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Americans Abroad: Midweek Rewind

Brad Friedel 2 (Reuters) 
 
by FRANCO PANIZO

Brad Friedel may not have pulled out a victory over Liverpool, but his performance in the midweek match was just his latest impressive showing.

Friedel looked poised for a cleansheet after shutting out Steven Gerrard and company for 90 minutes, before Fernando Torres scored a last-gasp winner in stoppage time. Friedel, who made three saves in Aston Villa's defeat, and the Villans' loss may have dropped them to sixth place, but they remain only five points shy of second-place Manchester United.

Friedel was one of a handful of Americans Abroad involved in midweek action. Here is how the rest fared:

ENGLAND

  • Brad Friedel started, played 90 minutes and made three saves in Aston Villa's 1-0 loss vs. Liverpool on Tuesday.
  • Brad Guzan dressed but did not play in Aston Villa's 1-0 loss vs. Liverpool on Tuesday.
  • Jozy Altidore started and played 55 minutes in Hull City's 2-2 draw vs. Bolton Wanderers on Tuesday.

SCOTLAND

  • DaMarcus Beasley did not dress in Rangers' 7-1 win vs. Dundee United on Wednesday. He is recovering from a thigh injury. 
  • Maurice Edu dressed but did not play in Rangers' 7-1 win vs. Dundee United on Wednesday.
  • Dominic Cervi and Celtic's match vs. Kilmarnock was postponed on Wednesday.

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What do you think of these performances? Impressed by Friedel's showing? Disappointed not to see Edu take part in Rangers' rout of Dundee?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. He only played like 17 minutes against the Hibs on Dec 27th. I didn’t watch the game so I can’t say how Edu performed, but maybe the manager didn’t feel like he was quite up to par yet and that’s why he stayed on the bench today against Dundee. Or quite simply he didn’t want to make a sub in the central midfield today.

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  2. sucks mo edu didnt play, still wondering why. anyway, ives can you give us some insight on jeffrey going to FSV Mainz? i heard he got no time at Brugge and don’t understand how his move to Mainz will translate into a faster track for first-team action as his agent said. all interesting but confusing to me so help sorting it out would be appreciated

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  3. oh no no, I didn’t say you were one of those people, but I think that some people are. I do think that it’s an interesting fact how many Algerians that we don’t know about contribute or are set to contribute to European teams.

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  4. YES! even down to the fact that he has moments where he is secretly likable, but then immediately destroys the good vibes with yet another blunder

    very well said baquito

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  5. I don’t think either team is a set of bowling pins, although I agree that some make it that way. And, honestly, I have not seen Algeria play since probably 1986. But I have done some research on their players and just felt it was worth pointing out their pedigree and following their form.

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  6. The funny thing about these kinds of conversations is that there are some fans who act like the other team is a group of bowling pins and it’s just a matter of how many they knock over that determines fan satisfaction. Then, there are other fans that act like our team is a group of bowling pins and it’s a matter of how many stay up that determines fan satisfaction. That may not be a great metaphor, but I think you get the point; both sides should be given their due credit and respect. If that principle is followed, most people should expect the USA to walk out with a victory.

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  7. completely agree. regardless of past results, they have players contributing in all the biggest leagues.

    ziani is top class, been doing it for years in europe.

    ghilas has scored for hull in the league, something that jozy altidore (aka The Greatest Stiker in the Premier League) has failed to do.

    belhadj is an automatic choice for pompey as is hassan yebda.

    the centerback yahia was a major contributor for bochum in the bundesliga.

    I could keep going, assuming we dont get points off of england, it’s going to be a very nervy 3rd group game.

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  8. Hassan Yebda, another Algerian, also played 90 for last-placed Pompey.

    Here is how Soccernet described Bougherra’s goal for Rangers:

    Bougherra then went on a mazy run from the halfway line, dodging a string of United players, before sending a low shot into the back of the net and seal an emphatic 7-1 win with five minutes to go.

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  9. I think many in the mainstream US media will assume we should win easily vs Algeria, given that they have not been in the World Cup since 1986. But let’s not forget they had a civil war for many years. In 1982, they beat Germany, eventual finalists, so they have tradition. And now they have many players who were actually born in France and brought up in that system. Many of them have been the subject of big-money transfers in big 4 leagues, including England, Italy and Germany.

    I’m sure Bob Bradley will not take them lightly and will scout them closely in the upcoming African Nations Cup.

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  10. ALGERIANS ABROAD MIDWEEK REWIND: Nadir Belhadj scored for Pompey in 4-1 loss vs Arsenal and Madjid Bougherra got the last goal in Rangers’ 7-1 win vs Dundee United. Belhadj is rumored to be the target of a transfer bid from Spurs.

    Know thine foe.

    Reply

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