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Americans Abroad: A Look Ahead

Michael Bradley 8 (Getty Images)

By FRANCO PANIZO

A familiar face in a new place. That's a recurring theme for the Americans Abroad contingent this weekend.

From Michael Bradley to Eddie Johnson, a handful of Americans will look to make debuts with their respective new clubs.

Bradley could make his Premiership debut on Saturday as Aston Villa faces Fulham. If Bradley possibly starting the next phase in his development isn't intriguing enough to you, seeing how he fares against fellow U.S. national team midfielder Clint Dempsey probably will be.

A pair of young American attackers will also look to make their respective debuts, and both will try to do so in Turkey. Jozy Altidore could start in his first match for defending Turkish champion Bursaspor today when it takes on Sivasspor, while Freddy Adu will aim to resurrect his career when his new club, Rizespor, plays Denizlispor in a second division match.

Eddie Johnson is another player who may have the opportunity to shine in front of his new fans as Preston North End squares off against Bristol City on Saturday.

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

FRIDAY

Jozy Altidore and Bursaspor play Sivasspor.

SATURDAY

Brad Friedel, Eric Lichaj, Michael Bradley and Aston Villa play Clint Dempsey and Fulham.

Tim Howard and Everton play Blackpool.

Stuart Holden and Bolton Wanderers play Tottenham Hotspur.

Jermaine Jones and Blackburn Rovers play Wigan Athletic.

Marcus Hahnemann and Wolverhampton Wanderers play Manchester United.

Zak Whitbread and Norwich City play Burnley.

Mike Grella and Leeds United play Coventry City.

Robbie Findley and Nottingham Forest play Watford. (Findley is out injured.)

Conor Doyle and Derby County play Portsmouth.

Eddie Johnson and Preston North End play Bristol City.

Brad Guzan and Hull City play Scunthorpe United.

Anton Peterlin and Plymouth Argyle play Brentford.

Frank Simek and Carlisle United play Walsall.

Steve Cherundolo, DaMarcus Beasley and Hannover 96 play VfL Wolfsburg.

Timothy Chandler and FC Nurnberg play Bayer Leverkusen.

Alfredo Morales and Hertha Berlin play FC Union Berlin.

Luis Robles and Karlsruhe play SC Paderborn 07.

Carlos Bocanegra and St Etienne play Montpellier.

Charlie Davies and FC Sochaux play Nice. (Davies is trialling with D.C. United.)

Freddy Adu and Rizespor play Denizlispor.

Sacha Kljestan and RSC Anderlecht play St. Truiden.

Jose Torres, Herculez Gomez and Pachuca play Monterrey.

Sonny Guadarrama and Atlante play Chivas de Guadalajara.

Jonathan Bornstein and Tigres UANL play Santos Laguna.

Sammy Ochoa and Estudiantes Tecos U.A. de G. play San Luis.

SUNDAY

Jonathan Spector and West Ham United play Birmingham.

Maurice Edu and Rangers and Dominic Cervi and Celtic.

Daniel Williams and SC Freiburg play Ricardo Clark and Eintracht Frankfurt. (Williams and Clark are out injured.)

Amaechi Igwe, Edson Buddle and FC Ingolstadt 04 play Arminia Bielefeld. (Igwe is out injured.) 

David Yelldell and MSV Duisburg FC Erzgebirge Aue.

Oguchi Onyewu and Twente Enschede play FC Utrecht.

Edgar Castillo and Puebla play Pumas UNAM.

MONDAY

Bobby Wood and TSV 1860 Munich play Fortuna Dusseldorf.

Quentin Westberg and Evian Thonon Gaillard play Tours.

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Which potential debut are you most intrigued by? Expecting Bradley to do well against the likes of Dempsey and Fulham should he play? Think Altidore will score in his Bursaspor debut? Do you see Adu getting minutes for Rizespor this weekend? How much playing time do you think Johnson will get?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. dude, i’m jonesin for some feed site to re open, but I can’t find sqat that doesn’t have a Fed badge on it these days…sad time…

    Reply
  2. I am aware of Jonny B.’s reputation among the commenters on this blog. But I just have to say that I was watching the Tigres game last week. It was so ugly–tell me they’re paying him more than Chivas USA paid him and that’s why he went.

    I mean–why else would you ride the bench for a team that plays such ugly football/futbol/soccer? Maybe it was just that one game?

    Reply
  3. Watching the Bursa game and they’re giving some screen time to Jozy in the stands.

    Kenny Miller just scored what’s likely to be the winner and now they’re showing Jozy in the stands again with his mom(?) loving the chanting and scarves and whatnot…

    Reply
  4. blackburn won the premeirleague title, and everton has one other stuff… fulham is the NYRB of the EPL.. but NYRB will win the cup in ’11

    Reply
  5. O/T but congrats to Cherundolo.

    12 years playing for Hannover. He has a contract until 2013 I believe. If he stays healthy, good chance he could become their 2nd or 3rd highest appearing player EVER. Big achievement for any player especially an American. Hope they hold strong and get to Europe this season.

    Reply
  6. Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh boiiiiiiiiiiiiii!!!! Yanks doing it BIG in Europe this year.

    Bradley has a loan and maybe he plays like 12-15 matches. Says he scores a goal or 2 and plays very well, he could get a transfer end of the season. Though I think he could just as much move to Italy. He’s very in awe of the Italian game, from what I read up on him.

    I’m still hoping Dempsey makes his move to a bigger club come summer. Everton or Blackburn. Or if not this year, hopefully by next summer. He’s becoming Fulham’s best player and I’m sure he’s looking to challenge himself even more.

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  7. I’m so pissed about Lichaj. it’s like he started him against City that day JUST to bench him. And then Clark, the kid who took his spot, got absolutely done up by Nani at the weekend. So frustrating.

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  8. LOL … you don’t think joking about Adu while he’s going to the Turkish 2nd division is “kicking a man while he’s down” … i guess there is always further he could fall

    Reply
  9. I sure hope Bradley grows back his hair. Need to play up that “heartthrob” look to get some support among the local ladies.

    @Brian S, HAHAHAHA

    Reply

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