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Americans Abroad: A Look Ahead

Jonathan Spector 2 (Reuters)

By FRANCO PANIZO

If the Christmas weekend left you starved for soccer, Monday might just be enough to satisfy your hunger.

Nearly a dozen games involving Americans Abroad are scheduled to take place on Boxing Day, including Jonathan Spector's match against his former club, West Ham United.

Spector should get his 17th start of the season for Birminham City when it attempts to topple the second-best team in the Championship. Depending upon where Spector is deployed, he could face off against young American fullback Daniel Potts.

Brad Guzan will also be involved in a match worth watching when Aston Villa visits Stoke City. Guzan is aiming to record his first clean sheet of the season in the game.

Here is who the Americans Abroad play on Monday:

Clint Dempsey and Fulham play Chelsea.

Stuart Holden and Bolton Wanderers play Newcastle United. (Holden is out injured.)

Tim Howard, Marcus Hahnemann and Everton play Sunderland.

Brad Guzan, Eric Lichaj and Aston Villa play Stoke City. (Lichaj is out injured.)

Conor Doyle and Derby County play Leeds United.

Robbie Findley and Nottingham Forest play Peterborough United.

Jonathan Spector and Birmingham City play Daniel Potts and West Ham United.

Frank Simek and Carlisle United play Preston North End.

Mike Grella and Brentford play AFC Bournemouth.

Anton Peterlin and Walsall play Sheffield Wednesday.

Dominic Cervi and Greenock Morton play Dundee.

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Which of these matches are you most looking forward to? Think Spector will do well against his former club? Do you see Guzan grabbing a cleansheet on Boxing Day?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. In other news, Jermaine Jones apparently called Marco Reus and apologized for stomping on his foot in the German Cup.

    Also… Edson Buddle’s (former) team Ingolstadt has just signed a new striker.

    So… it seems they were trying to clear house a bit to free up salary money.

    Reply
  2. Daniel Pott’s dad is Steve Potts, formerly of West Ham himself.

    Steve was born in Hartford,Connecticut which is considered US territory ( Mark Twain’s home is there and the Hartford Whalers used to play in the Civic Center before it literally fell apart)for some reason.

    Anyway, Daniel was invited to the US Under-20 Camp in France back in May and played against France.

    To the best of my knowledge he is eligible for both countries. From what I have read, my take is he is open to the US but it seems it seems he is an English kid with friends and family over there and that is where it seems his heart is. I think he would prefer to play for the Three Lions.

    Whether he is good enough and gets asked , who knows?

    Reply
  3. So are we ever going to to see a Spector/Beckerman faceoff for that DM role Klinsi is so keen on? Would love to see a player who has definitely done his time as a utility player for several years with USMNT start getting some looks as a starter, that D-mid role might be just the place for him.

    Reply
  4. Probably not, and that’s fine. Other countries have scores of players playing abroad who’ll never “sniff the periphery” of their national team. Not suiting up for the national team doesn’t make a player a bust.

    Also, not every player who plays abroad needs play for the national team in order to be a positive thing for U.S. Soccer as a whole, as American players in foreign leagues can still be productive ambassadors and help foster a general receptivity for American players in regard to future moves.

    Reply
  5. It seems like we’ve read the “Americans Abroad” with the names of Conor Doyle, Mike Grella, Frank Simek, and Anton Peterlin for a long time now with none of them finding their way out of the dregs of the lower divisions in Britain. Does anyone actually think any of them have a chance to even sniff the perifory of the National team.

    Reply

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