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Americans Abroad: Monday Rewind

Mix Diskerud Rosenborg (Rosenborg BK)

By DAN KARELL

There was a larger-than-usual contingent of Americans Abroad in action this Monday, as the English League Championship and leagues in Denmark, Belgium, Norway, and Germany all had matches throughout the day.

In Norway, Mix Diskerud helped his case for a potential national team call-up this summer, scoring in the 53rd minute of his side Rosenberg’s 4-0 win over Brann. It was Diskerud’s first match of the season for Rosenberg after failing to appear on the bench in the club’s opener two weeks ago.

In England, Zak Whitbread, Frank Simek, and Mike Grella all saw action on Monday. Whitbread made his 15th start of the season and played the entire match in Leicester City’s 2-0 loss to Barnsley, the club’s fourth loss in five matches. Simek started and played the full 90 in Carlisle United’s 0-0 draw with Sheffield United. It was the St. Louis native’s 36th start of the season. Mike Grella made the bench, and came on for the final two minutes of regulation in Scunthorpe United’s 1-0 loss to AFC Bournemouth, dropping the club back into the relegation zone.

In Belgium, Sacha Kljestan saw his first action since returning from national team duty, starting and playing 79 minutes in Anderlecht’s 2-1 loss to Genk in the first round of the Belgian Pro League’s playoffs.

In Germany, Joe Gyau made just his fourth start of the season but ended up with a yellow card after four minutes and was substituted at halftime of St. Pauli’s 2-2 draw with Paderborn.

Here’s how the Americans Abroad did on Monday:

  • Zak Whitbread started and played 90 minutes in Leicester City’s 2-0 loss vs. Barnsley.
  • Jonathan Spector did not dress in Birmingham City’s 3-2 loss vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers.
  • Will Packwood did not dress for Birmingham City. He is recovering from a leg injury.
  • Stuart Holden did not dress in Sheffield Wednesday’s 1-1 vs. Bristol City.
  • Conor Doyle dressed but did not play in Derby County’s 2-1 win vs. Leeds United.
  • Mike Grella came off the bench and played two minutes in Scunthorpe United’s 1-0 loss vs. AFC Bournemouth.
  • Frank Simek started and played 90 minutes in Carlisle United’s 0-0 draw vs. Sheffield United.
  • Joe Gyau started, played 45 minutes and picked up a yellow card in St Pauli’s 2-2 draw vs. SC Paderborn 07.
  • Sacha Kljestan started and played 79 minutes in RSC Anderlecht’s 2-1 loss vs. Genk in the Belgian playoffs.
  • Clarence Goodson did not dress in Brondby IF’s 3-2 win vs. AGF Aarhus.
  • Conor O’Brien started and played 90 minutes in FC Nordsjaelland’s 3-1 win vs. FC Midtjylland.
  • Mix Diskerud started, played 90 minutes and scored a goal in Rosenborg BK’s 4-0 win vs. Brann.

What did you think of these performances? Happy that Mix is off to a good start? Surprised that Stu Holden didn’t make the 18?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Diskerud will not be allowed on the national team. Sunil already said no Scandinavians. We want the USMNT to reflect the wonderful diversity of the United States – which means only half German Americans and West African immigrants.

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  2. I thought Frank Simek did well when he played for the Nats as well. Surprised to see him not called up more often. Looks like he has been playing well for his club.

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    • Problem being that his club is in the 3rd tier of England. While the majority of our defensive backs are in the 1st tier of Germany, England, or Lega Mex. Who exactly do you think he should replace? Fabian, Castillo, Cherundolo, Chandler, Cameron, & even Lichaj/Parkhurst are all clearly better options….Spector, S. Williams, Alston, Beltran, DMB, Morrow, Bietisure (sp?) are likely better options as well. He’s just too far down the depth chart and plays at an infierior level to those in the NT pool.

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      • In fairness, Simek used to play in the 1st division before his injury and he was a very good player, I think he was team captain. Not sure if he’s the same level as he was pre-injury. I could see the rationale in looking at him I could also understand the rationale in not looking at him. We have alot of depth right now.

  3. What type of player is Conor O’Brien?…Of all the fringe types or guys who haven’t really gotten a shot yet, he seems to be the who gets the most playing time for a first division team.

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    • From what I’ve seen and heard he’s a Box-to-Box center mid who has technical ability on par /slightly lower than Mixx and an engine/work ethic a bit lower than Bradley. His problem is that he hasn’t played against a high enough competition to be able to accurately compare him to the other CM’s in the NT pool (Jones, Bradley, Edu, Williams, etc…)

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  4. Why doesn’t simek get more nt talk? He has played well when called. Had a good game vs brazil a couple years back.

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    • Could be wrong, but from what I’ve read he’s a shadow of his pre-injury self, back in the day when he was linked with a Premier League club or two. Not entirely sure though. Perhaps someone here knows better?

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      • Bad ankle injury in 2007(10 months) and I think a knee injury in 2011(5 months) never quite made it all the way back..

    • He and Whitbread are in the same boat…stellar defensive options when healthy…but they are never healthy. Each have had to turn down invitations to national camps because they had injuries the moment it was thought that they would be called up. I am being funny for effect but it unfortunately very close to being true. These guys have been widely respected by their teams and followed by the USMNT coaches. I think they have missed their chances as the younger guys are moving up fast.

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      • No it’s almost entirely true. Whitbread especially I have seen it happen three times. My worry is that Pontius will end up in the same category.

    • Didn’t see the game but did see they made a 2 goal come back and it happened after he was subbed off. Not a whole lot to glean from that, maybe someone on here watched the game.

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      • False. Wednesday never trailed in the game on Saturday vs Barnsley, although all 3 goals were scored after Stu came off.

        Bolton’s fan pages are saying he had an excellent debut by all accounts.

    • I don’t understand all this hope for Holden. He won’t be back to the Nats for a very very long time. I can actually go as far and say he won’t be back. He’s been injured for close to two years now.

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      • There’s a lot more reason to hope for Holden than having people post their lineups with Freddy Adu in it. People are hoping for Holden because they want him back in the Nat pool and more importantly because his career has been derailed by none of his own doing, something that can’t be said about “the American Pele”… Excuse me while I chog…

      • we get it…..you hate adu! We should all be hoping that they both return to the national team picture bc we could sure use their skill sets! Just don’t understand the hate for our(US) players smh!

      • I’m admittedly new to soccer and have never seen Holden play, but he seems like a great guy who was on has had horrible luck from a couple rash tackles. I root for the man, but is it realistic to think he’ll return to the level he played before his injuries?

      • Unless you are a physical therapist or a doctor who is very familiar with his injury and recovery, your opinion is worthless. So why bother to post?

      • As a physical therapist it isn’t whether he can recover…because he has but rather can he stay safe. He is a hard nose player but the injuries came from rash challenges. So the question is whether he can stay lucky and get match fit.

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