by GIANFRANCO PANIZO
Brad Friedel is enjoying a great start to the Premiership season, and it could get even better for him this weekend.
Friedel and Aston Villa head to Ewood Park this Saturday to take on Friedel's former club, Blackburn Rovers. A win for Friedel in the stadium he is so familiar with, in front of the fans that used to cheer him on, would truly cap off the 38-year-old's remarkable start to the season, a start that includes three shutouts and 23 saves.
Other intriguing matches to keep an eye on are Hull City-Liverpool and Fulham-Arsenal. With Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey both facing EPL giants, a goal against top-notch opposition could well be in store for American fans.
Here is a rundown of who the Americans Abroad will be playing this weekend:
FRIDAY
Matt Taylor and FSV Frankfurt play Energie Cottbus.
SATURDAY
Tim Howard and Everton play Portsmouth.
Brad Friedel, Brad Guzan and Aston Villa play Blackburn Rovers.
Jozy Altidore and Hull City play Liverpool.
Clint Dempsey, Eddie Johnson and Fulham play Arsenal.
Jay DeMerit and Watford play Reading. (DeMerit is out injured.)
Frank Simek and Sheffield Wednesday play Cardiff City.
Jemal Johnson and Milton Keynes Dons play Mike Grella and Leeds United.
Jon-Paul Pittman and Wycombe Wanderers play Swindon Town.
Zak Whitbread and Millwall play Leyton Orient.
Ian Joyce and Southend United play Oldham Athletic.
DaMarcus Beasley, Maurice Edu and Rangers play Aberdeen. (Edu is out injured.)
Jermaine Jones and Schalke 04 play Borussia Dortmund.
Steve Cherundolo, Sal Zizzo and Hannover 96 play VfL Wolfsburg.
Luis Robles and Kaiserslautern play Karlsruhe.
Charlie Davies and Sochaux play AS Nancy Lorraine.
Michael Parkhurst and FC Nordsjaelland play Odense BK.
Edgar Castillo and UANL play Atlas.
Michael Orozco and San Luis play Chiapas.
Marco Vidal and Indios de Ciudad Juarez play U.A. de G.
SUNDAY
Marcus Hahnemann and Wolverhampton Wanderers play Sunderland.
Oguchi Onyewu and AC Milan play Bari.
Michael Bradley and Borussia Moenchengladbach play SC Freiburg.
David Yeldell and TUS Koblenz play FC Augsburg.
Kenny Cooper and 1860 Munich play SC Paderborn 07.
Carlos Bocanegra and Rennes play Bordeaux.
Dan Califf and FC Midtjylland play Sonderjyske.
Marcus Tracy and Aalborg play FC Copenhagen.
Jose Francisco Torres and Pachuca play Santos.
Troy Perkins and Valerenga play Bodo/Glimt.
Clarence Goodson, Hunter Freeman and IK Start play Sandefjord.
Mikkel Diskerud and Stabaek play Stromsgodset. (Diskerud is with the U.S. U-20 national team.)
MONDAY
Jonathan Spector and West Ham United play Manchester City.
Kamani Hill and Guimares play Uniao de Leiria.
Benny Feilhaber, Jeremiah White and AGF Aarhus play Esbjerg.
Alejandro Bedoya and Orebro SK play GAIS.
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Which Americans Abroad match are you most looking forward to? Which player(s) do you see having a big impact this weekend? Think Friedel and Aston Villa will top Blackburn? Do you see Altidore scoring this weekend? Will Dempsey once again raise his level of play against an EPL elite?
Share your thoughts below.
Friedel should go to SA as #2. He can keep Timmy sharp Guzan not.
Charles Kazlauskas tallied for Helmond Sport today. They’re currently sitting 6th in the Dutch 2nd division, so should have a great shot at promotion to Eredivisie.
@turtle
nice unintelligent comment. I predict a goal from dempsey… but dont think hull has what it takes to get jozy any real chances
That Clint guy that can’t score against big teams kept Fulham up 2 years ago against Liverpool.
Dempsey also scored against Spain and Brazil in the same week.
Jozy scored against Spain as a 19 year old when Spain was ranked #1.
Turtle scored some mud from some guy.
Turtle…you mean like Clints brace against Chelsea last year ?
“With Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey both facing EPL giants, a goal against top-notch opposition could well be in store for American fans.”
I have a better chance of Erin Andrews kicking my front door down in her b-day suit with a rack of my favorite ipa’s and a bag of skunk than those bozos scoring this weekend.
Posted by: Turtle | September 25, 2009 at 01:12 PM
Actually Dempsey has a tendency to up his game against big clubs/countries. In the past he has scored against Liverpool, Spain, zbrazil and had a brace against Chelsea. Would not suprise me at all to see him score. He also usually plays much better at the Cottage then away.
Hopefully if Fulham pull out the win Wenger doesn’t accuse them of playing anti-football like he does everyone else.
“With Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey both facing EPL giants, a goal against top-notch opposition could well be in store for American fans.”
I have a better chance of Erin Andrews kicking my front door down in her b-day suit with a rack of my favorite ipa’s and a bag of skunk than those bozos scoring this weekend.
No way Jones plays. He’ll be lucky to even get a call into MNT camp in 2 weeks. He is still far from 100%.
I’m excited to see all these names. But they are just names. Half of them don’t play. It is depressing. All of our MNT starters should be starting every week. Until they are central figures on their club teams, we will suck internationally.
Kamani was on the roster this week for the first time.
Odd that Belenenses is off this weekend. Maybe Nacional had a conflict.
Kyle: I can’t read that team’s name without thinking the same thing.
whats the 411 with Hill? is he still hurt?
@Tom it doesn’t look like Belenenses has another league match until 10/4.
How about Freddy? Supposedly he looked great in the 30 min he got on Wednesday with Belenenses. Created a lot of chances but his forwards couldn’t finish.
any word on edu’s time table to return?
If Beasley isn’t playing in games against Kilmarnock or Queen of the South, then he ain’t going to be playing there at all. LOL
He should get a clue and get out of there!
If AS Nancy Lorraine play anything like their name, expect Davies to score a hat trick…
is Jones ready to play? Ives didnt list him as injured.
Jones still out injured.
Jozy will play. Hunt who is PB’s baby didn’t suit up either. PB also said in an interview that he wanted to rest some players so that they were fresh for the Liverpool match. He went on to say that the Premiership is all that matters to him and somebody else can have the cup.
Jermaine Jones set to make a return this weekend?
It was a Carling Cup match HT – he should be at least dressed this weekend.
Most of the USMNT players were rested. I’m sure it was the same for Jozy.
I’m looking forward to Pittman’s game. Taylor needs to start him! Harrold just isn’t getting it done. Why wouldn’t you start your top scorer?
Is Jozy going to suit up? Wasn’t he left off the 18 for the last game? If he was, do you know the reason?
great news for anyone who has Cox Cable. ESPN360.com will now be FREE to any Cox customer who has a high speed internet subscription!
I know that Friedel is retired from international duty, but I would still like to see him on the World Cup roster. It would be comforting to know that he is available just in case Tim Howard were to cut his eye removing a contact lense the day before the game.
It’s good to see Jermaine Jones and Edgar Castillo officially on this list.
With their matchups this weekend, you have to think Freidel and Howard have good chances to get clean sheets. I wish Gooch was getting playing time at Milan. Dempsey and Fulham vs Arsenal is usually a good match.
Ives, will you be doing a concacaf abroad article anytime soon including how players are doing from other countries in the region? Thanks.