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Americans Abroad: A Look Ahead

Jonathan Spector 6 (Getty Images)

By FRANCO PANIZO

Playing time has been hard to come by this season for Jonathan Spector, but after his Carling Cup heroics, he might just see the field for West Ham for a second straight game.

Spector made a strong case for more minutes with his brace in the 4-0 win over Manchester United in the quarterfinals of the Carling Cup on Wednesday, and that performance could bear fruit when the Hammers visit Sunderland. Whether he'd resume his usual right back role or continue to see time as a defensive midfielder is uncertain, but at the very least, Spector's showing against his former club should see him make the bench.

Also looking to build off his recent goal-scoring performance, Clint Dempsey will aim to help end Fulham's flirtation with relegation when the Cottagers take on third-place Arsenal. Dempsey has five goals in the Premiership campaign, and one against Arsenal would bring him within one of his career-high with more than half a season to play.

One player looking to prevent goals rather than score them will be David Yeldell, whose five clean sheets have helped MSV Duisburg to second place in 2. Bundesliga. Yeldell and Duisburg battle FSV Frankfurt on Friday.

Here is a rundown of who the Americans Abroad play this weekend:

FRIDAY

David Yeldell and MSV Duisburg play FSV Frankfurt.

Quentin Westberg and Evian Thonon Gaillard's game against Stade Laval has been postponed.

SATURDAY

Clint Dempsey, Eddie Johnson and Fulham play Arsenal.

Marcus Hahnemann and Wolverhampton Wanderers play Blackburn Rovers.

Tim Howard and Everton play Chelsea.

Stuart Holden and Bolton Wanderers play Manchester City.

Conor Doyle and Derby County play Zak Whitbread and Norwich City. (Whitbread is out injured.)

Frank Simek, Mike Grella and Carlisle United play Leyton Orient.

Jemal Johnson and Milton Keynes Dons play Anton Peterlin and Plymouth Argyle.

Oguchi Onyewu and AC Milan play Brescia.

Michael Bradley and Borussia Moenchengladbach play Steve Cherundolo, DaMarcus Beasley and Hannover 96.

Ricardo Clark and Eintracht Frankfurt play Mainz.

Daniel Williams and SC Freiburg play Hamburg SV.

Jermaine Jones and Schalke 04 play Bayern Munich.

Charlie Davies and Sochaux play Valenciennes.

Marcus Tracy, Chris Rolfe and Aalborg BK play Odense BK. (Tracy and Rolfe are out injured.)

SUNDAY

Jonathan Spector and West Ham United play Sunderland.

Jozy Altidore and Villarreal play Sevilla FC.

Amaechi Igwe and FC Ingolstadt 04 play FC Erzgebirge Aue. (Igwe is out injured.)

Luis Robles and Karlsruhe play Fortuna Dusseldorf.

Kenny Cooper and TSV 1860 Munich play Hertha Berlin. (Cooper is out injured.)

Carlos Bocanegra and St Etienne play Bordeaux.

Sacha Kljestan and RSC Anderlecht play Zulte-Waregem.

Michael Parkhurst and FC Nordsjaelland play AC Horsens.

MONDAY

Brad Friedel, Brad Guzan, Eric Lichaj and Aston Villa play Liverpool. 

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Do you think Spector deserves to start against Sunderland? At what position should he play if he does see the field? How will Dempsey and Fulham fare against third-place Arsenal? Starting to think Yeldell deserves a call-up to the U.S. national team?

Share your thoughts below,

Comments

  1. If you are correct why do BMG play him so much? They are about to be relegated so why are they wasting time playing one of their worst players so much?

    He’s not related to anyone in the management side.

    Reply
  2. Being on the bench for half aseason in the Bundesliga really ain’t bad for Rico, since it means they think they can use him – sooner or later.

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  3. @ Pete. Read Kicker. Bradley is second behind Reus on BMG BL Notes: And out of 300 rated players, Bradley sits at 141:

    Pl. Spiele Note

    141 14 14 3,75

    Do your HW!

    Reply
  4. Actually if you review gamecast’s of Hannover games, when DMB is on pitch he is in the action, making a contribution. So yeah it’s better to get 5 – 15 minutes than none, especially if you can help put pressure on other team late, which is what DMB has done, usually.

    Reply
  5. Ricardo Clark is supposed to get more chances in the 2nd half of the season. Hope he takes it and runs with it. Makes it his own. Clark was a pretty good MLS player and did well for the NT, but it is not like he earned the right to start for a top Bundesliga side. He’s on his way.

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  6. Mike Grella on a descent scoring run in League 1 and Matt Taylor on a decent scoring run in Bundesliga 3. Call them up for the winter friendlies. It at least rewards them and ups their morale.

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  7. Yea everyone, settle down. Its just another classic “SBI having fun with photos” moment. Hell, the pictures they choose are half the reason I come to this site. Keep up the funny pics, Ives! Meanwhile, Spector has been booked for a Nutracker Suite performance on Broadway.

    Reply
  8. Fair point that DmB has been a late sub a few times (whereas Clark has essentially been glued to the bench). That said, I should’ve qualified the Ditto in that there isn’t in my opinion much tangible difference between a few mop up appearances and riding the pine 100%.

    I hope both Rico and DmB see more action as there’s still a half season + to go.

    Cheers

    Reply
  9. Oh my lord, i wasnt thinking there was a chance Stu was going to still be hurt… I bet big on this game because i knew he was going to play his butt off in the CM and control the game like he always does

    20bux is a big bet for me, cuz i only bet for fun and usually only do 5bux

    they need to start petrov against his former club, he’ll go offfff

    Reply
  10. Not really. DmB’s been coming in as a late sub a few times.

    Rico’s just unlucky because he plays a position you don’t normally sub. The season is long. I’m sure he’ll get in there some time. Of course, I haven’t been watching him train. I hope he’s managing the German winter.

    Frankfurt actually has a decent bench so while it’s not ideal, it’s no great shame to not be in the first eleven.

    Reply
  11. See above.

    I really just see him chasing the game. He’s able to sit deep and start counters.

    I don’t see him making any improvement in his creativity/technique. That team doesn’t necessarily need a/another hard man.

    Reply
  12. i wouldn’t exactly say reserves. back-ups maybe, but most of those guys are on the bench for league games. west ham wasn’t exactly playing its best 11 either

    Reply
  13. Yes, I’ve been watching their games. That team sucks and it starts in the spine of the team. Sure their defenders are horrible, but Bradley’s play isn’t helping. He sits too deep and plays some long balls. That may be okay for some teams, but they need more. His lack of creativity is plain to see. I’m not saying he’s a horrible player, but I don’t feel he’s doing his part. He should be tighter when he’s marking and he needs to create when he has the ball. If I had to rate the top central midfielders in the Bundesliga he would be nowhere near the top 10.

    All I see is him chasing the game, and occasionally making a decent pass. At home he and the other midfielders need to make the game. I just don’t see it.

    Reply
  14. “very effeminate man fluttering in the snow fall”?

    Okay, you go to England at a young age to play professionally for one of the biggest clubs in the world, get traded, find some playing time with the USMNT, find some good form, have some bad form, then get criticized by fans and press alike, score your first two professional goals against your former club., and have someone take a photo of your goal celebration.

    Then you can make a comment worth reading.

    Reply
  15. Hey Franco – please pick up Matt Taylor in your run down again. He has been on nice goal scoring streak in 3. Liga for Rot Weiss Ahlen. Are they on winter break?

    Reply
  16. Score 2 against Man U (I know it was reserves but who cares) and you can do whatever you want. Also, I’d bet there was some extra motivation going into that game. He was probably on cloud 9

    Reply
  17. From what I have seen he is pushing the ball forward whenever he can. Last game I watched (against Mainz) he floated a nice ball to Reus who volleyed it in and then made a good central run/pass combo that ended in another goal. They lost 3-2 but it certainly wasn’t due to him playing poorly.

    Reply
  18. 5 goals in 15 matches for Dempsey. 6 in 17 altogether as a winger/striker. Not bad for a team like Fulham. Before the season I had him pegged for 10 league goals for the season and 12 overall. Hope he keeps scoring to make it happen. Best American player in the world right now sans goalkeepers.

    Reply
  19. BTW if BMG doesn’t get a pair of defenders and 2 new strikers who can score in the transfer window, they will be relegated in May and Bradley will either move to another German club or to England

    Reply
  20. That pic is so awesome. Dude was literally flying after the 2nd. His teammates nearly stomped him, they were so happy. He starts. He has 2. Might be crazy to say but I’d imagine his brace makes him 1 of WH’s leading scorers so far this season.

    Reply

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