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Americans Abroad: Midweek Rewind

Ravel Morrison of QPR and Jonathan Spector of Birmingham City

Photo by Robin Parker/ISIphotos.com

By FRANCO PANIZO

The U.S. Open Cup was not the only tournament that saw Americans in action this week.

Several competitions abroad either resumed or began over the last couple of days, and a handful of players from the Americans Abroad contingent saw the field as a result.

Jonathan Spector started and went the distance in Birmingham’s 3-1 win over fourth division side Cambridge United in the Capital One Cup. The appearance marked Spector’s season debut for the Blues after he missed out on the Championship opener over the weekend.

Veterans Michael Stephens and Andrew Jacobson also found success in their domestic cup match. Both played the full 90 minutes for Stabaek IF, helping push Bob Bradley’s club to the NM Cupen semifinals with a 1-0 win against Haugesund.

Here is how the Americans Abroad fared during midweek action:

ENGLAND

  • Jonathan Spector started and played 90 minutes in Birmingham City’s 3-1 win vs. Cambridge United in the Capital One Cup on Tuesday.
  • Will Packwood did not dress for Birmingham City.
  • Tim Ream started and played 90 minutes in Bolton Wanderers’ 3-2 win vs. Bury in the Capital One Cup on Tuesday.
  • Eric Lichaj started and played 90 minutes in Nottingham Forest’s 1-0 win vs. Tranmere Rovers in the Capital One Cup on Tuesday.
  • Danny Williams did not dress in Reading’s 3-1 win vs. Newport County in the Capital One Cup on Tuesday. He is recovering from a knee injury.
  • Duane Holmes did not dress in Huddersfield Town’s 5-3 win vs. Chesterfield in the Capital One Cup on Tuesday.

NORWAY

  • Michael Stephens started and played 90 minutes in Stabaek IF’s 1-0 win vs. Haugesund in the NM Cupen quarterfinals on Wednesday.
  • Andrew Jacobson started and played 90 minutes for Stabaek IF.
  • Ethan Horvath did not play in Molde FK’s 5-1 win vs. Viking in the NM Cupen quarterfinals on Wednesday.
  • Josh Gatt did not dress for Molde FK. He is recovering from a knee injury.

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What do you think of these performances? How far can Spector and Birmingham go in the Capital One Cup? Do you see Bradley leading Stabaek to the NM Cupen title?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Good news for Stabaek’s coach Bob Bradley, after a good start to the season,they stumbled for a while in June but have recovered well (tied league leaders Molde and beat Mix Diskerud’s 4th place team Rosenborg 3-0 in league play). Stabaek now sit mid-table and are into the cup semifinals.

    Reply
  2. What’s the latest on Agudelo? Did he complete a transfer to Hannover? He was training stateside last I heard without a club attachment.

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    • Seriously, there has been a real LACK of coverage on our players abroad. Frustrating because so many of them are going into absolutely crucial years and I want to know every little detail about every single one of them.

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    • it’s been reported all over the place that he isn’t going to Hannover and that Sporting CP is/was looking into him. that was the last report i saw which was only a few weeks ago. from Greg Seltzer.

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      • that was the “excuse” for why he missed the last game and so i thought he would at least play in this one. i hope it’s just due to his time with the U23s and not a slight knock or something.

  3. Any word on how Jozy has been doing for Sunderland this pre-season? Has he been getting significant time? Where does he seem to be on the depth chart right now?

    Reply
    • I still don’t understand… what was the point of JK and US Soccer saying, prior to the Belgium game, that Altidore was “ready and available”? What was the reason for this deception? Surely, Klinsmann and the USSF must’ve known the truth.

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      • It’s entirely possible that he was “ready and available” without being 100%…it’s also entirely possible that he re-aggravated his injury when he got back to training. Unless they were angling for a move away from Sunderland and didn’t want any potential suitors to be off-put by a potential injury layoff, I can’t imagine any reason why they would outright lie about his fitness.

    • Poyet said on SiriusXM FC that he had his first game, about 30 minutes, and was good. looks like he will start the season from the bench to regain fitness and then Poyet said he expects a good season. said it is his most important season of his career.

      Reply

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