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Americans Abroad: A Look Ahead

Freddy Adu 2 (Getty Images)

by GIANFRANCO PANIZO

Freddy Adu has not played club soccer in quite some time, but that could all change this weekend.

Adu and his new club Belenenses take on Academica de Coimbra on Sunday, and a debut for Adu could potentially signal the beginning of the end to the club drought that has plagued him throughout the majority of 2009.

Adu is not the only player hoping to make his debut. AC Milan defender Oguchi Onyewu will be looking to get his first taste of Serie A action when the Rossoneri face Bologna.

Looking for a battle of Americans? Then look no further than the Danish league, where Benny Feilhaber and Jeremiah White lead AGF Aarhus against Dan Califf and FC Midtjylland. Also, in Mexico, U.S. national team prospect Edgar Castillo and Tigres will meet Marcio Vidal and Indios.

Here is a rundown of who the Americans Abroad will be facing this weekend:

FRIDAY

Frank Simek and Sheffield Wednesday play Sheffield United.

Jermaine Jones and Schalke 04 play VfL Wolfsburg (Jones is out injured).

Kamani Hill and Guimaraes play Leixos.

Matt Taylor and FSV Frankfurt play Karlsruhe. (Taylor is out injured)

David Yeldell and TUS Koblenz play FC Union Berlin.

SATURDAY

Jozy Altidore and Hull City play Birmingham.

Brad Friedel, Brad Guzan and Aston Villa play Portsmouth.

Jonathan Spector and West Ham play Liverpool.

Jay DeMerit and Watford play Leicester City.

Ian Joyce and Southend United play Brighton.

Mike Grella and Leeds United play Gillingham.

Zak Whitbread and Millwall play Huddersfield Town.

Jon-Paul Pittman and Wycombe Wanderers play Jemal Johnson and Milton Keynes Dons.

DaMarcus Beasley, Maurice Edu and Rangers play Kilmarnock.

Michael Bradley and Borussia Moenchengladbach play TSG Hoffenheim.

Steve Cherundolo, Sal Zizzo and Hannover 96 play Borussia Dortmund.

Charlie Davies and Sochaux play Valenciennes.

Carlos Bocanegra and Stade Rennes play Grenoble.

Marcus Tracy and Aalborg play Silkeborg IF.

Michael Orozco and San Luis play Cruz Azul.

Edgar Castillo and UANL play Marco Vidal and Indios de Ciudad Juarez.

Jose Francisco Torres and Pachuca play Monterrey.

Mikkel Diskerud and Stabaek play Odd Greenland. (Diskerud is with the U.S. under-20 team)

SUNDAY

Tim Howard and Everton play Blackburn Rovers.

Marcus Hahnemann and Wolverhampton Wanderers play Clint Dempsey, Eddie Johnson and Fulham.

Oguchi Onyewu and AC Milan play Bologna.

Kenny Cooper and TSV 1860 Munich play Alemania Aachen.

Luis Robles and Kaiserslautern play St. Pauli.

Freddy Adu and Belenenses play Academica de Coimbra.

Michael Parkhurst and FC Nordsjaelland play Esbjerg.

Alejandro Bedoya and Orebro SK play Kalmar FF.

Troy Perkins and Valerenga play Lyn.

MONDAY

Benny Feilhaber, Jeremiah White and AGF Aarhus play Danny Califf and FC Midtjylland.

Clarence Goodson, Hunter Freeman and IK Start play Viking.

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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 Adu and Onyewu make their debuts? Still wondering why Dempsey plays better for Fulham than the U.S.?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Yes , Adu denied plenty of Americans an opportunity to develop as he was given an extraordinary amount of investment . These are very limited US soccer investment $’s , coaching, and playing time. Yes, many Americans were denieed an opportunity to develop. Adu was much more physically developed compared to kids of his “purported” age. Many of my friends who saw him develop never believed his age. The ADu situation was a 100% fraud. Heads at USSF should roll for it.

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  2. Adu has been given shamelessly more opportunities than perhaps any other junior player. He is been given money, cars, coaching, security, legal/medical advice-treatment, academy setting training, pro setting,etc. It is very disturbing that despite ALL of this, it is still not enough!! He needs more time! More money! More playing time!! Hey, so do my players! But why? i say RACISM. He has been a hugely disproportionate investment because of racism. And he isnt even American. US soccer money and investment for AMERICAN born only! A born Ghanian African who came to the US purely for financial reasons- to scam the soccer paying public. (He didn’t suffer political persecution in Ghana.) He is now Portugal’s problem; maybe he can get a Portugal passport and play for Portugal?

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  3. Freddy Adu just posted this on Twitter

    “Not in the 18 against academica BUT dont worry spoke with the coach and all is good.Wants to take it slow for first couple games.StepBYstep”

    I hope he gets to play on Wednesday as Belenenses has a Cup game

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  4. i saw a picture of Adu in his new Club shirt….they kid bulked out……..my question is..Why? Hes just gonna lose more speed and first step quickness witht hat extra weight.

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  5. im waiting to just laugh if Freddy would get back into 2007-2008 form and do something in a US shirt within the next year where he just stands out…………….and see only 11 people post in that Pro Freddy Adu thread….lol

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  6. Can you guys relax, dude is 20, he’s got a good 10 more years to go, 10!!! we dont need him now, we got ppl that we can put in front of him, but when he does come around, that’s when we’ll need him most, when our stars start to get a bit older, he’ll still be 25, and jozy will be 24, and Davies will be 28, we got a bright future guys

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  7. @ Chelski002

    “How many Americans were denied this opportunity? ”

    One! I know Adu is many things to many people, but I think he stills counts as one person.

    LOL! HA ha!

    EPIC FAIL!

    Do some MATH Homework! Best comment of the day! LOL!

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  8. Adu reality: no serious pro soccer team would hire him today. None. He is barely a marketing tool now even in Portugal. Adu, is a Ghanian African and was developed in Africa. Then he flies to the US and takes critical positions in the US soccer development program. How many Americans were denied this opportunity? How many American born players could have been developed into MLS quality or national team quality players? What we do know is that the Adu fraud is over and done. The Adu fiasco represents one of the biggest mistakes by the MLS, USSF, and geeral soccer community. He couldnt qualify for a single USL team; much less the MLS. And where are the apologies from those Adu supporters? the Adu backers? let them rot in Ghana, I say.

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  9. what’s your thinking about lee nguyen? he did have a couple of starts for the USMNT last year, i think. He’s having a trial at arsenal these next weeks. Any idea how much his game may have suffered/improved while in vietnam?

    Its not a trial, its just training. It happens every year because we have a link with HAGL. Lee can’t sign for any team in England because he wouldn’t qualify for a work permit. This is just his first step to try and get back to Europe.

    Reply

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