Top Stories

Americans Abroad: A Look Ahead

Brad Friedel 2 (Reuters)   

By FRANCO PANIZO

Brad Guzan has received most of the starts for Aston Villa in the club's run to the Carling Cup final, but it could be incumbent Brad Friedel who gets the nod against Manchester United.

Friedel has been red hot as of late, and that, coupled with his experience, may be the reason he replaces Guzan in the Villans' Carling Cup lineup. No matter which goalkeeper starts, stopping Wayne Rooney will likely prove to be pivotal if Aston Villa is to win its first major final in nearly 15 years.

Maurice Edu and DaMarcus Beasley also have an important match this weekend for Rangers. Edu and Beasley  have a chance to play Celtic in the Old Firm derby, and a win for the pair of American midfielders could serve as a boost in confidence before returning to the U.S. national team . A victory would also push Rangers ten points clear of Celtic for the top spot in the Scottish Premier League.

Wondering what other intriguing matches are on tap? One of them will be when Borussia Moenchengladbach goes up against SC Freiburg, as Michael Bradley will likely face U.S.-eligible Daniel Williams.

Here is a rundown of who Americans Abroad will be playing this weekend:

 

TODAY

Ian Joyce and Southend United play Charlton Athletic.

Jermaine Jones and Schalke 04 play Borussia Dortmund. (Jones is out injured.)

Matt Taylor and FSV Frankfurt play Energie Cottbus.

Michael Hoyos and Estudiantes La Plata play Boca Juniors.

SATURDAY

Stuart Holden and Bolton Wanderers play Marcus Hahnemann and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Frank Simek and Sheffield Wednesday play Reading.

Kenny Cooper and Plymouth Argyle play Sheffield United.

Jay DeMerit and Watford play Newcastle United.

Mike Grella and Leeds United play Huddersfield Town.

Zak Whitbread and Norwich City play Oldham Athletic.

Jon-Paul Pittman and Wycombe Wanderers play Jemal Johnson and Stockport County.

Michael Bradley and Borussia Moenchengladbach play Daniel Williams and SC Freiburg.

Ricardo Clark and Eintracht Frankfurt play VfB Stuttgart.

David Yeldell and TUS Koblenz play FC Augsburg.

Charlie Davies and Sochaux play Lorient. (Davies is out injured.)

Carlos Bocanegra and Stade Rennes play Montpellier.

Jose Francisco Torres and Pachuca play Pumas UNAM.

Edgar Castillo and Tigres UANL play Morelia.

SUNDAY

Brad Friedel, Brad Guzan and Aston Villa play Manchester United in the Carling Cup final.

Landon Donovan, Tim Howard and Everton play Tottenham Hotspur.

Clint Dempsey and Fulham play Sunderland. (Dempsey is out injured.)

DaMarcus Beasley, Maurice Edu and Rangers play Dominic Cervi and Celtic.

Oguchi Onyewu and AC Milan play Atalanta. (Onyewu is out injured.)

Steve Cherundolo, Sal Zizzo and Hannover 96 play VfL Wolfsburg. (Cherundolo and Zizzo are out injured.)

Luis Robles and Kaiserslautern play Karlsruhe.

Freddy Adu, Eddie Johnson and Aris Salonika play Larissa.

Herculez Gomez and Puebla play Chiapas.

Marco Vidal and Indios de Ciudad Juarez play Toluca.

—————–

Which Americans Abroad match are you most looking forward to? Which players do you see having a big impact? Think Friedel or Guzan will get the start? How do you think Edu and Beasley will do against Celtic? Who do you see winning, Bradley and Moenchengladbach or Williams and Freiburg?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Come on. He gets on for ten minutes! In his last ten games in the third division, he’s played more than 15 minutes ONCE. And been left on the bench entirely five times. That’s a bench-warmer to me.

    Reply
  2. whoa fellahs. “really makes me angry”?… relax a bit. i didn’t suggest a replacement for timmy. just wondering if freidel would be interested. i’d rather have some sort of freidel/howard combo than howard/guzan/robles/hanneman/whoever. but i guess you rather sit around getting ANGRY at the suggestion.

    i promise not to bring it up again, so you don’t get “angry”.

    Reply
  3. NK…article earlier in the week on SBI said he was back from injury and looking to potentially make the squad/bench for this weekends game.

    Reply
  4. Seeing as how he was born in Germany, has represented Germany at the U15 level, and doesn’t have a US Passport (at least he hasn’t gotten one), he is considered German.

    Actually as far as I know once he reaches the age of 21, he will have to apply to FIFA (like Jones and Castillo) if he wants to play for the United States.

    Reply
  5. It really makes me angry when people suggest bringing Friedel back. Howard is an excellent keeper and has, hands down, been the most consistent and most valuable ‘Nat throughout WC qualifying. In fact, in my darker moments I think BB’s whole strategy is “empty bucket and let Howard deal with it.” After all of Howard’s work, leadership, and success, the idea of giving Friedel Howard’s shirt is completely offensive.

    Reply
  6. In regards to Daniel Williams… when Ives first mentioned him on here a few weeks ago, I checked out SC Freiburg’s wikipedia page. He was listed on the page w/ an American flag next to his name.

    Now, when I check their wiki page… his name has a German flag next to it. Hmm…

    Reply
  7. Why? The difference between Friedel and Howard is miniscule. Defensive marking and finishing will be the difference.

    Nobody to coax into duty will help us there.

    Reply
  8. Just sucks as a player that you’ve brought the team this far and now get usurped… Understandable but tough to take all the same.

    Reply
  9. He’s played well when given a chance and has notched some nice goals. I’m hoping that when Beckford leaves, he’s given a bigger chance. He’s a striker I’m keeping an eye out for in the coming years. I think he plays better behind a striker, quick and has some nice footwork.

    Leeds and Grella will be in the CC next season and if he can get some real playing time, we may start seeing him at a couple of national camps.

    Reply
  10. That’ll be tight for Dempsey. He might make it back for the second leg but if he’s just back to full training in 2 weeks, that first Juve game may be asking a lot. I REALLY hope he gets in there though. Good times to play f’n Juve in European tournament.

    Reply
  11. 8 plastic bottles make one jersey, making the jersey the lightest and most breathable. It has bonded seams, not stitched, so its more flexible. It also has perforated sections to make it more comfy.

    I wish they would have stayed with the dark blue grey instead of this new blue.

    I will wait until I see the white home jerseys until I buy one. But will certainly have a No. 9 Davies shirt for June 12th.

    Reply
  12. Nike brags that the new shirts are basically made of garbage. Why are they still $70?

    I’ll probably get over it, but I still think Miss America when I see the huge white sash. I’m sure they’ll look better on the field, but I’d have liked a thinner stripe.

    Wait, who cares what I think. Sorry, enjoy your new purchase.

    Reply
  13. Guzan has been struggling with commanding his area in recent starts. I don’t think the Villa fans have much faith in him right now, and a bad performance in a cup final could shatter his confidence more than getting dropped for the final would. That’s why I think Friedel will start.

    Reply
  14. Leeds needs to get back on track. They’ve had a run of pour results here recently. Grella always makes the bench but never gets in.

    Reply
  15. I hope Freddy and EJ get a lot of time in.

    I hope the same for Beas and Edu.

    ANOTHER big game for Landon and Timmy.

    I hope Stu gets back on the pitch. He played well in London even though his team got their butts whooped.

    A very big game for DeMeritt and Watford.

    I’ll just be happy if all our AA’s come out Sunday night healthy.

    Dempsey was at the unveiling of the new Nike World Cup kits in London yesterday. Read some comments he said speaking about how he is currently running and should be back to full training in a couple weeks. Very good news considering Fulham have two HUGE games against Juventus in 2 weeks.

    Reply

Leave a Comment