Photo by Matt West/ISIphotos.com
By FRANCO PANIZO
It has not been the easiest of starts for Jozy Altidore at Sunderland, but he still might have a chance to end the calendar year on a positive note.
With the Blacks Cats facing an extremely short turnaround after having played on Thursday, Altidore could be in store for a start when the club returns to action in Saturday’s battle with fellow strugglers Cardiff City. Altidore and Sunderland are fresh off a surprise 1-0 win and will be riding a wave of confidence as they travel to Cardiff for their final game of 2013.
Geoff Cameron and Stoke City are also taking to the road this weekend, as they visit Tottenham on Sunday. Cameron is coming off a 90-minute showing for a nine-man Potters side that was thrashed by Newcastle United, but still seems likely to be counted on against the Spurs given his regularity in Stoke’s lineup and the consistency of his performances.
Another defender who should be in action is Tim Ream. The Bolton Wanderers centerback has been flying under the radar in recent weeks and months, but has pieced together a solid first half of the season for the Trotters. Ream has started and gone the distance in 17 consecutive games for Bolton and he should extend that streak on Sunday against Leicester City.
Here is who the Americans Abroad face this weekend:
SATURDAY
Brad Guzan and Aston Villa play Swansea City.
Jozy Altidore and Sunderland play Cardiff City.
SUNDAY
Tim Howard and Everton play Cody Cropper and Southampton. (Howard is suspended.)
Brad Friedel and Tottenham Hotspur play Geoff Cameron, Maurice Edu, Brek Shea and Stoke City.
Zak Whitbread and Derby County play Barnsley.
Jonathan Spector and Birmingham City play Blackburn Rovers. (Spector is out injured.)
Duane Holmes and Huddersfield Town play Yeovil Town.
Tim Ream, Stuart Holden and Bolton Wanderers play Leicester City. (Holden is out injured.)
Danny Williams and Reading play Middlesbrough.
Eric Lichaj and Nottingham Forest play Leeds United.
Oguchi Onyewu and Queens Park Rangers play Watford.
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Which of these matches are you most looking forward to? Think Altidore is in line for a start? What do you think of Ream’s first-half of the season for Bolton?
Share your thoughts below.
Big game for Jozy and Sunderland tomorrow. Late game on NBC, 3 points in reach, and a battle with Steven Fletcher for playing time.
With Mackay fired so soon before the game, this might be Sunderland’s easiest chance at three points all year. I imagine the home crowd will be exceptionally flat and that the club will need at least a game to reorganize.
Considering Sunderland’s quality, it may still be a tall ask, but if they’re going to avoid relegation, games like this are going to be important.
Nope but he’s been gettin paid, gettin paid.
Has a player mismanaged his career any worse than gooch? He hasnt been a regular starter for a team in 4 or 5 years
really? i guess it depends on what the career goal is at this point.
if it’s to get to the world cup (he’s already done that, twice), then, yeah, i guess that’s bad.
but, at this point, if it’s to get paid before he has to retire? i’d say he’s managed quite well.
scruff,
you wish you could get paid as much to do so comparatively little.
He’s had a great career.
the knee injury didnt help
ooh ooh, I want to sit which seat Onyewu sits in for QPR!
If only Gooch was as good and as successful at soccer as you are at whatever the heck you do….
Choose positivity..choose to feel…it will change your pov
Times (ET) and TV channels?