A good friend of mine is offering up reasonable accomodations in South Africa for the upcoming World Cup.
Former Houston Dynamo’s midfielder Nathan Sacks can be contacted for more information.
Email him at natsacks@telkomsa.net for more information!

Honduras outplayed the United States convincingly posting a 3-1 win in a game where the U.S. had to play 73 minutes down a man after center-back Jimmy Conrad was given a second yellow card in the 17th minute. Here is how the scoring went:

Hon-Carlos Pavon (penalty kick) 19th minute
Hon-Jerry Palacios 37th minute
Hon-Roger Espinoza 53rd
USA Clarence Goodson 70th

U.S. manager Bob Bradley had to be dissapointed that the U.S. went down a man so early in a match that he clearly was looking to assess players. The U.S. had two players that might be considered at this moment in time potential starters for their World Cup opener against England in June, left back Jonathan Bornstein and midfielder Benny Feilhaber. Bornstein looked one of the better U.S. players while Feilhaber failed to dictate from central midfield. On this night the U.S. clearly lacked any real leadership and Honduras totally dominated the U.S. who looked over-whelmed in the first half.
Was this a “B” team, of course it was and one could to some extent say the same thing about Honduras who did not field key players like Wilson Palacios and Maynor Figueroa who play in England and David Suazo who plays in Italy.

U.S. center back and KC Wizard Jimmy Conrad had a rough night and got caught grabbing a hold of Jerry Palacios in the penalty area to pick up the second yellow to put the U.S. in a position where they had to chase the game. His KC teammate Roger Espinoza produced the third goal for Honduras.

Dynamo midfielder Brad Davis came on for Robbie Rodgers in the 61st minute and got credit with an assist to Clarence Goodson on the lone U.S. goal in the 70th minute. He also hit a very dangerous free kick in the latter stages which elicited a spectacular save from Honduran goalkeeper Donis Escobar. Another Dynamo Geoff Cameron who particpated in the U.S. January camp did not make the bench for this game.

Your thoughts on the U.S./Honduras match and what it revealed? And a reminder that tomorrow night on Dynamo All Access with Glenn Davis on Sports Talk 790 from 7-9 pm we will talk about the U.S. match, Milan Derby, Dynamo and much , much more!!

Fanaticos have been fired up around the Stuart Holden situation. But it is more than that. So now the entire starting central midfield for the Dynamo has been gutted. Yes options are there in the team with Geoff Cameron and Brad Davis but those choices can lead to other areas of the squad being changed. Rico is off to the most attended league in the world and Holden is now going to be a part of Bolton which had an element of confusion. Apparently his short term deal could be a good choice for the former Houston area product.
No worries about the CBA agreement, guaranteed training and hopefully playing time.
Examine the two players…Clark quickly stated his intentions to the Dynamo that his future was securing a job in Europe. Case closed all parties understand. In the case of Holden I am privy to information that leads me to believe his agent had little respect for football in the states and did a less than stellar job of advising his client on how to leave a situation….one that had been pretty darn good.
I am happy for Holden and his dream to play in the EPL, we can never hold ambition against any player. Will he get playing time at Bolton? I believe he will get his chance and I hope he thrives. New manager Owen Coyle is responsible for helping this team survive in the EPL, his managerial career gets a huge boost if they remain afloat. It also takes a real hit if they get relegated. The nature of the business. For this reason alone I have to believe he signed Holden with the intention of his performance playing a part in success in survival.
Coyle and the agent I understand also have strong ties. The Dynamo now have real challenges to find options for central midfield.

TONIGHT ON THE TUBE the U.S. National team

The U.S. National team is on tonight as they conclude their June camp with a match at the Home Depot Center against Honduras. Will Dynamo players Geoff Cameron or Brad Davis make the squad for this match? Get a glimpse into a game where players are fighting to get a World Cup roster spot. Pay particular attention to the center back position and if Cameron will get a run? Or will it be Chad Marshall of Columbus and Clarence Goodson who have gotten more games for the U.S. Does Bob Bradley use Geoff Cameron as a center-back where he was a best 11 MLS player or does he use him positionally in another area? I see his future at the international level as a center back if he gets the opportunity.
Amado Guevara (would you like him in Houston?), Ramon Nunez who played for FC Dallas and Carlos Pavon could see action in this one for Honduras. Also, Roger Espinosa of KC should see time. 7:30 PRE GAME ON FSC

Mexican Football league fans also have a couple of great options tonight with Cruz Azul and UNAM tangling in Mexico City…on FSE at 5pm and Chivas will look for a second straight win against Tigres at 7pm on TELEMUNDO

AC MILAN and INTER MILAN 1:30 PM on Sunday on FSC

I am really focused in on this one and the build up to this in Italy apparently has been insane. AC Milan have a game in hand on Inter who are 6pts ahead in first place in the Serie A. Yes this is a 6 point swing at stake which all know could win someone a Serie A title in the long run.
David Beckham’s return has seen AC Milan win three straight games and they do have some injury questions heading into this one but Ronaldinho has been in great form in this World Cup year. Don’t miss this one!!!

Soccer Matters with Glenn Davis on Fox Sports Houston re-airs today at 3pm and presented by Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine Insitute…

So it’s 2007 and the David Beckham experiment is beginning in LA and the Galaxy at the time under Frank Yallop are planning on playing David Beckham as a central midfield player.
Kevin Harmse was brought in to be Beckham’s foil in midfield but the year ended up being a struggle. Harmse appeared 17 times for LA before moving to Toronto where he appeared 28 times and then was shipped to Chivas USA where he did not play due to a knee injury.
Harmse’s rights have now been acquired by the Dynamo for a conditional 3rd or 4th round draft pick. Looking at this it is clear it is not a real risk for the Dynamo to see if Harmse has what it takes to inherit the defensive midfield role of Ricardo Clark. Not an easy task.
Harmse will have to make the team in pre-season so essentially he is coming on trial to the Dynamo and will have to prove that he is healthy and able to crack the squad.
He has appeared 9 times for Canada and is a workmanlike and aggressive midfielder. Let’s just say he is a “hard man” in midfield.
Harmse was born in Johannesburg, South Africa and grew up in Canada.

Now on another note it is re-surfacing in the English press that Stuart Holden is still a possibility at Bolton and that the move to Sporting Braga in Portugal was bogus.
Time will tell but Holden is not communicating much with anyone back in Houston concerning his situation.

So what do you think of this move from the Dynamo on Harmse? Where do you think Stuart Holden will land and at this point do you think he could land back at the Dynamo?

Don’t forget to catch SOCCER MATTERS WITH GLENN DAVIS THURSDAY AT 5pm on FOX SPORTS HOUSTON brought to you by MEMORIAL HERMANN SPORTS MEDICINE INSTITUTE !!!
If you have COMCAST OR ATT UVERSE you can catch this program !!!

If you have played or been around soccer in the United States at some point there is no doubt that you have had a connection with Haitian soccer.
In my case it comes as both a player and commentator.
In 1984 while playing for the Houston Dynamo’s in the United Soccer League final (yes the original United Soccer League) we took on the Ft. Lauderdale Sun in the regular season and in the championship game at Lockhart Stadium. I certainly remember playing against Ernst “Nono” Baptiste who played up front with Peruvian Nene Cubillas a World Cup legend.
Nono would go on to coach the Haitian national team as well.
I also played indoor soccer with another talented Haitian named Gerald “Magic” Celestin who not only was talented but was one of the great characters during a time when soccer did not receive alot of publicity. Celestin used to get a large amount of singles and wrap a hundred dollar bill around them so when he reached in his pocket in a bar he would pull out a wad of bills that looked like he was bathed in the green stuff. Of course his teammates and I all knew better because of the wages we were getting paid to play indoor soccer for the Columbus Capitals.
As a commentator I won’t forget the night that with HDNET in 2004 that we went in to the Orange Bowl in Miami to broadcast a “friendly” match between a Bruce Arena led U.S. squad and a Haitian squad led by former U.S. defender Fernando Clavijo. The crowd of 8,714 was pro Haiti and made it feel like there were 40,000 in the place. Haiti truly outplayed the U.S. and got a goal from Alexander Boucicot that reverberated all the way back to Port Au Prince in the 69th minute and the U.S. would equalize on a late Danny Califf goal after making a good push in the final 15 minutes. Dynamo Richard Mulrooney would play in that game.
I would never forget what that draw meant to the people. I caught indelibly in my mind the faces of their fans that night who celebrated like they won the World Cup outside the stadium as I went to my rental car in a darkened parking lot.
I also remember Fernando Clavijo then the coach of Haiti and the struggles he had just getting his team meals and clean training gear not to mention if I am not mistaken basically at the time coaching for free and waiting to get paid.
I remember names like Boucicot, Mones Chery, Jean Phillipe Peguero, Johnny Descolines and Bruny Pierre Richard on Haiti. I pray for them.

Some good news comes in the form of Clint Dempsey who apparently has not suffered as serious an injury as first feared during a recent EPL game against Blackburn. Dempsey will not require surgery but will be sidelined for quite awhile according to internet reports.
So why was Fulham and manager Roy Hodgson so quite to say that they feared a posterior cruciate ligament injury? Did they jump the gun a bit? Apparently so……….
More should come out on the injury situation in coming days….

Another option to go along with glenndavissoccer.com and the chron.com.
Yes, Foxsportshouston.com, click on the Dynamo logo and look for both my blog and for content from the show…”Soccer Matters with Glenn Davis” on Fox Sports Houston which is presented by Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine Institute and Danish Inspirations Contemporary Furniture.

Now if you don’t have ATT Uverse or Comcast, this is the site where you can keep up with the show. That is of course if you don’t want to switch cable companies.
We aim to please…check it out!!

FIESTA SOCCER UNSUNG HERO AWARD…….Dynamo supporters who are organizing and showing up to Stadium rally. Next one is February 20th so lets take this to the next level.

PS: Soccer Matters is looking for salespeople who are self motivated, have sales experience and are interested in being a part of the world of soccer and television.
If this might interest you, contact gdavis98@swbell.net for more details.

Dynamo midfielder Ricardo Clark has signed with Eintracht Frankfurt in the German Bundesliga.
The 26 year old Clark played out his contract and was very clear with the Dynamo that he was pursuing opportunity in Germany.
Clark had a strong Confederations Cup which brought he European interest in a few countries.
Dynamo fans saw Clark appear 97 times in a holding midfield role. The deal includes apparently a three year option.

Are you excited that another American player has parlayed his play into a Euro opportunity?
How do you compare Clark’s situation to Stuart Holden’s?

Bolton manager Owen Coyle has passed on trialist Stuart Holden.
Coyle felt the Dynamo midfielder was not better than his current options according to Mirrorfootball.co.uk.

Holden according to the article is now headed to Sporting Braga in Portugal and has had limited contact with the Dynamo.
Is Holden getting the proper information and guidance from his UK based agent who may not understand the way MLS works. Or maybe doesn’t care which would be a dis-service to Holden.
Now I am not saying he should not pursue Europe but his intentions at this point are cloudy. Will the MLS offer of $400,000 plus a year for promise and possibility still be on the table or is Holden rolling the dice .
Lets not forget his rights are still owned by the Dynamo if he elects to come back to MLS.

Your thoughts on the situation.

*Soccer Matters with Glenn Davis on Fox Sports Houston brought to you by MEMORIAL HERMANN SPORTS MEDICINE INSTITUTE Thursday at 5pm
*Twitter: Soccermattersgd

Also check out soccer related conversation and blogs at FoxSportsHouston.com, click on the Dynamo logo for additional insight and opinion on the game!

*DYNAMO ALL ACCESS WITH GLENN DAVIS TONIGHT ON 790 AM Radio…….7-9pm, support of soccer in the media means support of the stadium so weigh in at 713-212-5790 !!!

FIESTA UNSUNG SOCCER HERO AWARD WINNERS TONIGHT….Dynamo fans who organized and showed up at the rally this weekend!!!! Listen for it tonight!!!

DONOVAN AGAIN SHINES

Landon Donovan shined again and continues his methodical adjustment to the EPL with Everton. The Toffees got a 2-0 win over Manchester City in the home debut of Landon Donovan at Goodison Park. Donovan’s debut at Arsenal last weekend got high marks and one has to think he could extend he stay in Liverpool.
How could Donovan not be in awe of this new environment and league where things are so different for him? It is not a league he can take a day or night off. Donovan has made it clear that he has been in awe of the amazing support of English football fans and what player would not want more of this?

“Iv’e been made to feel so welcome and when your welcome like that you don’t want to let anyone down,” said Donovan to the Liverpool Echo. It’s a sharp contrast to how I felt last year at Munich.”

Donovan also went on to talk about potentially staying at Everton.
“The future is out of my control. I want to enjoy this experience. That means I show up for training and I am ready. I show up for the game and I am ready. But who knows what will happen in the future. Football’s funny and you never know what could happen.
“If I look back in ten weeks and say I really want to stay then maybe I can make that happen. If I say ok it was good, but I am ready to go then I can go, but for now I’m taking it week by week.”

Don’t think for a second that LA manager Bruce Arena did not know the potential of losing Donovan to Everton was and is there. Personally, I would love to see him stay in a league that tests him everyday like the English Premier League. That is exciting for any player to know that the environment and the challenge can take you to another level. I would miss him in MLS but for his national team career and dossier as a footballer, this is a winner!

Now before we go over the top, lets remind ourselves it is two games but we also have to give it to Donovan for taking advantage of his situation so far and it also doesn’t hurt that Everton have had two good results with Donovan “the newbie” in the lineup. Here are some of my observations from his play this weekend against City:

*He has wisely acclimated himself slowly but confidently focusing on securing the right side of the field in front of Phil Neville. In fact the two seem to have a great early chemistry with Donovan many times taking defenders inside to create space for Neville coming forward. His movement still remains and amazing strength and we are seeing his intelligience coming forth in what many consider the best league in the world. His involvement in the team is a work in progress and it shows sometimes but few players could have made the transition like Donovan has. The guy is an intelligent soccer player.

*HERE IS A REAL key where I believe Donovan is enjoying his game in a different way. HE does not have to be the leader, he has to be a vital part but not the leader and this takes pressure off him to focus on his game.

* With Donovan on the right side of midfield , the long diagonal ball is an option for Everton from the left side of the field. Everton left back Leighton Baines hits a good ball over distance and it is a great option with opponents left backs who go to play off the shoulder of their central defenders when the ball is on one side of the field. It has been an effective option in two games. Donovan as we saw against Mexico in World Cup qualifying (his pass to Charlie Davies at Azteca) can come inside and playmake.

* He has already been entrusted with taking corners and some set pieces…….

A few moments stood out for me in this game…..Donovan chasing down and stripping Carlos Tevez of the ball, a good start understanding mentioned above with Neville on that side of the field and each game has gotten into the box dangerously.

DEMPSEY INJURY

Things are going from bad to worse for the U.S. national team. Clint Dempsey, a native Texan, is scheduled for tests today to determine the extent of a knee injury suffered in a 2-0 loss to Blackburn (former DC defender Ryan Nelsen scored one for Blackburn). Lots of things to think about now with injury to upstart striker Charlie Davies and defender Oguchi Onyewu. These are genuinely times of concern for the U.S. with potentially three starters out for their World Cup opener against England. Lets hope the Dempsey test proves it out to be a less serious knee injury.
Are you concerned now with the attacking element of the U.S. National team? Is the group of strikers that include Brian Ching, Jozy Altidore, Ken Cooper Jr., Conor Casey good enough in your minds or too similar? Is the SOS call out to Brian McBride who has said he will help if needed and called upon? (See prior blog on Dempsey)

Agree or disagree?

The associated press has reported that Fulham and U.S. striker Clint Dempsey has injured his knee.
The injured ocurred during Fulham’s 2-0 loss against Blackburn today.
Dempsey went off injured in the 62nd minute and will receive a scan to find out the true extent of his injuries.

“Clint will be scanned tomorrow, but we feel it might be a posterior cruciate ligament, which would be very bad for us and he would be out for awhile,” Fulham manager Roy Hodgson said. “It’s a concern up front because Dempsey is very useful for us.”

Yeah Roy, and very useful for the U.S. National team. In fact his value and importance to the U.S. has gone up with huge injury concerns over striker Charlie Davies and defender Oguchi Onyewu.
The United States open up the World Cup campaign in South Africa against England on June 12, Slovenia on the 18th and finish group play against Algeria on the 23rd.

“The doctors are pretty good these days- I would like to see them wrong more often,” Hodgson said. “Often their initial diagnosis appears to be the correct one when the scan is made.”

Dempsey is a native Texan and has scored goals of importance during his career. U.S. striker stable looks like this currently…..Jozy Altidore, Brian Ching, Conor Casey, Ken Cooper Jr. Without jumping to conclusions where does Landon Donovan now play as Bradley has favored him in midfield and his role out wide is expanding by the day at Everton.

Is this a disaster for the U.S. National team?