By FRANCO PANIZO
Since joining Everton on his ten-week loan, Landon Donovan has helped transform the club from relegation battlers to a competitive team capable of pulling out results against the Premier League's heavyweights. Now, in what appears to be his final game for Everton, Donovan will aim to help the Toffees make a run toward a spot in next year's Europa League.
Everton is currently seven points behind sixth-place Liverpool with a game in hand, but can trim that deficit with a victory over Birmingham, which sits just two points ahead of Everton in eighth. If Donovan can put in another strong performance and end his loan with a win, then Everton may still be able to complete a run that seemed impossible just weeks ago.
While Donovan is likely to be playing in his final game for Everton, U.S. teammate Ricardo Clark is still lookng to make his first appearance for Eintracht Frankfurt. Clark has made the bench in Eintracht Frankfurt's previous two matches, and his debut could come when the club takes on Steve Cherundolo and relegation-threatened Hannover 96.
Wondering what other intriguing matches on tap this weekend? Freddy Adu and Eddie Johnson could get their first taste of one of the Greek League's fiercest rivalries when Aris Salonika battles PAOK Salonika, while the Americans Abroad contingent playing in Norway and Sweden will begin their new seasons.
Here is a rundown of who Americans Abroad will be playing this weekend:
FRIDAY
Jermaine Jones and Schalke 04 play VfB Stuttgart. (Jones is out injured.)
David Yeldell and TUS Koblenz play Ahlen.
Marco Vidal and Indios de Ciudad Juarez play Tecos U.A. de G.
SATURDAY
Jonathan Spector and West Ham United play Chelsea.
Landon Donovan, Tim Howard and Everton play Birmingham.
Brad Friedel, Brad Guzan and Aston Villa play Stoke City.
Stuart Holden and Bolton Wanderers play Wigan Athletic. (Holden is out injured.)
Jozy Altidore and Hull City play Arsenal.
Marcus Hahnemann and Wolverhampton Wanderers play Burnley.
Kenny Cooper and Plymouth Argyle play Coventry City.
Frank Simek and Sheffield Wednesday play Swansea City.
Jay DeMerit and Watford play Peterborough United.
Jon-Paul Pittman and Wycombe Wanderers play Oldham Athletic.
Mike Grella and Leeds United play Southampton.
Zak Whitbread and Norwich City play Huddersfield Town. (Whitbread is out injured.)
Jemal Johnson and Stockport County play Gillingham.
Dominic Cervi and Celtic play Kilmarnock in the sixth round of the Scottish Cup.
Michael Bradley and Borussia Moenchengladbach play VfL Wolfsburg.
Steve Cherundolo, Sal Zizzo and Hannover 96 play Ricardo Clark and Eintracht Frankfurt. (Zizzo is out injured.)
Daniel Williams and SC Freiburg play Bayern Munich.
Matt Taylor and FSV Frankfurt play Fortuna Dusseldorf.
Charlie Davies and Sochaux play Paris Saint-Germain. (Davies is out injured.)
Gale Agbossoumonde and Sporting Braga play Rio Ave.
Michael Hoyos and Estudiantes La Plata play Newell's Old Boys.
Jose Francisco Torres and Pachuca play Santos.
Edgar Castillo and Tigres UANL play Atlas.
SUNDAY
Clint Dempsey and Fulham play Manchester United.
DaMarcus Beasley, Maurice Edu and Rangers play Dundee United in the sixth round of the Scottish Cup.
Oguchi Onyewu and AC Milan play Chievo Verona.
Luis Robles and Kaiserslautern play Energie Cottbus.
Carlos Bocanegra and Stade Rennes play Valenciennes.
Freddy Adu, Eddie Johnson and Aris Salonika play PAOK Salonika.
Michael Parkhurst and FC Nordsjaelland play Randers FC.
Marcus Tracy, Chris Rolfe and Aalborg BK play FC Midtjylland.
Clarence Goodson, Hunter Freeman and IK Start play Sandefjord.
Mikkel Diskerud and Stabaek play Odd Grenland.
Herculez Gomez and Puebla play Monterrey.
MONDAY
Benny Feilhaber and AGF Aarhus play Silkeborg IF. (Feilhaber is out injured.)
Alejandro Bedoya and Orebro SK play Atvidabergs.
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Which Americans Abroad match are you most looking forward to? Which players do you see having a big impact? Do you see Donovan ending his loan with a win? Think Clark will make his debut this weekend?
Share your thoughts below.
Well, as much of a DC fan as I am, keep in mind that this was just a friendly and that Santos didn’t play their full contingent of players. So while I’m encouraged that we scored our first goal on a set piece and our starters didn’t allow a goal in the first half, I don’t think the result goes too far.
What I’m very pleased with is that with all our subs in in the second half, when Santos roared back to tie 2-2, we found a way to score the winner. I know that previous editions of the team might have collapsed.
Thank you, ‘two points out’ is clearly non- speculative.
Was this a friendly? I thought Chivas was in 1st place…
He was still “recovering” during the Holland match..only a week and a half ago.
Looking forward to following Bedoya during this run up to the WC.
Deeeeeeeeuuuuuuuuuuuuuuccce! Sweet!
Actually you’re totally right, I misread the table. Carry on.
Fair enough.
Yes, I believe that this is the first win for MLS in Mexico. Pontius, Moreno and Khumalo scored. Hopefully, Columbus will do the same to Toluca, but I think they have to play at high altitude so it would be tough.
It’s all about how you look at it. On 12/31 they were two points clear of the relegation spots, now they’re something like 14 clear.
Wait DCU won in Mexico? Isn’t this a first for MLS? Great news.
Hey Franco, I love the site, and I believe that LD has put a tremendous spark into Everton, but characterizing Everton as “relegation battlers” prior to his arrival is a bit disingenuous no? They were 9th in the table on 1/1 and today? 9th in the table… Would they have gotten those Chelsea or MU results without LD? Probably not, but even still…
Speaking about American’s abroad, three cheers for DCU that beat the first place Santos Laguna in Mexico. I have to say this is pretty impressive considering that MLS is in preseason and Mexican league is in full swing. After the game, Santos’ supporters showed some class and gave DCU a standing ovation. It is rather unusual for a US team to be recieved like that in Mexico.
Does anybody know if Rolfe played on Monday? If so, how did he do?
its all about you.
Yes, I also noticed that Dempsey and Gooch were not listed as injured by SBI. Great news for USMNT. SBI, does this mean that both were cleared to full practices?
He looked *really* rusty yesterday, it must be said. I know he’ll be back in full force soon, but he struggled yesterday. Come on Dempsey!
Dempsey back on the field!!!!! OHHHHHHHHHHH YEAAAAHHHH!! If Gooch can get any minutes this weekend tings will be looking dramatically up!!! Then Davies back next month? We may be peaking at the right moment come June 12.
Hopefully Demerit can pull the win. They’ve been struggling. Will be hard for Jozy and Spector. Wolves can win hopefully. I didn’t see a “he is out injured” next to Onyewu. Is he back?
Wigan/Sunderland, Burnley for drop
Is there a chance of Gooch playing this weekend? With Nesta out for possibly the rest of the season, has he had enough time training to garner some minutes?
Gooch will be out this week.
http://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/fantacalcio/?action=read&idnotizia=5174
That’s great!
Dempsey played yesterday against Juventus in the UEFA Cup, so it’s safe to say he’s back.
Let’s hope this isn’t Landon’s last game this year, or any year, with the Toffees. Hopefully those MLS clowns stirke and Landon’s loan gets extended.
And yes, I realize a strike may not help American soccer. I don’t really care. I like watching Landon play in England, so any way that this becomes a reality is a good thing for me
I hope you’re right. My thought was that Moyes wouldn’t want to change the starting lineup from last week – they played so well.
Another thought would be Landon played great too, so he deserves to be a starter. And it might be (probably is) his last game, so Moyes will want to get his money’s worth.
Certainly Moyes will start who he thinks will get him three points.
Dempsey already played this week in the Europa League.
Dempsey came off the bench and played 40 minutes vs Juve yesterday. Onyewu I don’t know, but I know he trained with USMNT in Holland.
Clint played yesterday, apparently, coming on as a sub at about the hour.
Hasn’t he had the flu for like 4 weeks?
Clint Dempsey and Fulham play Manchester United.
Oguchi Onyewu and AC Milan play Chievo Verona.
…
No mention of “out injured”. Are they both training now? I know Gooch has “trained” with USA, but I hadn’t heard that he had with Milan. Dempsey training now would be ahead of schedule. Anyway, training or not, they seem to be close.
I thought he subbed last week because he had the flu. Is he still sick?
man, it’s just nice to see Donovan in the Blue and White.
Birmingham are a tough, fiesty, solid team. I see Landon coming in as a sub again. Come on, Landon! Score another one!