I have always been a big proponent like many of width in any team’s attack.
Without “widening” out the game you allow defenses to remain compact. In order to achieve width in an attack that is effective you must penetrate in wide areas.
Translation=get behind outside backs to force central defenders to come out of the middle.

The Dynamo have the talented Brad Davis on the left side who is coming off a career year and is set to captain the squad.
Davis does not fit the traditional winger role in that he comes inside on many occasions to pose problems and choices for defenses. His movement inside either with or without the ball does generally open up space for left back Cory Ashe to bring width. Yes, it is on outside backs to get forward and bring the wide game as well.
This is the way that Kofi Sarkodie played the game in college, essentially he really was a midfielder for Akron because they had the ball for longer spells than opponents with Sarkodie bombing forward. With a recent U23 camp under his belt and a push to make the Olympic team, Sarkodie will look to gather playing time from the incumbent Andre Hainault at right back . The competition at the back could reap real benefits for head man Dominic Kinnear.

Danny Cruz and Colin Clark had a running battle last year on the right side of midfield, Cruz has since left for DC United and did provide energy and drive but not the technical sophistication of Clark. Clark, who like Davis has a wonderful skill set is a similar type “controlling” wide player. Admittedly he is a different player than he was before his knee surgeries. Now he controls the left side of the field and looks to combine off others to unsettled defenses as opposed to being a more traditional winger like in his days for the Colorado Rapids where maurauded up and down the flanks. Check out his interview on sports790.com under podcasts where he talks about how players must alter and change their game during their careers.

The Dynamo have other potential wide players in JeVaughan Watson who is athletic, unpredictable and does complicate the game unecessarily at times.
Academy product and local youth player Alex Dixon who scored the wonderful game winning goal against Real Salt Lake providing one of the most exciting moments of last year has quickness and may more than others fit the “traditional winger” mold. Still he played less than 90 minutes last year and to be fair would need room to make mistakes and grow into the position.

The Dynamo could be looking for this type of player to acquire as in the past Oscar Boniek Garcia from Honduras had been mentioned. A slashing type winger who could get behind defenses could give the Dynamo different options based on opponents. IT could also be the key to creating more space for their strikers.
It is on wide midfielders and outside backs to bring the much coveted threat and penetration from wide areas.

Twitter: GlennDavisSoc

The Houston Dynamo have partnered with Fox Sports Houston to broadcast 16 regular season games. This turns out to be the perfect compliment to the 6 games that will aired locally on channel 2 KPRC. Dynamo fans should find it easier to locate games this year between the two networks.
Significant? You bet it is. The Dynamo truly now have a great opportunity to penetrate even deeper into Houston’s sports consciousness. Couple this with a new stadium and the time is ripe to platform the sport. The organization needs to be applauded for getting this deal done!

Is it unrealistic to set the goal at BBVA Compass Stadium to sell out each and every time the Dynamo play? I say no!
The goal has to be to sell the stadium out regularly, make Dynamo games exclusive (something never achievable at Robertson) and drive people to watching the games on tv so that the value of Dynamo television goes up. More viewers equals a rating plus sponsorship dollars can now go up.
It is great for the club to be both on Channel 2 and on Fox Sports Houston from a credibility stand point as well.
For both of these networks they are making wise moves being involved in a sport that’s ceiling is extremely high, a sport that effects people throughout Houston on a daily basis despite the fact that some would like us to think otherwise.

Now more than ever is the time for Dynamo fans to rise, celebrate, enjoy and get passionate about your team and sport. Get on the radio and talk about it, every week you the fan have a platform with Dynamo All Access and Soccer Matters on Sports Talk 790. I await your opinions and comments!!!!

From the Dynamo and MLS, to the European Championships, Olympics, World Cup qualifying on the men’s side and the finish of leagues around the world….it is going to be an amazing year !!! The time is now!

Twitter: GlennDavisSoc

Tonight SOCCER MATTERS goes two hours from 8-10 cst on Sports Talk 790.
Access the show if you like on the internet at sports790.com or listen on IHEART Radio.

Call in number713-212-5790, contest line 713-212-3399

I want your opinions tonight!

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

Guests to be announced. Please give a follow at twitter: GlennDavisSoc or facebook: Glenn Davis

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?