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Americans Abroad: Weekend Rewind

Brad_friedel_1_ap

Big, bad Brad Friedel posted another victory last weekend as he and Aston Villa kept on rolling.

Friedel was one of few bright spots for Americans Abroad last weekend. How bad were things? Consider this linep of Americans:

——————————Jozy Altidore—————————–

DaMarcus Beasley———–Freddy Adu————-Clint Dempsey

———————Michael Bradley—Maurice Edu——————

Heath Pearce——Jay DeMerit—-Jonathan Spector—Frank Simek

——————————-Brad Guzan——————————

Like that team? Well, not a single player in that lineup saw a start for their European club this weekend and only two (Pearce and Adu) actually saw minutes. Yes, Spector and Simek have been out for a while (and DeMerit was injured) but that front six sure has several key U.S. national team players and prospects and all were healthy and available for selection. For none of them to play (save for Adu’s 11 minutes) is a pretty sad development.

There are some bright spots. Carlos Bocanegra continues to establish himself as an anchor for Rennes while Michael Orozco has regained his hold on a starting spot for San Luis, making his second straight start.

Here is how all the Americans Abroad did this past weekend (And notice the latest change to Americans Abroad):

ENGLAND

PREMIER LEAGUE

  • Tim Howard started, played 90 minutes and made three saves in Everton’s 2-0 loss to Liverpool on Saturday. 
  • Brad Friedel started, played 90 minutes and made one save in Aston Villa’s 2-1 win vs. Sunderland on Saturday.
  • Brad Guzan dressed but did not play for Aston Villa.
  • C!int Dempsey dressed but did not play in Fulham’s 2-1 loss to West Ham United on Saturday.
  • Jonathan Spector did not dress for West Ham. He is still recovering from a hip injury.

COCA COLA CHAMPIONSHIP

  • Marcus Hahnemann started, played 90 minutes and made three saves in Reading’s 4-0 win vs. Swansea on Saturday.
  • BobbycConvey did not dress for Reading.
  • Jay DeMerit did not dress in Watford’s 2-1 loss to Sheffild United on Saturday. He was out with a hamstring injury.
  • Frank Simek did not dress in Sheffield Wednesday’s 2-1 win vs. Charlton on Saturday. He is still recovering from ankle surgey.
  • Eddie!Johnson came off the bench and played 14 minutes in Cardiff City’s 2-1 loss to Birmingham on Saturday.

SCOTLAND

  • DaMarcus Beasley did not dress in Rangers’ 3-0 win vs. Hibernian on Sunday.
  • Maurice Edu did not dress for Rangers.
  • Mike Videira did not dress in Hamilton’s 4-1 loss to Falkirk on Saturday.

GERMANY

BUNDESLIGA

  • Steve Cherundolo started and played 90 minutes in Hannover 96’s 1-0 win vs. Bayern Munich on Saturday.
  • Sal Zizzo did not dress for Hannover 96.
  • Michael Bradley dressed but did not play in BorussiaIMoenchengladbach’s 1-0 loss to Hamburg on Saturday.
  • Neven Subotic started and played 90 minutes in Borussia Dortmund’s 3-0 win vs. VFB Stuttgart on Saturday.
  • Brian Arguez did not dress for Hertha Berlin’s 1-0 loss to Energie Cottbus on Saturday.

BUNDESLIGA 2

  • Heath Pearce came off the bench and played eight minutes in Hansa Rostock’s 3-0 win vs. St. Pauli on Friday.
  • Gregg Berhalter started and played 90 minutes in 1860 Munich’s 1-1 tie vs. FC Ingolstadt 04 on Sunday.
  • Grover Gibson did not dress in Ahlen’s 3-1 win vs. SV Wehen on Sunday.
  • David Yelldell started, played 90 minutes and made two saves in TUS Koblenz’s 1-0 loss to VFL Osnabruck on Friday.
  • Matt Taylor dressed but did not play for TUS Koblenz.
  • Luis Robles dressed but did not play in Kaiserslautern’s 2-1 win vs. FSV Frankfurt on Sunday.

SPAIN

  • Jozy Altiore did not dress in Villarreal’s 1-0 win vs. Sporting Gijon on Saturday.

ITALY

SERIE B

  • Danny Szetela and Brescia play Parma on Monday.

FRANCE

LIGUE 1

  • Carlos Bocanegra started and played 90 minutes in Rennes’ 1-0 win vs. Nice on Saturday.
  • Freddy Adu came off the bench and played 11 minutes in Monaco’s 2-0 loss to Lille on Sunday.
  • Andrew Jacobson did not dress in Lorient’s 1-1 tie vs. Sochaux on Saturday. Jacobson is in Brazil for the Futsal World Cup.

LIGUE 2

  • Quentin Westberg dressed but did not play in Troyes’ 3-2 win vs. Tours on Saturday.

BELGIUM

  • Oguchi Onyewu started and played 90 minutes in Standard Liege’s 2-1 win vs. Anderlecht on Friday.

DENMARK (no games this weekend)

  • Danny Califf (FC Midtjylland)
  • Lee Nguyen  (Randers)
  • Jeremiah White (AGF Aarhus)
  • Benny Feilhaber (AGF Aarhus)

NORWAY

FIRST DIVISION

  • Troy Perkins started and played 90 minutes in Valarenga’s 1-0 loss to Viking on Sunday.
  • Adin Brown did not play in Aalesunds’ 2-1 loss to Rosenborg on Sunday. He is out for the season with an injury.

SECOND DIVISION

  • Cam Weaver started, played 90 minutes and drew a yellow card in Haugesund’s 2-2 tie vs. IK Start on Sunday.
  • Clarence Goodson did not dress for IK Start.
  • Kyle Veris started and played 90 minutes in Hodd’s 2-1 win vs. Sandnes on Sunday.
  • Jay Needham started and played 90 minutes in Alta’s 2-1 loss to Odd Greenland on Sunday.

SWEDEN

  • Charlie Davies started and played 90 minutes in Hammarby’s 0-0 tie vs. Trelleborg on Saturday.

MEXICO

  • Michael Orozco started and played 90 minutes in San Luis’ 1-1 tie vs. Puebla on Saturday.
  • Jose Francisco Torres came off the bench and played 46 minutes in Pachuca’s 2-1 win vs. Monterrey on Saturday.
  • Daniel Hernandez started and played 90 minutes in Chiapas’ 3-1 loss to Tecos on Saturday.
  • Sammy Ochoa did not dress for Tecos.
  • Jesus Padilla{did not dress in Chivas de Guadalajara’s 1-0 win vs. Atlas on Saturday.
  • Marco Vidal did not dress in Indios de Ciudad de Juarez’s 1-0 loss to Tigres on Saturday.
  • Sonny Guadamara dressed but did not play in Morelia’s 3-1 win vs. Necaxa on Sunday.

American-born Players Playing for Other Countries

  • Giuseppe Rossi (Italy) came off the bench, played 45 minutes and scored the game-winning goal in Villarreal’s 1-0 win vs. Sporting Gijon on Saturday.
  • Edgar Castillo (Mexico) came off the bench and played 37 minutes in Santos Laguna’s 2-1 loss to Toluca on Sunday.
  • Joe Lapira (Ireland) started and played 90 minutes Nybergsund’s 3-0 win vs. Bryne on Sunday.
  • Brede Hangeland (Norway) started, played 90 minutes and drew a yellow card in Fulham’s 2-1 loss to West Ham on Saturday.
  • Boaz Myhill (Wales) started and made four saves in Hull’s 2-1 win vs. Arsenal on Saturday.

————————

As you can see, I found a compromise regarding the Giuseppe Rossi situation (thanks to the suggestion of an SBI reader). I believe this is the best way to satisfy all parties. And if anyone still has a problem you really need to get a grip.

If there are players I forgot to list feel free to list them below. Please remember that I’m trying to focus on first divisions and, in some cases, second divisions, so keep that in mind when suggesting players for the list.

Share your thoughts on how the Americans Abroad did this past weekend in the comments section below.

Comments

  1. The MLS should just get rid of the cap all together and set up a Transfer system like Europe. That’s the only way we will compete in the CONCAF CL and in the world. The U.S. clubs here have the money to build the biggest clubs in the world but the salary cap limits that from happening.

    Reply
  2. Brett,

    You are indeed correct that recently Dempsey has picked up his scoring, but over the last year and a half or so he has been largely a “banshee” on the field. I’ll add that this scoring has come against a string of CONCACAF minoes (2 against Barbados, BARBADOS!!, 1 against Cuba, and 1 against T&T). In 2008, no goals and ineffective play against higher caliber teams including England, Poland, Mexico, Sweden, Spain, and Argentina have been the hallmark of his efforts.

    I’m just not so convinced being at Fulham is helping him. I think he needs to be at another club where he can get more PT…game experience is invaluable, and he’s not getting it where he is. Perhaps another mid-level EPL team, or the Bundesliga may do him more good.

    Reply
  3. Tim, if you’re not satisfied then either get laid or go find another website to annoy people on.

    And last time I checked Subotic is eligible right now to play for the United States. Until that changes I want to see him listed every week.

    Reply
  4. Ives, thanks for finally separating out the American-born Players Playing for Other Countries. Great compromise. It is appreciated.

    Good to see Orozco getting time for San Luis. I typically find it hard to stomach la Liga Azteca, but now I actually have a team (or at least a player) to cheer for!

    Reply
  5. Dempsey and Beasley are such better players now than years ago. Their defensive and positional sense, strength, and technical ability on the ball has improved dramatically. Injuries happen but Europe has improved both dramatically.

    Reply
  6. Maybe Rossi reads ” Soccerbyives.net”

    Speaking at the La Liga side’s El Madrigal stadium, the American-born star of Italian descent said: “Coming from New York, I have followed the careers of US players.

    “Because of that I know Claudio Reyna was at Rangers and DaMarcus Beasley and Maurice Edu are now there so I have a keen interest in Scottish football.

    http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/sport-news/scottish-football/spl/celtic-fc/2008/09/28/celtic-must-be-some-team-if-donati-isn-t-in-starting-line-up-says-giuseppe-rossi-78057-20757417/

    Reply
  7. I agree with Tim.

    In 2002 Beas gave people all kninds of problems running at them, now he’s more of a passer. Dempsey is also a guy who looked better while at MLS. But like the other poster said though, it’s either playing for McDonalds money here, or getting decent money riding the pine over there.

    Also as much as I like EJ and hope to see him do better, when those coaches over there see him as a National Team Starter for this country, they’re probably thinking all of our attacking players are that bad, so maybe not start ’em. Just a thought.

    And Ajax actually won a game. Yay!!!

    Reply
  8. Maybe Rossi reads ” Soccer by Ives ”

    —————————————-

    Speaking at the La Liga side’s El Madrigal stadium, the American-born star of Italian descent said: “Coming from New York, I have followed the careers of US players.

    “Because of that I know Claudio Reyna was at Rangers and DaMarcus Beasley and Maurice Edu are now there so I have a keen interest in Scottish football.

    http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/sport-news/scottish-football/spl/celtic-fc/2008/09/28/celtic-must-be-some-team-if-donati-isn-t-in-starting-line-up-says-giuseppe-rossi-78057-20757417/

    ——————————————

    Reply
  9. BlueWhiteLion – depends on the coach… ill agree with you that the youth coaches (back in Rec soccer) have little to no concept of whats best and stick strictly to dribbling up the side and passing to the middle… its saddens me b/c i witnessed it at my U8’s game this weekend… we domolished that team though, b/c i dont coach that way.. at that age, i teach them to dribble dribble dribble…. even if they are taking on 3 players… funny thing though, every player on my team can out dribble the opponents and we tend to outscore them by a large number..

    its changing though, b/c when you get your E license, the people there were telling coaches to train on dribbling all the way through U12 and to not even bother with passing concepts… the tides are changing and we’ll see more creativity spark in the US soon enough

    Reply

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