All-Stars was entertaining ... Who'd've guessed?

I wasn't really looking forward to the MLS All-Star game ... like most people, I'm sure. I wasn't sure if I would watch. Turns out I did, and I'm glad I did. The match was fun from beginning to end; and I even found it relaxing since I didn't care who won or lost.

West Ham played well, but the players weren't going to hurt themselves in the process. That, and the fact that the Hammers probably aren't match fit yet, was really the factor that led to the MLSers controlling possession and territory so well.

But what was cool was watching Blanco and Beckham play together. Blanco actually was off with his passing and had several give-aways, but started getting into the groove and ended the half with a clever, skillful goal curving so nicely into the net. His earlier assist was even sweeter: picking up a pass from Beckham, Blanco popped the ball up then heel-flicked it to Christian Gomez, who slotted the ball clinically into the far netting. Becks-Blanco-Gomez-goal: That play right there made the All-Stars worth it.

B-Fall's blog has a good summary of the game. Here is a good article talking about DeRo and Onstad playing two MLS games the same day and in different countries. DeRo is capping off his day with a party benefiting Nothing But Nets.

Beckham played all 90 and looked very strong, particularly since no one cared if he helped with the defending.

DeRo, had some good flashes as a late sub, including a dangerous run that won a PK. I was surprised that he took the PK, and it was tense seeing his blast ping-ponging off the crossbar and into the net. With the goal, DeRo has another game winner for the All-Stars. The Creative Canuck made some nice runs and passing combos, which was all the more surprising since he had just wrapped up his MLS match in DC that morning. He was certainly pumped to be in front of his hometown fans. He had a solid free kick late in the game (Becks kindly let DeRo take the kick, I wager).

Onstad wasn't tested much, but did well with what he faced. I was very surprised to see him inserted in (just after DeRo's PK), but it was good to see him playing in this honorary game, as he is still one of the best in the league.

Landon Donovan was off his game and didn't seem to do anything.

And what was the formation there at the end, when Hejduk and Bornstein came off for Buddle and Ralston? Was it a 2 5 3? Ralston must've been playing as a back. It would be nice if the announcers would, you know, cover the game and instead of laughing over inside jokes or commenting on the obvious ("So-and-so would like to have that one back"). THEY can see the entire field. THEY should tell us how the formation is morphing as the game plays out and especially as subs come in.

Speaking of announcers, I have got my whole family to detest the "as wells" that Harkes includes in every other sentence regardless of whether the phrase is relevant. In the off-season, maybe Harksie can go to a speaking coach. I complain because I care.

I thought it was laughable towards the beginning of the game when JP Dellacamera thought the Toronto fans would even consider chanting "We want Landon." No, Harkes was right: they were chanting "We want Brennan." And while it was cool that JPD mentioned DeRo played a 4 hour game last night, it'd be even cooler if he pointed out that DeRo actually finished playing that match THIS MORNING.

Finally, I don't know if it started to drizzle during the game, but the turf looked matted and slick by the end of the match. I didn't see a lot of sliding and falling, but the field sure looked worn. Was that an optical illusion or does that brand of turf have issues with heavy use?

All in all, great energy in the game. Good performance by the Dynamo reps. The MLS "super stars" (Becks, Blanco, and Angel, who looked onside when scored what would've been the 4th goal for the MLSers and would've been an assist for DeRo) all played up to the moment for the spectators. West Ham acquitted themselves well too.

I'd have to say that, other than my gripe about the announcers, the only negative of the whole night is that sad trophy presentation. Why is the MLS giving a trophy to itself in what is basically a friendly exhibition match? Who keeps it? Does the trophy go into the MLS headquarters' trophy case? This is a festival of soccer, not a meaningful competition. Invite both teams onto a stage. Let them swap jerseys. Pick an MVP, maybe even one from both teams. Thank everyone for coming. Then let the music blare and the confetti canons fire away. Having a "hooray for us" ceremony is just sad.

Speaking of shirt-swapping: did you see DeRo wearing (Anton) Ferdinand's shirt? With those cornrows, DeRo looked a bit like Anton's brother, Rio Ferdinand. Cool.

In Other news:
Check out Garber's "State of the MLS" speech. We'll have two more teams come 2011 it seems. Where will we get the quality players? Cannibalization? In the halftime interview, Garber said that the McBride situation has been resolved. It looks like he's going to Chicago. ("I hope he ends up in Chicago, yuk, yuk, yuk," Garber guffawed in the interview.)

In Toronto, Dynamo-Houston make the moves necessary to pick up the speedy forward they've been wanting: Kei Kamara. He has scored only 2 goals this year (so far!) and one of them was against us back in May. Here is B-Fall's take.

Do you ever feel that the Dynamo's 2nd striker position (Ching's partner) is kind of like the percussionist situation with Spinal Tap? The band could never keep a drummer due to all sorts of bizarre events, including spontaneous combustion. We've had Alejandro Moreno, Ronald Cerritos (kind of), Paul Dalglish, Nate Jaqua, Joseph Ngwenya, Franco Caraccio, Nate Jaqua again, and now Kei Kamara. That's not even considering the Reserves and midfielders that have played up there as band-aid approaches. Here's hoping that Kamara is the piece needed by the Dynamo to finish the season strong.

Media roundup (part deux)

ESPN Classic is hosting a series on The Art of Football, hosted by John Cleese. Don't know much about it, but it looks like it's going to start this Sunday, July 13, so check your listings. Maybe. The page for the show included a cool quote by uber-referee, Pierluigi Collina: "A good referee must defend creativity on the pitch. That is a very important role. If you make mistakes in this role, the beauty of the game and the creativity of the players can be influenced in a negative way." Amen.

I didn't attend the Free Kick Masters (and it sounds like it was a good thing I didn't), but I felt like I was there after reading Jen Chang's detailed account of the event. Here is his pre-event entry, with a tip o' the hat to DeRo. B-Fall also covered it in his blog.

And speaking of celebrity sightings, here's another nice recap of the Claudia Reyna-Steve Nash charity soccer game in New York last month. (More links here.) "This Is American Soccer" has some cool photos of the event.

Finally, check out the Dynamo blog. It quashes the rumor about DeRo going to FC Copenhagen, updates us on the Dynamo Academy's peformance in the SUM U-17 Cup tournament, and presents some nice photos of a few players and their wives at the Ronald McDonald House on June 27.

More on El Capitan ... and more

Here's the gameday preview from The Chron (Ching: "At times we are (playing like a champion); we have glimpses of that." Kinnear: "It's been kind of a mixed bag.") and the associated notes.

I'm not a big fan of NY City as a place to live, but there certainly are a lot of benefits. How about a "pick-up" game in the park with Steven Nash and Thierry Henry? Here's a blog that covers the individual performances, and here's Ives' live (and brief) commentary and Ives discussing the question as to why Reyna can play here, but not for the team that signs his paycheck.

As for the pick-up game: Yeah, I'm jealous. At least we get the Free Kick Masters (which isn't free).

Stadium-ish news
How about this late-breaking news about a new practice facility for the Dynamo. This has been in the works for some time.

Mayor Bill White unveiled plans for a regional amateur sports complex to be
built on Houston’s south side Thursday. White joined community partners to
discuss the future facility and to announce plans for a private fundraising
campaign to support development.

The planned 100-acre, 18-field complex,
bounded by Highway 288 and Kirby Drive on the east and west sides and Sims Bayou
on the south, will provide a world-class soccer facility for Houston area youth
and adult league play. It will immediately become a soccer destination for
regional and major tournaments.

The first phase of the project provides
for street and infrastructure improvements and construction of eight soccer
fields at a cost of $10 million and is to be completed by December of 2009.
Within the next 90 days, public works officials will present to city council
plans for infrastructure to support the facility and a contract ready to be
awarded for the extension of Kirby Drive.

Plans are being developed to
make the complex the training home for the two- time MLS Cup Champion Houston
Dynamo and its youth programs.

I'm sure the Chronicle will have more information later today.

Into the Belly of the Beast

So let's get this straight about tonight's match:

1. The Dynamo have had troubles on defense, and the two brightest spots (ERob and Onstad) are out injured. BoBo is out due to yellow card accumulation, so we will have to start our backup centerback and a non-centerback at centerback. And they'll be in front of a new goalkeeper who may be a bit shaky.

2. The midfield has a banged up Mullan who hasn't played a full match in forever, a banged up Davis who is so banged up he can't even start, and then Holden who is so banged up he didn't even make the trip. We'll have the still green Ashe on the left and maybe the rookie Cameron on the right.

3. The forwards haven't gelled yet.

4. Saprissa is the best of Costa Rica. They've won this tourney before. They are so hungry for victory tonight that they rested their players in their league match this past weekend. So they are rested and hungry. And playing at home. And with their best midfielder who missed the first match versus the Dynamo.

5. The venue is Saprissa Stadium near San José, and is renown as an unsettling place for visitors. It has artificial turf, and is far, far removed from the comforts of Robertson...or of the USA for that matter.

No problem. We have Barrett and Waibel in the back, and Mulrooney and Ianni are nothing to sneeze at. Clark will be at his D-Mid position and help snuff out attacks. Mullan will likely start and will instill a lot of energy into the attack, and DeRo will be in his usual spot. Ashe has his speed and Ching has an aerial game that is enhanced by one of Saprissa's weakness. Caraccio is beginning to fit into the system and will feel like he's at home in Argentina when the crowd gets rowdy.

No problem. This is where the stuff of legends is made.

Media Roundup
MLS preview is here.

More MLS coverage.

Preview from The Chronicle. And some more Notes.

Glenn Davis' observations and commentary.

ESPN talks about stacked decks.

Fox Sports (Fox Soccer) is carrying the game tonight, but has no articles or coverage of any kind on their website.

Go Dynamo!

A tie with El Tri

It's always exciting to see international soccer -- particularly US international soccer, of course -- here in Houston. Last night Reliant Stadium was LOUD. The crowd was passionate but surprisingly amicable. Heck, in the final 10 minutes of the game, US and Mexico fans alike sent a few waves around the stands.

(But then this morning has reports of a shooting in a parking lot. Cue the xenophobic, bigoted rants on chron.com.)

I thought a 2-2 draw was a fair result. The US goals were quality goals (and they almost had a 3rd) and the US should not have conceded goals it did. On the other hand, Mexico could have easily had at least two in the run of play without relying on the US being uncharacteristically disorganized on set plays. Furthermore, the US was too often disorganized at the back and its flanks were weak on both sides of the ball. Thus, 2-2 was a result both teams should appreciate.

As for that 3rd US goal, it turns out Dempsey was offside when the ball was initially passed to him. It's unfortunate that the center ref waited for -- what? -- 10 minutes and an apparent goal before calling it?

On the other hand, I think Jozy Altidore's breakaway in the first half -- long before the game's first goal -- was wrongly whistled dead. Altidore won the ball off clumsy possession play by Rafael Marquez, then Marquez successfully covered his gaffe by flailing to the ground after minimal contact, and Altidore's one-on-one with Mexico's GK, Ochoa, was whistled dead before Jozy could show us what he could do.

Some rambling thoughts...

• I am surprised that Bradley never subbed out any of his defenders, given how pathetic the back line looked at times. I expected to see Parkhurst at some point, and hoped to see Robinson, but Parkhurst was the only defending option on the bench (other than Lewis, when necessary).
• Bad news: the Dynamo website states that "Brad Davis is out indefinitely after suffering a right groin strain while training with the US Men's National Team, the team announced today. Davis has been evaluated by Dynamo medical staff. Stay tuned to houstondynamo.com for further updates." That explains why he didn't play. I think he would've fared better than Bobby Convey.
• And what has happened to Bobby Convey? He used to be a "player of the future." Now he looks indecisive and clumsy. He's had a hard road recovering from his past season-ending injuries and surgeries.
• I've always been on the fence with Michael Bradley, but his recent club play converted me to a Boy Bradley supporter. But his game last night was weak. His tackles are always suspect, but his passing is usually his strength. Last night saw several errant and intercepted passes -- which is inexcusable given that he should be in mid-season form. He maintained good possession on several occasions and successfully won back a ball after he had lost it near our defensive third, but wasn't much of a factor (in my opinion) overall.
• Maybe it's because there was no true attacking mid to work with, but I thought Clark, like Boy Bradley, was limited in his effectiveness in the middle. He had a journeyman effort, but not the creative and even controlling role he can demonstrate from the middle.
• Dempsey is still playing out of position I think. He's better as a right midfielder, but that's not a position where we're lacking in options.
• I'm trying to think of who did impress me. No one with any consistency. Several had shining moments, including those who I whined about in this post. I'd have to say Oguchi Onyewu fared the best. I wondered why he was taking the one throw in, then as it flew 50 yards into the penalty box I said "Oh, that's why." Then he followed up with that quality long range header into goal. He held the center of the back line pretty well (defense had its issues, but the biggest weaknesses were the flanks and he wasn't responsible for the poor coverage on the two Mexico goals) and his yellow card was undeserved. Furthermore, without Dave O'Brien in the booth, we didn't have to hear the constant reiteration that Onyewu is built like a linebacker. Other thoughts: Altidore probably had more good than bad. Tim Howard too, although I partly blame him for the disorganization of the back line. He realized the noise made communication difficult (and nearly took his captain, Bocanegra, out of the game), but he never seemed to take the opportunity to take corrective action. He had trouble controlling the wall formation even after halftime. He was having so much trouble with that in the first half that I thought the break would see that easy fix made, but nope!
• I can blame the rustiness of Clark, Donovan, Moor, and Altidore (if he had any) due to the fact that they are in pre-season form (and Moor and Altidore are young). Feilhaber and Convey might be excused because of their lack of time on the field for their clubs (but if they're not good enough for their clubs, what does it say about us that they're part of the top 18 for their country?). As for the others: no excuses.
• Dynamo fans, take heart: both of Mexico's goals can be blamed on FC Dallas. Drew Moor of Dallas blew his positioning and his marking on both goals. On set pieces no less. To repeat: the US lost to Mexico on set pieces.
• Moor halfway made up for his error with the great service to Jozy Altidore for the 2nd US goal. But that only accounted for half of the deficit Moor put us in. Moor had good service to Altidore late in the 2nd half too, but the cross was slightly deflected which affected ALtidore's timing and made his header go wide. Moor's successes are described on the MLS recap of the game, but the MLS recap attributes Moor's gaffes to anonymous "defenders".
• Question, is Jonny Magallon, who scored the brace for Mexico, any relation to Consul General of Mexico Carlos Gonzalez Magallon? The Consul General attended a Dynamo function (a reception for FMF Secretary General Decio de María) the night before the US-Mexico match. He must have enjoyed seeing his last name on the scoring sheet for his national team, even if he's not related to Jonny.
• And finally, we got to see the new ESPN broadcasting team of John Harkes and JP Dellacamera. I like both guys in general. It sounded like they've still got some work to do on their integration and chemistry; they didn't combine well on some of their commentary. Harkes has apparently worked on eliminating some of his annoyingly overused phrases/tics. Maybe the sound wasn't too good in the broadcast booth, because JP seemed to be lost at times, particularly when play was stopped; this is where Harkes needs to step in. And Harkes, it's okay to decry a bad call when the ref deserves it! It may be that I like Harkes better as a person than as an announcer, with Wynalda as the converse.

Most surprising quote of the night, leading me to question the translation or transcription: "These are hard-fought games. As far as play, we probably deserved the win, but the result is fair because they capitalized on their style of play,which is one we have a lot of respect for." That was Hugo Sanchez who said that (with the italicized emphasis my own)!

Makelele Rumors

Just noticed the rumor that Chelsea midfielder and French International Claude Makelele may join Dynamo. Makelele has a great pedigree and good name recognition, but do we need him? Who would be forced to the bench to make room on the field? Who would be traded away to make room on the roster and keep us under the cap?

Apparently the Frenchman is married to Naomie Lenoir, a model who wouldn't mind moving to the US so she can work on her movie career. Yeah, I've never heard of her either. Apparently she's going to be in Rush Hour 3 though.

I'm ambivalent with this move. First, the guy is 34. Second, I think we have the pieces to take the league this year; even with our recent slump our form looked very competitive. The Kinnear system works well with these guys. Third, if we have a weakness or Achilles heel, it's not in the central midfield. Makelele, one of the best defensive midfielders ever, scored only one goal and had one assist last year. His role isn't goal-scorer, so the one goal isn't an indication of not doing his duty for Chelsea, but it's also not what we need. Finally, I like the fact that our humble little team is getting the job done, being one of the top teams in the league and without any mercenaries on board.

Best Forwards Coming to Houston - Dec 22

"The Funkie Junkie," posted on BigSoccer.com some great news about a contest called Free Kick Masters. Simply put, it sounds like a terrific Christmas present for Houston soccer fans.

From the Free Kick Masters website:
The Free Kick Masters is a skills-based international soccer competition featuring some of the world’s top rated free kickers competing against some of the world’s top rated goalkeepers in a free kick shootout to declare the world’s “Free Kick Master” and “Golden Goalkeeper”. The last Free Kick Masters event held in 2004 in Marbella, Spain was sold out and broadcast to over 30 countries and an estimated 110 million viewers.

The Free Kick Masters 2007 will be held in Houston, Texas. The player crowned “Free Kick Master” will receive $1 million in prize money, and the “Golden Goalkeeper” title winner will receive $0.5 million in prize money.

From the FC Barcelona website:
Ronaldinho will be one of the main stars taking part in the Free Kick Masters 2007 to be held on December 22 in Houston and is a competition to find the greatest free kick taker in the world.

The complete set of entrants has yet to be confirmed, but Ronaldinho knows he will be up against some tough opposition. “There are some very good free kick takers, all those taking part will be good at it” he said. “I like Beckham, Thierry Henry, Roberto Carlos, Márquez, Deco... All of those players can shoot really well.”

Life for Houstonian soccer fans just gets better and better.