By FRANCO PANIZO
Carlos Bocanegra may be one of the most experienced players on the U.S. men's national team, but he has likely been seeking advice from Maurice Edu in advance of Rangers' upcoming game.
Bocanegra is likely to get his first taste of the Old Firm rivalry on Sunday, as Rangers is set to face Celtic in the first of three matches between the two teams scheduled this season. As is the case in most of their matches, Rangers and Celtic will be playing with first place in the standings on the line. Rangers are currently the league leader over its rival by one point, and strong outings by Bocanegra, Edu and Alejandro Bedoya could be enough to help Rangers build on that advantage.
Another marquee match involving an American Abroad this weekend is Sunday's Tottenham-Liverpool fixture. Brad Friedel should be given his fourth start for the Spurs as they look to pick up their second win of the young season.
Wondering what other intriguing game might be on tap? Look no further than the Bayern Munich-Schalke 04 tilt. Jermaine Jones will be hoping to make his second appearance of the season, but even if he doesn't, the match between two of top six teams in Bundesliga should be entertaining.
Here is who the Americans Abroad play this weekend:
FRIDAY
Ricardo Clark and Eintracht Frankfurt play Hansa Rostock.
Edson Buddle and FC Ingolstadt 04 play Dynamo Dresden.
SATURDAY
Brad Guzan, Eric Lichaj and Aston Villa play Newcastle United. (Lichaj is out injured.)
Stuart Holden and Bolton Wanderers play Zak Whitbread and Norwich City.
Tim Howard and Everton play Wigan Athletic.
Robbie Findley and Nottingham Forest play Conor Doyle and Derby County.
Mike Grella and Brentford play Preston North End.
Frank Simek and Carlisle United play Chesterfield. (Simek is out injured.)
Anton Peterlin and Walsall play Scunthorpe United.
David Yelldell and Bayer Leverkusen play FC Cologne.
Alfredo Morales and Hertha Berlin play FC Augsburg.
Timmy Chandler and FC Nurnberg play Werder Bremen.
Fabian Johnson, Daniel Williams and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim play VfL Wolfsburg. (Johnson is out injured.)
Eugene Starikov and FK Tom Tomsk play Krasnodar.
Brad Rusin and HB Koge play AGF Aarhus.
Ryan Miller and Halmstads BK play Kalmar FF.
Josh Gatt, Sean Cunningham and Molde FK play Fredrikstad.
Adrian Ruelas and Jaguares de Chiapas play Edgar Castillo and Club America.
DaMarcus Beasley and Puebla play Chivas de Guadalajara.
Jose Torres and Pachuca play Atlas.
Michael Orozco and San Luis play Santos Laguna.
Sonny Guadarrama and Atlante play Jonathan Bornstein and Tigres UANL.
SUNDAY
Brad Friedel and Tottenham Hotspur play Liverpool.
Clint Dempsey and Fulham play Manchester City.
Jonathan Spector and Birmingham City play Southampton.
Maurice Edu, Alejandro Bedoya, Carlos Bocanegra and Rangers play Dominic Cervi and Celtic.
Michael Bradley and Chievo Verona play Parma.
Steve Cherundolo and Hannover 96 play Borussia Dortmund.
Jermaine Jones and Schalke 04 play Bayern Munich.
Bobby Wood and TSV 1860 Munich play FSV Frankfurt.
Matt Taylor and SC Paderborn 07 play VfL Bochum.
Quentin Westberg and Evian Thonon Gaillard play Paris Saint-Germain.
Jozy Altidore and AZ Alkmaar play RKC Waalwijk.
Sacha Kljestan and RSC Anderlecht play KAA Gent.
Conor O'Brien and SonderjyskE play FC Midtjylland.
Michael Parkhurst and FC Nordsjaelland play Clarence Goodson and Brondby IF.
Chris Rolfe, Marcus Tracy and Aalborg BK play FC Copenhagen. (Tracy is out injured.)
Samuel Petrone and Mjallby AIF play Helsingborg.
Mix Diskerud and Stabaek IF play Odd Grenland.
Herculez Gomez and Estudiantes Tecos play Club Tijuana.
MONDAY
Luis Robles and Karlsruher SC play St Pauli.
Oguchi Onyewu and Sporting CP play Rio Ave
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Which matches are you most looking forward to? How do you see Bocanegra, Edu, Bedoya and Rangers faring in the Old Firm derby? Think Friedel will help guide Tottenham to a win? Expecting Jones to play against Bayern Munich?
Share your thoughts below.
“He is great at crossing, but what is the point if your crosses never produce assist or goals.”
That is sort of like saying what is the point of having Peyton Manning if no one catches his passes. And of course that is true but it’s besides the point.
Having 50% of the equation means you that much less to worry about. The only other US fullbacks who cross as well are Dolo and Spector and Spector doesn’t really play RB anymore.
He can’t play for germany genius. He already filed his one time switch…key word being one. He can’t switch again. bye
Buddle looks to be the star striker for his club. 2nd Bundesliga perhaps but still good.
Buddle scores TWICE in the first half…. 2-2 at half-time. Well done, Edson!
BUDDLE!!! Goal in the third minute. Eddy the Eagle strikes again…this weekend is gettin off to a good start.
The flaw with this listing is that it implies these guys will be playing. So many don’t and rarely see action.
Get over myself? I didn’t realize I was self-promoting. I’ll be more careful in the future.
Where? Like, Iceland?
Side note except for the assist vs Hannover for club.
Please, get over yourself Chandler is not gonna play for Germany. If he does play he is not that big of a lose in my opinion. As long as we have a healthy Williams and a health F. Johnson I am fine with losing Chandler. He has not assisted in nor scored any goals for the nats or club. He is great at crossing, but what is the point if your crosses never produce assist or goals.
There’ll be more space in this column next week when Timmy Chandler is no longer an American abroad.
looks like he also played 90 minutes for the reserves in their 3-3 draw against Arsenal on Wednesday.
Any news on Stu? Been a week and a half since the reserve game with jurgen in attendance, and I know there was (unlikely) talk of him being in the lineup last weekend v man u
They offered him a 3 year guaranteed contract. For a player of his age, that’s significant.
What are the chances of Buddle or Clark playing today? I won’t search for a stream if their not on the 18. Anyone?
He joined because he wants to win a trophy and he’s nearing the end of his career.
Can Chance Myers move abroad, please?
Bradley probably will be a sub.
Nah, seems Bedoya picked up an injury.
Hopefully Bradley makes his debut for Chievo.
Has Bedoya played for Rangers yet?
Will they actually start to play him regularly now that the transfer window is closed and he’s still there?
Looks like Fulham has their hands full with the PL and EL and it’s going to be tough, especially for Dempsey as Fulham’s firepower ain’t exactly reliable.
hope Bradley gets the start this Sunday.
Looks like Friedel is for sure the no1 at Tottenham and I read that Gomes is looking to move come January. It’s amazing that several years ago Arsenal didn’t move for him or Man U.
so why exactly did Bocanegra join Rangers? They’re not in the CL and they don’t pay that much in Scotland.
Jermaine Jones. Wow, Remember him?