The DYNAMO will hopefully get their game played tonite at RFK. The old stadium has been snake-bitten but still remains one of the great environments in MLS, that is provided the lights come on. The Dynamo will have a full roster tonite except for Richard Mulrooney (Knee) and Rico Clark (suspended). You can only imagine how much scrambling occurred when this announcement was made yesterday with flight arrangements, players headed to the Olympics and All Star game………lots of other variables to consider for Dynamo staff and players……..

With the EPL season right around the corner, Sir ALEX FERGUSON is already firing up Chelsea coach FELIPE SCOLARI. Ferguson has been quoted as saying “I’m not concerned about Chelsea” and “Avram Grant did a good job and Mourinho won the title two years in a row and beat us in the F.A. Cup Final”. How is that for a wind-up to the new Chelsea boss.
Ferguson loves to work the media and lets face it brings alot of “edge” and “showmanship” to the EPL……a few more quotes from MLS coaches like this would do well to market the league. And on that note….lets just hope that all MLS players realize where the league is and where it was (dire trouble a few years ago). The times may be good now relative to the past but lets not rest on the laurels…….this league has a long way to go and players should always make themselves available to the media to promote the awareness of the sport….I believe that is in the job description of players signing in this league.

*RED CARD….this is laughable and sad. We go to South America where UNION ESPANOLA midfielder Francisco Castillo was found guilty of stealing mobile phones. He was sentenced to 541 days on parole. His movements will be monitored and he will not be dismissed by the club. Teammates have been said to be monitoring their cell phones closely.

*OLYMPIC participation is not coming easy for all yet HAMBURG has jumped in line allowing 22 year old Belgian VINCENT KOMPANY to participate in the Olympics. Meanwhile SCHALKE and WERDER BREMEN are upset that players RAFINHA and DIEGO have joined up with BRAZIL for Olympic preparation. So how important are the Olympic soccer games really in the vein of everything? Tell me…..

*One of the great scenario’s to keep an eye on in the upcoming BUNDESLIGA season will be JURGEN KLINSMANN coaching BAYERN MUNICH. It will be interesting to see if the German messiah and inspirational leader can do it on a daily basis with a club as large as BAYERN who are thirsting to get back into the limelight…

*Silently scoring goals is ANTE RAZOV of CHIVAS USA who now has 6 goals in 6 games…….

* You remember Brazilian striker BARE right of GAMBA OSAKA….hit for a hat trick against the DYNAMO in the PAN PACIFIC CUP…..he is set to leave GAMBA OSAKA for AL AHLI in the UNITED ARAB EMIRATES….The 26 year old would have been a great fit for MLS…….

*DYNAMO tonite vs DC on CHANNEL 55 and 790thesportsanimal plus tomorrow night you can catch the MLS ALL STARS against WEST HAM UNITED on ESPN2 but most importantly get set for PACHUCA and the DYNAMO in the SUPERLIGA next TUESDAY at ROBERTSON….this is gonna be a “beauty”.

To all the great soccer fans your support of the sport in the media is making a huge difference………

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A power out-age at RFK Stadium has cancelled tonite’s Dynamo vs. DC game.
The game will be re-scheduled for tomorrow night and will be aired on Channel 55…….

As fate would have it the Dynamo will take on Pachuca in the semi-finals of the SUPERLIGA at Robertson Stadium on July 29th.
These two clubs have produced fantastic games over their short history going back to their initial meeting when the Dynamo defeated them 2-0 at Robertson Stadium in Concacaf play.
What about last year’s semi-final at Robertson Stadium that went to penalty kicks……..remember Joseoph Ngwenya trying to chip “Tuzos” goalkeeper Miguel Calero?
Pachuca has changed personel some over the last two years but the heart and soul of the team is still players like GABRIEL CABALLERO, CHRISTIAN GIMENEZ, DAMIAN ALVAREZ and the “pirate” CALERO. Add to this mix now BRUNO MARIONI up front and they are formidable….fans are in for a a treat as this rivalry continues to grow in stature between the DYNAMO and PACHUCA……The DYNAMO are at DC tomorrow night in league play before taking on PACHUCA…

DYNAMO ALL ACCESS TONITE WITH GLENN DAVIS FROM 7-9pm

*CALL IN NUMBER 713-212-5790 we want to hear from YOU….after all HOUSTON this is your show!
* STUART HOLDEN and DOMINIC KINNEAR will be a part of the show plus more guests..
* SUPERLIGA, TRANSFER TALK and the return of NATE JACQUA on the show..
*HOUSTON YOUTH TEAMS AT nationals plus more, more , more
*ticket giveaways

This was big.
After and emotional effort lacking five starters on Tuesday in front of 28,000 fans at Robertson Stadium, one wondered how the Dynamo would respond in DC with their SUPERLIGA future on the line. The answer: they got it done. Well most likely at the time of the posting of this blog yet the results of Chivas and Atlante still have to bear out.

A RICARDO CLARK goal in the 12th minute was followed by a 28th minute goal from BOBBY BOSWELL against his former team.
The 2-0 halftime lead was cut to 2-1 by FRANCIS DOE in the 76th minute but by then DC UNITED coach TOM SOEHN had subbed out a number of starters preparing for TUESDAY’s league game against the DYNAMO.
STUART HOLDEN would cap off a solid performance with the third DYNAMO goal after being played in by BRIAN CHING who returned to the lineup. Additionally EDDIE ROBINSON got 64 valuable minutes ahead of Tuesday where the Dynamo will again take on DC United. More MEXICAN competition in the future? We’ll see after tonite’s and tomorrow’s other results in the SUPERLIGA. For now revel in the fact that the team has advanced and that is what tournament play is all about.

TORONTO 0 SAN JOSE 0

Former Norwich midfielder Darren Huckabee , former Roma player Francisco Lima and Scott Sealy all debuted for San Jose at Toronto. Toronto remains undefeated at home in a game that featured few legitimate scoring chances.
San Jose’s Joe Cannon stopped a late penalty from Amado Guevara to secure the road point.
Toronto was able to get wide players in to good areas throughout the night but suffered from poor delivery in many cases from wide men Lauren Robert and Rohan Ricketts not to mention others………Even the normally racuous Toronto fans where tame to a degree on this day……..

This was big.
After and emotional effort lacking five starters on Tuesday in front of 28,000 fans at Robertson Stadium, one wondered how the Dynamo would respond in DC with their SUPERLIGA future on the line. The answer: they got it done.
A RICARDO CLARK goal in the 12th minute was followed by a 28th minute goal from BOBBY BOSWELL against his former team.
The 2-0 halftime lead was cut to 2-1 by FRANCIS DOE in the 76th minute but by then DC UNITED coach TOM SOEHN had subbed out a number of starters preparing for TUESDAY’s league game against the DYNAMO.
STUART HOLDEN would cap off a solid performance with the third DYNAMO goal after being played in by BRIAN CHING who returned to the lineup. Additionally EDDIE ROBINSON got 64 valuable minutes ahead of Tuesday where the Dynamo will again take on DC United. More MEXICAN competition in the future? We’ll see after tonite’s and tomorrow’s other results in the SUPERLIGA. For now revel in the fact that the team has advanced and that is what tournament play is all about.

TORONTO 0 SAN JOSE 0

Former Norwich midfielder Darren Huckabee , former Roma player Francisco Lima and Scott Sealy all debuted for San Jose at Toronto. Toronto remains undefeated at home in a game that featured few legitimate scoring chances.
San Jose’s Joe Cannon stopped a late penalty from Amado Guevara to secure the road point.
Toronto was able to get wide players in to good areas throughout the night but suffered from poor delivery in many cases from wide men Lauren Robert and Rohan Ricketts not to mention others………Even the normally racuous Toronto fans where tame to a degree on this day……..

The DYNAMO in a hugely important SUPERLIGA match tonite at RFK Stadium. Taking two games in a row at RFK is the plan as the Dynamo will play a league game on Tuesday.
Olympians STUART HOLDEN and PATRICK IANNI will be available through Tuesday. Holden is fit and available for selection along with EDDIE ROBINSON and DWAYNE DEROSARIO. My thoughts are now it is time for DeRosario, Robinson and Ching to get down to the business end of getting done here in the SUPERLIGA and league. Too many missed games due to suspension from Robinson and DeRosario so it is time to produce.
The DYNAMO squad put out against CHIVAS this past Tuesday deserve tons of credit for the effort and the evening. Faith restored with that effort.

DYNAMO RATE ON TV

The Dynamo drew an overnight rating of 4.20 in Houston on Telefutura. Both the rating and share (7) were higher in Houston than any other market. The Astros average 3.36 rating on FSN to put it in perspective. These numbers are a good sign and reminder of the importance to being tied in with the Mexican soccer fan…….

HDNET in TORONTO

I am in Toronto and I must say there is a good prescence as always around for TORONTO FC. The ALL Star game will be held here next week. Lets see if DARREN HUCKERBY for SAN JOSE gets a run tonite and if 17 year old ABDUS IBRAHIM makes an appearance after scoring against Chicago last weekend…….Former Dynamo KELLY GRAY is a member of San Jose along with RYAN COCHRANE……3pm Eastern kickoff on HDNET

The harsh reality of professional soccer came down today on Dynamo striker FRANCO CARACCIO who was released.
Caraccio, 21 was signed in February from ARSENAL de SARANDI in ARGENTINA. In eleven games Caraccio produced 2 goals to go a long with an assist.
Something had to give in order to acquire NATE JACQUA who will provide the DYNAMO with another target up front.
Caraccio is a better technical player than NATE JACQUA…no one will argue that but he didn’t seem to strike up the right partnership with BRIAN CHING. In fact only DWAYNE DEROSARIO has done that in a role as a striker yet that was only a temporary fix.
The way MLS is structured players that are in the 70k to 120k range need to be playing in most cases and producing……it is a danger zone. More on this in the future…Caraccio started and played against Chivas on Tuesday night and performed admirably ….So what do you think of this move from the Dynamo?

For the best in soccer talk and highlights, check out the Dynamo Soccer Report with Glenn Davis Friday at 9:30 on Channel 55 . This week, Glenn interviews Dynamo Head Coach Dominic Kinnear as well as DC United head coach Tom Soehn. We head out to Robertson Stadium to catch the highlights of the Dynamo in Superliga action. Plus, we talk about the Dynamo’s upcoming schedule which will now include Nate Jaqua. Rumors, rants, and raves along with your viewer mail round up what is going to be an exciting show.

DYNAMO players Patrick Ianni and Stuart Holden are off to represent the United States at the Beijing, Olympic games. They will play their final game for the Dynamo this Tuesday against DC at RFK Stadium. What an honor to represent your country……….

Lets examine the overage player choices by PETER NOWAK the US Olympic under 23 coach. Veteran BRIAN MCBRIDE has been chosen to play up front after concluding his career at FULHAM and now heading back to MLS…….BRAD GUZAN recently sold to ASTON VILLA is also in the mix while defender MICHAEL PARKHURST rounds out the trio. Simply yes in most cases you want strength up the middle of the team and that is exactly what these players will bring. Experience and personality are a big part of these choices but remember also that many of the choices that NOWAK may have wanted to make became unavailable based on WORLD CUP qualifying. Would he have preferred LANDON DONOVAN, CARLOS BOCANEGRA and TIM HOWARD? Quite possibly but this is the problem with serving two masters with the WORLD CUP and OLYMPICS. We all know where the priority lies.
The U.S. group is a difficult one with JAPAN, NETHERLANDS and NIGERIA…..Thoughts?

The NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION continue their SUPERLIGA success with a 1-0 win over PACHUCA on a stoppage time penalty kick from KHANO SMITH….The Revolution have now advanced to the semi-finals along with CHIVAS…..they also defeated PACHUCA. They have done this without TAYLOR TWELLMAN and one has to think that STEVE NICOL’s international experience as a player is playing into this success…..More good news came in the form of CHIVAS USA defeating defending MEXICAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE CHAMPIONS Santos 1-0 as ANTE RAZOV again living up to the moment…..CHIVAS USA like the DYNAMO remains a possibility to advance and will take on NE next….CHIVAS USA got this win without a number of key players including Swiss International RALPH WICKY, Cuban striker MAYKEL GALINDO, starting defender LAWSON VAUGHAN, ALEX ZOTINCA and JUSTIN BRAUN who has been starting of late…all things considered these are very positive results…….

I don’t know who was winding me up but someone called the radio station Monday and left a message about STUART HOLDEN playing in EUROPE. At first I shrugged it off but lets face it ….it is a great possible as he holds a dual citzenship. He also has played in England with the Sunderland reserves in the past….players are ambitious and I am sure the DYNAMO are preparing for one day players like HOLDEN and CLARK to be tapped up. Nothing really new here but it again reminds everyone that rosters and the salary cap need to be expanded in MLS……
The OLYMPICS are a great platform to make a statement to European clubs and agents and those that are there know it.