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Americans Abroad: Weekend Rewind

By FRANCO PANIZO

Jozy Altidore simply continues to add to the argument that he is the most in-form American right now.

Altidore scored his latest goal for AZ Alkmaar on Saturday, netting the club’s first goal in a 2-2 draw against Roda JC Kerkrade. The goal was Altidore’s 16th in the Eredivisie and 21st in all competitions this season and it put him two behind the Eredivisie’s leading goal-scorer, Vitesse forward Wilfried Bony.

Timmy Chandler did not find the back of the net, but he did rescue FC Nurnberg from defeat by delivering a clutch assist in a 2-2 draw with Hannover 96. Chandler notched his second helper of the season in the 92nd minute of the game, hitting a perfect cross from the right flank that was finished with ease by forward Sebastian Polter.

Three other young Americans also enjoyed some success this weekend. Alfredo Morales earned his first start of the 2. Bundesliga campaign in Hertha Berlin’s 1-0 win vs. VfR Aalen, Andrew Wooten scored the lone goal for SV Sandhausen in a 3-1 loss to Dynamo Dresden and Ventura Alvarado made his first Liga MX appearance in America’s 2-2 draw with Toluca.

Here’s how the Americans Abroad fared this weekend:

ENGLAND

Premiership

  • Tim Howard started, played 90 minutes and made 10 saves in Everton’s 2-2 draw vs. Oldham Athletic in the FA Cup on Sunday.
  • Brad Friedel and Tottneham did not play this weekend.
  • Clint Dempsey and Tottenham did not play this weekend.
  • Brad Guzan and Aston Villa did not play this weekend.
  • Eric Lichaj and Aston Villa did not play this weekend.
  • Geoff Cameron and Stoke City did not play this weekend.
  • Brek Shea and Stoke City did not play this weekend.
  • Sebastian Lletget and West Ham United did not play this weekend.

Championship

  • Jonathan Spector dressed but did not play in Birmingham City’s 4-0 loss vs. Watford on Saturday.
  • Will Packwood did not dress for Birmingham City. He is recovering from a leg injury.
  • Tim Ream did not dress in Bolton Wanderers’ 1-1 draw vs. Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
  • Stuart Holden did not dress for Bolton Wanderers.
  • Conor Doyle dressed but did not played in Derby County’s 0-0 draw vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.
  • Zak Whitbread and Leceister City did not play this weekend.

League One

  • Frank Simek started and played 90 minutes in Carlisle United’s 1-1 draw vs. Portsmouth on Saturday.
  • Mike Grella came off the bench and played 43 minutes in Scunthorpe United’s 3-0 loss vs. Yeovil Town on Saturday.

SPAIN

La Liga

  • Oguchi Onyewu dressed but did not play in Malaga CF’s 1-0 win vs. Athletic Bilbao on Saturday.

Segunda Division

  • Carlos Bocanega dressed but did not play in Racing Santander’s 1-0 loss vs. Recreativo Huelva on Saturday.

ITALY

  • Michael Bradley came off the bench and played 22 minutes in AS Roma’s 1-0 win vs. Juventus on Saturday.

GERMANY

Bundesliga

  • Timmy Chandler started, played 90 minutes and had an ASSIST in FC Nurnberg’s 2-2 draw vs. Hannover 96 on Sunday.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSWEUak5tw4?feature=player_detailpage]

  • Steve Cherundolo did not dress in Hannover 96’s 2-2 draw vs. FC Nurnberg on Sunday. He is recovering from a knee injury.
  • Jermaine Jones started and played 90 minutes in Schalke 04’s 2-2 draw vs. Mainz on Saturday.
  • Fabian Johnson started and played 90 minutes in TSG 1899 Hoffenheim’s 1-0 loss vs. VfB Stuttgart on Sunday.
  • Danny Williams started, played 55 minutes and received a yellow card for TSG 1899 Hoffenheim.
  • Michael Parkhurst started and played 90 minutes before being substituted in stoppage time in FC Augsburg’s 2-1 loss vs. Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday.
  • David Yelldell did not dress in Bayer Leverkusen’s 2-1 win vs. FC Augsburg on Saturday.

2. Bundesliga

  • Andrew Wooten started, played 90 minutes and scored a GOAL in SV Sandhausen’s 3-1 loss vs. Dynamo Dresden on Sunday.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOz5mE5uCI4?feature=player_embedded]

  • John Anthony Brooks started and played 90 minutes in Hertha Berlin’s 1-0 win vs. VfR Aalen on Saturday.
  • Alfredo Morales started and played 90 minutes for Hertha Berlin.
  • Bobby Wood started and played 45 minutes in TSV 1860 Munich’s 1-0 loss vs. VfL Bochum on Friday.
  • Joe Gyau and St Pauli play FC Cologne on Monday.

NETHERLANDS

  • Jozy Altidore started, played 90 minutes and scored a GOAL in AZ Alkmaar’s 2-2 draw vs. Roda JC Kerkrade on Saturday.

[vimeo 59807926 w=500 h=288]

PORTUGAL

  • Tony Taylor came off the bench and played nine minutes in G.D. Estoril Praia’s 2-1 loss vs. Maritimo on Sunday.
  • Caleb Patterson-Sewell dressed but did not play in Vitoria Setubal’s 1-0 win vs. Olhanense on Sunday.

TURKEY

  • Maurice Edu started, played 90 minutes and received a yellow card in Bursaspor’s 1-0 win vs. Elazigspor on Sunday.

BELGIUM

  • Sacha Kljestan started, played 76 minutes and had an ASSIST in RSC Anderlecht’s 2-0 win vs. Royal Charleroi SC on Friday.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gugciEeC-3U?feature=player_detailpage]

AUSTRIA

  • Terrence Boyd came off the bench and played 25 minutes in Rapid Vienna’s 2-1 loss vs. Austria Vienna on Sunday.

MEXICO

  • Michael Orozco Fiscal started, played 90 minutes and had an ASSIST in Puebla’s 1-1 draw vs. Chivas de Guadalajara on Sunday.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1oUm1UxQTY?feature=player_detailpage]

  • DaMarcus Beasley started and played 90 minutes for Puebla.
  • Herculez Gomez started and played 90 minutes in Santos Laguna’s 1-1 draw vs. Tigres UANL on Saturday.
  • Hector Joya did not dress for Santos Laguna.
  • Jose Torres started and played 90 minutes in Tigres UANL’s 1-1 draw vs. Santos Laguna on Saturday.
  • Jonathan Bornstein did not dress for Tigres UANL.
  • Edgar Castillo started, played 49 minutes and was ejected with two yellow cards in Club Tijuana’s 2-0 loss vs. Jaguares de Chiapas on Friday.
  • Joe Corona started and played 45 minutes for Club Tijuana.
  • Greg Garza did not dress for Club Tijuana.
  • Ventura Alvarado came off the bench and played three minutes in Club America’s 2-2 draw vs. Toluca on Saturday.

—–

What do you think of these performances? How many more goals do you think Altidore will score this season? Impressed with Chandler’s clutch cross?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Jozy’s proved at AZ that if someone can get him the ball, he has a pretty good chance of scoring. Unfortunately that’s been a rare occurrence with the USMNT lately, which is why the lack of output. Until the US gets a bona fide playmaker in the midfield, we’re going to continue to struggle. It’s like having an NBA team without a good point guard.

    Reply
    • Is having an NBA team without a good point guard like having a soccer team without a bona fide playmaker? Because if it is, then I get the analogy.

      Reply
    • DNY,

      The point guard analogy is good but only to a point.

      A classic NBA point guard has almost every offensive play run through him at some point

      .

      With twice as many players and a much larger field most modern soccer teams have a variety of ways to score without necessarily getting a designated playmaker involved.

      As you know the classic ##10, the soccer equivalent of the point guard, is a modern rarity and teams have evolved ways to score without one.

      Typically they do this by rotating the responsibility amongst several players.

      The US’ problem is that after Donovan and to a lesser extent Bradley and Dolo, the list of players who can reliably do the playmaker “thing” is pretty slim.

      Reply
      • Good points, GW. I actually think Bradley is probably the best suited on the USMNT for a traditional #10 role but I’ve yet to see Klinsi use him that way. Aside from Jones’ great over the top ball to Dempsey, the service to the forwards in the game against Honduras was awful. But then there were a lot of things that were awful in that game.

  2. For the doubters, apparently Parkhurst has successfully risen to the next level and is starting to get minutes now. 90 minutes plus in last game

    How people can say he is not up for it is beyond me. He has succeeded at every level he’s played at and should seriously be starting for the Nats at this point. He has way more credentials and ability than the two MLS defenders JK used against Honduras

    Reply
    • I was a doubter. But the way he’s been playing lately…I have seen the light. Also, and I think most would agree, the shift to outside back rather than CB has allowed Parkhurst to truly blossom. Still wouldn’t like him at back centro.

      Reply
    • I am a fan of Parkhurst but he is getting minutes now because the guy ahead of him is out for the season. Don’t make more of it than it is. It has only been one game.

      Evaluate him at the end of the season.

      Reply
  3. The biggest and most unfortunate news regarding yanks abroad is the Pelosi injury..it really puts a damper on an otherwise lackluster weekend.

    Reply
  4. Well Said Francois. The Biggest Problem Is Klinsman. He Is Like A Mad Chemist Whose Experiments Keep Failing But He Keeps Blaming His Suppliers And Equipment Rather Than Himself. Klinsman Has No System In Place And Has Not Had One Since He Began Managing The USA.

    Reply
      • shortcomings? jozy has proven that his “shortcomings” (i.e. that he can’t score goals) are not a day to day occurrence. He scores every weekend for his club team. Are we supposed to believe that he is lazy for the nats, but he plays hard for his club? Should we believe that it is just easier to score in Holland? The more likely scenario is that he has not been put in good positions to score for the nats. That is not a hustle thing, and it has less to do with the way the opposition is playing and more to do with how his teams are set up.

        I was a big fan of Klinsmann being hired and I still think he is at closer to the beginning of his evaluation period than most others, but he has got to figure something out to make this team more dangerous going forward.

        Jozy’s “short comings and incompetence” are disproven when you look at his entire career.

    • I can’t remember a time when he has ever played the same lineup two games in a row. He is not only adjusting his formation constantly and playing players in different positions, he is also playing new players all the time. Versus Honduras you had the back line who had never played together with Chandler and Gonzalez getting their first starts in qualifiers.

      Reply
  5. That second ball from Sascha were his teammate hit the crossbar was very nice indeed. Can we please PLEASE actually play these players in their natural positions on the USMNT? I have no idea why JK thinks he can just plug people in anywhere and expect them to suceed. If he wants to maximize our talent pool, he should start playing guys in the positions that they play week-in and week-out for their clubs, because obviously if these clubs pay a massive salary and fee to use these players, they are going to use them in positions that will maximize their skillset and get the most out of them.

    Reply
  6. Jozy will continue to struggle with the Nats and so will the rest of the team because of the formation and tactics that Klinsman uses. When you deploy 3 DM’s in your starting lineup and tell one of them to be a winger, it’s not gonna work. They all naturally drift into the middle and clog things up. We can’t keep possession when you only use half of the width of the field.

    Until Klinsy stops calling in 5-6 DM’s and only 1 true winger per game (well EJ doesn’t really count i guess), we are gonna continue to get killed by inferior teams. At least Bob only used 2 DM’s and had 2 wingers in most of his lineups.

    Reply
  7. That was a nice goal from Jozy. The key to that goal was simply a teamate gave him the ball in a spot that Jozy could do something with it. The last time Jozy received a pass like that while playing foe USMNT may have been the Spain match!!

    Reply
    • Can’t remember who they were playing, but in the group stage of the CL,

      Gooch got a lot of playing time. In the second to last game he went all 90 and played excellently, even getting kudos from the English commentators. then he played some in the Copa del Rey, but then has mostly sat. Considering his CL play was good, don’t understand his bench time except that Malaga is doing very well with its starters and has one of the best defensive records in La Liga. The guys in front of him, DeMichaelis and Willem (sp?) are both excellent.

      Reply
  8. I just wish played with a system makes Altidore’s scoring easier, instead, playing Klinsmann formation.

    I like to see more of Wooten, Wood, Brooks, Corona and Morales in future calls (mainly sub-role) and have friendlies program.

    Reply
      • Definitely something to be said for that, but look at this goal. He is standing at the top of the 18, receives a very simple ball, turns, and scores.

        How is it possible that in 90 minutes of soccer when wearing a US jersey, that one of our midfielders can’t be in a spot to play a very very simple ball into him where he can make this play.

        Our service out of the MF is freaking brutal because we seem to have a bit of trouble maintaining positive possession in the attacking half of the field.

      • It goes both ways. Our midfielders somehow forget how to pass the minute after our anthem. And Jozy gets lazy after two runs.

        I still compare Dempsey and Jozy: one has been scoring for the Nats and forcing the ball toward him. The other feels entitled to get the ball and hasn’t scored in a year.

      • Dempsey is much better than Jozy. Different playing styles also. Who would argue that?

        There doesn’t need to be a comparison between the two necessarily. Rather, can Jozy contribute in the system? Right now it’s looking like Herc or EJ are better options. One would hope someone with the talent (though the degree of talent seems to be a point of contention amongst fans) and in such seemingly good form would be able to contribute.

        JK fans blame Jozy. Jozy fans blame JK. In JK’s favor, he’s given Jozy many, many chances and he’s produced very little. Other forwards have produced more than Jozy. In Jozy’s favor, the offense has generally not looked good during JK’s tenure and no forward aside from Demps (who gets more freedom to drift wherever he wants compared to Jozy, EJ, and Herc) has been consistently scoring.

  9. I know Ives does his top 23 all the time. And I see nothing wrong with your squad right now, however slow down a bit. It is not as if the USMNT has already qualified and that we have not had issues with that at lower levels lately. There are some guys out there who are not being mentioned who may get hot and show up on the squad. Anybody in 09 have Gomez or Buddle on the team? Nope me niether. Who knows maybe a guy like Gomez shows his age and Aguedelo Wooten or some other guy gets really hot and just takes off.

    Reply
  10. My WC squad is

    GKs: Howard, Guzan, Johnson

    DF: Bocanegra, Cherundolo, Chandler, Cameron, Gonzalez, Parkhurst, Johnson, Lichaj, Besler

    MF: Bradley, Jones, Kljestan, Edu, Diskerud, Shea, Zusi,

    FW: Altidore, Gomez, Boyd, Dempsey

    Reply
  11. I think AZ Alkmaar and that coach have been great for Altidore. I wish that’s where he landed to start with. But I think he’s going to have to take a step up. I am contradicting myself, as not long before this I said as long as he has confidence and scoring goals. But if he can’t translate this to the NT, I’m not sure it can’t be said he needs to take is game to a better league to get even better.

    Then again Altidore is a better striker then years ago, and he was scoring lots of goals, even when he had limited PT in europe. So maybe it’s Klinsmann’s crappy lineups/formations.

    Reply
    • He does need to step it up in national team play, but yes, you definitely can point out that lack of service is a big reason. With so many defensive style midfielders playing at the same time, the field is not spread, and hardly any service of passes into the forwards are coming.

      Reply
      • I feel like that simple barely anything pass he scored on this weekend was better than anything he got in Honduras (that stomach height cross possibly excluded, but this was much more usable).

      • The MF and Klinsmann’s borderline idiotic insistence on repeatedly trotting out “3 defensive mids” is the core problem.

  12. Does Gooch ever play? why the heck go to Malaga if he never playd? and why is Bocanegra in 2nd division Spain. MLS must pay way more than that.

    Reply
  13. Any ideas on whether Clint will move this summer? He’s been so-so at Spurs. I give him a C. But he was a cheap buy. If he moved, would he go to Liverpool or back to Fulham or to another league? Just curious

    Reply
    • There was no huge demand for him last year after having a career year, there wouldn’t likely be many suitors this year. Like you said, Spurs got a good deal on him. Considering how much he cost, he’s been a solid (if unspectacular) buy. Spurs have no reason to want to sell him, and no one is knocking down their door to buy him. The only reason there would be a move is if he’s incredibly unhappy and begging to be sold, but that doesn’t seem likely. He’s playing regularly for a team that looks to be headed for a CL spot next season, which is what he wanted.

      Reply
      • My gut feeling is Jozy is going to be a big factor in the next two games vs. Costa Rica and Mexico. I think he will score in at least one or possibly both of those games. The kid is stepping up. As long as he keeps his work rate up in both of those games, good things will happen.

      • “My gut feeling is Jozy is going to be a big factor in the next two games vs. [insert team A] and [insert team B].”

        -Said everyone previously and continue to be wrong

      • Old School –

        No, but as a an actionincredibly rebuttal to your comment that that Jozy hasn’t been a factor, and people who say his is/will be are wrong, and continue to be wrong.

        Jozy scored when BB was the coach, and most commentators seem to think he has grown as a player since his move to AZ. While we all wish somebody, anybody, will score for the Nats, singling out JA and fans for derision seems silly.

      • Giving out hocket assists is silly, to be honest.

        The term was “big factor”, as in the contribution he makes to his club team…which has been absent for longer than anyone (haters or lovers) would like.

        I’m not here to bash Jozy but I’m also not going to give him a ton of credit for being average at his best and invisible more than not, for the Nats in recent memory.

      • Also applicable: “My gut feeling is that everyone on the team will play somewhere close to their talent level, and the team will beat (inferior team) comfortably, as they should.”

      • Yeah, your right. Klinsy should be starting all those other guys who have been in amazing form for their clubs and have also been tearing it up for the NATS… Oh wait.

  14. Timmy stoped 10/12 shots? Wow! Was oldham that good or did everton’s d have a bad day?

    What happened with Edgar “el homie” castillo?

    Reply
  15. The number of American DNPs in England this weekend is unacceptable! Never mind that it was a cup weekend! We need to start expecting more from our footballers!

    Reply
    • The only ones that are concerning are ream, gooch and boca; nothing too out of the norm. Bradley not starting was the only thing that stood out in a bad way, hopefully the new Roma boss and him are jiving.

      Reply

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