As far as regular season MLS games go, they don't get much bigger than the one scheduled for noon on Fox Soccer Channel between Houston and the Galaxy: sole possession of first place in the Western Conference is on the line with only two games left in the regular season.

Galaxy game preview

Glenn Davis chronicles the reasons to watch for the uninitiated.

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Today I have seen two different pieces on what the US U20's bomb out in Egypt means for player development in the US. (See these great pieces, Phil Schoen's here and Glenn Davis' here.) Player development in the US, or at least what passes for it, is a serious problem. I've always maintained that the elimination of the MLS Reserve League was about one thing only, reducing the player pool available to potentially strike or (more likely) be locked out should the negotiations for the new CBA somehow fail. Click to continue reading...

And jumps on the FCD in the playoffs bandwagon. Click to continue reading...

Regarding what happened yesterday? I'm over it. Done. New day. Time to end suckers.
At least RSL and TFC lost last night. Thank god. The only bad part was having to listen to Glenn Davis be a smarmy tool throughout the Houston game. As for Houston and Kinnear? That's a team slowly dying inside:

A visibly frustrated Dominic Kinnear could be seen on the bench and the Dynamo continued to make poor decisions on the ball, lacked movement and generally played direct.

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Ever wonder why some exciting young attacking players in MLS and US Soccer don't seem to be so exciting and don't seem to attack as they demonstrated before being coached out of it? Well now thanks to MLSR contributor, Glenn Davis you need not wonder any longer as we hear from former FC Dallas, San Jose Earthquakes and US National team attacking midfielder Arturo Alvarez why he chose to leave MLS and the USA behind. Click to continue reading...

The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup has diminished in value of the years.
� With the creation of the Superliga and Concacaf Champions League the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open cup may just be less coveted.
Wednesday night when DC United takes on the Seattle Sounders one has to wonder if the right venue was chosen for this match. Click to continue reading...

The sun has set on World Soccer Daily.
Who didn't see this coming. We will not editorialize as some of our views on Steve Cohen and World Soccer Daily are well known.
What we can tell you is that it should come as no surprise that a very effective boycott that was not just limited to Liverpool fans but also MLS fans who joined them in solidarity reached it's conclusion. Click to continue reading...

An early goal from Charlie Davies was a dream start at Azteca Stadium for the United States but in the end a late goal from Miguel Sabah proved decisive for Mexico who needed nothing less than a win for a variety of reasons.
Mexico would counter Davies stunning goal with a stunner of their own by Israel Castro from 30 yards out to make things 1-1 and that is where it would stand going into the locker room. Click to continue reading...

Some news to read as you watch David Beckham try to make LA like him again: Mission statement for MLS: "Winning must be combined with an entertaining style of soccer that focuses on attacking." (Glenn Davis) Divers, beware. The A-League has you in their sights (A-League Offside) Sir Bobby Robson's life in pictures (Telegraph) America itching for [. Click to continue reading...

Today's topic: �

Seattle - And the reaction of some MLS fans to the city's success

by Glenn Davis

I have gotten alot of feedback lately on the Seattle Sounders FC and most of it has been positive yet I am a little perplexed but some of the reaction that comes from fans who seem tired of the story in the Pacific Northwest.

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Photo courtesy of Prost Amerika Soccer:
The showdown between Chicago and Seattle was witnessed on national TV, not on ESPN2 but it's big brother, ESPN proper.
It had all of the makings of a great match-up. Both teams coming in with identical records 7-3-7. The first game between the two was a 1-1 tie in Chicago. Click to continue reading...

Why, God, why? Why are we still in this tournament? We were two minutes away from getting out of this nightmare, two minutes from not having to play in that crappy RFK stadium, and what does Nate Jaqua do? He scores. And then we pull it out in extra time. Really, Next Season Sports says it all:

It was the second USOC match in a row that Seattle scored its first goal of the match in the last minute of regulation and it was the second time in the past two weeks the Sounders came from behind to defeat Houston.

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EDITORS NOTE: Before we get to Glenn's first post we want to properly welcome him to MLSR. Glenn Davis is a fixture of US soccer commentary and a Houston soccer hero.
His work in broadcasting to help popularize the sport in both Houston and nationwide throughout the USA spans everything from working with local grassroots youth soccer leagues, highlighting everyday heroes who do their part to help the game, to bringing an educated, informative, measured and entertaining voice to many MLS matches broadcast on ESPN as well as locally in Houston. Click to continue reading...

‘SOCCER MATTERS WITH GLENN DAVIS'

PREMIERES ON FOX SPORTS HOUSTON

Weekly Magazine Show to Highlight All Levels of Soccer

FOX Sports Houston has partnered with former professional soccer star and nationally recognized broadcaster Glenn Davis to produce an informative weekly magazine show that focuses on youth, amateur and pro soccer in Houston and around the world.

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Ever wonder what the prize money was for the various competitions MLS teams are involved in? Well Glenn Davis has as well and he posted the following on his blog today:

PRIZE MONEY
By the way here is the break-down of prize money awarded to teams in various competitions, remember this is per team and the winnings then divided amongst players and staff:
Lamar Hunt U.

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This bunch may be the group we've been asking for out of Bob Bradley. (Getty Images)

Editor's Note: Geoff Reid appears on WVHooligan.com each week. Today he give his thoughts on the US in the Confederations Cup so far. Feel free to leave Geoff a note below.

The tournament doesn't yet finish until Sunday, however, there has already been a lot of talking points regarding the US National Team in South Africa.

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The orange men from Space City may very well soon have a home of their own in downtown Houston. It appears the deal to build a home for the 2007 and 2008 MLS Cup Champions has been done with all but minor details to be worked out.
This comes courtesy of Glenn Davis's Dynamo All Access and the Houston Business Journal:

With months of arduous back-and-forth negotiations now completed and financing options falling into place, only minor hurdles remain before construction could begin this fall on the proposed Houston Dynamo downtown stadium.

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A great article comes our way today courtesy of Soccer America. If you have not read it yet, read it here in it's entirety.
It touches on an oft repeated complaint of many a soccer fan including many of us here at MLSR. That American announcers just don't know when to shut it up and let a game breathe. Click to continue reading...

"What an advertisement this has been for Major League Soccer here tonight". I heard Glenn Davis speak that line twice during the broadcast, once in the 68th minute on ESPN2, and once before the game was being shown on television (thanks atdhe.net). At first I was thinking that that was a terribly hypocritical thing to say. Click to continue reading...

The trade season is officially on.
The following series of emails were received early this morning. Of course now the trade is official but we thought it would be fun to show you the kind of behind the scenes tips we get:
5:40 AM (3 hours ago)
Houston Dynamo announced via twitter that the team finalized a trade overnight. Click to continue reading...

Brescia? No.
Belgrade? No.
Buenos Ares? Nope.
Chicagoland
If you had the fortune of watching an entertaining game with Chicago Fire SC playing host to Houston Dynamo Friday night, You no doubt caught a glimpse of Chicago's Section 8 filling their section with flares. Click to continue reading...

Kyle Martino and Glenn Davis ask the questions, SF gives the answers:
1. Not RBNY.
2. Getting a good cheesesteak (with wiz).
3. He will inspire them to update their wardrobes.
4. He will punch you in the face if you don't let him score.
5. Not RBNY. Click to continue reading...

"I think people at the top have demeaned this competition"
It is rare that we get a snarky comment out of Colorado. But luckily we now have one courtesy of one English manager, Gary Smith. One part snark, one part disgust, one part conspiracy theory. Apparently he is none to happy his Rapids didn't get to play at Qwest Field and has wrapped himself in the flag of the US Open Cup to defend his comments. Click to continue reading...

This is posted on glenndavissoccer.com:

Dynamo All Access with Glenn Davis live this Thursday from Richmond Arms Pub on Richmond Avenue from 7-9 pm. Dynamo players plus an FA CUP preview of Chelsea and Everton, Dwayne DeRosario interview, Champions League final re-cap and more headline this event that will be a blast!

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Three stories which appeared at first unrelated all seem to be coming together at the same time.
Story 1 - Philadelphia Union's Nick Sakiewicz, stated on Glenn Davis's show that they were pursuing a high profile coach who would also serve the role as manager. One whom they had to wait for. Click to continue reading...

You no doubt first heard a little about this in this clip of Glenn Davis's show last week.
Well� Mark Chajkowsky over on the Philadelphia Examiner takes a look at it below:

Glenn Davis, host of The Soccer Hour radio show in Houston, claims that there have been talks of Clarence Seedorf signing with the Philadelphia Union.

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Philadelphia Union CEO Nick Sakiewicz on Fox soccer channel last night, and said the team would have a coach in 2-3 weeks. Previously on Glenn Davis's Dynamo All Access on Monday Sakiewicz said the club would pursue a manager in the European model of a manager and technical director soon. Click to continue reading...

Philadelphia's Sons of Ben had an unprecedented influence on Stadium Design, Club Colors, Crest
We learn a few things about Philadelphia Union in this interview CEO Nick Sakiewicz did with Glenn Davis.
Among them:

• Sons of Ben had an influence on the Union colors and crest and likely the "Join or Die" phrase in latin.

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Viewers at home immediately noticed the change during pre-game. Kevin Calabro, Seattle ico, was away. As I explained to Jason Churchill, when Sounders FC lost their NBA Hall of Famer, they didn't go for someone local and easy, but with a little more soccer knowledge. Sounders FC went for Glenn Davis, a [. Click to continue reading...

As heard moments ago on Glenn Davis Soccer Hour.
Seattle's Media market = 1.745 Million people
1 ratings point = 17,450 people watching on TV
On over the air, NBC affiliate KING 5 the live game drew a 4.1 rating = 73,185 households
On cables FSN Northwest drew a 1. Click to continue reading...

One criticism often heaped upon US soccer commentators is that with the exception of Glenn Davis, they lack passion in the their approach to calling a game and often say nothing to convey the buildup to a goal. That criticism will never be directed at young upcoming commentator for DC United's radio and sometimes TV broadcasts, Tony Limarzi. Click to continue reading...

After last weekend's cracker off the foot of Davy Arnaud, Glenn Davis of Houston Chronicle, ESPN, HDNet and his own website's fame chatted with our favorite #22. Head over to the Sports Animal's website and click on Hour 2 from Monday, April 13.
Also, former Everton FC striker and KCW player Paul Rideout was featured on an Everton fan site's story about the future of the club. Click to continue reading...

With Brian Ching off with the U.S. national team and Kei Kamara still on suspension stemming from an altercation against this same Quakes team, a depleted Dynamo squad failed to achieve victory at Buck Shaw Stadium in Santa Clara, CA. A few flubs in the backfield and a persistent Quakes offense were enough for San [. Click to continue reading...

LA coach Bruce Arena: "In the last five years of this league the L.A. Galaxy have the least amount of points of any team." See Nick Green's article in the Los Angeles Galaxy section.
~and~
Contributing more fuel to my theory that soccer is the Sport Of The Internet in America, Jack Bell of the New York Times sites this stat in his Extra Time column today: "According to an analysis of more than 100 million blogs, message boards, and postings on social Web sites performed with Zeta Interactive's RelevantNoise software technology, MLS was third worldwide in the total volume of soccer posts, at 16 percent. Click to continue reading...

It's a cliche that there are no style points in World Cup qualifying. Just results. The US embodied that cliche last night in a 1-0 victory in Guatemala City in a match that announcer Glenn Davis correctly called a "street fight."
The US did a few things right, plenty wrong, and a few not so well in taking three away points to start the semifinal round of WC 2010 CONCACAF qualifying. Click to continue reading...