The last time Bolton faced Everton, Tim Howard robbed Stuart Holden of what would have been his first Premier League goal. The in-form Bolton midfielder has a second chance to beat his international teammate on Sunday.
Bolton-Everton is one of the marquee matches of the day for American soccer fans, but another one of great importance is happening in Germany, where captain Steve Cherundolo and Hannover 96 continue their push for a UEFA Champions League berth with a key game against Werder Bremen.
Other high-profile matches include the Juventus-Inter Milan battle in Italy and the Espanyol-Real Madrid bout in Spain. One intriguing match not found on TV in the United States is Bursaspor vs. Eskisehirspor, where Jozy Altidore could debut for his new club.
If you will be watching any of Sunday's games, please feel free to share any thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.
Enjoy the action (TV schedule is after the jump):
SUNDAY'S SOCCER ON TV/INTERNET
8:15 a.m. – FoxSoccer.tv – Queens Park Rangers vs. Nottingham Forest
9 a.m. – Fox Soccer Channel/Fox Deportes – Brescia Calcio vs. Lazio
9 a.m. – ESPN3.com – Catania vs. Lecce
9:30 a.m. – GOLTV – FC Cologne vs. FSV Mainz 05
11 a.m. – Fox Soccer Channel/Fox Deportes – Bolton vs. Everton
11 a.m. – ESPN3.com/ESPN Deportes – Hercules vs. Real Zaragoza
11 a.m. – DirecTV – Malaga vs. Getafe
11 a.m. – DirecTV – Real Sociedad vs. Osasuna
11 a.m. – FoxSoccer.tv – Stade Rennes vs. Nice
11 a.m. – FoxSoccer.tv – Valenciennes vs. Brest
11:30 a.m. – ESPN3.com – Werder Bremen vs. Hannover 96
1 p.m. – ESPN3.com/ESPN Deportes – Deportivo La Coruna vs. Villarreal
1 p.m. – Telemundo – Pumas UNAM vs. Chivas de Guadalajara
1 p.m. – Azteca America – Morelia vs. Estudiantes Tecos
2:45 p.m. – Fox Soccer Channel/Fox Deportes/ESPN3.com – Juventus vs. Inter Milan
3 p.m. – GOLTV – Espanyol vs. Real Madrid
3 p.m. – Fox Soccer Plus/FoxSoccer.tv – Lille vs. Toulouse
3:15 p.m. – ESPN3.com – Sporting Braga vs. Porto
+1 totally agree
Uh, Germany? Khedira/Ozil/Schweinsteiger/Muller/Podolski’s probably a better lineup than Edu/MB90/Holden/Dempsey/Donovan. Still, I would go so far as to describe the US midfield as an embarrassment of riches.
Germany has a much better midfield you are out of your mind.
Midfields. I would say:
1. Spain
2. Argentina
3. Dutch
4. US
5. Brazil
Problem is the other parts if our team might not be in the top 25.
Ha, the world might be a bit of a stretch, but it the best and deepest pool the US has ever had. I know people love Reyna and JOB, and while injuries are unlucky, staying healthy is being on the field is part of the game. JOB and Reyna were made of glass.
Taylor won’t be when Lee is ready to go 90 again.
worst argument ever ^
Outside the top 10 teams in the world, I agree.
And define one of the best midfields in the world, like top 10? If so I agree, but not in the top 5. Brazil, Spain, Argentina, Germany, and Netherlands all have better midfields.
Edu’s not out of the picture yet. Don’t like how he’s being slotted at CB at times for USMNT. Along with other other things he can provide at midfield, the kid is a goal-scoring threat from outside the 18.
Hannover tie 1-1, move to fourth place. Got real feisty at the end.
That’s actually not a huge overstatement. Very few countries posses four players playing in a league as elite as the Premier League, and very few contain players with the pedigree and poise of Landon Donovan. I think world’s best might be pushing it a tad, but we are blessed for sure.
I could really get used to that.
I think that there have been kind of mixed arguments. I’ve seen games where Jozy has tracked back and done plenty of defensive work. Then I’ve seen games where Jozy hasn’t pressured enough. I think the general argument is that he’s inconsistent/out of shape. He looks tired more than anything. It doesn’t seem to be born of laziness – the kid is just out of shape. That’s what happens when you dont’ play a lot.
“Jozy has long been followed by accusations of lazy and selfish play.”
Accusations levied by off base fans such as yourself. Provide some sources of actual coaches or teammates lobbing such criticism and your opinion will have merit.
Deuce———Stu———-Landon
Jones——-MB
= One of the world’s best midfields
I completely disagree with this – Jozy did a pretty good job of making space with his runs when paired with another striker. I think of the Turkey game. He and Findley switched up when they were going to drop deep to receive and drift wide to expand the field/stretch the defense. Anyone who knows Jozy knows that he LOVES to drift to the flanks, either to pull away defenders or to get a chance to run at someone with the ball.
I think Holden and Bradley perform the same box-to-box job in the middle, but bring their own edge. Holden seems to have better touch, passing, and vision as you said and focuses on helping his team work the ball through the midfield. Bradley is a probably a better tackler and seems to provide more direct support for the forwards. Could I see Holden starting over Bradley? Sure. I just think that our best talent will be on the field when we play Holden, Bradley, and Jones in the center of a 4-3-3/4-2-3-1/4-2-1-3 shape.
—Dempsey——Altidore——Donovan—
—————–Holden—————–
————Jones——Bradley———-
Bornstein———————Cherundolo
———Bocangra——Edu————–
—————–Howard—————–
Donovan and Dempsey get to roam the attacking third while Holden, Bradley, and Jones do the blue-collar work and provide service and late support from deeper in the midfield. I could see Edu starting over Bradley, becoming the holding player and Jones becoming the box-to-box player.
He who shall not be named.
Bolton has looked really good today. Great tight marking which closed down Everton, who never got untracked. Holden gets 7+.
ha i love how Howard dove for that last Sturridge shot.. he was probably a good 9 feet from getting a hand on it
they’ve certainly been bossing in there today, no doubt.
I’m sure he’s screwing over some team somewhere in the world today…:)
I don’t know what anyone else thinks, but I really like the pairing of Holden and Davies in the middle of the park. They both have great work rates and are both two way players. Really great to watch.
didn’t know Coubilaly was the ref today
Holden just got robbed. Nice finish. Goal not allowed! Only part of the ball was out of bounds.
ref doesnt give Stuart Holden his goal…
Goal should have stood.
holden ALMOST goal…. ohhhh they say no, apparently it went over the endline before sturridge cut it back to holden who buried it top shelf!
Replay shows it didn’t go completely over the line… too bad for Holden.
Stu with a great finish, but the ref ruled it had gone over the end line…Bad call on replay.
Damn near goal from Holden
oh my dear god that wouldve been a GREAT goal by Holden hahah, so unlucky
Mark Davies has been looking good to me.
Taylor should not be starting infront of Lee, if anything they should bring on Elmander for Taylor and let Lee go 70+ then bring on Rodrigo.
That said, STURRRIDGGGGGGGEEE!!!!!!!!
loves this team
oh and Wheater greater than Zat Knight, Zat has been looking shaky since boxing day
wow, some real lackluster defending by Everton there, Sturridge bangs in a failed clearance past Howard. Howard had no chance. 2-0 Bolton! 67th min
seems like he’s taking the long range FKs meant to whip in to the box (and some corners), and the older vets want the closer scoring chance FKs.
Wow, the British announcer just called out Holden for diving. Now that should stir some of us up.
hehe, Commentator just told Holden to “man up” after he went down from a handfull of Feillani to his face. If he thinks that’s bad, he should watch some other Euro leagues… not mentioning any…
dang, why did they stop stu from taking freekicks…
Holden looked great in first half – energy, quickness, tackling.
He has a calf injury. Turkish doctors said he could be out up to 3 months. Another set back for the kid…. 🙁
Bradley has a way better body of work at both club and international and is younger.
Stewie doesn’t let anything get in the way of his hair looking immaculately coiffed.
Hannover’s just scored, 1-0.
Agreed on all accounts, especially the hair.
definitely wasn’t Knight. It was either Cahill or a Heitinga own goal
bolton have had little posession and arent playing thru Stu or the other midfielders at all. not sure if its just this game, but maybe this is the reason for their slide since the break?
For you followers of Rossi / Villareal, he just tweeted that he’s sick and not playing today…
“Not playing today..feel too sick. #vamossubmarino”
…to be exact.
Better first touch, vision, passing, long range shooting, tackling, hair
I’d be interested to hear your case for that
He hasn’t dressed for Hannover in a while. Don’t know if he has an injury or not.
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