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Americans Abroad: A Look Ahead

Jonathan Spector 2 (Getty Images)

 

By FRANCO PANIZO

It's been a tough season for Jonathan Spector and West Ham United, but they can still manage to climb out of the basement and avoid relegation with a strong run during the final month of play. That run will have to begin on Sunday as the Hammers go on the road to face one of the most talented teams in the Premiership.

Manchester City hosts West Ham in a match that still carries significance for both teams. City is looking to solidify its Champions League spot, while West Ham is hoping to miracously avoid the drop. Spector started against Chelsea last week, so there's a chance he could get the nod to help contain the likes of David Silva and Yaya Toure.

Far from their league's relegation zone, Maurice Edu and Rangers will attempt to remain in first place in Scotland when they battle Motherwell. A win will likely be needed for Rangers, as Celtic sits only a point behind with a game in hand.

Oguchi Onyewu and FC Twente are also league leaders, but they too are only a point ahead of second-place Ajax in the Eredivisie. Twente will look to stay in first when it faces Willem II Tilburg, but Onyewu is unlikely to start if recent league matches are any indication.

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

FRIDAY

Alfredo Morales and Hertha Berlin play Bobby Wood and TSV 1860 Munich.

Luis Robles and Karlsruhe play Fortuna Dusseldorf.

Sammy Ochoa and Estudiantes Tecos U.A. de G. play Gustavo Adrian Ruelas and Santos Laguna.

SATURDAY

Jermaine Jones and Blackburn Rovers play Stuart Holden and Bolton Wanderers. (Holden is out injured)

Clint Dempsey and Fulham play Sunderland.

Brad Friedel, Brad Guzan, Michael Bradley and Aston Villa play West Bromwich Albion.

Tim Howard and Everton play Wigan Athletic.

Mike Grella, Eric Lichaj and Leeds United play Burnley.

Conor Doyle and Derby County play Bristol City.

Eddie Johnson and Preston North End play Ipswich Town.

Robbie Findley and Nottingham Forest play Scunthorpe United.

Anton Peterlin and Plymouth Argyle play Southampton.

Frank Simek and Carlisle United play Dagenham & Redbridge.

Maurice Edu and Rangers play Motherwell.

Timmy Chandler and FC Nurnberg play Borussia Dortmund.

Daniel Williams and SC Freiburg play Hamburg SV.

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

Ricardo Clark and Eintracht Frankfurt play Mainz.

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

David Yelldell and MSV Duisburg play FSV Frankfurt.

Freddy Adu and Caykur Rizespor play Adanaspor.

Marcus Tracy, Chris Rolfe and Aalborg BK play FC Midtjylland. (Tracy is out injured.)

Jose Torres, Herculez Gomez and Pachuca play Necaxa.

Jonathan Bornstein and Tigres UANL play Atlas.

Sonny Guadarrama and Atlante play Toluca.

SUNDAY

Marcus Hahnemann and Wolverhampton Wanderers play Birmingham.

Jonathan Spector and West Ham United play Manchester City.

Dominic Cervi and Celtic play Dundee United.

Carlos Bocanegra and St Etienne play AS Monaco.

Oguchi Onyewu and Twente Enschede play Willem II Tilburg.

Jozy Altidore and Bursaspor play Kayserispor.

Sacha Kljestan and RSC Anderlecht play Club Brugge in the playoffs.

Michael Parkhurst and FC Nordsjaelland play Lyngby.

Clarence Goodson and Brondby IF play AC Horsens.

Gale Agbossoumonde and Djurgardens IF play Trelleborg FF.

Edgar Castillo and Puebla play Morelia.

Mikkel Diskerud and Stabaek IF play Holmlia in the NM Cupen. 

Josh Gatt, Sean Cunningham and Molde FK play Eldsvag in the NM Cupen.

MONDAY

Zak Whitbread and Norwich City play Portsmouth.

Anton Peterlin and Plymouth Argyle play Southampton.

Quentin Westberg and Evian Thonon Gaillard play Le Mans.

Alejandro Bedoya and Orebro SK play AIK.

Ryan Miller and Halmstads BK play Gefle.

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Which matches are you most looking forward to? Think Spector and West Ham have any chance of upsetting Manchester City? Do you see Edu helping Rangers to a win? Expecting Onyewu to get a start?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. All very good points. Also, add in Mohammed Al-Fayed’s usual over pricing of Fulham’s better players and Clint’s age, 28, and I don’t see someone coming along with an offer to get Fulham to sell. Fulham is also so confident of another chance to play in Europe next year through the fair-play league, that I’ve seen reports saying Clint has already asked for time off after the Gold Cup. Europa qualification could see Fulham play as early as June 30.

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  2. I admit I am a bit biased because I’ve been rooting for Fulham for like 8 years now. McBride is perhaps my favorite player ever. I just think Fulham is better than people give them credit for. Also, I really think they are building something…a foundation for sustained EPL success. They already have a solid defensive foundation in place and are starting to add good attacking players. They will never been Arsenal or Chelsea, but I think they can be like a Tottenham or Everton.

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  3. There’s the satisfaction of being revered by a set of fans and creating a legacy at a club, but there’s also the reality of mid-table mediocrity (if not relegation danger) almost every year. I imagine that gets real old, real fast. I’ve loved following our Yanks abroad at Fulham, but it feels like watching the Minnesota Twins all season.

    In my opinion, he’s an impact scorer who rightly should put out the feelers for bigger clubs.

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  4. In my opinion, Dempsey is better when he plays off a target man. I actually think that if he were to play as a striker for USMNT, then he would flourish playing off Altidore, at least more so then Agudelo…now if we are talking about playing a tandem of Bunbury and Dempsey that is a different story.

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  5. I hope Dempsey stays at Fulham. They have a strong squad and I believe they will invest further into the team this summer. I am not saying they can be a Champions League squad, but I believe they can finish in the top 6 and a potential Europa league bid. Of course they could be in the Europa league next season via fair play.
    Maybe it’s just me but when I read these comments it seems like people think Fulham is some type of chump squad and they are not. I think Dempsey fits in perfectly to what they do and he is really appreciated by the club and fans. Like I said, I think Fulham is a squad on the rise. Early season injuries kind of derailed their season. I think recent results suggest just how strong the squad is.

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  6. Yeah Everton maybe last year. It’s rumoured that this summer theyre going to be selling off players, not buying. Moyes has already threatened to leave if they disband his squad to pay off a £40 million debt that’s now due.
    I’d love to see Dempsey go to La Liga for a spell. I believe he would flurish even more.

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  7. Agreed, Patrick. Further, as long as he is being adequately financially compensated, it is also important to Clint, I’m sure, to consider his legacy. While it may be romantic for us to think of CD23 languishing ignored and forgotten with an endless string of DNDs or DDNPs on a “Big”(tm) club, he is well on his way to becoming a revered icon in Fulham lore, and will likely eclipse even B.Mc if he continues to perform at his present level for the Cottagers.

    As long as he isn’t being slighted financially, he’s certainly earned a place in the fans’ hearts, therefore I think Fulham is a great place to make a career. (at least until they have another coaching change and he has to play in the reserves until he proves himself all over again.)

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  8. Do you mean at the Gold Cup?

    If so, I think I have to disagree, not b/c he’s not on fire, but b/c BB will start the same guy he always starts up top, Jozy Altidore.

    Why doesn’t he have Clint Dempsey start as our top striker and pair him with someone that actually scores goals and is creative, like Juan Agudelo or Herculez Gomez?

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  9. I think Everton would be wise to get him and Dempsey would fit in quite well if you ask me. he is so versatile he can play both wings, striker, or in the hole and he would get better service at Everton than at Fulham for sure. Everton could definitely use his scoring touch, and they could become an elite team with a few more acquisitions in the summer. Dempsey would represent a fairly cheap buy for great quality, and Moyes has expressed his interest in Dempsey before, so that would be interesting to see

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  10. The thing that kills me about the Dempsey transfer rumors and desires is that he’s never once said anything about leaving Fulham. He’s said in interviews he’s got no interest in learning a new language/culture so unless Arsenal/Manu/Chelsea/Liverpool come along I don’t see him going anywhere. He’s comfortable in London at Fulham and they’ve increased his contract everytime he plays well so there’s no reason to go.

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  11. Timothy Chandler is injured and won’t play this weekend. He got a cut on his foot that required stitches. Nurnberg announced it on their website yesterday

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  12. Sure hope Dempsey adds to his tally. 12 league goals in 34 league matches as a striker/midfielder. Very impressive for any team outside the Big 4.

    Reply

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