With the European transfer window shut for the winter, a number of Americans are settling in to their new clubs, having just been loaned or transferred elsewhere. For a few others, though, their club situation is anything but secure.
Americans Jozy Altidore, Michael Bradley, Freddy Adu, Oguchi Onyewu, Eddie Johnson, Robbie Findley, Edson Buddle and Jermaine Jones have all made recent club changes during this last transfer period.
Which other Americans could use a move? Here's a rundown of those who would benefit from a club change and might still get that chance in the coming weeks:
Take Eric Lichaj, for example, who enjoyed his first taste of first-team action with Aston Villa early in the season only to find himself in manager Gerard Houllier's notorious doghouse. He hasn't played since the end of December and has seen the club bring in an U-21 English international at his position.
Benny Feilhaber has been rumored to be leaving AGF Aarhus since the team was demoted from the Danish Superliga at the end of last season, but despite links to clubs in Europe, Mexico and Brazil, he has stayed put.
Then there's a player like Celtic goalkeeper Dom Cervi, who has recently been in the U.S. national team picture despite not playing a single club minute this season. Fortunately for players in his position, loans are still possible even with the transfer window closed, and players can be transferred to other countries whose windows are still open.
Which American would you like to see get a change of club scenery? Cast your vote here:
How did you vote? Who would you like to see get a chance with another team?
Share your thoughts below.
Fair point on the use of the word “invaluable” – “valuable” might have been a better choice. Certainly valuable as a sub, as you mention.
I do think he has potential to develop into more than a sub and into a player that we could rightly designate as “invaluable” – but I don’t think that will happen with his current club.
“He proved himself invaluable to the USA (though I don’t think BB gave him enough playing time) during the World Cup this summer only to go back to a relatively obscure league.”
Invaluable is a little over the top. He is a great spark off the bench.
When he went into the Ghana game he had an excellent chance to score and missed it badly. After about 20 minutes he disappeared; this is typical for him. BB doesn’t play Benny more, I believe, because Benny is only good for about half an hour or so, then he goes away.
I don’t know if it’s a fitness issue, if the opposition figures him out and shuts him down or if he loses interest but it’s been that way for some time.
I can’t see him in the EPl, unless BB gets the AV job and needs a super sub.
As others have pointed out, Lichaj wasn’t even supposed to be starting now. O’Neill , who supposely rated Lichaj highly, never gave him a league game.
The fact that he started his three EPL games was because the starter got hurt.
I’m a USMNT fan but it has has occurred to me that maybe he isn’t be good enough right now. Or maybe he got into it with the manager. Who knows?
Maybe Houllier was unfair in blasting the kid and maybe the doghouse thing is unfair but the last I checked, life was unfair and if Lichaj can’t take a litle adversity well, too bad, the EPL is a tough place.
Lichaj may yet come back if Walker flames out. A loan is one thing but if he makes a permanent move to another, lesser team there is no guarantee he will ever get back to the EPL.
So the question is is he going to put his head down and work his butt off to get back or is he going to pick up his ball and go home? I don’t know but I suspect Lichaj will figure it out.
That’s why it’s called professional.
Besides that it seems as if MLS makes it very hard for their players to go to Europe if they want to.
I’m kind of agreeing with this. I want to see him get playing time (although he is playing with the reserves, correct?), but I’m kind of wondering if he’d be better served staying put and trying to fight his way back. We don’t, however, know all of the details about his sudden disappearances from the first team–I’ve been wondering if there was more to it than that one poor performance against Man City.
However, Kyle Walker had a less-than stellar performance against Man United. It’ll be interesting to see how Houllier reacts to that.
Kyle Walker is there on a loan deal, though. He’ll most likely go back to Spurs at the end of the season.
Benny Feilhaber is such an underrated player IMO. He needs to get out of Denmark. I think he could be a solid EPL player. If you watch we he did for us against Spain and so many international games I don’t understand how he’s not at a higher level. His pace may not be as fast as you like, but he’s a game-changer and consistently makes plays. He sees the field as well as anyone.
Where did you hear he signed with Djugarden? Last I heard he was on Trial but and the club was interested in a Loan deal, but that Traffic raised the price.
Agreed with TimN that Lichaj should NOT move. He’s young and playing with a decent club in arguably the top league in the world. We can all agree that Houlier’s a jerk, but it’s better for Eric to stay put, work hard, and do his best to show what he can do. If he remains on the bench through next season, it might be time to start looking at other options…
To me, Feilhaber needs a move the most. He proved himself invaluable to the USA (though I don’t think BB gave him enough playing time) during the World Cup this summer only to go back to a relatively obscure league. To compete with other USA midfielders, he needs to continue to push himself and his game, and keep himself in the spotlight.
Interesting observations on Torres. He has so much potential and I love watching him play, but staying at Pachuca, and not starting regularly, will seriously hurt his chances of keeping pace with other USA midfielders.
Have to agree – at this point he’s still learning from some of the best and still in contention for playing time.
I don’t like this whole “if our boys aren’t playing, they better start running mentality”. In some cases it just isn’t going to work (Adu) but in others you tough it out (Spector) and if you’re good enough, you’ll play.
There isn’t a manager on this Earth who isn’t going to start and play his best 11, he wants to keep his job afterall.
ummm, paychecks are pretty much everything.
Gale sign with Djugarden, a top flight Swedish club located in Stockholm. It was another Stockholm team that launched another career… Charlie Davies.
He’ll do well there.
The EPL and other leagues whose transfer windows have closed can still loan a player out. The receiving league needs to have its transfer window open (e.g., the potential loan of Charlie Davies to DC United).
Lichaj needs to stay put. You can’t run away everytime the going gets tough. Yes, he made a few mistakes, mainly in one game, that has him on Houlier’s bench right now. However, I think he’s better off working hard, developing as a player in a system that has already shown him a lot, and getting his starting job back.
I cannot choose one–I feel they could all use a move.
Then I wonder why he wasn’t shipped out this winter? No takers?
Right I was going to say that Benny is good…but not that good.
Danish 1st division is about right level for him. Fact that he was offered a ticket out of Danish 2nd division tells you something.
Short-term loans are possible, at least for Lichaj.
Are you kidding me?? We need to nurture our youngsters to play center back and forget about spector playing there…he’s a natural, offensively-minded, center of the park player. End of story. If that creates starting lineup probs, then so be it.
Agreed a move to Netherlands or La Liga even 2nd division is what Torres needs now to advance his game.
With the increasingly stacked USMNT midfield Torres is on the outside looking in unless he is also advancing his game.
Bobby Convey…..I think he can help the Nat’s at LB or even as possibly the attacking mid we need in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
he played there occassionaly for Reading and did pretty well.
Spector has the distribution to do Center Back but he isn’t that good in the air…not sure if that is where his future lies…
I’d agree if they were grooming him to be the heir at his position, but they just brought in a 21 year old England international to play RB. That is the kiss of death in the EPL. At this point Lichaj needs to get out ASAP. Even if it means going to a lesser league.
Benny or Torres to Timbers!
Agboss is owned by Traffic. Traffic has a team in the lower levels of the USSF (somewhere below MLS). They purchase young talented players, loan them out to teams in europe they have connections with in order to help develop them, then sell them off. Agboss’s issue is that Traffic want too much money for what is basically an unproven (although high potential) talent.
I’m not picking on you Patrick, but all players need minutes, there isn’t really one time in a player’s career that they need minutes. Just an observation.
Sorry in advance, but since the transfer window in Europe is now CLOSED. How do guys like Lichaj and Spector..etc, etc..How do do these guys get loaned out?
At this point, Holden IS the noise.
We can bash Traffic all we want…but Gale signed the contract. To them he is a business asset and while he is under contract they can do as they please. Yes its terrible and we hate it..but its not their fault
Definitely agree on Torres. If Torres could find a place in Spain (even in a contending second division team) or Holland, he’d be much better off. He still has a lot of potential that might need a change of scenery to develop properly. He needs to become a much better two-way player.
Even ignoring the USMNT situation, for his own professional development, I think he needs to get out of Mexico.
What are you saying here?
Mike Grella. He has the talent just needs the playing time.
Spector needs to start playing Center Back. This would be his natural progression and the USMNT needs someone who can distribute out of the back.
A Championship side that is looking for that would be my take. He can do it, but my guess is that he will never be given a chance.
If Benny stays with AGF and they get promoted (currently in 1st place) back into the Danish Superliga, it’s really not a terrible spot for him to be. I’m not sure if he’s top league material at this point.
I think for Spector, the pressure is somewhat off at the moment as he is doing well in his new position and the manager seems to like him. However, he is probably not playing well enough either at mid-field (a pretty competitive position) or defense for an EPL team. I’m not sure where his future lies – I still remember those great days with the NATs playing right back – but I think I’d rather see him in a top tier Championship team getting playing time and confidence in either position.
Gotta be Benny, he is similar to the guy in Veitnam right now. Being one of the best players at a low level. It is little more then being the best USL player at this moment.
His contract is up in the summer so he’ll probably leave anyway.
I voted other because I’d like to see all of them move, except maybe Bedoya for now. And I agree with comments that Grella needs another loan as well.
I would put a Lichaj loan at the top of must list because of the momentum he had before inexplicably landing in Houllier’s doghouse.
And the Gale loan is a real no-brainer isn’t it? He needs to be playing somewhere.
Isn’t Agboss free to sign whenever he wants, since he isn’t coming off another contract? He’s like a free agent right?
Other: Grella.
The few times I’ve seen him play, I’ve been impressed. Think he can be a quality Championship (England second division) level striker if given the opportunity. Expect him to be shipped out this summer.
sure a loan to a championship team would be great but the fact that Lichaj was starting was surprising already I don’t think it is the worst thing possible for him to be an Villa’s bench at this point in his career.
Benny really should be playing at a higher level though! and Gale, if he was starting somewhere that could really help his status for the U-20’s or potential advancement to the Gold Cup/Qualifying squad.
Torres and DMB could really use a move to MLS..
Gale. Jose and Lichaj definately. I would like to see Mo Edu move to the EPL over the Summer.
Yeah same here. He’s not really going to gain anything more that he didn’t have already. He now needs to see how he fares against better teams.
Gale needs a loan, but that situation is a horse of a different color.
F*** Traffic, I don’t care if this comment gets deleted.
I heard Benny wants to stay in Denmark because the tax brakes are better now. It’s now 5 years instead of 3 before the tax hike.
holden’s doing more than making noise, he’s taken Torres’ position, and any hope he had to get it back. At this point, JFT is going to have to morph into a much better player if he’s going to stay in the conversation past 2011…
I understand the dream to play in Europe weighs heavy in the mind of most players, but I don’t understand why MLS doesn’t even seem like an option. Take Adu, for example. Or Feilhaber. The league has grown up a bit in the last 3-4 years. Professionalism from top to bottom is maturing and, to me, there doesn’t seem like much of a reason to exclude MLS from the picture. I guess paychecks are higher, which is something, but a stellar year in the States/Canada wouldn’t put anyone behind the eight-ball in my book. Then again, if they can’t cut here, I’m sure they’d be quite embarrassed.
Paco Torres needs to get out of pachuca. Iv’e been a huge supporter of his but i feel his development is now being stifled on the bench. Spain or the Netherlands would be an amazing place for him. Or even here in MLS but he needs out. Especially with cats like Mikel Diskkerud,Stu Holden already making some noise
Im more worried about Gale’s situation than Lichaj, Lichaj will continue to get reserve games and practice day in and day out with Friedal and Bradley, Gale on the other hand is more likely to be playing pick up games in Miami than actually feature in any game right now- god I hope he signs soon even if it is Sweeden.
its got to be Lichaj. He’s at the time in his career where he needs minutes now. Not just for his prospects on the USMNT, but also for his club career.