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Americans Abroad: Weekend Rewind

Clint Dempsey 11 (Getty Images)  

By FRANCO PANIZO

If you are a U.S. national team fan who still isn't convinced that Clint Dempsey can fill in at forward in this summer's World Cup, you might want to see his latest goal.

Playing up top in Fulham's 3-2 win against West Ham United, Dempsey scored the opener, chesting down a long ball to teammate Simon Davies, who returned a pass that Dempsey slotted to the near post. The goal marked the American international's seventh of the Premiership campaign, tying his career best from last season.

DaMarcus Beasley didn't score this weekend, but he did make his first appearance for Rangers since March 24. Beasley came off the bench in the 28th minute and helped Rangers to a 2-1 victory over Dundee United.

Beasley wasn't the only player making an appearance after a long spell on the bench. Luis Robles started in his first match of the season for the already-promoted Kaiserslautern in a 2-2 draw against TUS Koblenz. Robles made two saves in the tie.

Here is how the Americans Abroad fared this weekend:

England

PREMIERSHIP

  • Tim Howard started, played 90 minutes and made three saves in Everton's 0-0 draw vs. Stoke City on Saturday.

  • Clint Dempsey started, played 86 minutes and scored a GOAL in Fulham's 3-2 win vs. West Ham United on Sunday.

  • Jonathan Spector started and played 90 minutes in West Ham United's 3-2 loss vs. Fulham on Sunday.

  • Brad Friedel started, played 90 minutes and made three saves in Aston Villa's 3-1 loss vs. Manchester City on Saturday.

  • Brad Guzan dressed but did not play in Aston Villa's 3-1 loss vs. Manchester City on Saturday.

  • Marcus Hahnemann started, played 90 minutes and made three saves in Wolverhampton Wanderers' 3-1 loss vs. Portsmouth on Saturday.

  • Stuart Holden did not dress in Bolton Wanderers' 1-0 loss vs. Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

COCA COLA CHAMPIONSHIP

  • Jay DeMerit did not dress in Watford's 4-0 win vs. Coventry City on Sunday. He is recovering from a stomache injury.

  • Frank Simek did not dress in Sheffield Wednesday's 2-2 draw vs. Crystal Palace on Sunday.
  • Kenny Cooper did not dress in Plymouth Argyle's 2-1 loss vs. Peterborough United on Sunday.

LEAGUE ONE

  • Eric Lichaj started and played 90 minutes in Leyton Orient's 2-0 win vs. Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday.

  • Jemal Johnson did not dress in Stockport County's 2-1 loss vs. Southend United on Saturday.

  • Jon-Paul Pittman started and played 70 minutes in Wycombe Wanderers' 2-0 loss vs. Leyton Orient on Saturday.

  • Mike Grella came off the bench and played 6 minutes in Leeds United's 1-0 loss vs. Charlton Athletic on Saturday.

  • Zak Whitbread did not dress in Norwich City's 3-0 win vs. Bristol Rovers on Saturday.

Scotland

  • Maurice Edu started and played 90 minutes in Rangers' 2-1 win vs. Dundee United on Saturday.
  • DaMarcus Beasley came off the bench and played 62 minutes in Rangers' 2-1 win vs. Dundee United on Saturday.
  • Dominic Cervi did not dress in Celtic's 4-0 win vs. Motherwell on Saturday.

Italy

  • Oguchi Onyewu did not dress in AC Milan's 1-0 win vs. Fiorentina on Saturday.

Germany

BUNDESLIGA

  • Michael Bradley started and played 90 minutes in Borussia Moenchengladbach's 6-1 loss to Hannover 96 on Saturday.

  • Steve Cherundolo started and played 90 minutes in Hannover 96's 6-1 win vs. Borussia Moenchengladbach on Saturday.

  • Sal Zizzo did not dress in Hannover 96's 6-1 win vs. Borussia Moenchengladbach on Saturday. He is recovering from a knee injury.
  • Jermaine Jones did not dress in Schalke 04's 2-0 loss vs. Werder Bremen on Saturday. He is recovering from a leg injury.
  • Ricardo Clark started and played 90 minutes in Eintracht Frankfurt's 2-1 loss vs. TSG Hoffenheim on Saturday.
  • Daniel Williams did not dress in SC Freiburg's 2-2 draw vs. FC Cologne on Saturday.

  • Jared Jeffrey did not dress in Mainz 05's 2-2 draw vs. VfB Stuttgart on Saturday.

BUNDESLIGA 2 

  • Luis Robles started, played 90 minutes and made two saves in Kaiserslautern's 2-2 draw vs. TUS Koblenz on Sunday.
  • Matt Taylor did not dress in FSV Frankfurt's 0-0 draw vs. Ahlen on Sunday.
  • David Yeldell did not dress in TUS Koblenz's 2-2 draw vs. Kaiserslautern on Sunday. He is recovering from an ankle injury.

France

  • Carlos Bocanegra started and played 90 minutes in Stade Rennes' 2-1 loss vs. Sochaux on Sunday.

  • Charlie Davies did not dress in Sochaux's 2-1 win vs. Stade Rennes on Sunday.

Portugal

  • Gale Agbossoumonde did not dress in Sporting Braga's 1-0 win vs. Pacos de Ferreira on Sunday.

Greece

  • Freddy Adu started and played 67 minutes in Aris Salonika's 2-0 loss vs. PAOK Salonika in the Greek play-offs on Saturday.

  • Eddie Johnson started and played 90 minutes in Aris Salonika's 2-0 loss vs. PAOK Salonika in the Greek play-offs on Saturday.

Denmark

  • Benny Feilhaber started and played 71 minutes in AGF Aarhus' 4-1 win vs. Silkeborg IF on Saturday.
  • Michael Parkhurst started and played 90 minutes in FC Nordsjaelland's 1-1 draw vs. Randers FC on Sunday.
  • Marcus Tracy did not dress in Aalborg BK's 3-2 win vs. FC Midtjylland on Sunday. He is recovering from a knee injury.
  • Chris Rolfe did not dress in Aalborg BK's 3-2 win vs. FC Midtjylland on Sunday.

Sweden

  • Alejandro Bedoya did not dress in Orebro BK's 2-0 win vs. Hacken on Sunday. He was serving a one-game suspension for yellow card accumulation.
  • Ryan Miller started and played 90 minutes in Halmstads BK's 1-0 loss vs. Brommapojkarna on Sunday.
  • Michael Thomas came off the bench and played 16 minutes in Halmstads BK's 1-0 loss vs. Brommapojkarna on Sunday.

Norway

  • Clarence Goodson and IK Start play Aalesunds on Monday.
  • Hunter Freeman and IK Start play Aalesunds on Monday.
  • Mikkel Diskerud started and played 90 minutes in Stabaek's 0-0 draw vs. Haugesund on Sunday.
  • Steve Clark dressed but did not play in Honefoss BK's 1-1 draw vs. Molde on Sunday.

Mexico

  • Jose Francisco Torres started and played 90 minutes in Pachuca's 1-0 win vs. Monterrey in the first leg of the quarterfinals of the Clausura on Saturday.

    Argentina

    • Michael Hoyos did not dress in Estudiantes La Plata's 2-1 win vs. Chacarita Juniors on Sunday.

    —————————–

    What do you think of these performances? Impressed by Dempsey's goal? Think he should play along side Jozy Altidore in the World Cup? Does Beasley have a shot to make the U.S. World Cup team? Think Robles should come to MLS?

    Share your thoughts below.

    Comments

    1. He still didn’t score (well, he did bag his one goal off a play where he worked nicely with VoH), but his play was considerably better. With VoH he made a big impact on games, creating chances, drawing fouls and penalties, and generally giving the opposing back line hell. Without VoH, he didn’t make much of a positive impact at all.

      USMNT with 1 forward has not worked for years. Our midfielders don’t tend to take chances and make runs, so with five in the middle just sitting there clogging things up, the attack grinds to a halt.

      Reply
    2. And that’s why Sacha’s played poorly/mediocre ever since for club and country?

      I seem to recall one Clint Dempsey getting mad when MLS wouldn’t sell, working harder and then being sold for a higher price a year later.

      Sacaha’s…no Clint Dempsey.

      Reply
    3. ok, let’s be honest, Jozy was better with JVoH – but he still didn;t score, so not that much better.

      But with USMNT yes 2 forwards seems o work better for more link play and less kickball from the backline to – the other team.

      Reply
    4. Dempsey & Adu had the best performances this weekend, no doubt about that. Spector had a really bad game, well, atleast one costly mistake,..and yes,.. It was his fault and only his fault this time.lol

      Reply
    5. Not worried. He had a black eye when he got back from his injury. Im assuming that the London crowd are assaulting him to give them an advantage for the World Cup.

      Reply
    6. I agree with everything you just said. Holden is more of a workhorse than Dempsey. Not saying that he’s lazy just with Holden’s youth he is much more willing to go back and play defense than Clint. I’ve also been impressed with Clint’s creativity and passing ability lately. You can tell he is ready for this World Cup.

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    7. saw that game, too, and have seen him play many times for Pachuca this year. they have changed tactics the last 2 games, going with more defensive pressure in the upper and middle thirds. Heck, the coach cut all of his hair off! don’t know if he’s committed to this new style, but they had to go for it vs. Cruz Azul down 1 goal on aggregate, and this tactic paid off with a late heroic goal to win the champions league…and Torres has responded well, especially in the second half vs. Monterrey. he looked good.

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    8. As he gets older he will mature and hopefully will still have the edginess but less of that “awful tackle” hotheadness.

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    9. Holden was playing great until he got his leg broken on that challange for the idiot De Jong. Just thinking about if it had actually been a WC game De Jong would have been sent off.

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    10. It depends on who they are playing and how they play in the friendlies leading up to the World Cup. My guess is that BB will go with Spector against England unless he really blows in the friendlies. Then they would probably switch up the last two group games.

      Reply
    11. the evidence seems pretty clear…Spector is a better right back than left back. does that mean he’s not the best left back on the USMNT roster? I don’t know, but the fact it’s a question is troubling; he may start at left back

      Reply
    12. Good call on the Italy game, which is the closest thing you’ll find to a good performance from Jozy solo – but even that was really only in the first half (the card of course had a lot to do with that, but that’s why it’s a tough game to draw conclusions from).

      I really think the heavy preponderance of the evidence shows that Jozy is ineffective by himself though. Those 20-30 minutes against Italy were one of the very few moments when this entire American midfield has attacked with verve and class. Playing him up top alone is almost certainly a losing strategy. At least stick Dempsey up there with him.

      Reply
    13. good point about his play with/without JVofH, just about the only guy on Hull’s roster, aside from Hunt, who ever looked for Jozy at all. that team really sucked, so it’s weird to try to gauge things from it

      Dempsey will be paired with Jozy up top, health allowing, and the camp and friendlies will allow them to work together. Can’t see any doubt in that at this point.

      If Charlie goes, he’s an energizer 20-25 minute sub, but watch for Buddle to get a chance to mesh in the friendlies. and if he meshes well, or anyone else does for that matter, then they will get chances to play more…and why not? lots still to determine at this spot

      Reply
    14. did i say otherwise? in fact, that is an example of what i would like to see personally. him coming in as a sub and providing a spark.

      of course, he could do what he did against brasil as well. you just know with him right now.

      i’m simply stating that i wouldn’t start beasley unless he starts getting consistent time because he has shown he can be streaky as a result of reduced playing time. if beasley is back to playing 90 minutes week in and week out, and playing well, i would LOVE it. a 2002 DMB would be so awesome. but i just dont see it at this moment in time.

      @ Joamig – i feel like we are going in circles. in short, you would start beasley for what he HAS done while i would opp for bedoya for what he COULD do. either way, i hope both get on the plane and can help the US team. good discussion though.

      Reply
    15. I agree with Brad actually. Not sure who decided Beasley was great in the Holland match, but everyone just seemed to start repeating that. I totally disagree. He was marooned wide on the right for the final 15 minutes of the first half. Holden had been tucking in to track Sneijder’s runs but Beasley couldn’t duplicate this role, making the Torres/Bradley pairing a real defensive problem. Beasley was pretty awful with the exception of the final 15 minutes when the Netherlands had no defensive midfielders and no shape to speak of. Even then, Bedoya made as much, if not more impact. Beasley’s second half was better but you’re assessing his entire performance on one good delivery on a free kick.

      Reply

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