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Americans Abroad: Weekend Rewind

Terrence Boyd Rapid Vienna 2 (RV)

By FRANCO PANIZO

Jozy Altidore is not the only young American forward in fine form these days.

Terrence Boyd showed why he is also a serious contender to make the U.S. Men’s National Team roster for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers, as he rescued Rapid Vienna from suffering a second straight defeat in league play on Saturday. Vienna went two goals to SV Mattersburg, but Boyd made sure his club did not lose at home by scoring a goal and assisting on the equalizer in the 2-2 draw. Boyd now has 11 goals in league play and 15 across all competitions this season.

Boyd may have had arguably the best performance among the Americans Abroad, but he was the only forward to tally. Herculez Gomez scored for the second straight week, netting on a free kick for the opener in Santos Laguna’s 2-1 win against Atlante on Saturday. Gomez now has three goals in Santos’ last two league games and four all season.

Another bright spot from the weekend was Joe Gyau, who started a second consecutive game for St. Pauli on Friday. Gyau played 85 minutes in St. Pauli’s wild 3-2 win over SSV Jahn Regensburg and helped set up his club’s opener.

It was not all good news, however. Centerback Carlos Bocanegra did not play for Racing Santander in their 2-1 win over Murcia while Fabian Johnson missed out on Hoffenheim’s 3-0 win vs. SpVgg Greuther Furth with a hip injury.

Here’s how the Americans Abroad did this weekend:

ENGLAND

Premiership

  • Brek Shea dressed but did not play in Stoke City’s 2-1 loss vs. Newcastle United on Sunday.
  • Geoff Cameron started and played 90 minutes for Stoke City.
  • Sebastian Lletget and West Ham United did not play this weekend.
  • Brad Friedel dressed but did not play in Tottenham’s 3-2 loss vs. Liverpool on Sunday.
  • Clint Dempsey did not dress for Tottenham. He is recovering from a calf injury.
  • Tim Howard did not dress in Everton’s 3-0 loss vs. Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup quarterfinals on Saturday. He is recovering from a back injury.
  • Brad Guzan started, played 90 minutes and made three saves in Aston Villa’s 2-1 win vs. Reading on Saturday.
  • Eric Lichaj did not dress for Aston Villa.

Championship

  • Jonathan Spector started and played 90 minutes in Birmingham City’s 3-1 win vs. Derby County on Saturday.
  • Will Packwood did not dress for Birmingham City. He is recovering from a leg injury.
  • Conor Doyle dressed but did not played in Derby County’s 3-1 loss vs. Birmingham City on Saturday.
  • Stuart Holden dressed but did not play in Bolton Wanderers’ 1-0 win vs. Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.
  • Tim Ream did not dress for Bolton Wanderers.
  • Zak Whitbread did not dress in Leceister City’s 1-0 loss vs. Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.

League One

  • Frank Simek started and played 90 minutes in Carlisle United’s 2-0 win vs. Brentford on Saturday.
  • Mike Grella dressed but did not play in Scunthorpe United’s 2-1 loss vs. Coventry City on Saturday.

SPAIN

La Liga

  • Oguchi Onyewu did not dress in Malaga CF’s 1-1 draw vs. Real Valladolid on Saturday.

Segunda Division

  • Carlos Bocanega dressed but did not play in Racing Santander’s 2-1 win vs. Murcia on Sunday.

ITALY

  • Michael Bradley did not dress in AS Roma’s 1-1 draw vs. Udinese on Saturday. He was suspended due to yellow card accumulation.

GERMANY

Bundesliga

  • Danny Williams started and played 90 minutes in TSG 1899 Hoffenheim’s 3-0 win vs. SpVgg Greuther Furth on Saturday.
  • Fabian Johnson did not dress for TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. He is recovering from a hip injury.
  • Timmy Chandler started and played 90 minutes in FC Nurnberg’s 2-1 win vs. FC Augsburg on Friday.
  • Michael Parkhurst dressed but did not play in FC Augsburg’s 2-1 loss vs. FC Nurnberg on Friday.
  • Jermaine Jones did not dress in Schalke 04’s 2-1 win vs. Borussia Dortmund on Saturday. He was suspended due to yellow card accumulation.
  • David Yelldell did not dress in Bayer Leverkusen’s 1-0 loss vs. Mainz on Saturday.
  • Steve Cherundolo did not dress in Hannover 96’s 0-0 draw vs. Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday. He is recovering from a knee injury.

2. Bundesliga

  • Joe Gyau started, played 85 minutes and helped set up a goal in St Pauli’s 3-2 win vs. SSV Jahn Regensburg on Friday.
  • John Anthony Brooks started and played 90 minutes in Hertha Berlin’s 4-2 win vs. MSV Duisburg on Sunday.
  • Alfredo Morales did not dress for Hertha Berlin.
  • Andrew Wooten started and played 73 minutes in SV Sandhausen’s 1-0 loss vs. TSV 1860 Munich on Friday.
  • Bobby Wood dressed but did not play in TSV 1860 Munich’s 1-0 win vs. SV Sandhausen on Sunday.

NETHERLANDS

  • Jozy Altidore started and played 90 minutes in AZ Alkmaar’s 1-1 draw vs. ADO Den Haag on Saturday.

PORTUGAL

  • Tony Taylor came off the bench and played 14 minutes in G.D. Estoril Praia’s 2-0 loss vs. FC Porto on Friday.
  • Caleb Patterson-Sewell and Vitoria Setubal play Vitoria de Guimaraes on Monday.

RUSSIA

  • Eugen Starikov came off the bench and played 28 minutes in FK Rostov’s 0-0 draw vs. Alania Vladikavkaz on Saturday.

TURKEY

  • Maurice Edu started and played 90 minutes in Bursaspor’s 4-1 loss vs. Fenerbahce on Sunday.

BELGIUM

  • Sacha Kljestan started and played 90 minutes in RSC Anderlecht’s 1-0 win vs. Mechelen on Saturday.

DENMARK

  • Clarence Goodson started and played 90 minutes in Brondby IF’s 3-0 win vs. AGF Aarhus on Sunday.
  • Charlie Davies came off the bench and played 18 minutes in Randers FC’s 2-0 win vs. SonderjyskE on Friday.
  • Conor O’Brien and FC Nordsjaelland play FC Midtjylland on Monday.

AUSTRIA

    • Terrence Boyd started, played 90 minutes, had an ASSIST and scored a GOAL in Rapid Vienna’s 2-2 draw vs. SV Mattersburg on Saturday.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74kwew5BnBU?feature=player_embedded]

MEXICO

    • Herculez Gomez started, played 90 minutes, received a yellow card and scored a GOAL in Santos Laguna’s 2-1 win vs. Atlante on Saturday.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBMN8Ljv3B0?feature=player_embedded]

  • Hector Joya did not dress for Santos Laguna.
  • DaMarcus Beasley started and played 90 minutes in Puebla’s 1-0 loss vs. Pumas UNAM on Sunday.
  • Michael Orozco Fiscal started and played 90 minutes.
  • Greg Garza started and played 90 minutes in Club Tijuana’s 1-0 loss vs. Queretaro on Saturday.
  • Edgar Castillo did not dress for Club Tijuana. He is recovering from a facial injury.
  • Joe Corona did not dress for Club Tijuana.
  • Jose Torres started and played 82 minutes in Tigres UANL’s 2-1 win vs. San Luis on Saturday.
  • Jonathan Bornstein did not dress for Tigres UANL.
  • Ventura Alvarado dressed but did not play in Club America’s 1-1 draw vs. Morelia on Friday.

—–

What do you think of these performances? Do you see Boyd scoring more than 15 goals this season? Impressed with Gomez’s latest strike?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. What? Agudelo score one goal in MLS and Altidore’s twenty something European goals mean nothing.

    Altidore starts because he is still the most talented striker we have he plays regular minutes for his club and he has scored as many goals as the rest of the pretenders together.

    What the USMNT need is a midfielder that can provide service something Altidore gets with his club team.

    Reply
  2. Alejandro Bedoya (Helsingborgs IF – Swedish Allsvenskan) – Alejandro got the start, went the full 90 minutes and scored a goal in Helsingborgs IF’s 5-0 victory over Varberg in the Svenska Cupen. Two goals in two weeks. 3 goals and 6 assists in the last half of last season.

    Reply
  3. Two quick questions:

    Is it “Benji” or Hector Joya? I watched all of the US U-20 CONCACAF games and he showed some real skill. I’d like to see him get called in to camp so that JK can give him a serious look.

    Is something wrong with Boca’s health or is he really sitting on the bench for a poor club in the Spanish Second Division? Is a move to the MLS an option? Can you get loaned during a loan?

    Reply
  4. Boyd and/or Agudelo would be greatly served by Benji Joya, Joe Corona, Michael Bradley, and Clint Dempsey combining with them. This would create chances and goals.

    Reply
    • Neither Boyd nor Agudelo are going to get the start much less a callup for the next two qualifiers inless they both do something spectacular this weekend! And you can’t be serious with a joya callup at this point in his development. He’s yet to play a single game with the senioe team much less the U-23’s so it aint gonna happen. I understand the want to bleed in younger talent into the senior team but now is not the time to be gambling with inexperienced and unqulaified youngsters who need more time with the youth setups before the make the jump to top flight international football!

      Reply
  5. Boyd or Agudelo or both should start for the USMNT without question. There’s no excuse not to start Corona as an attacking midfielder behind Boyd or Agudelo or both. Starting: Bradley, Jones, Joya; Corona, Dempsey; Agudelo/Boyd would be an outstanding idea with minimal risk.

    Reply
    • Joya is way too inexperienced to be starting. I think you’re more than likely going to see:

      ——-Williams——–

      –Jones—–Bradley-

      Gomez———-Brek

      ———Dempsey—-

      Jozy is hot, but I think after last game’s poor showing and the last year, Klinsy will go back to the mindset that Jozy has to prove himself with time off the bench. Klinsy has always been a fan of Brek who seems to perform well under Klinsy – plus, he may be hoping for a bit more Azteca magic.

      I think he keeps his central three purely because there really isn’t a central midfielder challenging them if we’re honest, and we will be playing defensively. Mix is in preseason, Holden is still getting fit, none of the MLS central midfielders have shown well. I really like Corona and hope to see him play, but it will be a gamble to stick him in the middle. I think he’d be better served out wide. Not a Sascha fan at all.

      I like Agudelo and think if he can perform again this weekend, he’s earned himself a plane ticket. He’s always a handful off the bench.

      Reply
      • I forgot to add that I think Corona, long term, is a central midfielder. I’d like to see him in the middle, but I think Klinsi will be playing very defensively so Corona would be risky there. Against Costa, Corona will have a better chance of starting and earning time through the middle.

      • agree with you 100% on Herc in the starting line-up, Josh D, with Jozy on the bench. But I would rather see Herc on top as forward with Clint behind him. As for Brek, I could see him starting but also would be happy if he on in the second-half as a sub as he did in both of his good showings in the Mexico friendlies. Plus, I want to see Joe Corona and/or Jose Torres in the starting line-up.

      • You can make a number of arguments against Jozy starting, but inexperience is not one that has any merit.

        Jozy Altidore – 53 senior team appearances 13 goals

        Herculez Gomez – 19 senior team appearances 5 goals

      • The argument is that Jozy has now gone 14 games with a non-PK goal going back to summer of 2011 when a guy named Bob Bradley was coach. These next two games are crucial and Herc has shown in his gutsy and feisty performances in WCQ games since last summer that he can get the job done, while Jozy has fizzled. Can we really afford to take yet another chance with Jozy, possible extending his goalless streak to 16? Right now I would play not only Herc, but Eddie Johnson and Terrence Boyd before Jozy.

        Look, I like Jozy and if could get it together for the USMNT like he has with AZ, I would be ecstatic. And it might be that Klinsmann is willing to give him another chance against Costa Rica. But, quite frankly, I thought Klinsmann was foolish to leave Herc on the bench against Honduras and I think he would be doubly so if he makes the same mistake against Costa Rica.

      • A lot of Jozy’s goals seem to be on the counter attack. I wonder if he just doesn’t fit well with Klinnsman’s system. He needs to score soon.

      • Just can’t see Brek getting the start at this point. He is still yet to go 90 mins for Stoke, and we will be playing both games at altitude. It would be a shame to be forced in to early substitutions again, similar to Honduras, because he is done around the 50 minute mark. Not to mention his performances haven’t been terribly impressive to begin with. I think he should be an option off the bench. I agree the lineup will likely be more of the same. Hopefully the switch from Williams to Edu will happen at least.

      • good point on Brek. probably best to have on the bench as a potential late spark if we find ourselves down.

    • Joya is promising but didn’t even play in the Houston CCL game. I think you’re a cycle or two early on about anyone from that U20 team. I think maybe Cuevas or Villareal in a few years or maybe in a B/C event, Gold Cup or something. I personally would prefer that we try some of the U20s and U23s in the Gold Cup instead of the umpteenth callin for washouts like Wondo and Kljestan. But even that I would expect to be picky.

      Reply
    • Really? Without question? You’d start a player with 7 appearances and 0 goals and 17 appearances with 2 goals, respectively for Boyd and Agudelo over players with 53 appearances and 13 goals(JA) or 19 appearances and 5 goals(HG)? I like both Boyd and Agudelo, but, thankfully, JK will make the decision on the line-ups, not any of us.

      Reply
    • “without question”?

      That is a little over the top.

      Boyd has been impressive so far with the Under 23’s.

      With the senior team he has been anonymous. He has played well with his club but not as well as Jozy is playing with his club.

      If you’re worried about offense, I’d prefer Alan Gordon (if he’s playing well) paired with Herc and EJ at left mid. Bring Shea or DMB on in the 46th minute.

      Howevef, JK needs to shore up the US’ shaky defense by finding a way to get the midfield to hold possession better, which is why I think you’ll see Herc and JFT in there somewhere.

      Reply
      • Saying Boyd has been “anonymous” seems a bit much. He hasn’t played a ton but in limited playing time he managed to play a part in the winning goal against Mexico and even played part in the equalizing goal against Russia.

        Not saying the kid should be starting for the USMNT, but he deserves a little more credit for what he’s done in limited USMNT minutes than you’re giving him.

      • Seems like you have been pretty high, more so than most, on Boyd for a while now. How far is he behind Jozy and Gomez in the pecking order (distant 3rd or nipping at their heels)? should we expect him to get a shot soon or will he have to wait until the Gold Cup to get some quality minutes?

      • I don’t think anonymous is as bad as you make it out to be.

        Let’s just say I was hoping for more. He does look promising but that is a long way from playing him instead of Jozy, Herc or EJ.

  6. Read the news report from AVB that Deuce and Ade are likely to be fit for the Europa league game mid week. Hope that’s the case that Deuce can get some PT and get back in the groove.

    RGR

    Reply
    • Sigurridson (sp?) hasn’t really done much with Dempsey out so I’d expect Clint to get PT if he’s fit. Probably as a sub in his 1st game back…

      Reply
      • Sigurdson has been SOLID and has scored as of late, that being said I think AVB really likes Dempsey because of his versatility and will make sure to give him minutes to get his form back.

      • I think it’s the opposite, he’s really taken the opportunity, with a goal and an assist, I believe. I think, at least for this season, he’s Dempsey’s understudy so Dempsey should slot back in if he keeps his own tempo high.

    • Except half Dempsey’s problem is AVB anyway, a goofy coach who doesn’t play him enough. I know the Big Club types wanted Dempsey moved on from Fulham, but we were benefitting from the consistent PT and production.

      Reply
      • Hard to say he hasn’t been played enough. He’s played in some form in 33 Tottenham games this season. I think they’ve played 40 or 41. He’s missed a couple with injury.

        He’ll probably go right back into the lineup once fit as Sigurdson has been very inconsistent with form. Score a goal one game then look awful the next 2.

      • After his first year Clint always appeared in no less than 40 and no more than 46 games for Fulham.

        There are something like nine league games left so, if he gets back soon he’s not that far off his Fulham pace.

        If he keeps scoring he’ll keep playing.

      • I disagree with you there. He has had gotten plenty of playing time this season and moving up to Tottenham has had other benefits too. Mainly, he has to really fight for his starting place week in week out in training and training alongside better players. He has played in some tougher European matches. Every game counts a great deal with Tottenham fighting for a top 4 birth compared to mid table Fulham where its not do or die every week. I think its been a successful move for him so far

  7. Not abroad, but be sure to check out Agudelo’s goal today. Great skill. It was a good weekend for a few of our forwards, but I’m hoping he will stay in contention. I like his creativity.

    Reply
    • Stoke looked pretty awful on the road at Newcastle. It looked like they were playing for the point, and trotted out a big, defensively-oriented team. Newcastle had more to play for, only 6 points above the relegation zone prior to the start. Stoke was content to sit back, allowing Newcastle the run of play, while lobbing in long balls to Crouch, Jerome, and Walters up top. As such, Shea was never really in contention to play, tactically speaking. They could really have used him, though. Their left side was atrocious, completely devoid of offensive punch.

      On a more positive note, Geoff Cameron looked good moving out of the back on the right, combining well with Shotton, and providing decent service. He wasn’t a world beater, but I was surprised at how well he strung passes together and took his space for someone who plays centerback for the US.

      Reply
      • Profoundly different? A buccaneer is a pirate…that’s fact. There is an American club that is known as the Pirates and they are affectionately knows as the “Bucs”…

      • Historically, buccaneers and pirates were vastly different – one being legal, the other (pirates) illegal and flying under their own flag. Whether or not pop culture mixes them up, they aren’t the same.

      • Not exactly. Some were legal, others not. The term for a fully legal raider is “privateer“.

      • Thank you, if were going to make such a big deal about buccaneers and pirates terminolody, let’s at least make the info accurate. Privateers were the “legal” pirates and no you cannot say even they were profoundly different because many started as privateers and became full on rogues anyway. End of story.

  8. Hmmm….Boyd and Altifore get to start on top..(I doubt it) for USNT.

    Now we just need to find a leftback or change formation.

    Reply

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