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Opportunity knocks for Lichaj

Eric Lichaj (ISIPhotos.com) 

Photo by ISIPhotos.com

Less than two weeks after making his first U.S. men's national team appearance, Eric Lichaj stands poised to make his English Premier League debut.

The Aston Villa defender has a very good chance of being called on to replace starting right back Luke Young, who has been sidelined with a torn hamstring.

Lichaj impressed in his national team debut, last week's 0-0 tie vs. Colombia, and while he has yet to earn a Premier League appearance, new Villa manager Gerard Houllier could be ready to turn to the American fullback when Aston Villa faces Sunderland on Saturday.

Lichaj signed a three-year deal with Villa last summer, but has not featured for the club since his Europa League appearance under interim manager Kevin MacDonald.

Comments

  1. The hope is that he can be the second coming of Steve Cherundelo. Great tough consistent defender with ability to get forward and pass/cross and basically be an all around very good defender.

    It doesn’t sound flashy but it is important.

    Then again it doesn’t drastically change are team into something a little more fierce, like adding J Jones or a new Dempsey/Donovan…

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  2. I think he was much better than ok in the friendlies…for his first cap, especially! He was solid, was pretty lively in getting forward, and sent in a killer cross that Jozy should have put away for the winner. At the very least, it showed he has a bright future.

    Also, not all of our current right backs are “horrendous”…Stevie Cherundolo is the man. Spector is, indeed, horrendous at the moment, I’ll give you that.

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  3. Is the hubub over this guy based on the fact our current RB’s are horrendous? He looked OK in the friendly…nothing worth mentioning though (as far as I could tell)

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  4. in fairness to both Aston Villa and Lichaj, he had JUST gotten back from being away with the team for 2 weeks. He had been out of the clubs eyesight for 2 weeks while Beye got 2 weeks with basically no competition to make his case. Who knows, maybe Lichaj blew him out of the water this week and he’ll take over?

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  5. I think it means its not any more or less likely since the situation is the same. It doesn’t seem like Lichaj will start.

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  6. Cuellar can play right back as well, this isnt as likely but they do have Collins and Dunne. Those two at center, Cuellar at right.

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  7. Is the fact that Beye played last week mean Lichaj won’t play this week? Or that he’s more likely to play now, if not start then sub.

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  8. Yeah, I got exited when I heard Young would be out…until I remembered he was already out last week and Lichaj didn’t play last week either.

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