10 Bright Spots of Week Three

1. Ramon Nunez – due to the process of getting a green card, Nunez missed going through all of the pre-game motions and it bother coach Steve Morrow to some degree. The result, however, was a fresh and charged Honduran with the determination and vision of an in-form Amado Guevara; could the 21 year get a longer look from the Honduran national team?


2. Jozy Altidore – clearly, he can share number one with Ramon but Jozy has solidified in three games his media-proclaimed title of ‘next big thing to hit US soccer’. His poise and confidence is scary and only one thing can hurt him from now on…”his ego”

3. Maykel Galindo – this guy was picked by money to be troublesome to defensive formations everywhere and for once, the media was right to push the hype. Maykel, as expected, tore up RSL’s defense with his raw speed and added 2 goals and an assist to his season tally


4. FC Dallas – even though the Rapids might not have deserved to lose, they did because Dallas compensated for its’ mediocre defensive showing by constantly pressing to the point of some exhausted Rapids. They also discovered scoring from places other than the Cooper/Ruiz duo. Dax McCarty played well again, setting up the first Nunez goal

5. Juan Carlos Toja/Carlos Marinelli – even though Toja has had more time to acclimate himself to MLS and all it has to offer, I have a feeling all of us fans, collectively, are going to like these two. Toja made some great moves pushing from the center down the wing and Marinelli supplied KC with a consolation PK in their loss.

6. The Prospect of a Jozy/Angel Partnership – makes me damn happy, a perfect mentor/protégé possibility…could there be any Iverson/Anthony ego farts? No - these two have the chance to bring RBNY far and possibly attract some more fans to Bulls games.

7. Chad Barrett/Chris Rolfe – I admit that I hate these two in their several caps for the USMNT, but this year, it’s clear they look to fight back up into the running. Rolfe has 3 assists tied with Terry Cooke for the lead and Barrett (Rooney without the ears) has supplied goals when Chicago has absolutely needed them.








8. Hunter Freeman – why was this guy shopped around so much? I remember seeing him play with the Rapids last season and actually wishing he was on an East coast team that I supported. I will miss Marvell Wynne and his potential but Freeman is rather young and can still develop into an international mainstay – if he wants to.

9. Ante Razov – I gave him a shoutout in the recaps for his 100th and I know he shouldn’t be this low on the list. We all know, however, that this guy deserves every ounce of praise and attention he gets, a goalscorer like Jeff Cunningham who often disappeared out of the limelight but produced nonetheless and just a simple, stand-up guy.


10. Dominic Oduro – I watched this former Richmond Kicker Future’ player play against the SJ Barons two years ago and vowed along with Byron Carmichael that he’d be an MLS player eventually. Only one of those two predictions came true, but I’m glad the Birdman is getting good time in Dallas and a goal to boot.