First Kick 2011 for the Houston Dynamo is on three days away and to continue to prepare our readers for the new season, myself and new writer Fuzion have been joined by Jordan Wise from SB Nation Houston to offer our thoughts. We each give our preferred projected lineup, thoughts on individual positions and answer some key questions about what to expect this year.

Bob Levey - Getty Images

Geoff Cameron and his Houston Dynamo mates had too few of these feel-good moments around Robertson Stadium last year.

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PHOENIX, Ariz – I always enjoy working with the Houston Dynamo.

DC United once again gave up four goals in a losing effort, this time to Houston at Robertson Stadium on Friday night. Will Bruin had a hat trick for the Dynamo, opening the scoring in the 4th minute. DC leveled the score at 1-1 with Marc Burch's goal in the 39th, but it was and Bruin scoring again in the 41st and 57th.

O Atlético Clube Alcanenense parece ter apostado forte em mais uma época no Distrital de Santarém e, para já, os resultados não podiam ser melhores. A par do Torres Novas, o clube da vila ribatejana soma triunfos nas cinco partidas já disputadas. Entre os vários reforços assegurados esta temporada o Alcanenense foi buscar três atletas Ecóle de Football Brasseries du Cameron.

CARSON, Calif. – The next man looking to step into the breach for the United States at center back will on the Home

Depot Center field on Sunday. You probably knew that.

But it may not be the one you're thinking about.

Yes, Omar Gonzalez is having a fantastic season, just named MLS Defender of the Year, and deservedly so.

Here are some photos from today's groundbreaking ceremony on the Houston Dynamo's new downtown stadium.

The following photos were provided and taken by Katy Umaña

Dynamo Diesel

Geoff Cameron and Bobby Boswell

Oscar De La Hoya

More photos after the jump

Future location of the midfield center circle

Danny Cruz

Brian Ching's ceremonial first goal

The following photos were provided and taken by Brian Zygo

Mike Chabala

Photo: Nigel Brooks

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It goes to figure that the aftermath of a rivalry game, even one played in the pre-season, will have at least a couple stories that don't do the sport or the athletes involved anything good.

With the middle of the season nearly upon us, it is perhaps time to mention formations and personnel, one personnel and position in particular.

Playtherapy has finally convinced me it's finally time to call an end to the Geoff Cameron "experiment" at central attacking midfield. And I say this not only because there have been several stories mentioning his potential move to center back while Andre Hainault and Jermaine Taylor are away at the Gold Cup.

After a winless month of May the Dynamo move on to June, a month where they'll play four matches and will be missing some key players thanks to the CONCACAF Gold Cup. The month kicks off tomorrow night on the west coast as the Dynamo face the San Jose Earthquakes, a team also hit hard by the Gold Cup.

Personally, it hasn't shocked me. I watched Luka live in the last three to four matches last season. You could tell something wasn't quite right. He looked frustrated. For the first time, it looked as though he had developed Keaneitis - the degenerative disorder some footballers unfortunately inherit, in which they can't help but throw their arms up in the air like a runway controller.

Image Credit: Cameron Krone.

And it's black, the same shade as her kohl eye pencil. You think they did that on purpose?

Riiight...so, her and her beau are on a yacht in Turkey a new and unsuspecting piece of holiday real estate that we'll be adding to our 2012 'ballers on breaks roulette wheel.

On Monday, Major League Soccer released the full All-Star squad that will face Manchester United next Wednesday at Red Bull Arena (8:30pm ET – ESPN2). GK: Tally Hall (Houston Dynamo), Faryd Mondragón (Philadelphia Union) DEF: Corey Ashe (Houston Dynamo), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo), Bobby Convey (San Jose Earthquakes), Sean Franklin (LA Galaxy), Jámison Olave (Real Salt Lake), Heath Pearce (Chivas USA), Tim Ream (New York Red Bulls).

After holding a 1-0 lead for nearly the entire game, the Philadelphia Union conceded a late equalizer to Geoff Cameron and the Houston Dynamo were able to leave PPL Park with a 1-1 draw. It was the Union's third straight game without a win, and they have only won one of their last six games.

Jack McInerney, inserted back into the starting lineup for the fourth time alongside Veljko Paunovic at striker, scored his first goal of the season to give the Union a 1-0 lead in the 19th minute.

I'm not really going to complain about getting a point on the road against one of the better teams in the East, but it wasn't exactly fulfilling. The Houston Dynamo may of left PPL Park with a 1-1 draw thanks to a great goal from Geoff Cameron but considering how they controlled the flow of play, you can't help but feel like they should have gotten more.

It's a quiet news day for the Dynamo, but a story just posted (the first link) is likely to cause a stir at least in the comments section here.

• Cameron producing as attacking midfielder [MLS Soccer]
• Costly fuels Honduras win over Venezuela [MLS Soccer]

In Other News:

• Reports: Freddy Adu to sign with Philadelphia Union [MLS Soccer]
• MLS Games to Air on NBC Networks Starting in 2012 [AP/NY Times]
• Klinsmann pleased with team's energy [ESPN]

• Canetti's Corner - September 26, 2011 [Houston Dynamo]
• First-place Dynamo aware there are no guarantees [Houston Chronicle]
• Houston's late show "comes down to determination" [MLS Soccer]
• Dynamo's Cameron back in his element [Houston Chronicle]
• Distinctive steel tubing placed at Dynamo Stadium [Houston Dynamo]
• Academy College Report - Sept.

Photo by Amanda

Even in the pre-season, beating FC Dallas is fun. The only thing better is completely annihilating them and on Saturday afternoon at Whataburger Field in Corpus Christi, the Dynamo did just that.

Brad Davis was involved in three of the four Dynamo goals, scoring one off a free kick, assisting on Geoff Cameron's header and sending the cross in to the box that led to the FC Dallas own goal.

I've been spending far too much time over the past couple days learning everything I can about new Dynamo signing Sergio Koke. Inevitably, the first question that pops in to my head is where Koke would best fit in to Dominic Kinnear's lineup.

Koke has played in both a forward and central midfield role and he's been in the CAM position at Aris the last couple years.

We asked three questions to Zach Woosley of Dynamo Theory in order to get some insider perspective on the Houston Dynamo as the travel to Toyota Park to take on the Chicago Fire tonight. Zach did not pose any questions to Hot Time in Old Town but Mr. Woosley does have a lot on his plate. In addition to managing Dynamo Theory, you might be familiar with his other website Ginge Talks The Footy, his work as a co-creator of Winning Ugly Radio, or his co-hosting of Around the League.

• Dynamo Central: Episode 6 [Dynamo Insider] free registration required
• Versatile Cameron strengthens Dynamo [Houston Chronicle]
• San Jose Earthquakes training report for June 2, 2011 and a look ahead to the weekend match with the Houston Dynamo [Center Line Soccer]
• San Jose Earthquakes line-up adjustments aim to minimize loss of Wondolowski to the U.

Alright, so one win doesn't solve all the problems or suddenly make everything better...but it sure feels nice to be looking back at a Dynamo victory after seven matches without one. There are still some points that need to be discussed but this team needed a win and they went out a got it on Saturday against Chivas USA.

Liverpool has been left disappointed by the news that Ayr United striker Mark Shankland has signed a two-year deal with the club.
The 15-year-old, the youngster player in the club's history, will make the step up to the Ayr first-team next season after spending last season in the club's youth academy.

The Kitsap Pumas proved to be too much for the Real Colorado Foxes, defeating the visitors from Highlands Ranch 3-1 on Tuesday night in the second round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

Cameron Hepple put the Pumas up in the 17th minute in Bremerton, Wash. Colorado's pressure, however, led to a Steve Mohn own goal in the 23rd minute.

News in the Daily Mirror today that Newcastle's Nile Ranger is wanted on loan by new Birmingham manager Chris Hughton. Nile Ranger Birmingham interested The current Birmingham strikers, Nikola Zigic and Cameron Jerome, who were one of the the weak links in the side last season because they just didn't score enough goals, are [.

News in the Daily Mirror today that Newcastle's Nile Ranger is wanted on loan by new Birmingham manager Chris Hughton. Nile Ranger Birmingham interested The current Birmingham strikers, Nikola Zigic and Cameron Jerome, who were one of the the weak links in the side last season because they just didn't score enough goals, are [.

The 2011 Jack McInerney has been passive and tentative, clearly frustrated at himself.

In front of a packed house at PPL Park on Saturday night, McInerney looked frustrated for a different reason. He wanted the ball. More, more, more. In the fifteenth minute: a goal. Moments later: A brilliant finish called back for offsides.

The Dynamo ultimate success this season may have been saved this weekend by the goalpost. Just a minute before Geoff Cameron's goal earned the Dynamo a point, the Union's Sebastien Le Toux had Tally Hall and the defense beat and only needed to guide the ball in to the waiting goal...and he hit the post.

• Dynamo add midfielder Camargo [Houston Dynamo]
• Dynamo Notebook: Costly will need time to adjust to MLS [MLS Soccer]
• Cameron's goal flips the script for Dynamo [MLS Soccer]
• The Latest 'Morning Kofi' [Dynamo Insider]

In Other News:

• After World Cup Thrills, Players Return to Unstable Women's League [NY Times]
• New coach Jurgen Klinsmann wants players to take charge [USA Today]

Skysports.com understands Bolton Wanderers have made a bid to sign Liverpool striker David Ngog.
Bolton boss Owen Coyle is in the market for attacking additions after Daniel Sturridge returned to Chelsea after an impressive loan spell and Johan Elmander joined Galatasaray.
Turkish forward Tuncay is close to finalizing a loan move to the Reebok Stadium and Coyle is now stepping up his interest in Ngog.

We are only four days from the culmination of the 2011 season and I don't know about all of you, but I'm ready. Alas, we must be patient and in an attempt to give you something to focus on ahead of the game, I figured it would be good to offer up my analysis of the two teams and who I see having the advantage, at least on paper.

Their Words A forward like that, you give him one opportunity, he puts it away. You shut him down all game and all of a sudden he gets an opportunity and puts the ball in the back of the net. Houston defender Geoff Cameron on MLS Cup MVP Landon Donovan. Other Sources LA Galaxy shines in win over Houston - from ESPN.

I had it all wrong. There was no way that the Galaxy were going to defeat the Houston Dynamo 3-1. They always looked like winning Sunday's MLS finale, but it's only fitting that the final scoreline would be the Galaxy's 11th win by the minimum this season. The loss of Brad Davis, who was the league's best creator alongside David Beckham, crippled the Dynamo's midfield, and the in-match injury to Geoff Cameron weakened their backline severely.

Glenn Davis, the Houston Dynamo's local play-by-play voice, also does a weekly radio show in Houston dedicated to both the Dynamo and the sport of soccer. Last night was his first show since Brian Ching was selected by the Montreal Impact in the Expansion Draft. Dynamo defender Geoff Cameron and head coach Dominic Kinnear were both guest on the show and had some interesting comments concerning the Ching situation.

The tories have outdone themselves this time. Somehow they think they've vetoed a major treaty that's actually gone ahead anyway leaving us basically out in the cold.
Our neighbours have gone ahead and done everything without us so all Cameron has achieved is to drive a wedge between us and Europe for no other reason than to appease his own party's xenophobic Tea-Party element.

Hmmm, bank holiday here and in the UK, I believe. Which is kind of annoying because I wanted to ring up my bank today and complain about something but I suppose it'll have to wait.

It means things are fairly quiet with not much in the way of fall-out from the Birmingham game and little written about City just yet.

It's rare for Spurs not to have a midweek match these days, so with the senior side taking a break from action, the spotlight fell on the youngsters as a Spurs XI defeated Crystal Place 4-2 on Tuesday, with new signing Bongani Khumalo making his first appearance in a Tottenham shirt.

Spurs' strikes were shared between Cameron Lancaster and Ryan Mason after a frenetic first twenty minutes which saw four goals fly in.

The unarguably talented David Bentley has joined Birmingham City on loan until the end of the season. Capped by his country, the former Arsenal youngster has shown promise in the past but has not lived up to the expectations placed on his shoulders. I am confident in saying in fact that Bentley will be frustrated that he hasn't lived up to his own expectations.

The unarguably talented David Bentley has joined Birmingham City on loan until the end of the season. Capped by his country, the former Arsenal youngster has shown promise in the past but has not lived up to the expectations placed on his shoulders. I am confident in saying in fact that Bentley will be frustrated that he hasn't lived up to his own expectations.

The OFC Under-17 Championship final has been won by tournament hosts New Zealand for the fourth time in the nation's history following their 2-0 win against Tahiti. A 2-0 scoreline was also sufficient for the Solomon Islands to claim third place in their play-off against Vanuatu.

Both of the goals came in the first half for New Zealand who have won the last three tournaments all at the expense of today's opponents Tahiti.

Earlier this week Birmingham City pulled off a major victory to book a trip to the Carling Cup final at Wembley, and now it appears the Blues are set to revamp their front line. The Independent is reporting that Alex McLeish is set to clinch a deal for Nigerian international Obafemi Martins, who has had a less than stellar time at Rubin Kazan.