Soccer Matters with Glenn Davis on Fox Sports Houston presented by MEMORIAL HERMANN SPORTS MEDICINE INSTITUTE today at 5pm and Friday at 1:30 pm on Comcast and ATT UVerse…Guests Adrian Serioux and Pat Onstad of the Dynamo, reaction to CBA, Lionel Messi on fire in Europe, Dempsey kills off Juventus, to ten goals from around the world plus we hear from you the fan!!!
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BARRETT DESERVES PRAISE
The end of an outstanding career now leads to the beginning of a coaching career for Dynamo defender Wade Barrett as he is apparently set to be named a Dynamo assistant coach tomorrow at a Thursday press conference. Barrett and Erik Ustruck were both left of the Dynamo roster which had to be submitted to the league today in order to comply.
The Dynamo now have a roster spot and additional room under the salary cap .
I have always respected the professional attitude of Barrett, his talents and his respect for the game of soccer. I liked the way he went about his business even when he was unfairly and solely criticized by some for the Dynamo loss to the New York Red Bulls in the 2008 playoffs. One of the first times I met Barrett was when he like many of the San Jose players stood on the steps of City Hall pretending that they were excited about coming to Houston. The second time was when I ran into him and his wife in the Heights when they were looking for a place to live. I always liked his genuine nature.
When a kid out of Virginia Beach, Virginia goes to William and Mary College, then becomes an MLS All Star and best 11 player, wins three MLS Cups and earns contracts in Denmark (Aarhus) and Norway (Fredrikstad) we realize it has been a real journey for the Dynamo captain who hoisted two MLS Cups in 2006 and 2007 .
The fact is that the end is always closer to a career than some may think and Barrett through injury and performance last year fell out of first team soccer. But again, I watched a professional fight to get back into the first team. Yes, Barrett was a consumate team player, the kind that sometimes is under-appreciated and needs to be recognized more. One thing is clear, he has had an outstanding career, led by example and is a part of Dynamo lore and something tells me he will take his ethic as a player into a role as a coach.
Erik Ustruck was also dropped and deserves a mention. Ustruck was a great kid and I will remember him for coming on the field with an injury depleted Dynamo in Seattle in front of 30,000 fans and ably holding his own on a day the Dynamo produced an excellent effort and lost out on a controversial goal when Mike Chabala kicked a ball of the line.
Thoughts on Barrett?
OTHER DYNAMO NEWS
Lovel Palmer is still working on getting his paperwork together in Jamaica and at the earliest will be back Friday which makes him doubtful for Saturday at FC Dallas. Cam Weaver is also out with a knee strain so Dominic Kinnear will choose from three strikers in Dominic Oduro, Brian Ching and Luis Landin.
Both Richard Mulrooney and Adrian Serioux will be motivated to play against their former team. FC Dallas should start College Station’s Brek Shea who also has youth national team experience.
SEATTLE and PHILLY open up 2010 season tomorrow at Qwest Field (8:30 pm on ESPN2). A sell-out crowd faces the Philadelphia Union under manager Peter Nowak. It will certainly be a baptism by fire and one wonders if Philadelphia will be able to deal with the environment? James Riley is suspended and former Dynamo Patrick Ianni could get the start for the Sounders.
Sebastien LeToux heads back to Seattle after getting picked in the expansion draft……..
*I will be hosting Dynamo All Access the radio show this Monday at Lucky’s Pub in downtown Houston as we get set for the Dynamo home opener against Real Salt Lake on Thursday.
The show will be live from 7-9pm and Dynamo players Bobby Boswell and Adrian Serioux in attendance.
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I will miss his leadership and intensity most of all. A transition to coaching makes perfect sense at this time and makes the best coaching staff in MLS only stronger. I’m sad to see these guys go but its a part of soccer.
We now must look forward to getting the job done up in Frisco. To better support the Dynamo on the road, we’ve put together bus and game ticket packages and only have a couple left!
Thanks to Barrett and Ustruck for their time here.
Wade will be the first retiring Dynamo player and internal player-staff promotion for sure. That is worth something I think. Maybe I’ll get his shirt now, can’t jinx a former player!
Great move he deserves it.
Captian Wademerica he is and Captain Wademerica he will always be. The man deserves to be an assistant coach and has all the makings of a great head coach someday.
Glenn, what do you think about Dynamo pursuing Pat Noonan now that Rapids have waived him? He looks like just the kind of reclamation project that Kinnear/Spenser turn into gold. And with Weaver nursing an injury, Oduro lacking a consistent finishing touch and questions in midfield, a fit and productive Noonan would seem to fit in quite well here.
Wade’s retirement is a historical moment for the franchise. His leadership was so crucial to those MLS cup teams. He’s one of those guys whose presence inside of the locker room may not be truly appreciated by us fans.
Any thoughts about retiring his number? 24 would look rather strange on anybody else’s back.
Glenn,
I commend the Dynamo for finding a way to hold onto a valuable resource like Wade. It is difficult to see our player and captain, a vital part of the former Quakes and Dynamo successes, walk away from the game but I am glad to see that he will remain w/the Dynamo organization. This speaks volumes to his value off the pitch as much as on, and I like the message it sends to the rest of the organization, the fans, and the league. As a relatively new organization in a league that is still trying in many ways to find its feet, the Dynamo are cultivating the kind of positive culture that we will one day look back at w/great pride.
The images of Wade twice lifting the MLS Cup will be etched in our memories forever. I think I speak for many Dynamo fans when I say thanks for the early glory days as our first capo Wade and best of luck in your new role w/the Dynamo.
Well I should have read your blog first. So Barrett will stay with the Dynamo as assistant coach. But what about Spencer? Has he left? Barrett can bring to the organization so much more than just a coaching presence. I seem him in years to come in the front office. Glad you are staying Wade!
I agree with all of the above sentiments on Wade.
So who now is the new captain? Ching? Boswell? Davis? Mullan?
On the topic of reclamation projects I would love the Dynamo to bring in the recently released Danny Szetela. He’s only 22, he looked so good in the U-20 world cup, and he’s a midfielder. I imagine Kinnear could do wonders for him. Glenn, do you have any insight into your fellow NJ native?
It seems unusual for a player who so recently was a started and never really played consistently in a reserve role to retire, but I think it’s good for Wade as his playing time would likely have diminished this year quite a bit. What do you think about a player who becomes a coach so soon after playing. At least he had a leadersip role as captain, but I think it’s better if players take a few years off first. Of course this is a generalization and I wish him the best. Is the assistant coach thing coverage for when Spencer inevitably gets a head coaching position?
Too bad about ustruck. Think he’ll catch on with another team?
Dallas released van der berg! Come on dynamo! Grab that!
O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done;
The ship has weather’d every rack, the prize we sought is won;
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring:
But O heart! heart! heart!
O the bleeding drops of red,
Where on the SIDELINE my Captain STANDS
Thank you captain, my captain.
Ramiro. If that’s not read over the tannoy at the RSL game, then it would be a crime!! We all need to give Capt. Wademerica a rousing Dale Dale April 1.
Wade Barret, the original captain of the Houston Dynamo. He is true class. I will always remember him as the Championship captain. Dynamo fans will never forget Wade Barret.
+1 for no one ever wearing 24 again.
Glenn, any truth to the rumer about the Dynamo signing 19 yr old Vincenzo Bernardo or 22 yr old Danny Szetela?
Great testimony to Wade Barrett as for Szetela, I wonder if anyone will take a shot at turning him around, that is if he wants to come off his high horse. An example of a kid that let the press clippings go to his head. Badly managed for sure…..always seemed to me to walk around as though he achieved so much in the game?
No coach it seems got through to him…..
Glenn – Jacked to get MLS season underway tonight.
Philly walks into lions den in thier first ever game.
Sure atmosphere will be outstanding.
As usual, watched several hours of ESPN, ESPN 2, and ESPN News this week, never once saw commercial promoting tonight’s game. What a Great broadcast partner.
William,
I do not know what it will take to convince those in television and with clubs in MLS that without aggressive tertiary support during the week on the radio and tv ala other professional sports leagues it is difficult to engage fans.
Jose, don’t know anything about Bernardo or Szetela, although someone might snap him up for a song and a dance to see if he wants to resurrect his career .
Hasn’t proven a whole lot except for a solid U20 World Cup .
I commend the Orange for retaining one of their most important players after his playing days are over. Loyalty is so difficult to find nowadays. That leaves a roster spot open and it would appear to me that an attacking midfielder or a forward would be the thing to do. Seeing that Van der Berg was released by Dallas recently, made me think what a nice fit he would make with this team. I always considered him to be a hard working player and with the right organization, I feel he can be rejuvenated for several more years. I think he would be a good fit here and feel someone will pick him up if the Orange don’t. Serioux coming back is another good move by the organization. Don’t know about Palmer yet but evidently DK has seen good things in him or they would not have signed him. I am so glad the strike was averted and a new stadium is in the wings. Let’s all hope for a good season. Go orange!
Looking forward to the match tonight. Going to be interesting to watch the Union this year… tons of young talent in Amobi Okugo (2014 WC hopeful), Danny Mwanga, Jack McInerney, Kyle Nakazawa, and Chris Seitz. They should get thumped by Seattle tonight but will be a fun year overall.