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Americans Abroad: Weekend Preview

Brek Shea Barnsley (Getty Images)

By FRANCO PANIZO

Brek Shea started the new year with the kind of playing time he had long been yearning for, and he might not have to wait much longer to earn some more.

Shea could play in his second game in four days as Barnsley hosts Coventry City in an FA Cup match on Saturday. The U.S. Men’s National Team winger is coming off a reportedly solid 75-minute debut for the Tykes. Shea joined Barnsley on loan on New Year’s Day, and that performance might be enough to warrant another start despite the quick turnaround.

While Shea will aim to build on his start to 2014, several other Americans will be looking to get off on the right foot to their new years. Among those players are Herculez Gomez, Joe Corona, and Edgar Castillo, who are scheduled to take to the road to face Atlas in Club Tijuana’s Clausura season opener on Saturday. Fellow Americans Paul Arriola and Greg Garza are also available for the Xolos.

If you are wondering what else to watch during the first weekend of the new year, look no further than Michael Bradley and AS Roma’s return to action in Serie A on Sunday. Bradley and Roma visit Juventus in a battle of the top two teams in Italy’s top tier, and a victory for the undefeated Giallorossi would put them just two points behind the Old Lady in the standings.

Here is who the Americans Abroad battle this weekend:

SATURDAY

Brad Guzan and Aston Villa play Sheffield United in the FA Cup.

Brek Shea and Barnsley play Coventry City in the FA Cup.

Tim Ream, Stuart Holden and Bolton Wanderers play Blackpool in the FA Cup. (Holden is out injured.)

Danny Williams and Reading play Brighton & Hove Albion in the FA Cup.

Tim Howard and Everton play Oguchi Onyewu and Queens Park Rangers in the FA Cup.

Duane Holmes and Huddersfield Town play Grimsby Town in the FA Cup.

Clint Dempsey and Fulham play Norwich City in the FA Cup.

Gboly Ariyibi and Leeds United play Rochdale in the FA Cup.

Cody Cropper and Southampton play Burnley in the FA Cup.

Geoff Cameron, Maurice Edu and Stoke City play Leicester City in the FA Cup.

Brad Friedel and Tottenham Hotspur play Arsenal in the FA Cup.

Jose Torres and Tigres UANL play Club America.

Alonso Hernandez and Monterrey play Cruz Azul.

Herculez Gomez, Joe Corona, Edgar Castillo, Greg Garza, Paul Arriola and Club Tijuana play Atlas.

SUNDAY

Eric Lichaj and Nottingham Forest play West Ham United in the FA Cup.

Jozy Altidore and Sunderland play Carlisle United in the FA Cup.

Zak Whitbread and Derby County play Chelsea in the FA Cup.

Michael Bradley and AS Roma play Juventus.

Alejandro Bedoya and FC Nantes play Nice in Coupe de France.

DaMarcus Beasley, Michael Orozco and Puebla play Pumas UNAM.

Jonathan Bornstein and Atlante play Club Leon.

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Which of these matches are you most looking forward to? How will Shea fare against Coventry City? Excited to see the Americans in Liga MX return to action? Do you see Bradley and Roma staying undefeated against Juventus?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. I saw a link to a couple goal from Americans Seth Rudolph and Andrew Stadler playing for Sandviken in the Sweedish Cup. Any merit in following there progress abroad?

    Reply
  2. It’s good to see so many names in the preview and some new ones too. I’m personally interested in seeing how Herc does. He was projected to going to Brazil 6 months ago before he got injured.

    Reply
  3. Erik Lamela, Javier Pastore, Radja Nainggolan, Lewis Holtby, Yohan Cabaye have all been rumored to be sought after by As Roma.

    Silly Season or not, Roma wants a creater in the middle of the park to compliment Strootman, Pjanic and De Rossi and after locking up Pjanic Bradley’s future seems dependent on wether Strootman is sold or not.

    I don’t think it’s definite Bradley won’t be sold Winter or Summer until it’s settled what will happen with Strootman.

    Reply
    • Still no reason for bradley to move. Just because he’s surplus to a starting XI doesn’t mean he’s surplus to the entire campaign. Players get injured, fatigued, suffer drops in form.

      We tend to micro-analyze the situations of americans abroad when it’s probably better to think about the big picture.

      It’s not like anybody thinks arsenal needs to sell wilshere since they have arteta, ozil and ramsey.

      Reply
    • There was some Italian site that said Roma was interested in Diskerud even. I don’t think I’d pay much attention to it. If Roma needs to worry about anything its getting in a striker.

      Reply
  4. is it just me or does anyone else think it’s time for Brek Shea to go back to his natural left back spot, a huge USMNT hole that needs closing…?

    Reply
    • Me too but bet that Roma is going with Pjanic, Stroot and DDR for this match. Maybe Bradley will get some mop up minutes if Roma isn’t losing too badly.

      Reply
    • 10 am eastern but most likely not going to be televised anywhere. There will probably be a radio broadcast on Fulham’s official website.

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      • It’s unusual for FA cup games to be widespread Tv coverage (in other countries as well) so there is no stream available anywhere. It happens most years to Fulham in the early rounds.

        Yes though all the regular streaming sites are still worth a look but typically only the matches between the big boys end up on TV in the early rounds of the FA cup.

        I actually just checked, and even though Fulham vs Norwich is one of only two matchups between two Premier League sides FOX is showing Leeds United vs Rochdale AFC and Grimbsy town vs Huddersfield on Fox Sports 2. You read that right. NO wonder they lost the Premier League rights, and I can’t say I miss them

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