Tonight SOCCER MATTERS goes two hours from 8-10 cst on Sports Talk 790.
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Topics: * U.S. womens soccer in trouble?
* Dynamo player needs and possibilities
* Mexican Futbol league report with Rodrigo Deluna
*Break down of Man City v. Landon Donovan, Tim Howard and Everton
*Break down of Man U v. Stoke

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The U.S. women’s national team will take on Canada in the final of Concacaf Women’s Olympic soccer qualifying. Both teams have qualified for the 12 team London Olympics this summer but will want to finish the tournament as champions.
The U.S. are un-scored upon in the tournament and have scored a mind blowing 34 goals mostly against inferior competition. Still, in their defense they have played with intensity, a fire in the belly and with focus on the task at hand. The depth of the squad has been the real story but as of late the team has been dependent upon getting their goals of set pieces.
They defeated a competitive Costa Rica in the semis to book their ticket.

If Canada ever wanted to capitalize on momentum and defeat the U.S., today would be the day. They are led by the tournament’s outstanding player in Christine SInclair and will have 25, 000 fans urging them on today at 5pm Pacific time on NBC Sports Network the former versus.
This will be more than a glorified friendly match and one would expect this one to be very physical in nature as both teams will look to disrupt the other’s rhythm.
Interested or not in the womens final? Tell me?

Twitter: GlennDavisSoc

If you watch Universal Sports (Direct tv) today or Universalsports.com you will see the women qualify for the London Olympics. No I am not being disrespectful to their opponents Costa Rica but the reality is the United States women are clearly superior in Concacaf.
In three games against the Dominican Republic, Guatemala and Mexico they have scored 31 goals and given up 0. The fact is they could have played all these games without a goalkeeper and won them. Fact.
The reason for the Gulf of difference between the U.S. and the rest is simply that womens sports are treated seriously in the United States, it is a part of the fabric of sports in the U.S. As much as many want to point the finger at FIFA for the lack of womens sports interest in many countries we must still realize it is cultural and governments must be held accountable as well. Could Fifa do more to engage these governments to the benefits fo womens sports, of course.
The U.S. women deserve tremendous credit for their performances that have been aggressive, focused and serious. It is not their problem that competition lacks and their mission is to win a gold medal. The depth is impressive, the attention to the task at hand impressive as well.
We might have a talking point with a potential injury to Hope Solo but the fact is she has made three saves in three matches and none were a threat. NO one has created a good chance against the U.S. and that includes a Mexico squad that had 14 players who had connection to U.S. colleges. Yes, the U.S. college system is still the main supplier of players to the Mexican Womens national team.
Today will be no different against Costa Rica and the U.S. will book their ticket to London. Sunday could see a different challenge in the final against Canada if they get past Mexico.
Just my thoughts.

AMERICAN PLAYERS ON THE BIG STAGE
How good does it feel to be connected to U.S. soccer in whatever form.
Whether you are a former player, fan, or just a patriot, it is great to see a game today on FSC (2cst) between Everton and Fulham that features two true American stars in Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey.
Dempsey recently produced a hat trick in the EPL, a first for an American player.
Donovan has spent the majority of his career of course in MLS but has stepped into Everton for the second time and has impressed.
Dare we say it is DEMPSEY v. DONOVAN today? Why not!

Twitter: GlennDavisSoc

Dynamo manager Dominic Kinnear was excited to have his squad back on the field for the opening of pre-season today.
Here are a few quotes from the head man:

ON BEING OUT THERE

“It was good to get back together. For me there is no better place to be then on the field. Everyone is excited and the attitude was excellent.”

ON PRE-SEASON TRAINING

“We try to get as many games as possible. We have roster spots to fill. Our pre-season is six to eight weeks. The first week we play the Academy team, HBU and San Jacinto. If guys struggle against them it makes it easier.”

ON NOT BEING ABLE TO SECURE SCOTTISH STRIKER KRIS BOYD

“It was big money we were throwing at him. We tried our hardest, it’s frustrating.”

The Dynamo also have in camp Darryl Roberts from Trinidad and Tobago, 26, a striker that is on trial through their trip in pre-season to LA. Roberts has played in both the Netherlands and in Turkey.
He went to Liberty College, has represented T&T and started at Sparta Rotterdam in Holland where he scored 13 goals in 34 games. He then went to Denilzispor in Turkey where he struck 28 times in 80 games.
Prior to these clubs he was a member of the Carolina Dynamo.

Dominic Kinnear has recently been down in Honduras taking in Motagua against Real Espana . This was reported in the Honduran press the Dynamo still seem linked to Oscar Boniek Garcia a wide midfield player.

The Dynamo also had interest and contact with former UNAM Pumas and Mexican International Pablo Barrerra but were not able to strike a deal despite their interest. Barrerra likely would have come at a high cost as he is currently on loan at Zaragoza on loan from West Ham United.
Fans should also realize that the Dynamo are compromised of two ownership groups and both I assume likely will have to sign off on any player acquisitions. One group may be all for a deal but it could get shot down by the other.

Twitter: GlennDavisSoc

Calling two consecutive soccer matches on Universal Sports to the scorelines of 14-0 and 13-0 was certainly a first and not easy. You must keep dignity and respect for the country that is over-matched yet be truthful about what is being seen.
The U.S. Women defeated the Dominican Republic and Guatemala by the above scorelines. In the first game Amy Rodriguez came off the bench to score five second half goals and in the second game Sydney Leroux did the same thing.
It is hard to judge or measure things from a game like this but I am impressed by the U.S. women for this reason: in games like this teams and players can lose interest or begin to become selfish. None of this happened with the U.S. who remained focused in these two “training” exercises and their collective effort did not fray or turn “individual” or “selfish” which games like this have a tendency to do. The mental acumen was on display as the U.S. women continued to take both of these games serious.
They have an edge and a fire and it will be interesting to see if Mexico can be competitive on Tuesday.
The large win over the Dominican Republic came at a cost as Ali Krieger was straight legged by a defender and her Olympic dreams have disappeared for this summer in London. The danger of these types of games.

CITY WIN, UNITED WIN
Some great games in the EPl this weekend and Manchester City pulled out a beauty of a three points against Spurs with the late Mario Balotelli pk while Manchester United took the full three points at Arsenal.
My money is still on United with their experience to win the EPL title narrowly.

DYNAMO OFF AND RUNNING
The Dynamo today are off and running with their pre-season training.
Some moves have strengthened the squad but it will be interest to see who the Dynamo secure as a higher profile attacking move. Squad still looking for strikers and a wide midfield player that can widen the game out.
This season is going to be remarkable in the new BBVA Compass Stadium.

MEXICO vs. VENEZUELA
Wednesday El Tri comes to their Houston home to take on Venezuela.
Tickets can be purchased at Ticketmaster and Fiesta Ticketmaster.
Lets hope Venezuela decides to try and attack a bit more than in their 1-0 loss to the U.S.

Dynamo All Access and Soccer Matters will not air this week but return next week at their normal times.

What is on your soccer mind? Questions?

Former Dynamo , current Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Ricardo Clark snapped in a header in the final minute of an international friendly against Venezuela to give the U.S. a 1-0.
The U.S. got a late reward on a night that saw them clearly push for the win against their South American counter-parts.
The game lacked fluidity like many of these games that come off a January national team camp but did end up positive with the header from Clark off a corner kick.
Hmmm, wonder if Rico would like to play in a new stadium?
On another note the most dangerous forward on the night was Chris Wondoloski who came on as a second half sub.
Geoff Cameron had a solid performance at the back for the U.S. in his first ever match as a central defender.
More Dynamo connection came in the former of Alejandro Moreno who played up front for the Vinotinto.
Venezuela takes on Mexico next week at Reliant Stadium. Tickets available at ticketmaster and Fiesta Ticketmaster.

twitter: GlennDavisSoc

When the United States takes on Venezuela tonight 8p on Galavision or espn3 all eyes might just be on Dynamo Geoff Cameron.
With the United States needing a boost at center back Cameron might just be the type of player that could bring a bit of uniqueness to the position and add an interesting piece to the U.S. back four.
Athletically his range and mobility is excellent and catapults him to the top at this position on the U.S. depth chart. His skill set, ability to initiate attacks from this area via the pass or by running the ball out of the back are assets.
Laterally his cover can be excellent.
We have seen him do all this things in MLS play but it now has to translate over the international game. His coach Jurgen Klinsmann mentioned many positive things about Cameron to me in an interview I did recently.
Cameron has been quoted as saying that the players in camp are thoroughly enjoying the environment that Klinsmann has created.
Cameron has been in these camps before but really was never considered as a center back by former manager Bob Bradley at the time.
Tonight could be a big step for Cameron internationally.

Twitter: GlennDavisSoc