photo by ISIphotos.com
by FRANCO PANIZO
Ricardo Clark has not played in a match since mid-November due to a combination of factors, but Clark appears ready to end that dry spell against one of the hottest teams in Europe.
Reports out of Germany have Clark starting this weekend against first-place Bayern Munich, which has not lost in league play since last September. While Clark has not played a game since the U.S. national team's 3-1 loss to Denmark on Nov. 18, a solid performance against Bayern Munich could warrant more playing time for him as the season heads into its final two months of action.
Maurice Edu and DaMarcus Beasley's season isn't near its end either, but the pair of Americans do have a chance of earning their first piece of hardware this season when Rangers takes on St Mirren in the final of the Scottish League Cup. Rangers has claimed the most Scottish League Cups (25) in the history of the tournament, and Beasley and Edu would surely like to take part in helping Rangers capture another one.
Puebla is currently far from claiming any silverware, as the club sits in fifth place in Group 2 in the Mexican League, but Herculez Gomez has been a shining star for the struggling club. Gomez will look to extend his five-game scoring streak when Puebla visits U.S. fans' favorite Mexican goalkeeper, Oswaldo Sanchez, and Santos.
Here is a rundown of who Americans Abroad will be playing this weekend:
FRIDAY
Michael Bradley and Borussia Moenchengladbach play FC Cologne.
David Yeldell and TUS Koblenz play SpVgg Greuther Furth.
Michael Hoyos and Estudiantes La Plata play Atletico Tucuman
SATURDAY
Brad Friedel, Brad Guzan and Aston Villa play Marcus Hahnemann and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Tim Howard and Everton play Stuart Holden and Bolton Wanderers. (Holden is out injured.)
Jozy Altidore and Hull City play Portsmouth.
Jonathan Spector and West Ham United play Arsenal.
Kenny Cooper and Plymouth Argyle play Scunthorpe United.
Frank Simek and Sheffield Wednesday play Derby County.
Jemal Johnson and Stockport County play Brentford.
Zak Whitbread and Norwich City play Swindon Town.
Jon-Paul Pittman and Wycombe Wanderers play Exeter City.
Dominic Cervi and Celtic play St Johnstone.
Ricardo Clark and Eintracht Frankfurt play Bayern Munich.
Steve Cherundolo, Sal Zizzo and Hannover 96 play VfB Stuttgart.(Zizzo is out injured.)
Daniel Williams and SC Freiburg play Mainz.
Carlos Bocanegra and Stade Rennes play Toulouse.
Charlie Davies and Sochaux play Lens.
Mikkel Diskerud and Stabaek play Valerenga.
Edgar Castillo and Tigres UANL play Cruz Azul.
SUNDAY
Clint Dempsey and Fulham play Manchester City.
Jay DeMerit and Watford play Cardiff City.
DaMarcus Beasley, Maurice Edu and Rangers play St Mirren in the final of the Scottish CIS Insurance Cup.
Oguchi Onyewu and AC Milan play Napoli.
Jermaine Jones and Schalke 04 play Hamburg SV. (Jones is out injured.)
Matt Taylor and FSV Frankfurt play TSV 1860 Munich.
Freddy Adu, Eddie Johnson and Aris Salonika play Panionios.
Marcus Tracy, Chris Rolfe and Aalborg BK play Koge. (Tracy is out injured.)
Benny Feilhaber and AGF Aarhus play Odense BK. (Feilhaber is out injured.)
Michael Parkhurst and FC Nordsjaelland play Esbjerg.
Herculez Gomez and Puebla play Santos.
Marco Vidal and Indios de Ciudad Juarez play Queretaro.
Jose Francisco Torres and Pachuca play America.
MONDAY
Mike Grella and Leeds United play Millwall.
Luis Robles and Kaiserslautern play Fortuna Dusseldorf.
Clarence Goodson, Hunter Freeman and IK Start play Rosenborg.
TUESDAY
Alejandro Bedoya and Orebro SK play Malmo FF.
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Which Americans Abroad match are you most looking forward to? Which players do you see having a big impact? How do you see Clark faring against Bayern Munich if he starts? Think Beasley and Edu will earn minutes and silverware this weekend? How badly are you hoping that Gomez's streak continues against Sanchez?
Share your thoughts below.
He was only INVITED. Will he accept? Don’t know.
So much for that. What a snoozefest. I literally fell asleep.
Americans Abroad news Sweden:
Ryan Miller (D.C. United) is playing for Halmstad BK. They also signed Michael Thomas (Houston Dynamo). Johann Smith (Toronto) is about to sign for Kalmar FF after trials.
Like Cooper was going to get a lot of time at 1860?
Cooper Jr’s problem ain’t his dad, it’s his knee.
That is dead dog manure.
The World Cup roster is no place for a cheerleader and if Bradley used up one of his spots for that purpose he should be fired on the spot.
You act like chicken little more than goodn’plenty. It’s way too soon to know if Hoyos is the next MESSI. You forget a lot of dual citizens types chose to play for the US.
What I love about fans like you is that the sky is always falling and the grass is always greener and the world is always just about to come to and end.
How do you get through the day?
Daveis, Edu, and Onyewu have brains inside their heads. Clark I kind of wonder about. Wynne…has the Soccer IQ, touch, and ability (besides being fast) of a 2 year old. No-One will take the time because its not worth it.
No. You can’t say “season are” unless you pluralize it to seasons.
Their season IS not over.
Not their season ARE not over.
Even Charlie Davies on the bench (dressed/not playing) in SA is better and more valuable to the cause then Bornstein on the pitch….
I really hope Clark gets the start this weekend. He’s got crazy athleticism and if he learned how to read the game, control his temper, and get comfortable with the ball, he’d probably be the best defensive midfielder to play next to Bradley.
To be honest, I think all of our crazy athletes, like Edu, Davies, Wynne, Clark and Onyewu have incredible potential, they’re just difficult to develop, but when a teams like Hammarby, Rangers, and Liege are patient with them, they turn out to be incredible players and world beaters. I just kind of wonder who’ll take the time to really turn Wynne into a soccer player, because TFC aren’t cutting it.
Gotcha. Thanks.