By FRANCO PANIZO
Tim Howard and Everton are struggling, having won only once in their last seven games, but the anguish of a disappointing season can be eased considerably with a victory in the Merseyside Derby.
Everton plays host to arch-rival Liverpool on Sunday, and they will need a solid performance out of Howard and his defense in order to win and avoid falling further near the drop zone. Liverpool is coming off its midweek elimination from the Champions League, and is also in desperate need of a win to turn around a faltering season.
Michael Orozco and San Luis' game against Toluca in the second leg of the Apertura quarterfinals may be just as entertaining. Despite holding a 1-0 lead on aggregate, San Luis will need a valiant effort as Toluca is undefeated at home this season, having conceded only five times in nine home matches.
Other games with appeal will be the Round 2 matches of the FA Cup, which could have attackers Jemal Johnson and Mike Grella in action with their respective clubs.
Here is a rundown of who the Americans Abroad will be playing this weekend:
FRIDAY
David Yeldell and TUS Koblenz play Karlsruhe.
Matt Taylor and FSV Frankfurt play Hansa Rostock.
Kamani Hill and Vitoria de Guimaraes play Olhanense.
SATURDAY
Jonathan Spector and West Ham United play Burnley.
Clint Dempsey, Eddie Johnson and Fulham play Bolton Wanderers.
Jozy Altidore and Hull City play Manchester City.
Brad Friedel, Brad Guzan and Aston Villa play Tottenham Hotspur.
Frank Simek and Sheffield Wednesday play West Bromwich Albion.
Jay DeMerit and Watford play Crystal Palace. (DeMerit is out injured.)
Jemal Johnson and Milton Keynes Dons play Exeter City in Round 2 of the FA Cup.
Zak Whitbread and Millwall play Staines Town in Round 2 of the FA Cup. (Whitbread is out injured.)
DaMarcus Beasley, Maurice Edu and Rangers play Aberdeen. (Edu is out injured.)
Dominic Cervi and Celtic play St Mirren.
Michael Bradley and Borussia Moenchengladbach play Jermaine Jones and Schalke 04. (Jones is out injured.)
Marcus Tracy and Aalborg play Esbjerg,
Marcus Hahnemann and Wolverhampton Wanderers play Birmingham.
Tim Howard and Everton play Liverpool
Mike Grella and Leeds United play Kettering Town in Round 2 of the FA Cup.
Oguchi Onyewu and AC Milan play Catania. (Onyewu is out injured.)
Steve Cherundolo, Sal Zizzo and Hannover 96 play Bayern Munich. (Zizzo is out injured.)
Kenny Cooper and TSV 1860 Munich play Fortuna Dusseldorf. (Cooper is injured.)
Carlos Bocanegra and Stade Rennes play Lyon.Freddy Adu and Belenenses play Maritimo.Michael Parkhurst and FC Nordsjaelland play Silkeborg IF.Danny Califf and FC Midtjylland play FC Copenhagen.Benny Feilhaber, Jeremiah White and AGF Aarhus play Brondby.
Michael Orozco and San Luis play Toluca in the Apertura quarterfinals.
MONDAY
Luis Robles and Kaiserslautern play Arminia Bielefeld.
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Which Americans Abroad match are you most looking forward to? Which player(s) do you see having a big impact? Worried about Howard falling closer to the drop zone? Do you see Orozco and San Luis knocking off Toluca? Think Grella and Johnson will help their clubs advance?
Share your thoughts below.
It will be very interesting to see if Spector gets back in the starting lineup after last week’s dismal defensive display.
Yes very worried. Hopefully Everton will get some players in January and get their injured players back. We need to have Howard go into the WC full of confidence which can’t be the situation now.
Here’s to Dempsey getting another one! Bob did a good job sending him home to rest up a day or two instead of wearing him down uselessly against Denmark.
According to mo’s twitter, he started training with the team today for the first time.
On another note.. watching Bordeaux in the Champions League and remembering the day that CD9 had against them earlier this year, makes me miss the kid even more.
I love Timmy Howard, but he has been hemorrhaging goals this season. Banged up defense or no, that’s not good for the confidence. I hope he can get this turned around. Is anyone else concerned?
It’s late November.. Does anyone have any insight or knowledge on Mo Edu or Jermaine Jones? Are they training? Are they being saved for after the winter break?
FSV Frankfurt V. Hansa Rostock:
http://www.fromsport.com/video-122112.html
We seem to be one hurt bunch