By FRANCO PANIZO
It appears age is nothing but a number for Brad Friedel.
The 38-year-old Friedel posted his eighth shutout in Aston Villa's last ten league games by making five saves in the Villans' scoreless draw with Tottenham. Averaging less than a goal against per game, Friedel now has 11 cleansheets on the season.
Carlos Bocanegra did not help Stade Rennes record a shutout, but he was a part of the club's impressive and surprising 4-2 victory over league leaders Bordeaux. Having fallen out of favor in December, Bocanegra has now started five out of Rennes' last six matches at left back, which should put U.S. fans worried about his playing time at ease.
U.S. fans are also probably smiling about Jozy Altidore's latest showing. Altidore continued his fine run of form in Hull City's game with Manchester City, contributing with his first Premiership goal while also drawing yellow cards on both of the Citizens' centerbacks in Hull's 2-1 upset victory.
Altidore wasn't the only one to find the back of the net this weekend. In just his third appearance for Puebla, Herculez Gomez scored his first goal for the club, nodding home a free kick in the 1-1 draw vs. Atlante.
Here is how the Americans Abroad fared this weekend:
England
PREMIERSHIP
- Landon Donovan started and played 90 minutes in Everton's 1-0 loss vs. Liverpool on Saturday.
- Tim Howard started, played 90 minutes and made two saves in Everton's 1-0 loss vs. Liverpool on Saturday.
- Jozy Altidore started, played 66 minutes and scored a GOAL in Hull City 's 2-1 win vs. Manchester City on Saturday.
- Clint Dempsey did not dress in Fulham's 0-0 draw vs. Bolton Wanderers on Saturday. He is recovering from a knee injury.
- Jonathan Spector started and played 90 minutes in West Ham's 2-1 loss vs. Burnley on Saturday.
- Brad Friedel started, played 90 minutes and made five saves in Aston Villa's 0-0 draw vs. Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.
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Brad Guzan dressed but did not play in Aston Villa's 0-0 draw vs. Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.
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Marcus Hahnemann started, played 90 minutes and made four saves in Wolverhampton Wanderers' 2-1 loss vs. Birmingham on Sunday.
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Stuart Holden did not dress in Bolton Wanderers' 0-0 draw vs. Fulham on Saturday. He is recovering from a thigh injury.
COCA COLA CHAMPIONSHIP
- Jay DeMerit started and played 90 minutes in Watford's 1-0 loss vs. Barnsley on Saturday.
- Frank Simek started and played 90 minutes in Sheffield Wednesday's 2-1 loss vs. Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
- Kenny Cooper came off the bench and played 32 minutes in Plymouth Argyle's 1-0 loss vs. West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.
LEAGUE ONE
- Ian Joyce and Southend United play Colchester United on Monday.
- Zak Whitbread came off the bench and played 13 minutes in Norwich City's 2-1 loss vs. Millwall on Saturday.
- Mike Grella dressed but did not play in Leeds United's 2-2 draw vs. Hartlepool United on Saturday.
- Jemal Johnson did not dress in Stockport County's 3-1 loss vs. Milton Keynes Dons on Saturday.
- Jon-Paul Pittman dressed but did not play in Wycombe Wanderers' 4-1 loss vs. Yeovil Town on Saturday.
Scotland
- Maurice Edu did not dress in Rangers' 0-0 draw vs. St Mirren in the fifth round of the Scottish Cup on Saturday. He is recovering from an ankle injury.
- DaMarcus Beasley did not dress in Rangers' 0-0 draw vs. St Mirren in the fifth round of the Scottish Cup on Saturday. He is recovering from a thigh injury.
- Dominic Cervi did not dress in Celtic's 4-2 win vs. Dunfermline Athletic in the fifth round of the Scottish Cup on Sunday.
Italy
- Oguchi Onyewu did not dress in AC Milan's 0-0 draw vs. Bologna on Sunday. He is recovering from a knee injury.
Germany
BUNDESLIGA
- Michael Bradley started and played 90 minutes in Borussia Moenchengladbach's 1-0 loss vs. Mainz on Sunday.
- Steve Cherundolo did not dress in Hannover 96's 2-1 loss vs. TSG Hoffenheim on Saturday. He is recovering from a shoulder injury.
- Sal Zizzo did not dress in Hannover 96's 2-1 loss vs. TSG Hoffenheim on Saturday. He is recovering from a knee injury.
- Jermaine Jones did not dress in Schalke 04's 0-0 draw vs. SC Freiburg on Saturday. He is recovering from a leg injury.
- Ricardo Clark did not dress in Eintracht Frankfurt's 3-2 win vs. Borussia Dortmund on Sunday.
BUNDESLIGA 2
- Luis Robles dressed but did not play in Kaiserslautern's 3-0 win vs. SC Paderborn 07 on Sunday.
- Matt Taylor did not dress in FSV Frankfurt's 1-1 draw vs. Alemania Aachen on Sunday.
- David Yeldell did not dress in TUS Koblenz's 1-1 draw vs. Energie Cottbus on Saturday. He is recovering from a leg injury.
France
- Carlos Bocanegra started and played 90 minutes in Stade Rennes' 4-2 win vs. Bordeaux on Saturday.
- Charlie Davies did not dress in Sochaux's 1-1 draw vs. AS Nancy Lorraine on Saturday. He is recovering from multiple injuries.
Greece
- Freddy Adu and Aris Salonika were losing 1-0 vs. Panthrakikos on Saturday before the match was abandoned at halftime due to a waterlogged pitch.
- Eddie Johnson and Aris Salonika were losing 1-0 vs. Panthrakikos on Saturday before the match was abandoned at halftime due to a waterlogged pitch.
Mexico
- Jose Francisco Torres did not dress in Pachuca's 2-2 draw vs. San Luis on Saturday. He is recovering from a hamstring injury.
- Edgar Castillo started and played 90 minutes in Tigres UANL's 2-2 draw vs. Pumas UNAM on Saturday.
- Marco Vidal started and played 90 minutes in Indios de Ciudad Juarez's 1-0 loss vs. Morelia on Sunday.
- Herculez Gomez started, played 61 minutes, received a yellow card and scored a GOAL in Puebla's 1-1 draw vs. Atlante on Sunday.
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What do you think of these performances? Do you wish Friedel was still playing for the U.S. national team? Are you done worrying over Bocanegra's playing time with Rennes? Think Altidore will continue the run of form he is currently enjoying until the end of the season? Impressed by Gomez's goal?
Share your thoughts below.
Just trying to spread a crazy rumor and see if it actually catches on. 🙂
Imagine it though… how great would it be if some journalist got a hold of that story and, in an attempt to be the first to publish it, came out with a front-page report tomorrow morning claiming that Kobe Bryant is trying to play in the world cup!
Personally, I think Kobe should play. Heck, he’d be better than Beckerman and Rogers and half the other ‘third-stringers!’ 😉
Just trying to spread a crazy rumor and see if it actually catches on. 🙂
Imagine it though… how great would it be if some journalist got a hold of that story and, in an attempt to be the first to publish it, came out with a front-page report tomorrow morning claiming that Kobe Bryant is trying to play in the world cup!
Personally, I think Kobe should play. Heck, he’d be better than Beckerman and Rogers and half the other ‘third-stringers!’ 😉
The NHL players in the Olympics comment was my shot at NBA players.
Of course you are right regarding the MLB, which is why they have to create their own tournament.
Howard looked a bit shaky in goal against Liverpool. Friedel is definitely in better form right now. Hopefully Timmy will turn it around soon.
I get that the Greek game was canceled but did Adu or Johnson see the field until then?!?!?!
No coverage of Yao, Ipswich’s new American player????
Still missing our Aston Villa loaned right back to league 2 (can’t remember his name…)
It’s Friedel’s choice not to be on the Nat team. He placed himself in retriement for international play because he was tired of being the #2. If the Nats were to give him the #1 GK slot he may reconsider…but until then he’s not going to be in SA.
lol, yes
MLB players typically don’t play in the Olympics because of more stringent drug testing.
Mark,…with all due respect Brad Friedel is our clear #1 keeper.
I was just reading the comments on Carlisle’s soccernet piece about LD. So much vitriol and irrationality over there. Thank goodness for SBI.
Who exactly is Daniel Williams? From what I’ve read he came up through the Freiburg youth system and is now starting. Where did he born, grew up, and would he play for the US?
Please have some sympathy for a Colts fan. This is the only site available to me at work that has nothing to do with the Superbowl. I’m glad for the Saints,there is no stopping manifest destiny.
Brad Friedel needs to go to South Afica. Period. It’s unbelievable that our clear #2 keeper won’t be there. Howard is still USA’s #1, but Friedel is world class in his own right.
England would gladly allow him to start for them if they could.
lol, no
” seth davey said in reply to OmarVizquel…
I’ve just heard word about what Ives’ big announcement is going to be! It’s crazy…. If Davies doesn’t make it back from injury in time for the tournament, a new prospect has just come out with word that he’s “ready to take his place on the roster.” Brace yourself… (you’re not going to believe this)….
Kobe Bryant.”
hasn’t he always been garbage in MLS?
what are you talking about?
heard it was another monsoon on the field. The Aris fans expect Adu to start the next game.
whoops, looks as though he;s made his return to villa park
Excellent soccer weekend for Americans… oh, and Geaux Saints
Haha, that would be funny if this were written by Ives….
Or if that were the first time they had included CD9….(which they started doing a week or two ago)
Not a bad little list up there. Things lookin’ up
I’m pretty sure that the Stanley Cup champions would easily beat any champion of any foreign league in a 7 game series. Once they started letting NHL players in the Olympics, it’s very rare that a non-NHL player (other than a young Russian still under contract in Russia) makes a significant splash in the tournament. It’s nice that the NHL stops league play and that most of the elite players consider it a privilege and a duty to play for the Olympic team.
On the other hand, the World Baseball Classic, which MLBers apparently don’t care about, has seen many teams of mostly non-MLBers do well. The Cuban, Korean, and Japanese teams are probably majority non-MLB, and they have all been to the championship. Then there are the Dutch, whose upset over the Dominican’s is probably one of the greatest upsets in sports (if anyone cared about the WBC).
http://www.snopes.com/business/names/worldseries.asp
that was really funny.
JERMAINE JONES apparently visited the USA despite his injury according to german reports from approximately one month ago!
In my opinion, to be a World champion, you must have given every country in the entire world a chance for the title, every country that can play the game a chance like the world cup where countries like Tuvalu, Fiji, Djibouti, Dominica, The Faroe Is., Swaziland, St. Lucia etc. All other sports especially the American sports DO NOT DO THIS yet they call themselves World champions……World Champions my a**. Now if you wanna call the World Baseball Classic Champions the World Champions in baseball…..then that’s the right path cos they have given a chance for countries who play the game a chance to be champions……not the f*****g World Series Champions where it is played in US & Canada ALONE. Bobby Valentine complained about this.
on loan to lincoln city. league 2, at the age of 21, not that sick.
The World Series is called that because the newspaper The New York World was the sponsor of the championship between the American and National leagues.
From Mexico NT point of view it has to be a little disconcerting that RB/RM Efraín Juárez was outmuscled for both Tigres goals.
Since I watched the Tigres-Pumas game I’ll offer my observations on Castillo for that game only.
He started at left mid since Tigres had some personnel holes to fill, and was more involved in attacking than defending. He had some decent runs, but was more or less stymied by a)not much understanding between the members of Tigres(far bigger problem than just Edgar) and b)his inability to use his right foot or use his left more creatively. Got one decent cross in that didn’t find anybody.
Tigres dominated the early part of the game with bad marksmanship and UNAM keeper Bernal keeping them off the board. Then Paco Palencia dropped back a ball for Israel Castro to rip a 25 yarder into the net(remember Azteca?)and put Pumas up against the run of play.
From there the rest of the first half wasn’t great for Tigres, and the coach decided he was tired of Pablo Barrera abusing the starting left back, so he made a sub and some positional moves that put Edgar at LB again. I thought he was more or less OK there, but since Pumas is mostly built to defend and counter it’s a little hard to evaluate his defending, although press and fan reaction say he’s not known for it, and he was beaten badly by Barrera on the second goal. Which was another beauty off Pablo’s weak(left foot).
My guess is if Edgar goes to SA it’s more to cover left wing than left back.