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Americans Abroad: Weekend Rewind

BradGuzanVWestHam (Getty)

By FRANCO PANIZO

Brad Guzan and Aston Villa look to have all but won in their battle against relegation.

The Villans picked up a big road victory that moved them five points clear of the drop zone on Saturday, defeating Norwich City, 2-1, at Carrow Road. Guzan contributed to Aston Villa’s cause with a one-save performance while compatriot Eric Lichaj came off the bench and played 63 minutes for injured defender Matthew Lowton.

Alejandro Bedoya also saw his team pick up three points and they did so mainly because of him. Bedoya continued his red-hot form on Sunday, scoring the lone goal in Helsingborg IF’s 1-0 win against Syrianska FC. The latest left-footed strike from Bedoya gave him three goals in league play and five across all competitions this season, and it also strengthened his case for inclusion on the U.S. Men’s National Team’s roster for the upcoming friendlies and World Cup qualifiers.

Bedoya wasn’t the only player to find the back of the net. Andrew Wooten netted twice to help lift SV Sandhausen to a 3-1 victory over FC Ingolstadt on Saturday. Wooten now has seven goals for the 2. Bundesliga club that is set to be relegated at season’s end.

Here’s how the Americans Abroad fared this weekend:

ENGLAND

Premiership

  • Geoff Cameron and Stoke City play Sunderland on Monday.
  • Brek Shea and Stoke City play Sunderland on Monday.
  • Sebastian Lletget did not dress in West Ham United’s 0-0 draw vs. Newcastle United on Saturday.
  • Clint Dempsey started and played 72 minutes in Tottenham’s 1-0 win vs. Southampton on Saturday.
  • Brad Friedel dressed but did not play for Tottenham.
  • Tim Howard started, played 90 minutes and made three saves in Everton’s 0-0 draw vs. Liverpool on Sunday.
  • Brad Guzan started, played 90 minutes and made one save in Aston Villa’s 2-1 win vs. Norwich City on Saturday.
  • Eric Lichaj came off the bench and played 63 minutes for Aston Villa.

Championship

  • Jonathan Spector did not dress in Birmingham City’s 1-1 draw vs. Blackburn Rovers on Saturday. He is recovering from an ankle injury.
  • Will Packwood did not dress for Birmingham City. He is recovering from a leg injury.
  • Conor Doyle did not dress in Derby County’s 1-0 win vs. Millwall on Saturday.
  • Tim Ream started and played 90 minutes before being substituted in stoppage time in Bolton Wanderers’ 2-2 draw vs. Blackpool on Saturday.
  • Stuart Holden dressed but did not play for Bolton Wanderers.
  • Zak Whitbread did not dress in Leceister City’s 3-2 win vs. Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

League One

  • Frank Simek and Carlisle United’s season is over.
  • Mike Grella and Scunthorpe United’s season is over.

SPAIN

La Liga

  • Oguchi Onyewu did not dress in Malaga CF’s 1-0 loss vs. Granada on Saturday.

Segunda Division

  • Carlos Bocanega started and played 90 minutes in Racing Santander’s 2-1 loss vs. Almeria on Sunday.

ITALY

  • Michael Bradley started and played 90 minutes in AS Roma’s 1-0 win vs. Fiorentina on Saturday.

GERMANY

Bundesliga

  • Fabian Johnson started and played 45 minutes in TSG 1899 Hoffenheim’s 2-2 draw vs. Werder Bremen on Saturday.
  • Danny Williams did not dress for TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. He is recovering from an ankle injury.
  • Timmy Chandler dressed but did not play in FC Nurnberg’s 2-0 loss vs. Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday.
  • Michael Parkhurst dressed but did not play in FC Augsburg’s 2-0 loss vs. SC Freiburg on Sunday.
  • Jermaine Jones started, played 90 minutes and received a yellow card in Schalke 04′s 1-0 win vs. Borussia Moenchengladbach on Friday.
  • David Yelldell did not dress in Bayer Leverkusen’s 2-0 win vs. FC Nurnberg on Saturday.
  • Steve Cherundolo dressed but did not play in Hannover 96′s 2-2 draw vs. Mainz on Saturday.

2. Bundesliga

  • Joe Gyau did not dress in St Pauli’s 0-0 draw vs. MSV Duisburg on Sunday.
  • John Anthony Brooks started and played 90 minutes in Hertha Berlin’s 3-2 win vs. FC Erzgebirge Aue on Friday.
  • Alfredo Morales started and played 90 minutes for Hertha Berlin.
  • Andrew Wooten started, played 90 minutes and TWO GOALS in SV Sandhausen’s 3-1 win vs. FC Ingolstadt on Saturday.
  • Bobby Wood dressed but did not play in TSV 1860 Munich’s 3-0 win vs. FC Union Berlin on Sunday.

NETHERLANDS

  • Jozy Altidore started, played 60 minutes and received a yellow card in AZ Alkmaar’s 4-0 win vs. PEC Zwolle on Sunday.

PORTUGAL

  • Tony Taylor and G.D. Estoril Praia play Benfica on Monday.
  • Caleb Patterson-Sewell did not dress in Vitoria Setubal’s 1-0 loss vs. Academica de Coimbra on Sunday.

RUSSIA

  • Eugene Starikov did not dress in FK Rostov’s 2-0 loss vs. Kuban Krasnodar on Saturday.

TURKEY

  • Maurice Edu did not dress in Bursaspor’s 4-2 win vs. Orduspor on Saturday.

BELGIUM

  • Sacha Kljestan started and played 90 minutes in RSC Anderlecht’s 2-0 win vs. Standard Liege on Sunday.

DENMARK

  • Clarence Goodson started and played 90 minutes in Brondby IF’s 0-0 draw vs. FC Copenhagen on Sunday.
  • Charlie Davies came off the bench and played one minute in Randers FC’s 1-0 win vs. AGF Aarhus on Sunday.
  • Conor O’Brien dressed but did not play in FC Nordsjaelland’s 2-2 draw vs. Silkeborg IF on Friday.

AUSTRIA

  • Terrence Boyd dressed but did not play in Rapid Vienna’s 3-1 win vs. SK Sturm Graz on Sunday.

SWEDEN

  • Alejandro Bedoya started, played 90 minutes and scored a GOAL in Helsingborg IF’s 1-0 win vs. Syrianska FC on Sunday.

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

  • Brian Span started and played 66 minutes in Djurgarden IF’s 5-1 loss vs. Atvidabergs FF on Saturday.

NORWAY

  • Josh Gatt and Molde FK play IK Start on Monday.
  • Mix Diskerud started and played 45 minutes in Rosenborg BK’s 2-2 draw vs. Aalesund on Saturday.
  • Steve Clark started and played 90 minutes in Honefoss BK’s 1-1 draw vs. Tromso on Sunday. 

MEXICO

  • Herculez Gomez came off the bench and played 29 minutes in Santos Laguna’s 2-1 loss vs. Morelia on Saturday.
  • Benji Joya did not dress for Santos Laguna.
  • Joaquin Alonso Hernandez came off the bench and played 45 minutes in Monterrey’s 5-1 loss vs. Cruz Azul on Saturday.
  • Michael Orozco Fiscal started, played 90 minutes and received a yellow card in Puebla’s 3-2 win vs. Queretaro on Saturday.
  • DaMarcus Beasley started and played 90 minutes for Puebla.
  • Jose Torres started, played 87 minutes and received a yellow card in Tigres UANL’s 2-0 win vs. Club America on Saturday.
  • Jonathan Bornstein did not dress for Tigres UANL.
  • Edgar Castillo started, played 90 minutes and had an ASSIST in Club Tijuana’s 4-0 win vs. Chivas de Guadalajara on Saturday.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INhLUA8qm_s?feature=player_embedded]

  • Joe Corona came off the bench and played 14 minutes for Club Tijuana.
  • Greg Garza did not dress for Club Tijuana.
  • Alejandro Guido did not dress for Club Tijuana.
  • Ventura Alvarado did not dress in Club America’s 2-0 loss vs. Tigres UANL on Saturday.

BRAZIL

  • Freddy Adu did not dress in Bahia’s 1-0 win vs. Juazeiro Ba in the second leg of the Baiano semifinals on Saturday.

—–

What do you think of these performances? Impressed with Guzan and Lichaj’s outings in Aston Villa’s big win over Norwich City? Starting to think Bedoya should be called in for the USMNT’s World Cup qualifying roster?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. good (aside from the usual):

    lichaj, wooten, morales, JAB, bedoya

    bad (aside from the usual):
    cameron (on the bench), dolo, chandler, johnson, edu, boyd, corona, mix, gyau, gomez, parkhurst

    not a great weekend for us.

    Reply
  2. Ugh, Freddie not dressing. Is this going to be yet another failure at yet another stop? Early yet, sure, but I’d hoped he’d be getting 25 minutes per game by now.

    Reply
    • dude he just got there and the season hasn’t even started (i believe only cup games so far). granted, adu doesn’t instill much faith, but i’d worry once we are a few weeks into the season.

      Reply
  3. Michael Parkhurst needs to get out of Germany. His lack of minutes is all the excuse JK needs to not pick him. Doesn’t matter if he’s moved to a harder league. JK will punish for not getting playing time and German teams have a history of not using Americans. Unless of course he wants you (Holden) then minutes doesnt seem to matter too much

    Twellman, Donovan and now Parkhurst are three that come to mind immediately.

    Reply
    • German teams have a history of not using Americans? That must be why Steve Cherundolo has reached or is nearing an appearances record for Hannover 96…

      Reply
    • wait, wait. German teams have a history of not playing americans? Perhaps thats true, if they aren’t good enough, but I think the Mayor of Hannover, Mr. Bradley, Kasey Keller and others would tell you differently.

      Donovan has said he wasn’t ready the first go round, and the second time he got caught up in club politics. Twellman was never good enough to get more than reserve time in the Bundesliga, and Parkhurst signed onto a team in a relegation battle, which is a tough situation to jump into. Suggesting that americans don’t get treated fairly in Germany is a joke

      Reply
      • Agreed. In terms of soccer, Germans/Americans couldn’t be any more synonymous than they are right now. And Twellman/Parkhurst are terrible examples to prove a point.

      • Exactly… Twellman couldn’t get a break in Germany even though he was a scoring machine. Donovan was not highly regarded there either and yet had great success in England and here.

        I’m sure there are others that did get minutes… I just named two I was most familiar with that didn’t.

        I think it’s more of a position thing as well. Both Twellman and Donovan were forwards. Keller and Dolo are way back.

        Jozy should not even consider Germany if he goes anywhere. He simply isn’t good enough

    • Are you suggesting that these German teams are intentionally using their limited resources to buy/pay these American players so that they can have them rot on the bench?

      Reply
    • Jermaine Jones starts regularly for Shalke. They are in 4th place. Fabian Johnson. Steve Cherundolo is Club Captain. Brooks, Williams, Chandler, Parker etc. etc.

      Reply
  4. He has 2 matches left. The cup final and the final league match. He needs big performances in both to ensure that big transfer this summer. He’s easily worth 7-8million euros.

    Reply
    • American + big transfer = benchwarmer. He needs to follow MB’s example and move on to greener pastures that he can handle (and grow as a player)

      Reply
    • He’s been other places and it hasnt worked out. Better to be a big fish in a small pond then to ride the bench in a bigger pond. Michael Parkurst is a perfect example of that.

      Reply
      • I think this last comment shows the inferiority complex Americans still display when it comes to soccer in Europe.
        Don’t aspire to the highest level because it probably won’t work out – so we only strive for “goodness”, not greatness.

      • Playing at a high level isn’t the problem, it’s the size of the jump. He needs to take steps, as opposed to leaps. I’d rather have a confident Jozy for usmnt duty than one not getting minutes.

      • Not an inferiority complex. The facts are though that JK says you must challenge yourself, strive to go higher. So people do that but don’t get minutes. Then JK says “hes only bringing people that are in a rhythm…i.e., playing.” The point is… you don’t get credit from JK if you seek to play in tougher leagues and don’t have instant success… you get punished.

        Parkhurst was doing fine on his last team, was playing all the time and getting calls. He jumps to the German league and is struggling to make the bench or get minutes… the phone stops ringing.

        Jozy is doing fine in the Dutch league…. lots of minutes, lots of goals, lots of call ups. He tries to go the German or Italian or even England leagues… the minutes might not be there and most likely the success won’t be there either. In his case, the phone will prob keep ringing but I think he’s better off where he is… as long as they pay him. He was in England before and that was not a success. Stay the big fish in the small pond

      • your argument has its flaws as well. Don’t we want players with confidence and ambition? players that want to reach their maximum potential? That can’t be done in the “big fish in a small pond” as you put it. They must be challenged.
        I understand what you are saying but, refusing to move because a player may not get as much PT is misguided. Its all about finding the right situation as an individual player. Finding a club/manager that believes in them and can provide the proper amount of competition for them to grow in.

      • Im saying that if you have NAT aspirations, and you make that move … to challenge yourself….. If you don’t play…JK loses yur number. So it’s a risk

  5. best striker in the world at the moment? Lewandowski or Falcao or Van Persie?

    Best striker of the past decade? Van Nistlerooy? Eto’o? Henry? Shevchenko? Torres? Villa? Van Persie? Drogba? Rooney?

    Reply
      • I think he’s aiming for someone who is a more “pure” striker. its not fair or fun to have Messi on the list because obviously hes the answer.

        For me the most complete striker currently is Van Persie. Finishing, passing, set piece delivery, left foot, right foot, great movement. He’s got the complete package.

        The last decade is just a preference but I’ll go with Henry. power, pace, dribbling, coolest finisher in town and great youtube highlights. What more could you ask for?

      • If you’re discounting Messi as not a pure striker, then Henry and Rooney can’t be in the conversation either.

      • the “pure striker” definition is really vague. Henry is a much closer fit that definition. Messi plays a free role and goes where he pleases. If you asked anyone what position Henry played the response would be striker. If you asked them what Messi played the response would not be the same.

      • So I would go with Drogs. Lamps gets all the credit, but Drogba was the uncredited star of that team. Not only could he bang in goals in unstoppable fashion, but he was also a great hold up player that allowed Chelsea to hang back defensively and bang the ball upfield to Drogs, knowing he could hold possession until the attack could join him. He’s such a rare and valuable player.

      • i’d also go with drogs. a complete force of nature who impacted games more than any of these guys (not named messi)

      • The last few years maybe RVP but for the decade….gotta be Drogba for me. Also I think you can throw Ibra into this conversation as well.

    • I heard JA Brooks’ last match was so good that Chuck Norris personally came to congratulate him, and as he was going in for a handshake JA gave him a nasty roundhouse kick to the chin.

      Not sure if it is true though. Anybody else heard any JA Brooks rumors?

      Reply
      • I heard a rumor that JA Brooks has been training with both Mr. T, and the Most Interesting Man in the World at an undisclosed location in the Swiss Alps. With a goat.

    • Several weeks back, he said he would announce his decision to play for the US or Germany “in several weeks.”

      So we should hear something any time now.

      Reply
  6. Let me also lament a little about Gooch Onyewu not getting more minutes. If he is fit and USMNT is having center back problems, then he is a know quantity re quality. Good though that the best young prospects (unless Cameron is counted) are in MLS (John, Gonz., Biesler).

    Reply
    • I think Gooch is past it same as Boca. Injuried did Gooch in. Old age did in Boca.

      Cameron, Gonzalez, Besler are our centerbacks for the WC with guys like John/Ream also being added in for depth

      Reply
      • Gooch equals quality? I’m guessing Agoos was your favorite player growing up as well.

      • Pre- knee injury he was arguably our best defender. He was never the cleanest on the ball (who of our CBs ever was) but he was very good at the back for us.
        Still haven’t given up hope tha,t with consistent PT, he could work his way back into the squad. Seems to be happy getting a fat paycheck wherever he can find it though.

      • Guess you missed the story in 2010 where Gooch would gladly spend a whole season playing for nothing to repay AC Milan for his injury spells.

      • Or the part where he spent an entire season on Malaga’s bench? Actions speak louder than words. He never played that unpaid season. Did you really expect him to? Did he? of course not. I’m not accusing him of being greedy. He is taking care of himself and his family monetarily. That’s all good for him, but don’t pretend he isn’t doing that at the expense of his national team career. I’m only speculating here, but he when Sporting decided he was expendable, he chose to go on loan, and keep his salary in check, rather than sign for a new team and take a pay cut. This happens all the time.
        There are definitely still opportunities for him to play a big role somewhere in Europe, but its not at Malaga (where he collects a nice paycheck).

  7. Good to see Lichaj got in some good minutes; he often hasn’t even make the bench of late. Wonder why Cherundolo and Chandler didn’t play. Was Maurice Edu a DNP because of a red card? I remember he got one but don’t remember if it was a 1 game or 3 game suspension.

    Reply
    • I’ve heard Edu is injured, can’t confirm that though.
      Chandler has been in the bench for the past few weeks.

      Reply
      • I think Edu had to sit because of yellow card accumulation. Chandler sat because of bad game accumulation.

  8. Torres and Tigres finished first in Mex. second leg of regular season. He is doing very well. 15 appearances in 2013. I’d like to see a Torres-Bradly duo, with Bradly playing more of a destroyer role. I think the problem with Torres before was 1) inexperience and 2) often played on the left, when he is a center-park player.

    Reply
    • unless jones is out due to suspension, i don’t think you’ll see him get replaced by anyone. it’s not like he’s been playing poorly.

      torres is in kind of a difficult situation, because he’s good, but plays in our deepest position, and, even if he’s on the bench, you don’t sub in a regista-type (i know, not totally accurate) all that often. if we’re losing, then most would throw on a pure attacker. if we’re winning, then managers would most likely use a pure defender or d-mid than a holding mid (which torres does well at).

      Reply
    • I agree 100%. Torres was misused by Coach Bob and under Klinsmann he has usually played on the wing or as a CAM. He is a deep-lying playmaker and would thrive if played as a CM. If we use a 4-5-1 with Bradley and Jones we have no ability to move the ball from the defense to the attacking players and no ability to maintain possession or string a few passes together. You can’t play with two destroyers in a 4-5-1, you need a deep-lying playmaker. So either Jones or Bradley should line up alongside Torres (or even Klejstan or Diskerud).

      Reply
      • This is one of the biggest philosophical questions facing Klinsmann, whether to start only either Bradley or Jones. I tend to think the USMNT would have a stronger offensive attack (and we do need goals) with with one of either JJ or MB on the bench and replaced by a Torres type. Would be a touch move, though, by Klinsmann to make.

      • The ‘if’ of having MB on the bench would be worse than not bringing back Donovan ‘if’ he was lighting up MLS. Does everyone forget the multiple chances Torress had when JK first signed on? I was a big supporter, until he continuously gave the ball away more than Gooch under pressure.

      • I agree. Klinsmann gave Torres multiple chances in different positions to impress; he didn’t.

      • ‘different positions’ is your operative term there.

        think i’ve only seen him play as a distributing mid once with the usmnt (in the turkey friendly, where he did pretty well). correct me if i’m wrong; but he certainly hasn’t been given that many chances there.

      • Torres had 1 half of 1 match against Costa Rica where he looked world-class, then the team floundered and lost on a goal from Rodney Wallace.

      • if you give a player ‘multiple chances’ in positions he doesn’t play, what are you really proving? certainly not that torres isn’t good enough. he’s not a winger, he’s not an attacking mid, and he’s not a *gag* left back.

      • This was tried. Torres reads the game well enough but does not have the physical presence to boss the midfield when spaces are tight. He’s fine in Mexico where the attack is given plenty of space to breathe and develop. But at the international level, he gets stripped or run over and then we lose possession in a dangerous area. We know now that we need a destroyer who can distribute (Bradley) not a pure distributor.

      • I agree with these assessments.
        He likes to play deep in the midfield and connect the attack with the defense. In Mexico, where he has more time on the ball and isn’t facing the up-tempo pressure from strong physical opponents game in and game out, he looks very good. But in the international game, his passing is neither incisive nor accurate enough to include his presence – plus his defending his subpar at that level which is all the more apparent considering where he likes to sit in the midfield.
        At the international level, when facing an opponent who wants to sit back and look to counter and isn’t pressing – Torres is effective – other than that, he’s a liability.
        On the USMNT, the concept of JFT’s game and the reality are two different things.

    • Sounds like an injury. This weekly article would be a lot better with context around the anomalies.

      Mr. Doyle is an interesting one. A few years ago he was starting. It seems he hasn’t played in ages. What gives?

      Bedoya scoring doesn’t fill me with as much admiration as others. Sweden is below MLS, and his one opportunity to play in a better league – Scotland – was a complete failure. He never stepped up, to me, in the US kit. Gold Cup, ok, but not the full team please.

      Disappointed about Mix’s 45. I know he was subbed for tactical purposes. It just sucks those tactics involved his early trip to the bench. Still want to see him in the Gold Cup, if not sooner.

      Reply
      • Josh D. Sweden is not that bad, and Bedoya’s goal was really well taken. I’m not sure Scotland is that much better than Sweden beyond Rangers and Celtic. Bedoya went to Rangers at a weird time. I’d say bring him back to take a look wide, unless Landon perks up, or maybe even Villareal.

      • Villareal will be at the U-20 WC if anywhere (since the Gals don’t have to release him if injuries are still piled up).

      • Bedoya was injured during most of his brief stay in Scotland. Then Rangers were demoted to the Scottish 4th division and he needed to find an out. Sweden was a league that knew him and what he could do against that level of compitition, so was easy for a team there to pick him up. Now that he’s fully healthy, match fit, and performing there is no reason he shouldn’t be given another look with the Nats.
        Wing Midfielder Depth Chart right now is pretty thin:
        Beasley, Zusi, Gomez, Donovan (not fully back), Shea (Getting no minutes), Gatt (in a worse league on a bad team), Davis (Old and poor record on the NT level), Gyau (too inexperienced)…

      • Molde is not a “bad team.” In fact, they’re pretty much the opposite of bad team. They’ve won the league the last two years.

      • They did a crap job of rebuilding this year, though, from what I’ve heard from Molde fans.

        They didn’t adequately replace the stars they sold, and at least one big name (can’t remember) is not performing up to par this season.

      • You certainly like to bash Bedoya with no evidence other than a lackluster showing against Canada in January during his offseason.

        Having a lost season due to myriad injuries is not the same as having a lost season due to poor form and benchwarming.

        Honestly, it’s his agent’s job to help pick the best move for his career. The move to Rangers, in hindsight, was ill-advised, but not really his fault and doesn’t have a direct bearing on his play.

        Obviously, his form is good right now. And I know people like the old line “Sweden is below MLS,” but until you’ve got some data, you can’t really say that. AIK regularly competes in preseason tourneys in the US and doesn’t lose many matches, IIRC.

  9. Bedoya has been on a good run of form lately. With the current lack of wing options w/ the USNMT I could easily see him being called into the upcoming camp for either the WCQ or for the GC.
    Same could potentially be said for Morales…..as he could provide some cover to the CDM or Back line in stead of someone like Beckerman or the like. I think he’d make a good call for the GC this summer.

    Reply
      • I think of him as more of an attacking midfielder – whether that means drifting from out wide or coming from a center channel to create and finish chances.

      • He’s been used in pretty much every attacking position between his time at Orebro, Rangers, and Helsingborg.

    • I like both Bedoya & Morales for the GC. I could see Bedoya getting the nod for the full team based on form, but both summer WCQs and GC is a lot of time away from his club.

      I’m sure he’s looking for a bigger move at the end of the Allsvenskan season, so missing that many matches might not make his managers too happy.

      Reply
      • I really think Morales was the missing link for the U-23s in their failure to qualify for the Olympics.

        Yes, our defense was weak, but with Morales cleaning up in the win over Mexico’s U-23s, the backline barely had to work.

    • With the Gold Cup landing on its ‘less important’ cycle, I hope JK will do the right thing and give Boca his farewell as the captain of this tourney.

      Reply
      • Gold Cup will be a very interesting tournament. Its going to play a huge role in filling out those last 5-6 roster spots for Brazil. Believe it or not, Boca is still in the mix. Our CB situation is still very fluid and injury/loss of form to Cameron, Besler, or Gonzo could have him right back in there. He’s on the outside looking in at this point, but don’t be shocked if hes in the 23 next summer.

      • I’ll be 35 years old during next year’s WC, so yes, I will be shocked if I’m in the 23 next summer.

      • Center back isn’t a position have have a wealth of depth or experience. Like I said, injury or loss of form to any of the players currently above him could easily move him from the fringes to the 23.

      • The next two Gold Cups will be equally important this time around. And with Mexico also dealing with the Conf. Cup, this year may be our chance to win it.

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