by FRANCO PANIZO
The injury bug has bitten a number of the Americans Abroad recently, but there are still plenty of healthy players to keep an eye on this weekend as club soccer resumes.
Jose Francisco Torres is one of those players. After showing well as a sub in the U.S. national team's 2-2 draw vs. Costa Rica on Wednesday, Torres could further impress if he were to help Pachuca defeat Morelia, with a Pachuca win possibly lifting them to third place in Group 2 of the Apertura season.
The most intriguing match of the weekend involving Americans Abroad, however, is the Fulham-Hull City clash, where Clint Dempsey and Eddie Johnson will take on Jozy Altidore in a battle of American attackers.
Here is a rundown of who the Americans Abroad will be playing this weekend:
FRIDAY
Luis Robles and Kaiserslautern play Energie Cottbus.
SATURDAY
Brad Friedel, Brad Guzan and Aston Villa play Chelsea.
Jonathan Spector and West Ham United play Stoke City.
Tim Howard and Everton play Marcus Hahnemann and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Jay DeMerit and Watford play Middlesbrough. (DeMerit is out injured.)
Frank Simek and Sheffield Wednesday play Coventry City.
Jemal Johnson and Milton Keynes Dons play Gillingham.
Jon-Paul Pittman and Wycombe Wanderers play Colchester United.
Ian Joyce and Southend United play Bristol Rovers.
Zak Whitbread and Millwall play Stockport County.
DaMarcus Beasley, Maurice Edu and Rangers play St Johnstone. (Edu is out injured.)
Steve Cherundolo, Sal Zizzo and Hannover 96 play Eintracht Frankfurt. (Zizzo is out injured.)
Jermaine Jones and Schalke 04 play VfB Stuttgart. (Jones is out injured.)
Kenny Cooper and 1860 Munich play MSV Duisburg.
Carlos Bocanegra and Stade Rennes play Lille.
Michael Parkhurst and FC Nordsjaelland play Odense BK.
Edgar Castillo and Tigres UANL play Toluca.
Marco Vidal and Indios de Ciudad Juarez play Atlante.
Michael Orozco and San Luis play UNAM.
Jose Francisco Torres and Pachuca play Morelia.
Mikkel Diskerud and Stabaek play Molde.
SUNDAY
Clarence Goodson, Hunter Freeman and IK Start play Aalesunds.
Troy Perkins and Valerenga play Brann.
MONDAY
Clint Dempsey, Eddie Johnson and Fulham play Jozy Altidore and Hull City.
Mike Grella and Leeds United play Norwich City.
Benny Feilhaber, Jeremiah White and AGF Aarhus play Sonderjyske.
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Which Americans Abroad match are you most looking forward to? Which player(s) do you see having a big impact? Concerned by the number of injuries? Think Torres is ready to go on a tear? Do you see Dempsey or Altidore scoring this weekend?
Share your thoughts below.
What the hell is going on with DaMarcus???
Is he going to go on loan?
Adu?? I guess I will just have to go to the Bele site for information. 🙁
Eddie Johnson looked good in his 14 minutes vs West Ham. Looked like he put on another 7 pounds of upper-body muscle as well.
“I can see Benny and Jose being our next Claudio Reyna, John O’Brien circa: 2002 anyone with me??- RedRipper”
Mr. ripper,
The 2002 version of Reyna and JOB were more, experienced, versatile and more accomplished. Reyna started out as an attacking midfielder, captained Wolfsburg, played a lot of RB and defensive-mid for Rangers, and was a classic #10 type for the US. JOB started at LB for Ajax and played in midfield for them as well. Donovan once described him as the best US soccer player he knew of.
I like both Benny and Torres but they have primarily been midfielders. They might get there but it is way too early to say that they will get to that level of reliability, consistency and performance.
I will be at Craven Cottage on Monday night to (hopefully) see both Dempsey and Altidore. Seeing Eddie would be asking for too much. I’ll post a comment of my observations after the game.
lol Colin, i dont know why your post is funny, it just is to me….nicely done…
anyways, im soo freaking stoked to see JFT do well and i hope his stock continues to rise enough where he’ll get some offers from Europe. What leagues do you think would best suit him? I think leagues that are more about finesse than size, so maybe La Liga (of course a lower table team)?
http://pfutebol.com/portugal_cup.htm
They have a game on Sunday
Dear Eddie Johnson,
NOW IS YOUR CHANCE. THE LAST ONE YOU’LL EVER GET.
Sincerely,
The Universe
Gotta love the high socks.
RedRipper
If Torres can get into Europe, and he just might do so this winter, then yes, they might end up that way.
I can see Benny and Jose being our next Claudio Reyna, John O’Brien circa: 2002 anyone with me??
I officially stopped playing Be A Pro: Seasons with Benny and now starting it with Torres, how nice would it be if he came to a level of skill where he is just known by Torres and everyone will know its Jose Francisco Torres…….that would be ligit
Play your ass of Benny, ’cause Gringo Torres is on a run.
According to Yanks-abroad Dempsey is unlikely to play on Monday.
BillOhio: Adu and Belenenses do not play this weekend according to the ESPN team profile.
Strange, is Adu not a Yank or not Abroad?
I couldn’t find any updates on Dempsey this morning. Does anyone have the scoop?
I hope Jozy gets a look Monday. He is fired up and deserves to show his stuff on the pitch again.
I really want to see if that intensity and workrate that Jozy showed against Costa Rica comes back to England. He looked like a different player on Wednesday, and that sort of focus and physicality could earn him a spot in the first XI at Hull City if he can keep it up.
Amen, Southern.
I think Charlie deserves to be on the list among others that are injured.
Jay D. Is having eye surgery for sure. Out for 2 months
I’ll third dbex’s question…Ives?
Let’s hope Jozy’s tough display against CR motivates Phil Brown to actually give him a start for Hull.
to quote Edu:
“I don’t want to be feeling any niggles – I want to come back at a level where I’m not going to shy away from tackles because I’m scared of what might happen.”
Edu update
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/scottishpremier/rangers/6327852/Rangers-midfielder-Maurice-Edu-not-rushing-comeback-from-injury.html
When is Edu gonna be back? He’s been out for sooo long.. I figured he’d be ready to go by now.
Also the Fulham, Hull game will be on ESPN
Wycombe have a new manager so hopefully this means more playing time for Pittman. I’m really hoping this new coach can turn them around.
I’ll second dbex question . . .
What about Freddy? Taca de Portugal game
Is Dempsey healthy and ready to play yet?