by GIANFRANCO PANIZO
With the majority of the leagues in Europe still enjoying their "winter breaks", a myriad list of tournament match-ups were on display. The Americans Abroad contingent participated in England's FA Cup, the Coupe de France and even the Mexican InterLiga this past weekend.
Tim Howard and Brad Friedel were both victorious against their much weaker foes. And while Tim Howard earned a shut-out, some fans might question why Brad Guzan didn't get the nod for Aston Villa against lowly Gillingham.
Clint Dempsey served another 90 minutes in a Fulham victory but though the Deuce has been on a rampage lately, the more eye-opening news from this weekend was that Bobby Convey saw time on the field. Convey started Reading's match against Cardiff City and played 74 minutes before being subbed out. Speaking of Cardiff City, no Eddie Johnson did not play.
Here's how the rest of the Americans Abroad fared this weekend:
England
FA CUP
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Tim Howard started, played 90 minutes and made two saves in Everton's 1-0 win vs. Macclesfield Town on Saturday in the FA Cup.
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Brad Friedel started, played 90 minutes and made four saves in Aston Villa's 2-1 win vs. Gillingham on Sunday in the FA Cup.
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Brad Guzan dressed but did not play in Aston Villa's 2-1 win vs. Gillingham on Sunday in the FA Cup.
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Clint Dempsey started and played 90 minutes in Fulham's 2-1 win vs. Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday in the FA Cup.
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Jonathan Spector dressed but did not play in West Ham's 3-0 win vs. Barnsley on Saturday in the FA Cup.
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Frank Simek did not dress in Sheffield Wednesday's 2-1 loss vs. Fulham on Saturday in the FA Cup. He is recovering from a hamstring injury.
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Jay DeMerit started and played 90 minutes in Watford's 1-0 win vs. Scunthorpe United on Saturday in the FA Cup.
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Eddie Johnson did not dress in Cardiff City's 2-0 win vs. Reading on Saturday in the FA Cup.
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Marcus Hahnemann did not dress in Reading's 2-0 loss vs. Cardiff City on Saturday in the FA Cup. He is recovering from a calf injury.
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Bobby Convey started and played 74 minutes in Reading's 2-0 loss vs. Cardiff City on Saturday in the FA Cup.
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Ian Joyce dressed but did not play in Southend's 1-1 tie vs. Chelsea on Saturday.
Scotland
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DaMarcus Beasley did not dress in Rangers' 3-0 win vs. Inverness on Sunday.
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Maurice Edu did not dress in Rangers' 3-0 win vs. Inverness on Sunday.
Germany
Bundesliga 1 and Bundesliga 2 are both on winter break.
Spain
- Jozy Altidore did not dress in Villarreal's 1-0 loss to Real Madrid on Sunday. He is recovering from a leg injury.
Italy
Serie B is on winter break.
France
LIGUE 1
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Carlos Bocanegra started and played 90 minutes in Rennes' 1-0 win vs. Sochaux on Saturday in the Coupe de France.
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Freddy Adu did not dress in AS Monaco's 1-0 win vs. Blagnac on Sunday in the Coupe de France.
LIGUE 2
- Quentin Westberg started, played 90 minutes and made six saves in Troyes' 1-0 win vs. Louhans-Cuiseaux on Saturday in the Coupe de France.
Belgium
The Jupiler Pro League is on winter break.
Denmark
The Danish First Division is on winter break until March.
Austria
The Austrian Bundesliga is on winter break.
Mexico
Jose Francisco Torres started and played 90 minutes in Pachuca's 4-0 win vs. Tecos on Friday in the InterLiga.
American-born Players Playing for Other Countries
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Giuseppe Rossi (Italy) started and played 90 minutes in Villarreal's 1-0 loss vs. Real Madrid on Sunday.
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Brede Hangeland (Norway) started and played 90 minutes in Fulham's 2-1 win vs. Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday in the FA Cup.
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Boaz Myhill (Wales) did not dress in Hull City's 0-0 draw vs. Newcastle United on Saturday in the FA Cup.
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What do you think of these performances? Are you following the FA Cup? Excited to see Bobby Convey back in action? Wondering if Torres' performances will find him a spot on the roster against Mexico in February? Think Guzan should've started over Friedel against Gillingham?
Share your thoughts below.
Does anybody honestly care how the “american-born players playing for other countries” did??? Time to take them off the register.
Posted by: Ulrich
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Then how about when he played a game in NJ last June?
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I saw this commnet on Goal.com
13:55
12
Nov 08
Randy Rockaway, NJ
In June the manager of an indoor facility told our coach about an out of town player who “needed a game” at 11PM. We didn’t know the guy, but the opposing coach gave permission. Eight seconds in the guest scores on a skillful move. Obviously this young man is special. We normally play the other team even, but thrash them this night thanks to the brilliant guest. The special newcomer takes his turn on the bench without complaint, even doing a stint in goal. He asks for no special treatment. On my way out of the place I remark to the facility manager “this kid can play.” And he says, “He’s not doing bad in La Liga, either. That’s Giusseppe Rossi.” He is special, not just for his skill but because he is a decent human being with a level head. It’s obvious that he is passionate about the game. So now I’m a Villareal fan, proud to say I was Giu’s teammate for an evening. 😉
Hey, Ulrich…by the way….get over it.
biological LOL!
Seb Hines would be another category: players with an American parent who may have never stepped foot on US soil and who may be viewed as the Rossi of their country if they take a US cap, or maybe not.
It’s short, but sweet. I like it.
2009 is Aldore’s year!
Ulrich, you ignorant slut.
I have a feeling there won’t be any MLS players on our roster for the World Cup. But is this a positive/negative? How many Swedish league or Dutch league stars are on their Euro or WC rosters?
MLS should continue to supply our C team for meaningless friendlies like the upcoming Swedish match. No Larsson or Ibrahimovic coming for that.
Posted by: jddjsjsjdd | January 05, 2009 at 04:26 PM
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You’re kidding right? MLS players have played pretty good on the world stage. Clint Dempsey is a VERY good example. I’m not pointing out his dribbling ability, passing, and creativity. What I am pointing out is the swagger and composure with which he plays. This represesnts the headstrong mentality. While they may not always appear in great numbers at the World Cup, they are of great importance.
Yes, Ulrich (and Oranje Mike).
Get over it.
travis in miami do u really think that bradley torres or Kljestan could start over beasley for the US nat team
Couldn’t find a live stream of the reading game but from the match reports and blogs it seems like Convey did a really great job of speeding down the flank and creating opportunities – particularly in first half. That being said, his lack of playing time has clearly affected his ability to cross and “think” – he blew a couple in front of the goal and has no confidence. I haven’t given up on him but he has to get out of there and onto a team where he can play to see if he can get it back.
I agree with Ulrich. Tired of reading about Rossi.
cap Seb Hines!
Seb Hines? Let’s steal one from the motherland.
Does anybody honestly care what Ulrich wants??? Time to take him off the register.
Yes Ulrich
Get over it.
Posted by: woody | January 05, 2009 at 03:22 PM
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I liked it more with the comma.
I have a feeling there won’t be any MLS players on our roster for the World Cup. But is this a positive/negative? How many Swedish league or Dutch league stars are on their Euro or WC rosters?
MLS should continue to supply our C team for meaningless friendlies like the upcoming Swedish match. No Larsson or Ibrahimovic coming for that.
Yes Ulrich
Get over it
I’m starting to wonder if Freddy’s lack of quality time on the field is more likely due to a negative vibe or attitude he gives off on the bench and in training.
Most US fans have attributed it to “anti-US prejudice” on the part of the given manager, but I think that as an excuse, that’s wearing thin….First Benfica, and now Monaco?
I think anybody who has seen him play knows that he’s highly skillful. So what’s the problem?
Yes Ulrich
Get over it.
My backline would be
Spector Gooch Bocanegra Cherundolo
and their subs as: Pearce, Califf, Parkhurst and Wynne.
Midfield as :
Bradley, Kljestan, Dempsey, Torres and their subs : Beasley, Szetela, Edu,
yoman – it should be: Immigrant American Playing Aboard who were not good enough to play for Rongen, became a whiny, small bee-atch about it and switched to their birth country.
Yes Ulrich
Get over it.
Off-topic, Ives…..It appears that Nobby Solano is heading back to Peru to play with la U.
I was hoping he’d come to MLS because he is still a maestro with the ball.
O well. Happy New Year!
Ives , solution to Subotic on the thread
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Will Subotic be in “American-born Players Playing for Other Countries”? He wasn’t born in America. Looks like we need a new category!
Posted by: A.S. | January 05, 2009 at 02:47 PM
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American Playing Aboard who were not good enough to play for Rongen and switched
Curious, but who are the top5 highest paid Yanks Abroad?
I know Friedel makes £50,000 a week. That is obviously a huge amount especially for a GK in Europe. Only Buffon, Casillas, Cech, Van Der Sar make more.
But how much are Tim Howard or Beasley or Dempsey/Bocanegra making?
I imagine Michael Bradley and Altidore got a huge salary increase when they left their teams over the summer.
We have some of the best GK in the world. Meola, Keller, Friedel, Hahneman, Howard and now Guzan and plenty mid level GK’s like Perkins and Robles.
Who will be our no3 GK for South Africa? Hahneman probably if he can head to Tottenham or another PL team. Robles if he can lead his team to the Bundesliga. Does Perkins have a shot if he can move up to Germany or Holland?
How is Danny Califf doing for FC Midytlland? He’s 1 of the biggest quality defenders in the league if i’m right. Hopefully he has some advice for Parkhurst and help him to get to a great start for his team.
Hopefully both can head to the Bundesliga in a few years if they can advance their play.
But are either serious options for WC qualifying?
Beasley will probably head to Spain or Holland. He can succeed there for sure.
Edu is in Walter Smith’s future plans for Rangers. Edu is only 22, he has time. He can work his way up to super-sub and then get a starting spot. Just requires hardwork. Always remember that. But by playing in Europe, he will be working for us.
I think Beasley needs to go back to Holland, and Freddie needs to follow him there.
Just my 2c.
Beez made the UCL quarters (semis, too?) with PSV, and hasn’t sniffed the big-time since he left Holland. His play in the group stages in UCL for Rangers was great, but then he got hurt and was out through the final. I was surprised he went to Scotland at all and wish our whiz-kids wouldn’t look down on playing in Holland where there’s a lot to be learned.
Is there any chance EJ will be on our roster for the World Cup? We need 4/5 strikers and i figure those will be Altidore, Donovan, Cooper and Davies.
What if EJ left England for a league like Turkey or Holland? Could he play there and actually succeed?
Will Subotic be in “American-born Players Playing for Other Countries”? He wasn’t born in America. Looks like we need a new category!
Anybody seen Torres play the other night it was real impressive,great work rate off and on the ball, good defensive work. With adu not getting playing time, torres may take his place on the USMNT.
Torres plays tonight in Interliga play in Carson, California.
Bob bradley is going to see him play.
Watch the game on fox sports espanol at 7:30.
Nice, Ulrich. Way to be “that guy.”
I hope for the love of God that Freddy Adu and DaMarcus Beasley get transfered to suitable teams. I might sound a bit crazy for even mentioning it, but I think they could both do well playing in South America. Both have a style of play which could blossom in the Latin American system. Just a far fetched and unlikely thought…
Eddie Johnson needs to get out of England. Now.
PanchoMiguelMoralesdeConejo – there was a post about Edu’s situation a couple days ago. He seems to be ok.
I’m more concerned that Freddy didn’t get any time in Monaco’s game.
The Rangers duo “DNP” status is troubling. For sure Beez is out of there, and I’m not as convinced Edu has a future there as well.
I for one like that section and take pride in Rossi being American born. i love that anyone watching a Villareal game with commenting by GolTv here’s Ray Hudson refer to him as “the Jersey Boy”. Espnsoccernet still has his birthplace as Italy….
Eddie Johnson did no dress because he was still in the US for the holiday. Apparently a family member became seriously ill and he stayde until last Friday and was not back in training. Likely would have seen minutes since Chopra went back to Sunderland and McCormick was starting back from a hammy injury. I feel Eddies bad luck cost him some valuable time on the pitch.
Yes, Ulrich.
Get over it.
Hey Ives, how about a piece on all the transfer speculation on US players this month? Thanks.
Yes, Ulrich.
Get over it.
You can add Seb Hines to the list. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seb_Hines
He just went on loan to Derby County and could play tomorrow night against Man U in the Carling Cup.
Does anybody honestly care how the “american-born players playing for other countries” did??? Time to take them off the register.
i’m pretty sure Villa’s coach said that he wanted to take the FA Cup as seriously as possible, and therefore, would only sit 2 or 3 regular starters.