Welcome to edition No. 33 of my blog on
HoustonDynamo.com
.
Complete Canetti's Corner Archive
Greetings, Dynamo fans! A quick blog here for your mid-week reading …
Saturday Night’s Win
The 2-1 victory over Chivas USA was huge. We needed it for a lot of reasons. We needed to keep pace in the standings, but probably more importantly, we needed it for the team’s mentality. The seven-game winless streak came with its share of difficult circumstances that affect confidence and momentum. They are both important ingredients to having a winning season. Hopefully, we can get a few positive results and get on a roll. I give the team a lot of credit battling back from the early-game adversity of Bobby Boswell’s goal being called off and the defensive mistake that led to the Chivas goal just minutes later. Our guys showed a lot of character in gutting out a win.
Bald Is Beautiful
Saturday marked the third annual Bald is Beautiful game at Robertson Stadium. This campaign, spearheaded by former Dynamo Craig Waibel, and supported by Dr. Patrick Thompson, benefits the Curing Children’s Cancer Fund and the fight against childhood cancer. This is one of my favorite events of the year, as it clearly represents the impact our team and players make in the community. Mike Chabala, Bobby Boswell, and Tally Hall have taken the lead on this and helped make it a great success. Many of the families with sick children have shared wonderful stories with me about the impact our players have had on their lives.
MORE: See pictures from players getting heads shaved
Ching Returns
One other big positive from the Chivas match was the return of Brian Ching. It was good to see him back on the field and contributing with 20 minutes of play. He is a big part of our plan, and we need him to stay healthy as we reach the midway point of the season and turn toward the second half.
Columbus Up Next
The Columbus Crew rolls into town this weekend for another ultra-important match. They all seem big these days. Getting results at home are critical. We are tied with the Crew for third place in the Eastern Conference, and they have a game in hand, so getting three points is the goal.
MORE: Get tickets for Saturday's game
Hainault Returns
With Canada eliminated from the Gold Cup, we anticipate the return of Andre Hainault in time for Saturday’s match. Hainault has been solid and, for me, one of the top defenders in MLS this season. We look forward to his return.
Make Brad an All-Star
Brad Davis is having his best season ever. He leads MLS in assists with nine. Unfortunately, he is not currently among the top vote-getters at midfield for the 2011 MLS All-Star Game. Please vote for Brad at http://www.mlssoccer.com/all-star/ballot-2011.
Sports Park Open
The Houston Amateur Sports Park is officially open. It has hosted several events and activities in the last few weeks. It is a beautiful facility and is available to the public for rent. For more information, call Adrian Moses at (713) 276-7589.
Construction Update
Stadium construction continues to progress and is on schedule. We are still planning a grand opening in May 2012. You can see it live on our webcam. When you look at the webcam, you can clearly notice the foundation walls around the lower bowl, the service tunnel in the southeast corner, and the team tunnel/stage area in the south end zone.
Team Moves
I can confirm that we are looking to add a player or players during the summer transfer window. We are seeking attacking players that can make an immediate impact. The technical staff is undergoing a thorough worldwide search for the right talent. Currently, that search has uncovered more than 20 names that are under review.
Follow Me on Twitter
I’m on Twitter at @chriscanetti if you’d like to follow. I try to tweet at least once per day. Thanks again for your time. Look forward to catching up soon. Email comments to ccanetti@houstondynamo.com.
