photo by Michael Janosz/ISIphotos.com
By FRANCO PANIZO
The U.S. U-20 men's national team is one win away from reaching this summer's World Cup, and one player who could be on the team that isn't right now is Joshua Gatt. The 19-year-old attacker made that more likely with a start for Molde FK this weekend.
Having made his Molde debut by coming off the bench in the club's season opener two weeks ago, Gatt earned his first start of the season on Sunday. Gatt played 78 minutes in the team's 2-2 draw with Tromso, helping earn Molde its first point of the season.
Frank Simek and Carlisle United didn't win their first point of the campaign, but they did claim the Johnstone's Paint Trophy with a 1-0 triumph over Brentford. Simek started and played 90 minutes in the match.
It wasn't all good news this weekend. U.S. men's national team defenders Oguchi Onyewu and Jonathan Bornstein each failed to see the field for their respective clubs. Onyewu did not play in a 2-0 FC Twente victory over PSV Eindhoven that raised the Twente to first place, while Bornstein sat on the bench for Tigres UANL's 2-0 win versus Atlante.
Here is how the Americans Abroad performed this weekend:
England
PREMIERSHIP
- Tim Howard started and played 90 minutes in Everton's 2-2 draw vs. Aston Villa on Saturday.
- Clint Dempsey started and played 90 minutes in Fulham's 3-0 win vs. Blackpool on Saturday.
- Brad Friedel started, played 90 minutes and made three saves in Aston Villa's 2-2 draw vs. Everton on Saturday.
- Michael Bradley did not dress for Aston Villa.
- Marcus Hahnemann dressed but did not play in Wolverhampton Wanderers' 4-1 loss vs. Newcastle United on Saturday.
- Jonathan Spector dressed but did not play in West Ham United's 4-2 loss vs. Manchester United on Saturday.
- Stuart Holden did not dress in Bolton Wanderers' 2-1 loss vs. Birmingham on Saturday. He is recovering from a knee injury.
- Jermaine Jones started and played 89 minutes in Blackburn Rovers' 0-0 draw vs. Arsenal on Saturday.
CHAMPIONSHIP
- Conor Doyle did not dress in Derby County's 4-1 loss vs. Cardiff City on Saturday. He is with the U.S. U-20 national team.
- Zak Whitbread started and played 90 minutes in Norwich City's 6-0 win vs. Scunthorpe United on Saturday.
- Eric Lichaj started and played 90 minutes in Leeds United's 4-1 win vs. Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
- Robbie Findley did not dress in Nottingham Forest's 4-1 loss vs. Leeds United on Saturday. He is recovering from a thigh injury.
- Eddie Johnson started and played 59 minutes in Preston North End's 2-1 win vs. Swansea City on Saturday.
- Brad Guzan started, played 90 minutes, received a yellow card and made 5 saves in Hull City's 1-0 loss vs. Millwall on Saturday.
LEAGUE ONE
- Frank Simek started and played 90 minutes in Carlisle United's 1-0 win vs. Brentford in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final on Sunday.
- Anton Peterlin and Plymouth Argyle did not play this weekend.
- Mike Grella came off the bench and played 11 minutes in Swindon Town's 1-1 draw vs. Hartlepool United on Saturday.
Scotland
PREMIER LEAGUE
- Maurice Edu started and played 90 minutes in Rangers' 3-2 loss vs. Dundee United on Saturday.
- Dominic Cervi and Celtic's match vs. Inverness Caledonian Thistle on Saturday was postponed.
Germany
BUNDESLIGA
- Steve Cherundolo started and played 90 minutes in Hannover 96's 4-1 loss vs. Borussia Dortmund on Saturday.
- DaMarcus Beasley did not dress for Hannover 96.
- Ricardo Clark started and played 90 minutes in Eintracht Frankfurt's 1-1 draw vs. VfL Wolfsburg on Sunday.
- Daniel Williams did not dress in SC Freiburg's 1-1 draw vs. Mainz on Saturday. He is recovering from a knee injury.
- Timmy Chandler did not dress in Nurnberg's 1-0 loss vs. FC Cologne on Sunday. He was serving a one-game suspension for last game's ejection.
BUNDESLIGA 2
- David Yelldell started, played 90 minutes, received a yellow card for a penalty kick foul and made one save in MSV Duisburg's 2-1 loss vs. SpVgg Greuther Furth on Saturday.
- Luis Robles came off the bench and played 34 minutes in Karlsruhe's 2-2 draw vs. VfL Osnabruck on Friday.
- Edson Buddle started and played 66 minutes in FC Ingolstadt 04's 2-1 win vs. Energie Cottbus on Friday.
- Amaechi Igwe did not dress for FC Ingolstadt 04. He is recovering from a knee injury.
- Bobby Wood did not dress in TSV 1860 Munich's 2-1 loss vs. Alemania Aachen on Sunday. He is with the U.S. U-20 national team.
- Alfredo Morales did not dress in Hertha Berlin's 2-0 loss vs. SC Paderborn 07 on Sunday.
France
LIGUE 1
- Carlos Bocanegra started and played 90 minutes in St Etienne's 1-1 draw vs. Valenciennes on Sunday.
LIGUE 2
- Quentin Westberg dressed but did not play in Evian Thonon Gaillard's 1-0 win vs. Nimes on Friday.
Netherlands
- Oguchi Onyewu dressed but did not play in Twente Enschede's 2-0 win vs. PSV Eindhoven on Saturday.
Turkey
SUPER LIG
- Jozy Altidore came off the bench and played 4 minutes in Bursaspor's 0-0 draw vs. Fenerbahce on Sunday.
BANK ASYA 1. LIG
- Freddy Adu came off the bench and played 32 minutes in Caykur Rizespor's 3-0 loss vs. Mersin Idmanyurdu on Sunday.
Belgium
- Sacha Kljestan dressed but did not play in RSC Anderlecht's 3-1 loss vs. Standard Liege on Sunday.
Denmark
SUPERLIGA
- Michael Parkhurst started and played 45 minutes in FC Nordsjaelland's 0-0 draw vs. Horsens on Sunday.
- Marcus Tracy did not dress in Aalborg BK's 1-0 loss vs. Odense BK on Saturday. He is recovering from a knee injury.
- Chris Rolfe came off the bench and played 14 minutes for Aalborg BK.
- Clarence Goodson did not dress in Brondby IF's 2-2 draw vs. Silkeborg on Sunday. He is recovering from a toe injury.
1ST DIVISION
- Benny Feilhaber did not dress in AGF Aarhus' 3-0 win vs. Kolding on Sunday. He is recovering from a thigh injury.
Sweden
- Alejandro Bedoya and Orebro SK play IFK Goteborg on Monday.
- Ryan Miller dressed but did not play in Halmstads BK's 0-0 draw vs. Kalmar on Saturday.
- Gale Agbossoumonde and Djurgardens IF play AIK on Monday.
Norway
- Mikkel Diskerud started and played 90 minutes in Stabaek IF's 2-1 win vs. Rosenborg on Sunday.
- Josh Gatt started and played 78 minutes in Molde FK's 2-2 draw vs. Tromso on Sunday.
Mexico
- Jose Torres started, played 67 minutes and received a yellow card in Pachuca's 3-1 win vs. Morelia on Sunday.
- Herculez Gomez dressed but did not play for Pachuca.
- Edgar Castillo dressed but did not play in Puebla's 5-4 loss vs. America on Sunday.
- Sammy Ochoa did not dress in Estudiantes Tecos U.A. de G.'s 1-1 draw vs. Atlas on Saturday.
- Sonny Guadarrama did not dress in Atlante's 2-0 loss vs. Tigres UANL on Saturday.
- Jonathan Bornstein dressed but did not play in Tigres UANL's 2-0 win vs. Atlante on Saturday.
- Gustavo Adrian Ruelas did not dress in Santos Laguna's 3-0 win vs. Cruz Azul on Saturday.
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Surprised Gatt earned his first start for Molde in just the second game of the season? What do you think of Simek and Carlisle United winning the Johnstone's Paint Trophy? Expecting Onyewu and Bornstein to get back into their club's starting lineups next week?
Share your thoughts below.
That’s just it – journalists have just opinions based on the same things we’re seeing. I’ve watched soccer longer than most of the journalists that have an opinion – the only difference is a I don’t have a blog/paying gig at a media outlet.
I respect other fans’ opinions just as much and pay attention to other coaches/players’ opinions more.
Plus, Bradley played more and Americans STILL care more for the hard worker than the guy trying to create something. Like against Paraguay, we can pass all we want, until we get people into the system who know what to do with it, things won’t change. Jones/Edu pushed the ball forward. Edu though played terribly.
It seems based on Jones’ comments, he wants to be paired with Edu.
I can agree with that. I didn’t want to come off like I was ripping Jones, but apparently I did. Like I said, I like the guy and think he really adds something to the National Team. I think that without Holden, a CM tandem of Bradley and Jones is the best option, but I see no harm in experimenting with other combos.
I agree with you. None of those players get the length of rope Bradley gets. Give Torres or Diskerud 10 starts with at least 60 minutes and then evaluate them at the end of the session. It’s hard to walk on the pitch unfamiliar with the rest of the squad and shine.
Umm, I disagree with that remark. IMO, Jones played as well or better than Michael against Argentina (and I’m not saying either played well). Jones was far more active around the ball then Bradley. Granted Jones turned it over alot, several times when trying to thread balls through narrow spaces, but HE WAS THERE involved. Bradley was non-existent in the first half. It wasn’t till Jones went out of the game that Bradley showed up. Could it be that the ground Jones was covering limited Michael some? I think so.
Bradley should have been the one to be subbed out.
No agrument here. Similar to the USMNT they have a surplus of defensive midfielders.
I think if the standard that the U.S. National Team Coach holds his players to for selection to is that “players are currently playing regular minutes for their respective teams”, then that should be the standard.
I personally like Michael Bradley as a player. However, he shouldn’t be starting. He isnt match fit. It’s hypocritical and doesn’t merely just stink of nepotism for his dad to being starting him.
If I could read Bob Bradley’s mind I think it might go something like “if Mikey shows well at the National team level maybe he’ll get a start at AV”, purely speculative on my part of course.
CO-SIGNED
Villa is close to being relegated. They better find a better midfield combo.
I hope MB starts getting at least a few games in the EPL. He is a good player for us and does the little things on the field that helps us win. With that said, I’m also glad that we have a variety of players to choose from in the midfield. Disk,Benny,Torres,Adu,and Bedoya all have the talent to be that midfield offensive weapon we are in need of. So It’s a no lose situation for us. The USMNT will be fine with MB on the bench or not, we have others. Him being a regular starter for us even though he rides the bench is a no go for me.
Yes the problem is it goes both ways. Someone says they want to see something other than Bradley in the midfield, and instantly we are vilified. Then you get people who take it to the next level (whichever side) and logic flies out the door, and people say “Bradley is not worthy”, or others who defend Bradley start ripping M. Edu or J. Jones for no apparent reason. People need to see a grey in this matter, and not make it so Black and White.
Hmmm well then….. Have a nice day 🙂
If I come off as overly defending Bradley and overcritical of Jones, I apologize. I just think that some people are irrationally over critical of Bradley (not saying you). Truth be told it is a tiring debate.
I agree Bradley has a history with cards as well. Obviously. Actually, I agree with everything that you said. I think Villa has a better overall squad, except perhaps in central defense.
Tired? He hasn’t seen much playing time besides the USMNT. Dempsey and the gang when 90 minutes or so. And they are starters in their team meaning if someone is tires, is Dempsey and the rest of the USMNT players who are regulars for their club. Let’s me realistic, you love justifying everything that says Bradley in a sentence.lol
If you play Torres, Adu, Benny or Diskerud repetitively, regardless of what they do for they’re club…eventually they’ll play well especially if their dad’s coached the team. What happen when he played his first game for Villa that he was actually being evaluated (like most midfielders on the national team always are) he sucked. Let me enlighten you, he’s not a bad player but Jones is a better CM than MB, hands down….Better defender, has better vision and better impact on offense.
If Bedoya, Torres or Benny had the confidence of the coaching staff and knew they could take risks to try to make things happen during game time, better yet if their daddy was head coach MB will have difficulty seeing the pitch with his current record…
And by the way, Good D. Midfielders should have a decent card total….. So I am in no way bashing either player.
This is why I find you overly defending Bradley, and then pointing out J. Jones’s “flaws” amusing:
Career yellow cards for Jermaine Jones: 43 Career Yellow cards for M. Bradley – 45; Red Cards – Jermaine Jones -4 Michael Bradley – 2 …… Jermaine Jones has only gotten ‘into it’ with one manager who was fired, M. Bradley has gotten ‘into it’ with one manager who still has a job (for now), Judgment call on Blackburn vs. Aston Villa on Depth of squad (I personally think AV is a deeper squad) Blackburn rovers and AV are sitting on 34 points with Blackburn ahead on goal differential.
Since MB is getting no playing time in Villa and was coming off the bench for Gladbach in the latter months….its clear that he’s keeping his job based on passed glory. In that case BB needs to bring in Beasley and shut the haters up because now we know you don’t even have to make the bench of your club team to be a starter on the USMNT……hahahahaha I love it..
Didn’t say you…I said people. I don’t think you were over critical of him in this post. Maybe you were in past, I have no. I don’t look at names and memorize what people post. But people do tend to be overly critical of the guy.
Maybe you should rewatch the friendlies from last week. I’m not saying that Michael Bradley is brilliant, but he is a solid player, was the best CDM we had, and fully deserved the time that he got.
As far as an automatic starter–and this is probably the most hackneyed debate in US soccer at the moment–if you have someone else with better skill in mind, please, enlighten us. Jones probably deserves one of the CDM spots, but Edu just was not impressive during the friendlies.
Lol show me where I am over critical of Bradley… thanks
Really? Oy.
Seems like Lichaj all over again. Got some games at first (although Lichaj arguably performed better than Bradley in most of the AV games that he got…but in Bradley’s defense, he also had to transition leagues), fell out of favor, then the bench, and then finally slipped back into the reserves.
Just can’t figure out why Houllier went through all of that effort to get him if he’s not going to play him.
Why is it when other players fail to make the starting 11 they are judged on performance but when Bradley can’t make the team, Houllier dislikes him, the very man that brought him there??? Secondly if there was so much talented depth in the Villa midfield why did they waste time to get him from Gladbach??
What coach in their right mind wouldn’t want to field their best/strongest players? If he’s not even making the bench for Villa that should tell you something about MB. What does he bring to the USMNT that makes him a definite 90 min starter? Skill….like Dempsey, speed….like Donovan…..strength and control like Jones? CM is supposed to be one of the most skillful players on the team, strong at defense and an integral part of controlling the ball, orchestrating the plays and supplying the offense. When was the last time he had an assist for the USMNT or proved to be dangerous on offense?
“One of the best players on the USMNT” is a statement Bradley’s not backing up at this current moment. Maybe it is too early to judge MB but he’s not as good as people make him out to be
This really isn’t going anywhere, I just think we have a different perspective on the same thing. I like Jones and hope he continues to succeed. I also like Bradley and hope he does succeed. Further, I think that they will inevitably be the best CM pairing for the time being. Both Bradley and Jones have had a history of clashes with managers that has caused them problems for whatever reason. My only problem is, I don’t think it is fair or right to compare the situations at Blackburn and Villa. As I said, different situations.
I’m not 100% sure if you can really compare Dempsey and Bradley’s situations. Dempsey is an integral part of Fulham and has, at times throughout the season, seemed to singlehandedly be the one keeping them afloat. Bradley hasn’t established himself at Villa–they don’t have the mentality that they HAVE to play him, even if he’s tired, because they need him.
I definitely do agree with you about the Houllier comments and the fact that AV has such a deep midfield. It strikes me as really strange that he would go through all that effort to scout out Bradley at the WC, keep him in mind for half a year, and compete with all of those other clubs who were interested in him only to have him sit on the bench. But, then again, rationality doesn’t really seem to be Houllier’s defining quality.
Listen, I like Jones and think he should be a starter for the United States. However, any criticism of him is well founded. He picks up a lot of cards, that is a fact. He had a ready made spot open at Blackburn, that is a fact. He has a history of attitude problems, fact. It is not conjecture, it is a statement of fact. For some reason people who are overly critical of Bradley feel a need to put Jones up on a pedestal.
Anyone else catch that Bradley played in the reserve game today?
Also, Jones had an amazing game. It was the first time I’ve seen him play that I genuinely liked his performance.
Just noting that Lichaj had a very good game for Leeds. He had a great assist on one of their goals and did some very solid defending, especially considering the fact that Leed’s CBs seemed to be a bit confused about what exactly the definition of “staying in your position” is. I kind of wonder what might happen to him if Leeds gets the promotion to the EPL.
I guess, though, that that would depend on whether or not Houllier sticks around. I know that the owners are insisting that they want to keep him, but, managerial merry-go-round or not, that’s just seeming stupider and stupider as the season goes on. The team seems to be falling apart, there are rumors of some very serious disagreements with players, and the majority of the fans hate him. I know that a lot of people are laying blame on Bradley for not getting playing time, but in his defense, Houllier just seems completely irrational.
Oh sorry poor attitude was also referenced as he openly criticized his manager….
So say you on the undeserved MoM. The fact is Jones looks good in the EPL, and for some strange reason people who overly defend Bradley, seem to try and talk down Jones (ie he will just get red cards every match, hope he doesn’t break so and so’s leg when he has no history of injuring people, Blackburn is a weak side so he gets playing time, etc). No clue why, but that’s how it is. Maybe Jones isn’t American enough, I don’t know.
Just making sure, it is true Jermaine went to a team that needed him. Bradley didn’t go to a team with that kind of need.
“Fair”..as in when its fair for “all” midfielders he can’t get play time but when he’s on the US national team he’s an automatic starter….mmmmm
I agree… I’m a Bradley fan, and it seems to me he’s the one always working to win balls in the midfield (even if he gives up almost as many), but I don’t see why we don’t experiment a little bit in the games that don’t matter.
That said, I wouldn’t have taken him out in either of the two March friendlies. He was about the only one making steals against Messi & co. and we were desperately pushing for an equalizer against Paraguay.
No it was over tactics, according to German press (however who really knows)…. Just weird that a lazy guy gets an immediate call back from the new manager.
No, I am not. If I didn’t think Jermaine Jones wasn’t any good I would say it. I can be supportive of both players. My point is when it comes to getting minutes, these guys have to compete against other talented players. All things being equal, the situation at Blackburn made it easier for Jones beak into the lineup.
Undeserved….he was slow and mediocre in possession..and was lucky not to give up a penalty that much. He has looked better recently as I said. Listen, the point is that it takes time to adjust to the EPL. Look at Edin Dzeko…banging in goals for Wolfsburg now can’t even sniff the pitch and hasn’t looked good when he does. All I am saying is that Jones situation at Blackburn and Bradley’s at Villa are not comparable.
Yeah, argument with coach over lack of effort and poor attitude. As I said.
Oh obviously I’m talking Shalke
Oh same goes for those few who think he has no skill….
BMG let him go because they are preparing for relegation because it is essentially a certainty. Of all BMG players,only Bradley would not have wages cut in the event of relegation. The option to buy specified in the loan is at a set price, first choice to Villa. They essentially locked in a buy price for him, whereas if they waited they probably would have gotten less because they would be desperate to move him.
Should have been subbed out though. He looked exhausted. He never really looks fast, but he seemed to lag a bit. Think if he was a bit fresher would have bagged at least one goal.
absolutely, i was just about to post that. if he continues to get minutes, he needs to be re-called.
No he and the manager got into a fight. They didn’t see eye to eye. Manager was fired and the first move by the new manager was to say Jermaine Jones will not be sold and will be back with the squad….. Sigh
I was going to say the same thing. Let the downward spiral to riding the pine begin.
+ 1 Everyone defending Bradley, seem to see only Black and white, or have a need to polarize. What is wrong with wanting to see something else?
Oh and that was Jones’s first game with the club…..
It’s hard to say why Bradley’s not getting minutes right now at Villa. I’m not sure I believe that it’s just because he played two friendlies and then had a long trip back to England. Dempsey was in the exact same scenario and went 90 minutes for Fulham. Villa is a pretty deep team in the midfield, so that certainly could be a factor. As well, Houllier strikes me as the kind of coach that’s hard to “get in with,” and very easy to fall out of favor with- see Eric Lichaj. However, it also seems odd that Villa would go through the expense and effort of a loan deal and then not use him. I guess time will tell…
Except Jones was named Blackburn’s MoM. Horrible start after being transferred.
outstanding.
+1
I think it was more that he was cramping after running himself into the ground. Put in a massive effort. Something, frankly that had been lacking in his play until then. After all, he was banished to the Schalke reserves for lack of effort and poor attitude.