When the Dynamo take on the Chicago Fire tonite at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Illinois not only will they be taking on one of the league’s best teams but they will also take on the league’s most influential player, Mexican International Cuauhtemoc Blanco.

Lets face it, every coach in MLS stands in front of his team talking about Blanco and how they can restrict his play.
Yet game after game despite the decline in his physical abilities Blanco with his brain (on field brain that is) and great skill influences game after game in MLS.

Tonite keep an eye on Ricardo Clark and lets see if he can take the edge off of Blanco. Now it is nice to highlight individual match-ups yet it will take a collective effort to track and deal with Blanco who has a great habit of making you think he drifts out of the game only to pick up a ball and make plays.

Thoughts on the Dynamo vs. Fire? A win in Chicago goes down as one of the great road wins of the year in MLS for Houston if they can pull it off.

Catch this game on Channel 55….should be a good one.

Both BRIAN CHING and RICARDO CLARK have been called into a group of players that will compete to represent the United States National team against England, Spain and Argentina in upcoming weeks. Former Dynamo NATE JACQUAis also listed in the group selected by Bob Bradley and he is listed as out of contract.
Concern around Brian Ching is how much can his body really take? Should he begin to think about abandoning international career to extend his overall career in MLS?
Numerous players have done it over their careers yet how do you turn down representing your country? And where does earning power and extending your career come in here for the talented striker?
These are tough decisions…….Sounds as though Bradley will platoon MLS players in for certain games while leaving a base of European players.
Tough timing on all of this yet World Cup qualifying is around the corner as is the Olympics, Superliga, Concacaf Champions Cup, MLS league play……..these rosters in MLS just can’t handle the strain.

OK on to the JOSEOPH NGWENYA situation. The Dynamo never wanted him to leave and rest assured they have had an eye on him since his departure hoping for a potential return.
This is not new news and based on MLS why wouldn’t you be monitoring him. For Ngwenya 59 minutes of playing time speaks for itself and Joseoph said their was a coaching change shortly after his arrival.

Another empty crowd at Dick’s Sporting Good’s Park last night on MLS Prime Time Thursday in Colorado. Yet the Rapids produce a 2-0 win.
Loved the OMAR CUMMINGS celebration with fans after his goal. Cummings has now got three for the Rapids.

DYNAMO AT CHICAGO this Saturday night is a marquee match up over the weekend in MLS, catch the action on Channel 55. Also the next Dynamo opponent the San Jose Earthquakes head to NE to take on the Revolution on HDNET if you want to look ahead to the next opponent. That will be an emotional return to San Jose for many of the Dynamo players and staff.

NICKSTEAM.ORG for the best youth soccer tournament you could ever play in!!!

Confirmed players for the Free Kick Masters skills competition at Reliant Stadium on July 5th.
Alessandro Del Piero- Juventus and Italy
Deco-Barcelona
BRAD DAVIS- USA, HOUSTON DYNAMO
DWAYNE DEROSARIO- CANADA, HOUSTON DYNAMO
Ronaldinho-Barcelona
Harry Kewell-Liverpool
Anatoly Tymoshchuk- Ukraine, Zenit St. Petersburg UEFC Cup Champions
Eddie Lewis-Derby, USA
Jared Borgetti- Mexico and Monterrey
Jozy Altidore-New York Red Bulls
Robert Pires-France , Villareal
Sun Ji -China
Sun Xiang-China
Brad Friedel-USA and Blackburn
Kasey Keller-Fulham and USA
Francesco Toldo-Italy and Inter Milan
Oliver Kahn-Germany and Bayern Munich
Farid Mondragon-Colombia and Koln

*Free Kick Masters officials confirm that they are in negotiation with Didier Drogba, Cesc Fabregas, Emmanuel Adebayor, Fernando Torres, Rafael Marquez, Thierry Henry and Zlatan Ibrahimovic , Juan Roman Riquelme among others.

*NOTE: Dynamo striker DWAYNE DEROSARIO and Canada will take on Brazil on May 31st at Qwest Field in Seattle.

*Make sure you check out the DYNAMO SOCCER REPORT WITH GLENN DAVIS this Friday at 9pm on Channel 55 to catch a piece on the impact of Cuauhetemoc Blanco on the Chicago sports scene.

So much to talk about today in the world of soccer.
Watched CHIVAS get crushed last night by MONTERREY in the Mexican league playoffs.
I became friends with Chivas head coach EFRAIN FLORES back in the 90’s when he was at Atlas as their youth director and RICARDO LAVOLPE was the head coach. Flores did a wonderful job setting up and structuring a youth system that developed players like PAVEL PARDO and RAFA MARQUEZ.
Watching Flores and LaVolpe go at it last night with their teams was interesting………JARED BORGETTI was as active as I have seen him in a long time and produced three goals after Chivas was gifted an early penalty. Huge result at Estadio Technologico for Rayados.
Chivas never looked comfortable and I forgot that OMAR BRAVO even played.

HOMEFORTHEDYNAMO.COM

You have to check out this website and appreciate what the fan is now capable of doing when it comes to creating awareness in Houston.
I am firmly behind this cause that supports a stadium and pumped that fans are speaking up with confidence!!
It wasn’t long ago fans were afraid to ask for the channel to be turned on to soccer in bar……Great work from passionate DYNAMO FANS and it will be impactful !!!

FREE KICK MASTERS ON AGAIN!!!

A 2PM press conference on the field at Reliant Stadium will announce the FREE KICK MASTERS skills competition that will take place in July at Reliant Stadium.
U.S. international Eddie Lewis will be there to announce an event that has an amazing line-up of players that will compete in free kick taking against some of the top goalkeepers in the world. Take the exciting element of free kick taking out of a game and this is what you have from various angles and distance.
A 1 million dollar prize at stake and amazing opportunity to see all these players on the field at the same time.
Check out this list of players so far:

RONALDIHNHO, DECO, JARED BORGETTI, ALESSANDRO DEL PIERO, JUNINHO, SU JI, JOZY ALTIDORE, HARRY KEWELL, RBOERT PIRES, EDDIE LEWIS, KASEY KELLER, BRAD FRIEDEL, FRANCESCO TOLDO, OLIVER KAHN TO NAME JUST A FEW.
ACCORDING TO FREE KICK MASTERS THEY ARE ALSO IN NEGOTIATION WITH JUAN RIQUELME, FERNANDO TORRES, EMMANUEL ADEBAYOR, SEBASTIAN VERON, FREDDY ADU, DIDIER DROGBA, RAFA MARQUEZ, LIONEL MESSI , ROBINHO AND CESC FABREGAS TO NAME JUST A FEW ,.

Houston continues to attract amazing events pertaining to soccer. FREEKICKMASTERS.COM

PLEASE consider supporting this hugely important tournament to fight cancer that is designed for youth players in a 6v6 just play format.
Go to www.NICKSTEAM.ORG for maybe the most important youth tournament you ever enter.

BARCELONA AND MLS IN AGREEMENT

Barcelona have signed a deal to partner with MLS so expect them to play games again this summer in the United States.
Hard to think Houston wouldn’t be a destination on that tour.

DYNAMO AT CHICAGO THIS SATURDAY
Don’t miss the Dynamo and Chicago Fire on Channel 55 this Saturday night .
The Fire and Blanco are 5-1-1 are for me currently the best team in MLS.
A win on the road at Toyota Park would be a positive step for the “ORANGE”.

DYNAMO SOCCER REPORT WITH GLENN DAVIS FRIDAY NIGHT AT 9:30 PM

Catch the show or tape it!
Highlights from the Dynamo win over Colorado, interviews with Dominic Kinnear and Brian Ching plus rumors, rants and raves.
Youth Club Profile, UEFA Cup and EPL highlights plus alot more.

Took in the Glasgow Rangers and Zenit St. Petersburg UEFA Cup Final today over at the Stags Head Pub.
Fantastic atmosphere in Manchester and the stadium was awash in blue and white the primary colors of both teams.
Now I know there are alot of broken Rangers hearts today in Houston and around the world but you can’t not admit that Zenit St. Petersburg where the better team despite being the lesser known.
After knocking of Bayern Munich of Germany this team awoke a number of people and for me they were clearly the favorite coming into this final.
Took the game in with Jan Christiansen of Danish Inspirations a sponsor of Dynamo All Access and the Dynamo Soccer Report on Channel 55.
We had a great time with a handful of fans at the Stags Head who watched the game and then Dynamo striker Brian Ching walked in and moments later Craig Waibel.
Ching and Waibel were gracious with their time and spoke to Dynamo fans that were in the house.
Ok, back to the game.
Posession clearly dominated by Zenit. Overall more skilled players throughout their eleven .
They pushed the attack throughout the game while Rangers played for the counter attack and almost got it on one occasion.
In the 72nd minute a well constructed goal from Igor Denisov proved to be the difference. The final pass to him going through the legs of a Rangers defender.
Konstantin Zurlanov produced the 2nd goal in the 90th minute to seal it.
Zenit manager Dick Advocaat was a former manager of Rangers. The better team clearly won missing their star striker.

Please consider this soccer tournament for a variety of reasons but first because it benefits children with cancer and the Texas Childrens Hospital.
It is an amazing facility and you may have recently read the magical story in the Houston Chronicle about Dynamo involvment with the Hospital.
I myself am also proudly involved in a small way and hope you can support this great 6v6 tournament that is being put on by my friend Nick Doize a teen who is battling leukemia.

It’s called NICK’S TEAM TOURNAMENT and is a 6v6 tournament that will take place at Bear Creek Park in June. Please go to NicksTeam.org and sign up your youth players.
No coaches needed , let the kids organize themselves and just play and have a great time while supporting the FIGHT AGAINST CANCER. If you want a purposeful meaning to play in a tournament there is none better than is. Some are not as fortunate as us and have to go through things that no child should ever have to face.
Hope to see you out there. FOR INFORMATION PLEASE GO TO WWW.NICKSTEAM.ORG
On an additional note there are always tons of Dynamo players at this event so you will be able to interact with them as well.

N

Zenit St. Petersburg of Russia will take on Rangers of Scotland in the UEFA Cup Final Wednesday at 1:30 Pm central time on the Fox Soccer Channel.
This is an interesting game because it pits Zenit coach Dick Advocaat against his former club Rangers .
Head over to Stags Head Pub at Sheperd and 59 to catch the game and some good grub.
Rumor has a few Dynamo players heading there for the game on their day off of training.

*My personal thanks to all the soccer fans including members of El Battalon and the Texian Army who came out and created a great environment at the Stags Head Pub this past Monday night. It really is a motivating synergy that is going on between fans and the great sport of soccer here in Houston.

*The Dynamo go on the road for three straight and the game in Chicago this Saturday at Toyota Park is one of the most interesting games of the weekend. Cuauhtemoc Blanco has definelty lived up to it.
Catch how Dynamo coach Dominic Kinnear intends to defend him on the Dynamo Soccer Report this Friday at 9:30 pm.
The show will also include an interview with Dynamo striker Brian Ching as well.

* Great to see the excitment in Cory Ashe after being called up to the u23 team.
Speaking to Ashe today he is clearly grounded and realizes this is a great opportunity and a late shot at potentially making the Olympic squad yet his intention is to just go and try and play the best that he can in the Toulon Tournament in France which will air next week on the Fox Soccer Channel.
Don’t forget the Dynamo will need their full roster this season with Dwayne DeRosario, Pat Onstad, Brian Ching, Ricardo Clark, Brad Davis, Stuart Holden, Patrick Ianni and Ashe all potential call ups for the U.S. National team and the Olympic team.

*I am watching Def Leppard on VHI right now and remember while playing in the ASL with the Pennslyvania Stoners, yes Stoners, we played in a celebrity game with Def Leppard band members and other media types in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
One of my teammates was a former captain of Hungary Joe Horvath. Def Leppard was from Sheffield, England and all the guys in the band including Joe Elliott were big soccer fans…..Not sure if they were United or Wednesday fans. Ironically the Houston Dynamo’s (not plural) of the eighties played Sheffield United to a 0-0 draw in Houston in the mid eighties. Sheffield United had former Liverpool player Phil THompson playing…ok, enough of the past.

*Just a reminder a division 2 NCAA soccer festival is in town. Just think of the type of games from youth, college, professional and onward that a soccer specific stadium and training facility could draw to Houston.
It would be amazing to one day see Boca Jrs, River Plate, Sao Paulo and other historic teams hit Houston for games.

*Yes I support partnering with TSU if it will get the stadium deal done which is apparently the case.
TSU is expected to put money into the deal….it also is a good political maneuver for both the college and soccer.
Would I take that arrangement as opposed to seeing the team moved to the suburbs…..in a heartbeat.

*Dynamo fans are creating a website to support the stadium cause and will be selling bumper stickers …more on this in the next day or two but it is so invigorating to see fans stepping up to the plate and not laying in the background silent.
Now is the time to have confidence in your game and not be afraid to speak up about it…….after all , you are backed around the world.

* I did interviews today with Tony Caig and John Spencer that were very interesting as they addressed the English Premier League and their time spent at Newcastle and Chelsea. Their candidness is refreshing. You will be able to catch the interviews on upcoming Dynamo Soccer Report shows on Friday’s at 9:30 pm on channel 55.

*HDNET will carry the San Jose at NE game if you want to catch the Dynamo’s next opponent after the Chicago Fire game this Saturday. Air time is 8:30 Eastern time.

If you missed Dynamo All Access with Glenn Davis then you missed a great night last night at the Stags Head Pub on Sheperd and 59. Dynamo fans came out in support of their team and the sport of soccer.
I personally want to thank all the fans that made it out including members of El Battalon and the Texian Army.
If you missed the show go to www.790thesportsanimal.com to hear from Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear, Dynamo midfielder Stuart Holden plus the Chicago Fire’s midfield duo of Justin Mapp and John Thorrington.

Ok here is my poll question…….Is it a good idea for the Dynamo to partner with TSU to get the downtown stadium done?

PS: There is a very important meeting on the stadium issue with Mayor White Tuesday…..Listen to the podcast here

Catch Dynamo All Access with Glenn Davis tonite on 790 The Sports Animal.
Fans can catch the show live at Stags Head Pub on Sheperd and 59 from 7-9pm. Dynamo players and coaches will be at the show live so head out and be part of the show.
Call in number is 713-212-5790…..the show streams live on the internet at MLSNET.com and 790thesportsanimal.com
See you tonite….

So Manchester United win the EPL title with a 2-0 win over Wigan. How ironic is it that Ryan Giggs scores…..amazing career.
Fulham avoid relegation with their fourth win in five games amazingly while Reading and Birmingham go down on goal difference…Rumor has it now that they could be handed a place in the qualifying round for next season’s UEFA Cup as reward for their success in the European Fair Play League…..who would have thought that would happen just a few month ago?

Give me your take on the weekend’s games in both Europe and MLS.

Ok I just landed in Houston from the LA/NY game and am interested in hearing your thoughts about the Dynamo 2-1 win over the Colorado. I have not seen the game yet but was excited to hear that the Dynamo got their first win of the 2008 season.
So apart from the result how did the Dynamo play?

Glenn

Fanaticos,
So the real question is …..will the Dynamo get their first win of the year?
The game can be caught on FSC at 7:30 but the real fans will be out at Robertson Stadium to take this one in live….Only if I could be in two places at one time……

We have spoken alot about the Dynamo lack of goal scoring………lets simplify it.
For me the wide play will need to improve tonite and that means Stuart Holden and Brian Mullan must get behind people out wide and turn the Rapids defense, get some good delivery and Brian Ching can attack a few crosses.

Many of the Dynamo chances are coming in front of opponents defenses, lets see if they can get behind people tonite.
Brian Mullan has found it hard to get past people out wide as of late, if he does this a bit tonite something tells me the Dynamo will get goals and a result. As for Holden it is tough for him to bring width to the team at times playing on the left side of midfield being predominately right footed. Chivas USA made it difficult for him last week and forced him to defend.
I truly believe Colorado will defend deep and play with a lone striker as per the past at Robertson Stadium from Fernando Clavijo even knowing they played well with two strikers last weekend against DC in a 2-0 at home.
So again the challenge could be breaking down a compact defense………As for me I am out in LA for the Galaxy vs. Red Bulls which is expecting a sold out crowd. Catch the game on HDNET at 9:30 pm central time if you happen to get home from the Dynamo game.

New York is hurting with Claudio Reyna, Seth Stammler both central midfielders out but expect Dane Richards formerly of San Jacinto College to potentially get a start. Lots of stars in this one Beckham, Donovan, Angel, Altidore etc……..New York much like Colorado will try to keep this tight which is their mode of operation on the road under Juan Carlos Osorio….So who actually opens up on the road these days in MLS?

What are your keys to the Dynamo against Colorado?