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Americans Abroad: Weekend Rewind

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                                                          Photo by ISI Photos

Fulham is still alive. Yes, you read that right, the Cottagers’ hopes of avoiding relegation stayed alive for another week courtesy of a 3-2 win against Manchester City. That means the five Americans who play for Fulham were given another chance to survive, at least one more game with something on the line.

Kasey Keller and company still needs two wins in its final two matches AND some help to avoid relegation, but things will get really interesting if they can beat Birmingham at home this weekend (especially if Reading and/or Bolton loses).

While Fulham’s win was a bright spot for Americans Abroad, Reading tying Wigan didn’t exactly help the Royals and Marcus Hahnemann (and Bobby Convey) breathe any easier. Reading is still in relegation danger with two games to go.

There was good news in other parts of Europe, including Italy, where Danny Szetela earned a start for Brescia, and Austria, where Nate Jaqua scored the equalizer against Red Bull Salzburg.

This week’s edition of American’s Abroad: Weekend Rewind is brought to you by ASA: FC Barcelona, the summer residency program that allows teenage soccer players to be Americans Abroad, training at fabled FC Barcelona this summer. If you want to experience the dream of playing and training at FC Barcelona, then contact ASA: FC Barcelona for information on the July camp.

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Here is how the rest of the Americans Abroad did this weekend in Europe:

ENGLAND

  • Kasey Keller started, played 90 minutes and made two saves in Fulham’s 3-2 win vs. Manchester City on Saturday.
  • Clint Dempsey started and played 90 minutes for Fulham.
  • Brian McBride started and played 71 minutes for Fulham.
  • Carlos Bocanegra dressed but did not start for Fulham.
  • Eddie Johnson did not dress for Fulham.
  • Marcus Hahnemann started, played 90 minutes and made seven saves in Reading’s 0-0 tie vs. Wigan on Saturday.
  • Bobby Convey did not dress for Reading.
  • Tim Howard started, played 90 minutes and made two saves in Everton’s 2-2 tie vs. Aston Villa on Thursday.
  • Eddie Lewis, Benny Feilhaber and Derby faces Arsenal on Monday.
  • Jonathan Spector did not dress for West Ham United’s 2-2 vs. Newcastle United on Saturday.
  • Brad Friedel started, played 90 minutes and made three saves in Blackburn’s 1-0 win vs. Portsmouth on Sunday.
  • Jay DeMerit started and played 90 minutes in Watford’s 1-0 loss to Scunthorpe on Saturday.
  • Matt Pickens dressed but did not dress in Queens Park Rangers’ 3-0 loss to Norwich City on Saturday.

GERMANY

  • Steve Cherundolo started and played 90 minutes in Hannover 96’s 2-2 tie vs. Hertha Berlin on Saturday.
  • Sal Zizzo did not dress for Hannover 96.
  • Bryan Arguez did not dress for Hertha Berlin.
  • Heath Pearce came off the bench and played 51 minutes in Hansa Rostock’s 2-1 loss to Energie Cottbus on Saturday.
  • Neven Subotic started and played 90 minutes in Mainz 05’s 2-1 win vs. Osnabruck on Sunday.
  • Josh Wolff started and played 58 minutes in 1860 Munich’s 2-2 tie vs. Moechengladbach on Sunday.
  • Gregg Berhalter dressed but did not play for 1860 Munich.
  • Luis Robles dressed but did not play in Kaiserslautern’s 2-1 win vs. Alemania Aachen on Friday.
  • Josh Grenier did not dress in TUS Koblenz’s 3-2 loss to Paderborn on Friday.

HOLLAND

  • Michael Bradley and Heerenveen were off this weekend.

ITALY

  • Gabriel Ferrari did not dress in Sampdoria’s 2-2 tie vs. Fiorentina on Sunday.
  • Danny Szetela started and played 79 minutes in Brescia’s 0-0 tie vs. Treviso on Saturday.

SPAIN

  • Giuseppe Rossi started and played 87 minutes in Villarreal’s 1-0 victory against Real Betis on Sunday.

FRANCE

  • Quentin Westberg dressed but did not play in FC Troyes 0-0 tie vs. Boulogne on Friday.

PORTUGAL

  • Freddy Adu did not dress in Benfica’s 2-0 win vs. Belenenses on Saturday.

BELGIUM

  • Oguchi Onyewu started and played 90 minutes in Standard Liege’s 2-1 loss vs. Royal Charleroi on Sunday.

GREECE

  • Clint Mathis and Ergotelis’ season is complete.

DENMARK

  • Danny Califf and AaB plays Horsens on Monday.
  • Lee Nguyen started and played 45 minutes in Randers FC’s 4-1 win vs. AGF Aarhus on Sunday.
  • Jeremiah White did not play for AGF Aarhus.

MEXICO

  • Michael Orozco started and played 45 minutes in San Luis’ 0-0 tie vs. Atlas on Saturday.
  • Jose Francisco Torres started and played 72 minutes in Pachuca’s 1-0 loss to Chiapas on Saturday.
  • Daniel Hernandez started and played 90 minutes for Chiapas.
  • Edgar Castillo started and played 90 minutes in Santos’ 2-1 win vs. Tigres on Saturday.

AUSTRIA

  • Nate Jaqua started, played 90 minutes and scored a goal in SC Rheindorf Altach’s 1-1 tie vs. Red Bull Salzburg on Saturday.

NORWAY

  • Troy Perkins and Valarenga plays Viking today.
  • Adin Brown started and played 90 minutes in Aalesunds FK’s 2-1 loss to Bodo Glimt on Sunday.
  • Pat Noonan came off the bench and played 16 minutes for Aalesunds FK.
  • Willis Forko started and played 90 minutes for Bodo Glimt.

As you can see, I added the Norwegian and Mexican leagues (and will NOT be adding the second divisions so don’t ask). If I missed anyone please let me know and feel free to share your thoughts on these performances below.

Comments

  1. Savage agreed to the transfer knowing that Derby would be relegated. He went there for less money and more playing time. I love the sentiment. I’m sure that part of the negotiation on that transfer was that he would see first team action whenever fit.

    Regards,

    Reply
  2. I was watching the game in my office when Feilhaber came on, for me he looked pretty good, he made a few intelligent passes that created scoring chances and had a thunderbolt that was well saved by Fabianski. He didn’t look as good in defense, but his 15-20 minutes proved that there is still promise there.

    I just don’t understand why he hasn’t been given a chance by Jewell to start, seeing how Derby have been playing meaningless games for a moth now. He knows exactly what Savage gives him, why not give the kid a shot, maybe he’ll get more time in the last two games of the season.

    Reply
  3. Anyone get to watch the 2nd half of Arsenal vs. Derby? I saw in the box sheet Benny actually saw the field, did he look good/bad/terrible by association?

    Reply
  4. Wow, Feilhaber finally gets to chance to play and injects more creativity into Derby’s attack than they have had in the last six months. Jewell is an idiot…

    Reply
  5. Feilhaber had a decent shot that was saved by Fabianski. But that is just about the first thing that Feilhaber has done in 15 minutes.

    Reply
  6. I don’t think Eddie has worn out his welcome. He just can not impact their relegation battle. He was given several games to show what he could do – nothing.

    He will need more games to get used to his new league. They can not afford on the job training right now. Only experience will keep them up.

    Reply
  7. Anyone know if Eddie Johnson has already worn out his welcome? Wouldn’t surprise me with that kid. On the other hand, Dempsey is such a solid player now. Not that he wasn’t before, but he’s made the transition to Fulham in stride. The boy makes me proud.

    Reply
  8. I don’t doubt that Bullard can help Fulham but as long as he thinks he is a forward and not a midfielder he is going to continue wasting chances.

    And about Favre, how about the fact that he is the all time interception leader (288) and his most recent one cost the Packers a trip to the Super bowl.

    Reply
  9. There’s an almost universal sentiment from Benfica fans that Freddy should be playing. That sentiment was clear when Freddy was getting but 5-10 minute sub appearances.

    Again, I have a hard time believing Freddy would allow such a stipulation to be in his contract, and that Benfica would sit him because of it, but that’s the rumor.

    It does make some sense, i’d just like to know if Ives has any insight…

    Reply
  10. Look for Convey to play next weekend. He didn’t play in reserves today and with good play against arsenal and the fact that the current wingers are not providing service to the forwards it looks like Coppell will given him another chance in a desperate attempt to have a striker actually score a goal.

    Reply
  11. What about Jemal Johnson for Milton Keynes dons

    Edgar Castillo has already been caped by mexico so technically he’s a mexican in mexico

    Reply
  12. re: Fradu – I thought there was also a trade clause where the MLS would get money if Benfica sold him to another club? So if they don’t want to pay the extra fee to keep him, will they want to pay for selling him?

    Having 3 different managers is not the best way to enjoy your first season in Portugal.

    Reply
  13. Thanks for adding Norway and Mexico to the list, Ives.

    I know European attitudes seem kinda liberal to many Americans but I think all the players over there with “did not dress” next to their names should feel a bit more self-conscious!

    Reply
  14. Fulham do not have to win their last two. If they win one, and Reading lose their next two, then Fulham & Reading will be tied on points, with Fulham likely having the better goal differential.

    Reply
  15. If I were an SCR Altach fan I would call the Jacqua signing a godsend. 5 goals in 13 games with tying goals and GWG to boot… he’s had a major role in keeping them out of relegation. Yeah, I know, no one cares about Austria or Jacqua. But it’s a big deal to do that coming in halfway into your first overseas season.

    Reply
  16. honestly, if Benfica is doing that, then they have no intention of ever doing a deal with escalator clauses again, that seems like really bad business thinking to save a piddly 2 million Euros.

    Reply
  17. Rumors like that are why Euro sports and the media circus that surround them so resemble soap operas.

    Not saying it isn’t true, just making the observation that it sounds like a Lifetime movie special.

    Reply
  18. @CommonSense

    On these Benfica boards you refer to (I have neither the ability nor the time to research myself b/c I’m at work), do the fans wish Adu played more? In other words, what are their opinions of his playing time? I mean his scoring rate in the beginning was above good. I would think they would be just as upset about his lack of field time as I am.

    Also, if this were true, that’s just scandalous and terrible, especially for our beloved Freddy (I endearingly refer to him as “Fradu”). Part of me hopes this is true, part of me does not. If it is, then hopefully he can move on where people are willing to play him. But if it is true, I’m worried that the situation might make Adu revert to his “MLS” attitude.

    Reply
  19. Thanks for adding the Mexican league to the Americans Abroad report. It’s definitely good to see some Americans getting playing time down there. It would also be interesting to know if those guys are eligible and/or would choose to play for the USA, especially Jose Francisco Torres.

    Reply
  20. Ives, do you know anything about rumors regarding a clause in Freddy’s contract that would pay MLS 4 million if he reached a certain number (assumed to be 20 games, he’s played 19)? There’s rumors, started on Benfica boards, that they simply don’t want to pay MLS the extra transfer fee, which is why Freddy is not playing.

    I’m not one for conspiracy theories, but it seems to make sense, considering how well he played early in the season, how well he played for the U23s, and how absolutely atrocious Benfica have been. Combining this with the fact that Freddy recently fired his agent (I believe Motzkin is known as a MLS-friendly agent) and his considerably low transfer fee, I’d have to say there could be some truth behind the rumor.

    Reply
  21. Fulham will have no chance of winning the next two if that clown Bullard sends the ball skying over the net every time he gets a touch. He’s like the Brett Favre of the Premier League. He can fire shot after shot off target( just like how Brett throws pick after pick) and the media will still worship him.

    Reply

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