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Americans Abroad: Weekend Rewind

Geoff Cameron of Stoke City in action with Santi Cazorla of Arsenal

Photo by ISIphotos.com

By FRANCO PANIZO

It may have come in a losing effort, but Geoff Cameron has his first goal in the Premiership.

Cameron opened his scoring account for Stoke City on Sunday, burying an equalizer for the Potters in what was an eventual 3-1 loss to Arsenal. Cameron did well to knock the ball home in a match he played well in, as he placed his rebounded shot away from Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny by impressively one-timing the ball to the far post with his left foot from 18 yards out.

The other American playing abroad to find the back of the net was one who is enjoying a fine start to his season. Terrence Boyd once again scored for Rapid Vienna on Sunday, netting the insurance goal in the club’s 2-0 victory over SV Josko Ried. Boyd now has five goals in league play and six across all competitions.

Brad Guzan also had himself quite the outing, delivering a strong performance in goal for Aston Villa on Saturday. Guzan was key in the Villans recording a 1-0 win against Norwich City, making two fine saves (one on a penalty kick) and several other divine interventions in an impressive showing that saw the veteran goalkeeper pick up his first cleansheet of the season.

For Jozy Altidore and Jermaine Jones, the weekend was far from memorable. Altidore did not start and was forced to come off the bench in Sunderland’s 3-0 defeat to West Bromwich Albion, a Saturday loss that left the winless Black Cats in last place of the Premiership. Jones and Schalke also endured a rough day at the office, suffering a 4-0 Saturday drubbing at the hands of Bayern Munich.

Here is how the Americans Abroad did this weekend:

ENGLAND

Premiership

  • Tim Howard started and played 90 minutes in Everton’s 3-2 win vs. West Ham United on Saturday.
  • Jozy Altidore came off the bench and played 31 minutes in Sunderland’s 3-0 loss vs. West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.
  • Geoff Cameron started, played 90 minutes and scored a GOAL in Stoke City’s 3-1 loss vs. Arsenal on Sunday.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xN8gFq_KW-E?feature=player_detailpage]

  • Maurice Edu did not dress for Stoke City. He is recovering from a sports hernia.
  • Brek Shea did not dress for Stoke City.
  • Brad Guzan started, played 90 minutes and made two saves, including a penalty-kick stop, in Aston Villa’s 1-0 win vs. Norwich City on Saturday.
  • Brad Friedel dressed but did not play in Tottenham Hotspur’s 1-0 win vs. Cardiff City on Sunday.

Championship

  • Jonathan Spector started and played 90 minutes in Birmingham City’s 4-1 win vs. Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.
  • Will Packwood did not dress for Birmingham City. He is recovering from a leg injury.
  • Tim Ream started and played 90 minutes in Bolton Wanderers’ 3-1 loss vs. Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.
  • Stuart Holden did not dress for Bolton Wanderers. He is recovering from a knee injury.
  • Zak Whitbread did not dress in Leicester City’s 2-2 draw vs. Blackpool on Saturday.
  • Eric Lichaj started and played 90 minutes in Nottingham Forest’s 2-2 draw vs. Doncaster Rovers on Saturday.
  • Danny Williams did not dress in Reading’s 3-1 win vs. Derby County on Saturday.

ITALY

  • Michael Bradley did not dress in AS Roma’s 2-0 win vs. Lazio on Sunday. He is recovering from an ankle injury.

GERMANY

Bundesliga

  • Fabian Johnson started and played 90 minutes in TSG 1899 Hoffenheim’s 2-1 loss vs. VfL Wolfsburg on Saturday.
  • Joe Gyau did not dress for TSG 1899 Hoffenheim.
  • Timmy Chandler started, played 90 minutes and received a yellow card in FC Nurnberg’s 1-1 draw vs. Borussia Dortmund on Saturday.
  • Michael Parkhurst did not dress in FC Augsburg’s 2-1 loss vs. Hannover 96 on Saturday.
  • Jermaine Jones started and played 90 minutes in Schalke 04’s 4-0 loss vs. Bayern Munich on Saturday.
  • Steve Cherundolo did not dress in Hannover 96′s 2-1 win vs. FC Augsburg on Saturday. He is recovering from a knee injury.
  • John Brooks started and played 20 minutes before being subbed off due to an elbow injury in Hertha Berlin’s 1-1 draw vs. SC Freiburg on Sunday.

2. Bundesliga

  • Alfredo Morales started, played 55 minutes and received a yellow card in FC Ingolstadt 04’s 4-1 loss vs. FSV Frankfurt on Sunday.
  • Andrew Wooten did not dress in Kaiserslautern’s 0-0 draw vs. FC Cologne on Friday.
  • Bobby Wood dressed but did not play in TSV 1860 Munich’s 3-1 win vs. FC Erzgebirge Aue on Saturday.

FRANCE

  • Alejandro Bedoya started and played 79 minutes in FC Nantes’ 3-1 loss vs. Lyon on Sunday.

NETHERLANDS

  • Aron Johannsson started and played 90 minutes in AZ Alkmaar’s 3-0 loss vs. NAC Breda on Sunday.

RUSSIA

  • Eugene Starikov did not dress in FK Tom’ Tomsk’s 2-1 win vs. FK Rubin Kazan on Sunday.

BELGIUM

  • Sacha Kljestan started and played 90 minutes in RSC Anderlecht’s 4-0 loss vs. Club Brugge on Sunday.

DENMARK

  • Conor O’Brien started, played 73 minutes and received a yellow card in Odense BK’s 2-1 loss vs. FC Copenhagen on Sunday.

AUSTRIA

  • Terrence Boyd started, played 90 minutes, received a yellow card and scored a GOAL in Rapid Vienna’s 2-0 win vs. SV Josko Ried on Sunday.

SWEDEN

  • Brian Span did not dress in Djurgarden IF’s 2-0 win vs. Atvidabergs FF on Sunday.

NORWAY

  • Mix Diskerud started and played 90 minutes in Rosenborg BK’s 1-1 draw vs. Haugesund on Friday.
  • Josh Gatt did not dress in Molde FK’s 4-1 win vs. Sandnes Ulf on Sunday. He is recovering from a knee injury.
  • Ben Spencer did not dress for Molde FK.
  • Ethan Horvath did not dress for Molde FK.
  • Steve Clark started, played 90 minutes and received a yellow card in Honefoss BK’s 2-1 win vs. Lillestrom on Saturday.

MEXICO

  • Michael Orozco started and played 90 minutes in Puebla’s 0-0 draw vs. Tigres UANL on Saturday.
  • DaMarcus Beasley did not dress for Puebla.
  • Jose Torres started and played 68 minutes in Tigres UANL’s 0-0 draw vs. Puebla on Saturday.
  • Jonathan Bornstein did not dress for Tigres UANL.
  • Edgar Castillo started and played 90 minutes in Club Tijuana’s 0-0 draw vs. Cruz Azul on Friday.
  • Joe Corona dressed but did not play for Club Tijuana.
  • Greg Garza came off the bench and played 17 minutes for Club Tijuana.
  • Paul Arriola did not dress for Club Tijuana.
  • Herculez Gomez did not dress for Club Tijuana.
  • Joaquin Alonso Hernandez did not dress in Monterrey’s 3-1 win vs. Morelia on Friday.

BRAZIL

  • Freddy Adu did not dress in Bahia’s 2-1 win vs. Botafogo on Sunday.

—–

What do you think of these performances? Impressed with Cameron’s goal/performance vs. Arsenal? What did you take away from Guzan’s outing vs. Norwich City? Worried for Altidore given Sunderland’s poor start to the Premiership season?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Worth noting – one of Guzan’s saves was stopping a PK. It was a great save, too. He made a few other aerial acrobatics, with a great flying tip over the crossbar on a shot that changed direction after he was already diving for it

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  2. I’m wondering if Edu’s hernia was more complicated than the average hernia. I myself have had the surgery (along with others I know), which is routine and recovery is fairly quick – back to most physical activities within a few weeks. I hope he gets back on the field soon.

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    • Edu as well as Shea played in a U-21 match for Stoke on Saturday. The reports I saw weren’t all that favorable for Edu but still he is working his way back which is a good sign.

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    • To answer your original question though a sports hernia is not the same as a regular hernia. A normal hernia is a fairly easy procedure and quick recovery, but a sports hernia can take months to recover from because it is tearing more than just the wall of your intestines. Thus Edu being out for such a long time.

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    • the other issue is, Edu had the entire summer off, so not only is he coming back from the surgery, he’s got to work back to match fitness

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  3. Altidore gigantic mistake going to Sunderland, I knew it wouldn’t work, hopefully, his poor club form won’t be reflected on USNT. Time to start Boyd and Kevin Bacon some games,

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    • Altidore already proved himself at the level that Boyd and Johannsson are currently at and while we often forget it. He is only a year older then both. If you want to be considered a top striker you have to take some risk to move your way up. The season is very young and generally Altidore has looked good in most his starts. Even if the team is relegated, having Jozy know and understand the level he’ll be seeing next summer can only help.

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      • Mental baggage from Sunderland could rub to USNT, that’s my main worry. I know EPL clubs are richest clubs, but some EPL clubs aren’t career wise or drive down your momentum. EPL is best league, just the richest.

  4. Lichaj starting consistently. And where is Lletget? I know he’s injured, but there are plenty of other injured Americans here, but he’s missing.

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  5. Beasley didn’t even dress? interesting. i was at the Padres/Dodgers game and Xolos were there, including Gomez. i wonder if Arriola was too.

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  6. Some rumors seem to be starting to surround Boyd. West Ham appear to have some interest as well as a couple Italian clubs. So we very well could see a move to a top four league in the next window, if he keeps up this form.

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    • Don’t see how it could be bad. The midfield is awful. And even in their last match, they looked better going forward after he came on the pitch. He really should’ve had an assist.

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  7. 20 goals for Boyd. Cameron was cool on that rebound. It be better if more people were playing. 47 players, 24 not playing, and 7 injured. Just not good.

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  8. Although it came in a losing effort, that was a superb game by Cameron. He was a constant threat going forward and one of the best defensive players in the game.

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    • No. No. No. That can’t be, according to the right back experts who post on SBI. They, and I guess Jurgen also, insist that Cameron, although he has been playing right back for the past year in the Premier League under two coaches, is not good enough to play RB for the USMNT. A lot of these genius experts do not even think he should even be involved in the RB discussion. They insist that MLS d-mid Brad Evans and Michael Parkhurst who has played two games for his club since February should be the top guys for the USMNT RB spot. Cameron’s just utility guy who can warm the USMNT bench who can be played out of position as a d-mid now and then, or maybe center back.

      Gimme a frickin’ break. Cameron was awesome today for Stoke against Arsenal, the kind of attacking and one-touch-quick-pass and gritty defensive performance that Evans and Parkhust and Timothy what’s-his-name can only dream about.

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      • Stop. Just stop. Logic is not welcome here. Obviously, there is no place on our team for a starting Premier League RB.

      • The last time I checked Stoke and the USMNT have very different playing styles,

        The US for example does not permanently deploy two homicidal thugs as center halves. And accuse me all you want of being a homer but, in offensive terms, the USMNT is quite a bit more ambitious and creative than Stoke.

        This is Cameron’s second year at right back. If JK thought he was suitable for the US RB spot , you never would have seen Evans or Parkhurst at right back.

        I prefer to let JK make the USMNT lineup decisions not Mark Hughes.

      • He has only been playing RB for two of the US qualifiers… if he doesn’t play there in the future then you can type things like this.

        Cut it with the hyperbole, It’s an effective writing tool but it doesn’t really fit when its only been 2 games. But i do agree with you that he should play there in the future if he stays there for Stoke.

  9. Can we just put it to rest and admit that is Guzans time. Tim Howard has been slacking a lot he shows up after he has terrible games.

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    • How? Howard had a good game, there was nothing he could about one goal, and the other was a PK, perfectly taken. If Howard didn’t make a couple of saves, it would’ve been worse. Right now I say they’re equal, but Howard’s leadership is vital with a young back 4.

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    • It’s a lot easier to make big saves when you’re team is possibly going to get relegated than when you’re on the last unbeaten team in the league (though I do agree the margins are minuscule between the two).

      People also have a really, really short memory-against non-CONCACAF minnows, Timmy’s been our best player during JK’s time-Russia, Mexico August 2012, Italy, Mexico 2013, France, etc. Don’t get me wrong, obviously some of those games were a decent while back, but people drastically, drastically overstate his perceived decline with both Everton and the US-right now, I’d say Timmy’s our 4th best player and Brad’s our 5th, shame they both can’t play.

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      • Timmy’s biggest flaw as a keeper is that he ocasionally loses concentration and commits serious blunders.
        In the 2010 World Cup he was the unquestionably automatic first choice and that seemed to inform his complacent , inconsistent performance.
        Guzan is now a serious alternative and that coincides with Moyes leaving Everton which means Timmy is now fighting for his job at both Everton and the US. Brad is a better keeper and is playing better for his club.
        However, Timmy has taken note of the challenge and is focusing much better for the US and is playing well.
        Howard does have much more international experience and appears to be an important team leader. My guess as to why JK named him #1 and keeps him as #1 is that it is unclear Brad could have done much better and Timmy would not react well to being benched while Brad is used to being a back up.

      • Earlier it would have been a terrible idea to bench Howard for Guzan; glad they didnt. They are both incredible keepers and Guzan might be in freekish good form (while Howard is in good-average form)but changing keeper during the heat of important games would have been a mistake. Now that we are qualified i wouldnt mind seeing Guzan start a couple games.

    • you’re joking right? Please explain to me how Howard has been “slacking”. This year he’s shut out Chelsea,, has a .75 goal against through the first 6 games, with 3 shutouts.

      Oh, and add to that a shutout against Mexico. Yeah, He’s really slacking. It’s great that Guzan is starting to shine, and it’s reassuring as an American, but to suggest that Guzan has done more than Howard, and deserves to be the #1 starter is just silly.

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  10. Why did John Anthony Brooks leave after 20 minutes? Also, it seems like Chandler is playing consistently now, it will be interesting to see if that overrides his apparent lack of commitment and garners him a call-up.

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