2009 Dynamo & USMNT Soccer Thread

Keith · #1 07-13-2009, 08:50 PM

Congrats to Stu Holden and Geoff Cameron on being voted to the starting XI in the All-Star game against Everton! And for those who missed the USMNT's match against Haiti in the Gold Cup, Holden's stoppage time golazo tied the game.

With Kinnear as the All-Star head coach, I imagine at least two more Dynamo players will be named to the squad out of: Pat Onstad, Ricardo Clark, Brian Ching, and Bobby Boswell. And I imagine Kei Kamara and Brad Davis wouldn't mind the consideration, too.

Also, the chron is reporting that the Dynamo are putting together a bid to host the USOC final on 9/1, assuming the Dynamo beat the Sounders to advance. I can understand why the team hasn't bid for home dates in the lesser rounds (money/costs), but hosting the final would be sweet. Hopefully if it happens fans come out in full support. With no extra SuperLiga dates to contend with, maybe that will happen.

Keith · #2 07-16-2009, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keith

Also, the chron is reporting that the Dynamo are putting together a bid to host the USOC final on 9/1, assuming the Dynamo beat the Sounders to advance.

The Dynamo only outbid the Rhinos, so we must root for them to beat DC United (and for the Dynamo to gain a measure of revenge on the Sounders) for the USOC final to be played in Houston.

Keith · #3 07-28-2009, 10:27 PM

Rico is leaving for Livorno, but not until January.

http://www.corrieredilivorno.com/ind.../articolo/1043

Quote:

Clark al Livorno da gennaio

Ricardo Clark, giocatore americano che si è messo in luce nell'ultima Confederations Cup, è stato acquistato dal Livorno. "E' vero - spiega Aldo Spinelli, presidente del club toscano prima di entrare in Lega Calcio a Milano - ma arriverà solo a gennaio perché il club di Houston è primo in classifica in campionato e non può privarsi prima del giocatore".

According to Bernardo at the chron, the Dynamo are denying the report, but say talks are still occurring.

http://blogs.chron.com/soccer/archiv...n_daily_c.html

If the Italian report is true (or is eventually true...), it sounds like MLS and the Dynamo did well in putting their foot in the ground about keeping Rico through the end of the season. Good for the Dynamo, hopefully good for Rico.

Good for the USMNT, too, assuming Rico isn't just going to sit on the bench. Livorno has been promoted back to Serie A this season, so the competition should be among the best in the world.

papabear · #4 07-29-2009, 08:14 AM

Really happy for Rico, but hate to see him go. You know this was going to happen eventually....we've been too good for to long for some of our younger players not to start getting picked off. Holden could be next if his strong Gold Cup leads to more USMNT playing time and the exposure that comes with it.

I hope the Dynamo can reload as well as they have in the past.

Keith · #5 07-29-2009, 09:40 AM

I've probably said this before, but I'm surprised Rico has stuck around the MLS this long.

One thing a bit confusing to me here though... I thought Rico's contract ran out after this season. If so (I don't follow MLS financials at all like I do the NFL's), and if Livorno was willing to wait until January to add Rico, then why bother the Dynamo/MLS now about transfer fees? I must be missing something, either that or Livorno must be trying to get Rico sooner than the January transfer window?

As for Stu, yeah, he could maybe start for a mid-table EPL club and make way more money. At 23, he still has a long career ahead of him. I've heard arguments that he (and Rico) should wait to move overseas until after the 2010 World Cup given their chances at greater global exposure, but these guys aren't getting any younger, either.

The Dynamo offense is lacking without Holden in the middle. Cameron is not the answer. He can play all over, but it's not his best midfield position. Since Davis is better left, Ashe is better wide, ugh.... even if Holden is with the team next season, finding his backup should be priority #1 since it seems ever more likely he could be in South Africa next summer.

papabear · #6 07-29-2009, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keith

I've probably said this before, but I'm surprised Rico has stuck around the MLS this long.

One thing a bit confusing to me here though... I thought Rico's contract ran out after this season. If so (I don't follow MLS financials at all like I do the NFL's), and if Livorno was willing to wait until January to add Rico, then why bother the Dynamo/MLS now about transfer fees? I must be missing something, either that or Livorno must be trying to get Rico sooner than the January transfer window?

As for Stu, yeah, he could maybe start for a mid-table EPL club and make way more money. At 23, he still has a long career ahead of him. I've heard arguments that he (and Rico) should wait to move overseas until after the 2010 World Cup given their chances at greater global exposure, but these guys aren't getting any younger, either.

The Dynamo offense is lacking without Holden in the middle. Cameron is not the answer. He can play all over, but it's not his best midfield position. Since Davis is better left, Ashe is better wide, ugh.... even if Holden is with the team next season, finding his backup should be priority #1 since it seems ever more likely he could be in South Africa next summer.

I'm with you...it sounds to me like Livorno isn't willing to meet the Dynamo's asking price for a transfer, but that means they get nothing when he leaves. Although at this point winning another MLS cup is probably more important than a few million from a transfer fee.

We've got depth at nearly every position other than Holden's. I don't think he'll go anywhere until after next summers world cup so there's plenty of time there.

superbowlbound · #7 07-29-2009, 09:10 PM

Sucks to see Rico go, but we've all known this was coming for a while now. Let's just enjoy him while we've got him. It's definitely the right move for him. I only wonder how long we'll get to keep Stewie. He was the best player on the pitch for much of the Gold Cup. Euro clubs should be beating down his door perhaps as early as this offseason. Though it wouldn't surprise me if he stuck around another year, as I'm sure there will be much more training availability with the national team if he's in the states than if he were overseas.