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Americans Abroad: Weekend Rewind

Landon Donovan Everton (Getty Images) 

By FRANCO PANIZO

Landon Donovan made his home debut for Everton this weekend, and in it he helped Everton hand Manchester City something the Citizens had not received in a month: A loss.

Donovan enjoyed his second consecutive solid outing in the Toffees' 2-0 win, constantly threatening Manchester City's back line with his darting runs down the flank and deadly crosses, two of which almost resulted in goals.

Donovan even came close to scoring his first goal in the English Premier League when a chip (which may have been a cross) beat goalkeeper Shay Given, but curled just wide of the far post.

This weekend also saw several Americans make their debuts for their new clubs. Zak Whitbread made a late cameo for Norwich City, while Herculez Gomez got his first taste of Mexican League soccer in Puebla's 1-0 loss to Tigres UANL. Eddie Johnson also made his league debut in Aris Salonika's 1-0 victory.

Here is how the Americans Abroad performed this weekend:

England

PREMIERSHIP

  • Landon Donovan started and played 90 minutes in Everton's 2-0 win vs. Manchester City on Saturday.
  • Tim Howard started, played 90 minutes and made four saves in Everton's 2-0 win vs. Manchester City on Saturday.
  • Jozy Altidore did not dress in Hull City 's 0-0 draw vs. Tottenham on Saturday.
  • Clint Dempsey started and played 62 minutes in Fulham's 2-0 loss vs. Blackburn Rovers on Sunday.
  • Jonathan Spector started and played 90 minutes in West Ham's 0-0 draw vs. Aston Villa on Sunday.
  • Brad Friedel started, played 90 minutes and made one save in Aston Villa's 0-0 draw vs. West Ham on Sunday.
  • Brad Guzan dressed but did not play in Aston Villa's 0-0 draw vs. West Ham on Sunday.

  • Marcus Hahnemann started, played 90 minutes and made seven saves, including a penalty kick stop, in Wolverhampton Wanderers' 2-0 loss vs. Wigan Athletic on Saturday.

COCA COLA CHAMPIONSHIP

  • Jay DeMerit started and played 90 minutes in Watford's 2-1 loss vs. Doncaster Rovers on Saturday.
  • Frank Simek dressed but did not play in Sheffield Wednesday's 2-1 win vs. Barnsley on Saturday.

LEAGUE ONE

  • Ian Joyce dressed but did not play in Southend United's 2-1 loss vs. Huddersfield Town on Saturday.
  • Zak Whitbread came off the bench and played 7 minutes in Norwich City's 5-0 win vs. Colchester United on Saturday.
  • Mike Grella came off the bench and played 5 minutes in Leeds United's 2-0 loss vs. Exeter City on Saturday.
  • Jemal Johnson stdid not dress in Milton Keynes Dons' 5-0 win vs. Hartlepool United on Saturday.
  • Jon-Paul Pittman started, played 90 minutes and scored a GOAL in Wycombe Wanderers' 2-1 loss vs. Charlton Athletic on Saturday.

Scotland

  • Maurice Edu started and played 90 minutes in Rangers' 1-0 win vs. Hamilton Academical on Saturday.
  • DaMarcus Beasley did not dress in Rangers' 1-0 win vs. Hamilton Academical on Saturday. He is recovering from a thigh injury. 
  • Dominic Cervi did not dress in Celtic's 1-1 draw vs. Falkirk on Saturday.

Italy

  • Oguchi Onyewu did not dress in AC Milan's 4-0 win vs. Siena on Sunday. He is recovering from a knee injury.

Germany

BUNDESLIGA

  • Michael Bradley started and played 90 minutes in Borussia Moenchengladbach's 2-1 loss vs. VfL Bochum on Saturday.
  • Steve Cherundolo started and played 54 minutes in Hannover 96's 3-0 loss vs. Hertha Berlin on Saturday.
  • Sal Zizzo did not dress in Hannover 96's 3-0 loss vs. Hertha Berlin on Saturday. He is recovering from a knee injury.
  • Jermaine Jones did not dress in Schalke 04's 1-0 win vs. Nurnberg on Sunday. He is recovering from a leg injury.

BUNDESLIGA 2

  • Kenny Cooper did not dress in TSV 1860 Munich's 2-2 draw vs. TUS Koblenz on Sunday. He is recovering from a knee injury. 
  • Luis Robles dressed but did not play in Kaiserslautern's 3-0 loss vs. SpVgg Greuther Furth on Satuday.
  • Matt Taylor came off the bench and played 34 minutes in FSV Frankfurt's 5-0 loss vs. MSV Duisburg on Sunday.
  • David Yeldell did not dress in TUS Koblenz's 2-2 draw vs. TSV 1860 Munich on Sunday. He is recovering from a leg injury.

France

  • Carlos Bocanegra dressed but did not play in Stade Rennes' 1-1 draw vs. Lens on Saturday.

Portugal

  • Kamani Hill did not dress in Vitoria de Guimaraes' 2-2 draw vs. Vitoria Setubal on Saturday.

Greece

  • Freddy Adu dressed but did not play in Aris Salonika's 1-0 win vs. Giannina on Sunday.
  • Eddie Johnson came off the bench and played 12 minutes in Aris Salonika's 1-0 win vs. Giannina on Sunday.

Mexico

  • Jose Francisco Torres came off the bench and played 29 minutes in Pachuca's 3-0 win vs. Estudiantes U.A. de G on Saturday.
  • Michael Orozco did not dress in San Luis' 5-1 loss to Club America on Sunday. Orozco is linked to a move to MLS and the Philadelphia Union. 
  • Edgar Castillo started and played 90 minutes in Tigres UANL's 1-0 win vs. Puebla on Sunday.
  • Marco Vidal did not dress in Indios de Ciudad Juarez's 4-0 loss vs. Monterrey on Saturday.
  • Herculez Gomez came off the bench and played 38 minutes in Puebla's 1-0 loss vs. Tigres UANL on Sunday.

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What do you think of these performances? How happy are you to see Donovan thriving with Everton? Do you see Whitbread or Gomez having big seasons with their new clubs? Think Johnson will thrive with Aris?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Goal of the Year, if it’s 4 or 5 inches lower. Boy, I hope he’s not on hte shelf for too long.

    Also wondering what Zola’s impending firing will mean for Spector.

    Reply
  2. Does anyone remember McBride at the Olympics? He was finished at the international level. Done. He has nothing left. Does anyone remember their disappoint of having McBride on the field at the expense of the young forwards on the roster. It’s time to move on. We have six months for options to emerge. No need to start jumping off the ledge.

    Reply
  3. McBride actually did an interview for Fulham’s website, saying that he is not a part of Bob’s plans. He would however answer the call if it really came to that, but he knows that Bob didn’t have him in the long term plans, let alone the ones for this World Cup

    Reply
  4. I wish I could lend some optimism, Omar but I threw up in my mouth when Dempsey left the pitch. I think we’re all going to need to root for our second choices in Africa. Mine is the Ivory Coast.

    Cheers!

    Reply
  5. That actually wasn’t Gomez’s debut. He played most of the match last weekend against Monterrey. Looked pretty good, too. In a funny little coincidence, when he was subbed off late, his replacement was the little fish, Carlos Ruiz.

    Reply
  6. Assuming Dempsey is out for the WC, we need some firepower up front. Ching? Please no. Casey? God no. EJ/Cooper/Cunningham/Findlay? Not enough club minutes or experience at the international level. I’m going to put a name out there and see how it strikes ya: Brian McBride.

    Do we honestly have any other options? What are we seriously left with, putting the hapless Altidore up to as a lone man? I might as well not even watch the games. Someone help calm me down.

    Reply
  7. Uggh, Boca with no time on the pitch again. This has to be almost as big a concern for the US as Dempsey. If our captain can’t get any playing time between now and the WC, then the slots for both backs are up for grabs.

    Reply
  8. I hope you’re joking, afc. if not, it’s a pretty stupid assertion to make.

    Why, exactly, would playing at Bolton turn Holden into a thug? I’m really quite curious to hear why you think this because I can’t think of a single reason why that would occur.

    people need to wake up, actually watch games, and look beyond lazy stereotypes that are placed on players, teams and leagues by the media.

    I assume you made that statement in reference to the supposed “style” of football Bolton have played in the past. While this may have been at one time true, if you take a look at their squad now, and see how they perform on the pitch, it’s actually a team full of very skillful players. The midfield is strong, maybe not as strong as Chelsea’s or Tottenham’s, but certainly strong enough to keep young Stuart on the bench and in the reserves. As Ryan pointed out nicely, Lee and Taylor are both better, and if you expect Holden to walk into the side and displace Tamir Cohen, who is having a great season, you have another thing coming.

    I’m an Arsenal fan, but even I can see that Bolton can play. The rep they earned under Allardyce was fair at that moment, they did indeed bully their opponents out of games (and to great effect, he got them into Europe), and since Megson never had the support of the fans, he had no choice but to get a result any way he could each week. But now, with Coyle, we see a manager that everyone is behind, and he will be granted the requisite amount of time and patience so he can put is side out to play football against the bigger teams, not just scratch and claw for a point each week. They certainly have the side to play in this way, and Holden certainly fits in, albeit it would be in a substitute role, as Ryan also pointed out.

    Apologies for the rant, but think before you write. Surely there are many soccer novices that read these comment sections, and you’re only misinforming them.

    Reply
  9. This is nothing new, but watching LD play reminded me that the only place his game lacks is 1-on-1. Gave the ball at least twice while trying to take someone on. Other than that, he was good in the run of play, and delivered some great corners.

    Reply
  10. Nice to see Spector not only go the full 90, but also put in a strong performance in the clean sheet. He’s always fighting for playing time, and West Ham are a miserable team where its not easy for a defender to shine.

    Reply
  11. JJ is rubbish! He will never be Nats quality. He can’t even get a game with MK Dons. Pittman has considered moving to MLS to get exposure. He is making a name for himself at a terrible team. He is only 23 he has plenty of time for a call up.

    Reply
  12. no chance. people were asking the same thing about Jemal Johnson when he was scoring in bunches last year with MK Dons. Bradley knows what he’s doing and League One is not where you should be playing if you want a MNT call-up. MLS is better than League One.

    Reply
  13. Ives, it seems like we have some young guns playing in smaller leagues in Europe, do you think that maybe we’ll have some strong options for 2014?

    Reply
  14. Even though Freddy Adu didn’t play today, after watching their game now we know why Aris FC wanted him. Their Left Midfielder is not good. All their offense was run through the right side.

    Most Aris fans believe that it’s Adu’s spot to win and I hope he steps up and gets it.

    Reply
  15. So glad to see Edu back in the mix. With so may players betting injured, it is nice to see some coming back and getting match-fit.

    Reply
  16. Donovan had a great first half, didn’t see the second :(. He will only get better. I just still can’t get over Dempsey’s injury, especially after having seen his highlights, a missed bike, and a missed shot after a very slick turn. I won’t sleep well tonight.

    Reply
  17. A quick note on Stuart Holden. Having watched Bolton battle Arsenal, I’m not sure I see him playing his way into that side this season (assuming Coyle offers him a contract). Matty Taylor and the Korean — Lee — are quite useful players on the outside. At best, Holden would be a super-sub. So I’m not sure it’s the best destination for him. That said, if the only alternative is a long-term contract in the MLS, then he should go and fight for his spot. In the long run, he’ll be better off, and the Nats injury woes may mean that he’s in the starting XI without having to play his way into it.

    Reply
  18. I had my doubts that I would ever watch an English soccer match and be able to honestly say that an American outplayed a Brazilian that cost 32 million pounds. Well done Landon. Hopefully your stamina increases and your start of game adrenaline settles down and you can scare the crap out of the opposition in the EPL for a full 90 with your crafty attacks.

    Reply
  19. an important point. petrov on the opposite wing of donovan was where city had the most success offensively and that left donovan to defend against the roving trio of tevez, bellamy and robinho.

    Reply
  20. I’d like to Landon be a a little sharper in the run of play — he should get there soon. Looks like he can hang on to his job.

    Reply
  21. Zak Whitbread needs the PT…he was stuck on the bench at Millwall after his injury, and never worked his way back into playing contention. Norwich seem to want him, and that is good news, because IMO Zak is at a level somewhere between Champ. and EPL. level…and the playing time will give him the opportunity to reach his potential.

    Reply
  22. Ives I think we should bold when keepers have a cleansheet much like we bold when an outfield player scores a goal. It helps give more recognition to keepers.

    Reply
  23. I saw Herc play against somebody last week.

    The fact that he was in the top third (or so) of players on the field tells me that the difference between FMF and MLS is not that great.

    In other news, Marcus Hahnemann is a BEAST.

    Reply

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