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Americans Abroad: A Look Ahead

Landon Donovan 3 (Getty Images)

By FRANCO PANIZO

Landon Donovan's time with Everton is nearing its end and while he may want to make an impact in all of his remaning games with the club, this weekend's match might be at the top of his list.

Everton are set to face Chelsea in a match that will pit Donovan against the likes of John Terry, Juan Mata and Florent Malouda. Donovan is still looking for his first goal during this loan stint, and one against Chelsea could go a big way in helping Everton pull out a result at home.

Tim Ream is not certain to start, but he could make his debut for Bolton Wanderers on Saturday. Bolton Manager Owen Coyle has stated Ream will be on the gameday roster, and a start could be in the cards as the relegation-threatened club looks to get three points from cellar dwellers Wigan Athletic.

Wondering what other match to keep an eye on? Look no further than Hertha Berlin's game versus VfB Stuttgart, as it could provide an opportunity to watch Alfredo Morales. The U.S. youth national team prospect has started and gone the distance in back-to-back games (including in an extra-time match on Wednesday), and his solid performances in both may have earned him more playing time.

Here is who the Americans Abroad face this weekend:

FRIDAY

Bobby Wood and TSV 1860 Munich play FC Erzgebirge Aue. (Wood is out injured.)

Herculez Gomez and Santos Laguna play Morelia.

SATURDAY

Adam Henley and Blackburn Rovers play Queen Park Rangers.

Stuart Holden, Tim Ream and Bolton Wanderers play Wigan Athletic. (Holden is out injured.)

Tim Howard, Landon Donovan, Marcus Hahnemann and Everton play Chelsea.

Clint Dempsey and Fulham play Stoke City.

Zak Whitbread and Norwich City play Swansea City.

Brad Friedel and Tottenham Hotspur play Newcastle United.

Jonathan Spector and Birmingham City play Barnsley.

Robbie Rogers and Leeds United play Brighton.

Conor Doyle and Derby County play Millwall.

Robbie Findley and Nottingham Forest play Watford.

Daniel Potts, George John and West Ham United play Peterborough United.

Mike Grella and Brentford play Oldham Athletic.

Frank Simek and Carlisle United play Stevenage.

Anton Peterlin and Walsall play Colchester United.

Maurice Edu, Alejandro Bedoya, Carlos Bocanegra and Rangers play Dunfermline Athletic.

Dominic Cervi and Celtic play Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

Terrence Boyd and Borussia Dortmund play David Yelldell and Bayer Leverkusen.

Steve Cherundolo and Hannover 96 play Mainz 05.

Alfredo Morales and Hertha Berlin play VfB Stuttgart.

Fabian Johnson, Danny Williams, Joe Gyau and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim play Werder Bremen.

Jermaine Jones and Schalke 04 play Borussia Moenchengladbach. (Jones is serving an eight-week suspension.)

Luis Robles and Karlsruhe play Eintracht Braunschweig.

Quentin Westberg and Evian Thonon Gaillard play Marseille.

Charlie Davies and Sochaux play Stade Rennes.

Jozy Altidore and AZ Alkmaar play Excelsior.

Oguchi Onyewu and Sporting CP play Maritimo.

Adrian Ruelas and Jaguares de Chiapas play Queretaro.

Jose Torres and Pachuca play Estudiantes Tecos U.A. de G.

Michael Orozco Fiscal and San Luis play Jonathan Bornstein and Tigres UANL.

Sonny Guadarrama and Atlante play Toluca.

SUNDAY

Brad Guzan, Eric Lichaj and Aston Villa play Manchester City.

Timmy Chandler and FC Nurnberg play FC Augsburg.

Matt Taylor and SC Paderborn 07 play SpVgg Greuther Furth.

Mikkel Diskerud and KAA Gent play Club Brugge.

Sacha Kljestan and RSC Anderlecht play Standard Liege.

DaMarcus Beasley and Puebla play Pumas UNAM.

Joe Corona, Edgar Castillo, Greg Garza and Club Tijuana play Cruz Azul.

MONDAY

Michael Bradley and Chievo Verona play Napoli.

Ricardo Clark and Eintracht Frankfurt play Fortuna Dusseldorf.

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Which matches are you most looking forward to? How do you see Donovan faring against Chelsea? Should Coyle give Ream a start against last-place Wigan? Think Morales will play against VfB Stuttgart?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. I agree with you 100%. I have never been a reflexive LD basher. I think he is entitled and ought to make decisions that work for him. Ultimately, it is he who will have to get up every day and live with the results. Frankly… the last few years have kind of allowed him to have his cake and eat it too… and thankfully put the kabosh on the “he couldn’t cut it in the EPL rants.” So anyhow… my above response was only to say… neither decision is ludicrous or without plenty of reason. Personally… I wouldn’t mind having either option! Cheers.

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  2. If LD likes So Cal, the beach, and making decent money with LA, then that’s his call. He doesn’t have to test himself at the highest level. He doesn’t have to do what any of his fans would like him to do.

    It’s his life.

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  3. The Telefutura games should be in HD on Directv. You have to buy the Spanish package to get the HD version.

    MLS should have put this in the contract.

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  4. I think that will affect Rogers but hope it doesn’t he did make the game day roster before, can’t remember but I believe he did NOT get in the game, I think there might of been an injury or two that forced the Mgr to make subs outside of tactical ones he could of made to sub Rogers in.

    I am hoping in the mean time the Mgr in charge of the Reserves/U-21 or 23 sides gets the call to be interim Manager, that would probably keep Williams AND Johnson in place as far as the depth chart are concerned. Joe Gyau would probably benefit as he would most likely keep seeing the 18 men roster for games and get more minutes considering he would know him better and maybe have more confidence on him based on the fact he would know Gyau better. But for the older two guys, I think they are pretty well established they should keep starting and playing regularly

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  5. I haven’t read anything yet, which I will look up on their website after a late dinner, but he had been slated to play with the reserves ever since he went back and the loan period ended last year. So I guess as of January in any reserve games Sochaux might of had they could of played him.

    I’ll come back and post anything if I see he did.

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  6. Depending on who you watch it with it already is. Not sure how or why, but the one that really needs to get their act together is ESPN Deportes! At least from what I vaguely remember when I had it on DirecTv and watching it on my friend’s Time Warner Cable set up in HD out here in LA but in the valley area, that channel has some great games, and for La Liga or Copa Del Rey it has great commentators but it’s in Standard Def…

    Not sure who you use to watch it but the bulk of the games are on Univision/Telefutura and Telemundo!

    If for some reason you can’t get Univison in true HD on your cable/satellite set up, switch the input to antenna and you might not even need an antenna but if you but out the old Rabbit Ears you should get Univision and Telefutura in HD as well as Telemundo.

    I know for DirecTV it’s 402 or somewhere around there..Between 400 to 410 you’ll find Univision, Telefutura, Telemundo and even Galavision which I still can’t figure out why they don’t HD sometimes…
    I think for Time Warner it’s usually in the high 300s like 392 until 399 for all those and also GolTv as well…

    Hope that helps!
    FoxDeportes is HD but I think the feed they get from Mexico for some of their games isn’t
    Not even sure if AztecaTV offers HD, those are all the Channels I can think of who offer Mexican league games in the states

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  7. Because we need him in America. MLS is the American league. We need to give MLS the respect that it deserves. We’re not in England and we as Americans would like to have quality players such as Donovan, or better in the league and enjoy the game in America. Really, the EPL league has no history in this country. People are tired of just giving praise to EPL and ignoring MLS. It’s not from our “backyards” and will never be easily accessible. I can drive to DC in a matter of three hours to see a game, not so in England. We didn’t grow up with EPL, but we are certainly Americans and have our own league, it’s called MLS. Let’s appreciate what we have.

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  8. he has actually publicly made his desire to stay known to many people, its just a simple matter of money, which Everton don’t have. it has nothing to do with the weather, he can retire in LA any day

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  9. Well… just maybe because he has dedicated almost the entirety of his life up to this point to soccer. I would assume it would mean something to be tested and perform his chosen profession at the highest level. Cold weather is a small price to pay to do that. He likely only has a few years left to play at that level anyway. He can then return to LA and then has the rest of his life to soak up the sun and/or live wherever he wants… without regrets.

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  10. The forecast will be for 75F and sunny in LA tomorrow, with no rain in the forecast for the next 10 days.

    The forecast for Liverpool tomorrow is for 36F and rainy, with no sunshine in the forecast until next Wednesday.

    Why would Landon stay in England?

    Reply

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