By FRANCO PANIZO
English Premier League defenses beware: Clint Dempsey is back and ready to pick up where he last left off.
Coming off a career season, Dempsey will begin his sixth season with Fulham on Saturday as the Cottagers host Aston Villa on the opening weekend of the Premier League season. Dempsey, who will undoubtedly want to outdo his achievements from the last campaign, is likely to start, especially if the club's most recent Europa League match is any indication.
The Premiership's opening weekend may dominate the headlines, but that's not the only intriguing soccer on tap. U.S. men's national team fans might get a glimpse of a right back duel when Steve Cherundolo and Hannover 96 take on Timmy Chandler and FC Nurnberg in what could be described as a match-up of present and future.
This weekend also marks the beginning of the Primeira Liga season, and with it could come the Sporting CP debut of Oguchi Onyewu. Looking to revive his career, Onyewu will hope to be on Sporting's starting eleven for its match against Olhanense.
Here is who the Americans Abroad play this weekend:
FRIDAY
Luis Robles and Karlsruher SC play Eintracht Braunschweig.
SATURDAY
Brad Friedel and Tottenham Hotspur's game versus Tim Howard and Everton was postponed.
Clint Dempsey and Fulham play Brad Guzan, Eric Lichaj and Aston Villa.
Stuart Holden and Bolton Wanderers play Queens Park Rangers. (Holden is out injured.)
Zak Whitbread and Norwich City play Wigan Athletic.
Jonathan Spector and Birmingham play Coventry City.
Mike Grella and Leeds United play Middlesbrough.
Robbie Findley and Nottingham Forest play Millwall.
Conor Doyle and Derby County play Watford.
Frank Simek and Carlisle United play Bury. (Simek is out injured.)
Anton Peterlin and Walsall play Hartlepool United.
Maurice Edu and Rangers play Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
Dominic Cervi and Celtic play Dundee United.
Alfredo Morales and Hertha Berlin play Hamburg SV.
Timmy Chandler and FC Nurnberg play Steve Cherundolo and Hannover 96.
Daniel Williams and SC Freiburg play Mainz.
Jermaine Jones and Schalke 04 play FC Cologne.
Michael Bradley and Borussia Moenchengladbach play VfB Stuttgart.
Matt Taylor and SC Paderborn 07 play SpVgg Greuther Furth.
Carlos Bocanegra and St. Etienne play AS Nancy Lorraine.
Jozy Altidore and AZ Alkmaar play Twente Enschede.
Oguchi Onyewu and Sporting CP play Olhanense.
Eugene Starikov and FK Tom' Tomsk play Spartak Nalchik.
Chris Rolfe, Marcus Tracy and Aalborg BK play Odense BK. (Tracy is out injured.)
Ryan Miller and Halmstads BK play BK Hacken.
Samuel Petrone and Mjallby AIF play Syrianska FC.
Mix Diskerud and Stabaek IF play Stromsgodset.
Michael Orozco and San Luis play Monterrey.
Adrian Ruelas and Jaguares de Chiapas play Cruz Azul.
Jose Torres and Pachuca play Toluca.
Jonathan Bornstein and Tigres UANL play Edgar Castillo and Club America.
Herculez Gomez and Estudiantes Tecos play Atlas.
Sonny Guadarrama and Atlante play Queretaro.
SUNDAY
David Yelldell and Bayer Leverkusen play Werder Bremen.
Edson Buddle and FC Ingolstadt 04 play FSV Frankfurt.
Bobby Wood and TSV 1860 Munich play FC Erzgebirge Aue.
Quentin Westberg and Evian Thonon Gaillard play Nice.
Sacha Kljestan and RSC Anderlecht play KSC Lokeren.
Clarence Goodson and Brondby IF play Conor O'Brien and SonderjyskE.
Michael Parkhurst and FC Nordsjaelland play Brad Rusin and HB Koge.
Alejandro Bedoya and Orebro SK play Djurgarden.
Joe Corona and Club Tijuana play DaMarcus Beasley and Puebla.
Josh Gatt, Sean Cunningham and Molde FK play Fredrikstad in the quarterfinals of the NM Cupen.
MONDAY
Ricardo Clark and Eintracht Frankfurt play Fortuna Dusseldorf.
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Which matches are you most looking forward to? Expecting Dempsey to have a bigger season with Fulham? Who do you see winning, Cherundolo and Hannover or Chandler and Nurnberg? Do you see Onyewu starting?
Share your thoughts below.
That’s what I want to know!! SBI got me carrol last year IIRC.
Likewise. I have always liked Gooch.
they already did! La Liga has been delayed. As well as the second division.
i’m pretty sure Ives had an article on Lichaj being ruled out due to injury…
thanks
He received a hip injury during an AV preseason fixture. He was reported doubtful for the Mexico game before the roster announcement was made.
Where is SBI’s Fantasy Premier league info?
I have to say its awesome to see SO MANY names of Americans Abroad. Regardless of whether they’re playing for big league titles or Champions League places, just having Americans playing abroad is so big. Compared to just 20 years ago, this is great, just so cool.
I don’t think he is first team yet.
What about Sebastian Lledget and West Ham?
Speaking of…is it just me or was there NO mention of him in the discussions leading up to Mexico? And by no mention…i mean not even an “a few players are with their clubs so we’re not bringing them in.”
Rangers confirming this morning that they have received a work permit for Bedoya. Now they plan to turn up heat on efforts to get him in by end of August.
He pretty much is. Dad was born in the US. What I heard in the past is all he would pretty much have to do is go to the nearest US Embassy and get a passport. Not sure if he has yet.
Hope Gooch does get it back. Miss him.
not sure why Daniel Williams is listed here. He is not currently eligible to play for the US
Poor Franco…that’s an awfully long list!
Will the chavs of England riot?
Aaahhh snap…we ballin this weekend!
seems like probably a two week protest, if anything.
some second division players weren’t paid full wages last year.
wait…. why would they do that???
Will the players in Spain strike?
He very well may be staying there, but just because he’s listed with Fulham here doesn’t mean he is, after all Bradley is listed with M’gladbach.
“Michael Bradley and Borrusia Mongengladbach …”
Haha, yeah right!
So… Clint’s staying a Fulham? Not a bad thing, no real reason for him to leave… Consistent PT, fans love him, plays well… Would have liked to see him in the CL though. At a bigger club at least. Just to prove that he can. Because he can.
So what’s up with Lichaj this year? Will he at least make the bench? Any chance of a loan before the end of the month?
John Anthony Brooks is supposedly injury free at Hertha Berlin.
Whitbread vs Wigan (who is minus Nzogbia i belive?) could be a good chance for a clean sheet if Norwich is hosting.
what Marcus Tracy is injured?!?! when did that happen?………….jk
Looking forward to the Fulham match and also to see how Whitbread does in his first EPL game.