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Americans Abroad: Weekend Rewind

Maurice Edu (Reuters)

by GIANFRANCO PANIZO

After months of inactivity in the Scottish Premier League, midfielder Maurice Edu was penned into the Rangers' starting eleven in their 1-0 victory over Hamilton Academical on Saturday. The former Toronto FC player enjoyed his first start in league play since September and drew rave-reviews from head coach Walter Smith. Edu's International teammate, DaMarcus Beasley, just recovered from a minor injury and made the bench for Rangers, but did not see time on the pitch on Saturday.

Steve Cherundolo also returned to action this weekend, overcoming a hamstring injury to earn the start and play 90 minutes in Hannover 96's 1-0 victory against Bayer Leverkusen.

Michael Bradley also enjoyed a solid performance this weekend. Trailing Hertha Berlin, 2-0, Bradley cut the deficit in half when he was given the responsibility of taking Borussia Moenchengladbach's penalty kick in the 69th minute.

Michael Parkhurst opened up his Americans Abroad campaign this weekend as the Danish SuperLiga resumed its season. Parkhurst played 90 minutes in FC Nordsjaelland's 1-1 draw with Vejle.

Here is how the rest of the Americans Abroad did this week:

England

PREMIER LEAGUE

  • Tim Howard started, played 90 minutes and made four saves in Everton's 2-0 win vs. West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.

  • Brad Friedel started, played 90 minutes and made zero saves in Aston Villa's 2-2 draw vs. Stoke City on Saturday.

  • Brad Guzan dressed but did not play in Aston Villa's 2-2 draw vs. Stoke City on Sunday.

  • Clint Dempsey started and played 88 minutes in Fulham's 0-0 draw vs. Arsenal on Saturday.

  • Jonathan Spector came off the bench and played 7 minutes in West Ham's 1-0 win vs. Manchester City on Sunday.

COCA COLA CHAMPIONSHIP

  • Jay DeMerit started and played 57 minutes in Watford's 2-0 win vs. Crystal Palace on Saturday.

  • Eddie Johnson came off the bench and played 9 minutes in Cardiff City's 1-0 loss vs. Southampton on Saturday.

  • Frank Simek dressed but did not play in Sheffield Wednesday's 4-2 win vs. Burnley on Saturday.
  • Marcus Hahnemann dressed but did not play in Reading's 1-0 loss vs. Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

LEAGUE ONE

  • Jemal Johnson started and played 90 minutes in MK Don's 2-2 draw vs. Leicester City on Saturday.
  • Zak Whitbread started and played 90 minutes in Millwall's 3-2 loss vs. Oldham Athletic on Saturday.
  • Mike Grella dressed but did not play in Leeds United's 3-2 win vs. Scunthorpe United on Saturday.
  • Ian Joyce dressed but did not play in Southend United's 2-1 win vs. Peterborough United on Saturday.

Scotland

  • DaMarcus Beasley dressed but did not play in Rangers' 1-0 win vs. Hamilton Academical on Saturday.

  • Maurice Edu started and played 90 minutes in Rangers' 1-0 win vs. Hamilton Academical on Saturday.

Germany

BUNDESLIGA

  • Landon Donovan came off the bench and played 13 minutes in Bayern Munich's 0-0 draw vs. Werder Bremen on Sunday.
  • Michael Bradley started, played 90 minutes and scored a GOAL in Borussia Moenchengladbach's 2-1 loss vs. Hertha Berlin on Saturday.
  • Steve Cherundolo started and played 90 minutes in Hannover 96's 1-0 win vs. Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday.
  • Sal Zizzo dressed but did not play in Hannover 96's 1-0 win vs. Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday.

BUNDESLIGA 2

  • Heath Pearce dressed but did not play in Hansa Rostock's 0-0 draw vs. Ahlen on Friday.
  • Gregg Berhalter did not dress in 1860 Munich's 5-1 win vs. St Pauli on Sunday.

  • Luis Robles started, played 90 minutes and made one save in Kaiserslautern's 2-1 loss vs. SpVgg Greuther Furth on Sunday.

  • Matt Taylor came off the bench and played 45 minutes in TUS Koblenz's 2-0 win vs. FC Augsburg on Sunday.

  • David Yelldell started, played 90 minutes and made five saves in TUS Koblenz's 2-0 win vs. FC Augsburg on Sunday.

  • Grover Gibson did not dress in Ahlen's 0-0 draw vs. Hansa Rostock on Friday. 

Spain

  • Jozy Altidore did not dress in Xerez's 1-1 draw vs. Rayo Vallecano on Saturday.

Italy

  • Danny Szetela dressed but did not play in Brescia's 3-0 win vs. Frosinone on Saturday.

France

LIGUE 1

  • Carlos Bocanegra started and played 90 minutes in Rennes' 1-1 tie vs. Lyon on Sunday.

  • Freddy Adu did not dress in AS Monaco's 2-2 draw vs. St Etienne on Sunday.

LIGUE 2

  • Quentin Westberg and Troyes play Lens on Monday.

Belgium

  • Oguchi Onyewu started and played 80 minutes in Standard Liege's 4-0 win vs. Cercle Brugge on Sunday.
  • Jared Jeffrey did not dress in Club Brugge's 2-1 win vs. Roeselare on Saturday. Jeffrey is with the U.S. Under-20 national team.

Denmark

  • Dan Califf did not dress in FC Midtjylland's 1-1 tie vs. Ejsberg on Saturday.
  • Jeremiah White started and played 77 minutes in AGF Aarhus' 2-1 loss vs. Randers FC on Sunday.
  • Benny Feilhaber did not dress in AGF Aarhus' 2-1 loss vs. Randers FC on Sunday.
  • Michael Parkhurst started and played 90 minutes in FC Nordsjaelland's 1-1 draw vs. Vejle on Sunday.
  • Marcus Tracy did not play in Aalborg BK's 1-0 win vs. AC Horsens on Sunday.

Austria

  • Preston Zimmerman started and played 90 minutes in Kapfenberg SV's 3-1 win vs. SK Sturm Graz on Saturday.

Mexico

  • Jose Francisco Torres started and played 90 minutes in Pachuca's 5-0 loss vs. Guadalajara on Saturday.
  • Michael Orozco and San Luis face Club America on Sunday evening.
  • Marco Vidal did not dress in Indios de Ciudad Juarez's 1-1 draw vs. Chiapas on Sunday.

  • Daniel Hernandez did not dress in Chiapas' 1-1 draw vs. Indios de Ciudad Juarez on Sunday.

  • Jesus Padilla did not dress in Chivas de Guadalajara's 5-0 win vs. Pachuca on Saturday.

American-born Players Playing for Other Countries

  • Giuseppe Rossi (Italy) started and played 81 minutes in Villarreal's 2-2 tie vs. Real Betis on Sunday.

  • Edgar Castillo (Mexico) and Club America face San Luis on Sunday evening.

  • Brede Hangeland (Norway) started and played 90 minutes in Fulham's 0-0 draw vs. Arsenal on Saturday. 
  • Boaz Myhill (Wales) dressed but did not play in Hull City's 2-1 loss vs. Blackburn on Sunday.

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What do you think of these performances? Eager to see more of Edu with Rangers? Think Beasley is not far off from starting either? Think Cherundolo can play well enough in the coming weeks to get a call-up for the United States' next World Cup qualifiers? Excited to see Bradley taking on more responsibility with his club? Still wish Michael Parkhurst was in MLS?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Villarreal lied when they rejected the loan to Everton, so it doesn’t matter what’s happening at Xerez. Jozy get out of there.

    PS to andy,
    They SBI, censored me when I called Michael. ‘El Gringo Torres’.

    Reply
  2. I actually sat and watched the Pachuca/Chivas game this weekend.

    Whenever Jose Torres touched the ball, the announcer would refer to him as “el gringo Torres.” That’s not considered a derogatory comment, is it?

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  3. I think if Spector stays healthy he is the obvious choice for LB. Pearce needs to go somewhere he will play, I think he is a quality LB when he is getting minutes. Bornstein is not the answer unless we are playing a weak CONCACAF team.

    At RB I like Simek to take over for Dolo. Wynn needs to move to Europe before he lay claim to that spot. Of course, Simek also needs to stay healthy.

    Of course Landon Donovan is now old news at Munich. I don’t know how the rest of you feel, but I’d rather see Landon starting in the League Championship next year then for the Galaxy. I’m sure MLS would never offer a transfer fee that an LC team would pay, but he needs to be in Europe for a team that puts him in the starting 11. Not in a Scandanavian league or in Belgium, but in a top flight league or LC.

    Adu needs to find a team that doesn’t care whether or not he defends while he is on the pitch.

    Reply
  4. Can Spector play LB? Or could he be the answer to the #3 CB role behind Gooch and Boca? Hope he stays healthy and regains form.

    I see our RBs for 2010 as Dolo and Wynne. Perfect balance of veteran with a younger prospect underneath him. No offense to Simek, just hoping for extended health for him.

    Crazy as this sounds, with Pearce not playing for a bad Bundesliga2 side, I still see Orozco as maybe a factor in the battle for the LB position.

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  5. RK – Grover played well the first half of the season wth Rot-Weiss Ahlen; however succumbed to an injury. He made an appearnce in the first game of the Ruckrunde but re-injured himself. Like Scott said, he won’t be back until about April.

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  6. Beasley needs to head to Spain or France. He can adapt to the league and is still very fast. He’d be excellent for any mid-table team. So much talent, shouldnt go to waste for Rangers on the bench.

    I bet even Celtic would love to have him.

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  7. Can anyone seriously blame Xerez right now. They owe nothing to Villareal. I’m sure they are not playing Jozy because they don’t feel like he is one of their top two or three strikers. They are battling for promotion- i dont know the numbers- but I would guess the opportunity to get promoted means millions for a club. Also, why are people saying Jozy should leave this summer? Villa paid 11 million for him and he is 19 years old- He will definitely still be in their plans this summer. However, Adu is a completely different story. Good piece on him on Yanks Abroad.

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  8. Dolo is for sure our no.1 RB even if injured. Only people who are in the running for that are Wynne who is still progressing and Hejduk who is a brillant vet but shouldnt be with us in 2010.

    Pearce was decent as LB last year but losing his spot. Spector is back from injury and getting quality PT with West Ham. Bornstein and Pearce will fight it out for no.2

    Califf and Parkhurst are the backups for Gooch and Bocanegra. DeMerit is perfect but always injured whenever he gets a call up. Hope he gets Watford back in the PL or move to a newly promoted side.

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  9. EJ almost scored an equalizer. I sure hope he scores at least 1 before he heads to Sweden.

    Round of applause to our players especially Bradley, Dempsey and Edu, oh and Howard and Friedel. Brillant you guys. Glad to hear Cherundolo is back from injury.

    Welcome to Denmark, Parkhurst

    Reply
  10. Concering Pico’s post and the podcast that he linked. They start talking about Jozy around the 89th minute during the 2/18 podcast. Pretty interesting.

    Reply
  11. Mikeype-

    Dolo has never played left back to my knowledge. Demerit, Califf, and Parkhurst do not play fulback. They are centerbacks. Dolo spot is secure at rightback while with Pearce not playing, Bornstein, Spector, even Beas are prob next in line to get a look at leftback.

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  12. well we know for a fact Adu will not be with Monaco next season as De Bontin resigns. sucks that Ricardo continues to play his Korean guy who scored 1 goal.

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  13. To those who are bemoaning about Jozy’s situation in Spain, you should listen to Graham Hunter’s 2/18 piece at the World Soccer Daily podcast at:

    http://podcast.com/show/1375/

    He addresses the question about Jozy in the second half of the podcast. Pretty insightful take.

    Let’s also bear in mind that since Jozy’s move to Xerez he has had about a month to practice with the new team (which was leading the league prior to his arrival), and didn’t help his cause by missing time (two weekends) for the game against Mexico.

    The fans at Xerez are clamoring to see Jozy play, but many are afraid to tinker with a team that has been getting good results. At least the other winter acquisition (Abel) made it to the 18 for yesterday’s game against Rayo and played 10 minutes.

    Jozy’s timing could not have been worse because the weakest forward at Xerez has caught fire and has scored 4 or 5 goals in the 6 game winning streak. He scored again yesterday in the tie.

    It is a matter of time, and Jozy still has until June to show what he can do.

    P.S. Last time I tried posting this info it got deleted. It was not cool…

    Reply
  14. I know this is beating a dead horse…..but the anger sure isnt dead…..i am PISSED that jozy is getting messed up like that!!! These people are all idiots for doing this to him (and themselves). Both sides are just wasting money by not playing/developing him or selling him…..so its a bust all around.

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  15. Couldn’t agree more. I really hope Jozy and Adu can make some good moves this summer and end up with a team that will for sure let them see playing time.
    Does anyone have any concrete reasons for why Jozy and Adu are not playing?
    I have heard rumors of the fact that Jozy got called up for the WQ and that Adu has a bad attitude. I just don’t know what to believe and want answers!

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  16. Michael Orozco played 90 as San Luis beat America at the Azteca today. He also played 90 a few days ago as San Luis lost 1-0 at home to Libertad of Paraguay in a Copa Libertadores match.

    Encouraging to see Spector return and play a bit. West Ham did not want to loan him out bc he is in their plans. I expect to see him getting some call-ups soon.

    don’t know about Califf, DeMerit, Parkhurst, Mikeype. They don’t have quite the talent that Spector has and I think he has an edge over them when healthy.

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  17. Villarreal / Pellegrini, lied when they said they couldn’t lend Jozy out to Everton because they needed him for second half. That’s enough reason to leave. Adu, Edu, Jozy, Heath, sitting out almost entire year you must leave. Your agents and you must look at playing time opportunities in future contracts. Those who say that sitting out in civvies with quality teams is beneficial are smoking some good stuff. Watching players makes you a fan not a player.

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  18. What does everyone think of Heath Pearce not getting consistent playing time at Hansa Rostock? Does this open the window for Spector, Califf, DeMeritt, Parkhurst at LB or RB and move Cherundolo to LB?

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  19. Lee Nguyen would come back to MLS but since the team is owned by some big Vietnamese company he is being paid $10,000 a month (highest paid player in Vietnam)….plus he just scored a hat trick in a cup win over Saigon…..or at least that’s what I could find through limited research.

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  20. Villareal should’ve sent Jozy to Everton, and Beasley should’ve went to Schalke.

    Lee Nguyen should just come back to MLS.

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  21. Yay, another week where two of our most important future offensive talents don’t even get a proper seat on the bench. This is just wonderful. On the other hand, I am really happy for Mo to get a full 90 in a league match, very cool.

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  22. Andy, I understand your point about Jozy, and I agree, however I’m pretty sure la liga don’t have reserve teams.

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  23. What is this with Altidore now in addition to Adu. Why would Xerez even accept Jozy to not even dress him nevermind play him. Altidore was getting more time with Villareal. The comment about Jozy going to the WCQ (which was now several weeks ago) is so lame. Isn’t Villareal the least bit upset nevermind Altidore? Is there any more to this?

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  24. What about Lee Nguyen with Hoang Anh Gia Lai in the Vietnamese V-League? (Yes you all read that right….that’s where he’s playing now)

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  25. Its nice to have a strikers start out in Europe like Tracy and Zizzo(even though he’s more of a winger). I find that players who start off in Europe are forced to develop better touch and finishing abilities because they recieve such good service. Hopefully Tracy and Zizzo will be part of the long term plan for the MNT.

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  26. Jason, that explains last weekend — not this weekend. The other new guy played this weekend (who, of course, wasn’t at a WCQ).

    Matt: they were at the top of the table when they made the loan deal.

    I’m really hoping to see Jozy at least in the 18 this week.
    _____

    In other news — what is going on with Grover Gibson? Does anyone know, or know German that could do some research? He hasn’t played since December, which makes me wonder if he was transferred from Ahlen or is injured.

    Reply
  27. Altidore’s not playing be/c Xerez is at the top of the promotion battle and the pieces they have in place are working. Why screw with what’s working. Can’t blame Xerez, but yes, i’m sure it’s not what Villa and JA had in mind.

    I’m not sure Xerez was on this “streak” when they made the deal with Villa.

    Reply
  28. did you guys read the yanks abroad article where the Xerez guy said Altidore isn’t playing because he missed a week to go to the WCQ. so lame, its either Altidore can’t be called in for WCQ or try earn a spot at Xerez. hopefully with this draw this week, they’ll let Altidore play, or at least dress for that matter.

    Reply
  29. Jozy’s situations is baffeling me and I cant imagine Villareal are to happy either. I am sure they had no intention of loaning him out for him just to train with Xerez and then just sit on the bench. He would have been better off staying.

    Reply
  30. Go Edu! I watch the game on saturday. He started a little slow, but picked it as the game progressed. He did a good job. If he continues like, he will be a regular stater in no time.

    Reply
  31. White had the assist in AGF Aarhus’ 1-2 loss. It was an awesome goal after only 26 seconds. Feilhaber is no longer injured, but is not yet fit to play, but he is expected to play a key role of AGF this spring after they got a new manager that puts an emphasis on crisp, technical attacking soccer.

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  32. cant believe that Villareal let Jozy go to a club to not play… I know that Xerez dont need Jozy and are doing fine but you do not loan young kids out to sit…otherwise he could play in the reserves and still train with you…just odd

    Eddie Johnson almost scored an equalizer and may get more minutes on Tuesday with Bothroyd and Chopra still out.

    Reply
  33. Im feeling good about Sal Zizzo, he played last week, and was on the bench this week, if he keeps getting time, he should be called up to the MNT, atleast for a weaker opponent.

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  34. Good weekend. I’ll be like everyone else and wish Jozy and Adu could actually play, but you can’t have it all!

    Reply

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