girls and street team in attendance plus the best in soccer talk. Show streams live at 790thesportsanimal and at mlsnet.com
Come out and see us live!!!! Get some autographs and great food at EL PACIFICO!!!
Elpacificosushi.com for more information………..Dynamo defender Mike Chabala will be live at El Pacifico tonight to sign autographs and mingle.

IT IS TRUE

The Dynamo attendance of 27,456 fans to Robertson Stadium was better attended than AC Milan and Lazio at the Olympic Stadium in Rome who had 26,000 fans.
Now consider the history of soccer in Italy and the history with these two clubs. Condition how ever you want but it is fact.
Not bad outdrawing the likes of Ronaldinho, Alessandro Nesta and Pato…….In fact the Dynamo attendance out-paced most of the Italian Serie A last weekend.
It also was more than 4 EPL teams drew during their matches.
The German Bundesliga remains the best attended league in the world to the best of my knowledge.

Soccer Matters camp to KICK CANCER to benefit nicksteam.org and the Texas Childrens Hospital…all proceeds go to the Texas Childrens Hospital and Nicks Team .
My thanks to coaches who are volunteering their time and expertise:

AARON CHAMPENOY-head mens coach University of St. Thomas
DAVE SANTESTEBAN- San Jacinto College mens coach
MISTY AND STEVE JONES- HBU womens and mens coaches
BILL MCDONALD-Strake Jesuit and former Houston Dynamos
RODRIGO DELUNA – FIESTA
MARC CASTILLO- SOCCERTOTS
Other coaches and professional players in attendance and if you know anyone who wants to be a part of the staff or be involved let me know. I am extremely excited about this camp and the small impact towards cancer awareness and donation we can make. My hat is off to all of the above who without hesitation committed to the cause!!!

Soccer Matters with Glenn Davis this Thursday on FOX SPORTS HOUSTON at 5pm presented by Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine Institute

Twitter.com : Soccermattersgd

Don’t forget live radio tonite at EL PACIFICO RESTAURANT 5800 Bellaire Blvd. This is a great Mexican style seafood restaurant that also serves sushi.
Dynamo players and Dynamo girls on hand plus the best in soccer talk.
ELPACIFICOSUSHI.com for more information……look forward to seeing Dynamo and soccer fans at this event tonight!!!! Live radio starts at 7pm but we will get their early for cocktail hour!!!

Call in number 713-212-5790, show streams live at mlsnet.com and 790thesportsanimal.com

Soccer Matters with Glenn Davis on Fox Sports Houston Thursday at 5pm presented by MEMORIAL HERMANN SPORTS MEDICINE INSTITUTE..set your dvr’s if you don’t catch it live on ATT Uverse or COMCAST

EL PACIFICO RESTAURANT tomorrow night for you the Dynamo fan hosts Dynamo All Access with Glenn Davis from 6-9pm..hope to see you there!!!!

Soccer fans here is you on location show at a very cool restaurant with big screens galore and lots of room.
Lets get ready for the Dynamo vs. LA at El Pacifico Restaurant on Bellaire Blvd just outside the Bellaire triangle.
For directions and phone number go to ElPacificosushi.com, the food is awesome and everything from fried shrimp to sushi and all reasonably priced/
Free gulf oysters to those who come in for the show……..

We are lining up Dynamo guests, Dynamo girls etc. for the big event and we will break down the Dynamo vs. LA and go over the Dynamo /Seattle match and much more.

Hope to see all of you there!!!

EL PACIFICO RESTAURANT
5800 BELLAIRE BLVD
713-218-0701 ELPACIFICOSUSHI.COM

By the way you can catch more of my writing at Foxsportshouston.com, click on the Dynamo and get more insight.

The Dynamo put in a great complete performance in defeating an excellent Seattle Sounders. Talk about a tough series!
Some random thoughts:

*A great collective effort won on a spectacular goal worthy of this occasion. Dominic Kinnear made all the right moves and the timing of his substitutions impeccable with all contributing.

* BRIAN CHING got untracked with a spectacular goal that will go down in Dynamo lore. The sweet side volley was set up courtesy of an effort from Brian Mullan that kept the play alive. The goal was blurry orb past Kasey Keller. Great timing for Ching to get a confidence building goal. More than that he had some great hold up play and never backed down against one of the league’s best defenders in Jhon Kennedy Hurtado.

*DOMINIC ODURO has become a huge x factor for this team based on his threat of getting behind defenses. Not only that but he now is DANGEROUS via the pass and the finish. This could be a real asset in LA on Friday at the Home Depot Center on a larger field against a team that could be exposed by his pace. His movement is also pulling defenders off Brian Ching and creating more space.

*HUGE MISTAKE..that dubious honor would go to Roger Levequese of Seattle who instead of heading the Mike Chabala cross towards the sideline doesn’t go with his head and allows Brian Mullan an opportunity to keep the play alive.

*TIMELY SAVES and SOLID BACK FOUR…Pat Onstad continues to make the plays he needs to and all credit to the Dynamo back four who were unbending for most of the evening.
Two centerbacks Bobby Boswell and Geoff Cameron were solid.

*The game was carried by the Dynamo possession wise and build up wise but Seattle was dangerous on the counter-attack. The Dynamo clearly made Freddy Ljunberg work extremely hard over these two games. It is also great they are finding their possession game because that need it against LA to keep Donovan and Beckham off the ball.

*DOMINIC KINNEAR… Kinnear’s substitution choices were outstanding and all contributed from the tight skills of Luis Landin, the energy of Cory Ashe and Cam Weaver.

*Fans were outstanding and I mean both Houston and the traveling Sounders fans!

Tuesday 7-9 pm join me at El Pacifico Restaurant for live radio and then the following Tuesday at Tesar’s Restaurant in the Woodlands.

Twitter.com: Soccermattersgd