By FRANCO PANIZO
Stuart Holden's road to recovery is officially complete.
Having been sidelined since March with a devastating knee injury, Holden played in his first official match of the season for Bolton Wanderers on Tuesday. The U.S. men's national team midfielder started and went the distance in Bolton's 2-0 triumph over Aston Villa in the third round of the Carling Cup, a promising return for a player looking to get back to the form that had many considering him one of the best midfielders in the Premier League.
Holden's return to the field wasn't the only bit of good news. Robbie Findley once again found the back of the net in Carling Cup action, scoring his third of the tournament and fourth overall this season across all competitions. Findley's goal came on a blast from about 30 yards out, but that wasn't enough for Nottingham Forest to avoid elimation, as it fell to Newcastle United 4-3 on an 120th-minute goal from Fabricio Coloccini.
Here's how the Americans Abroad who had Carling Cup games on Tuesday fared:
CARLING CUP
- Stuart Holden started and played 90 minutes in Bolton Wanderers' 2-0 win vs.. Aston Villa.
- Brad Guzan dressed but did not play in Aston Villa's 2-0 loss vs. Bolton Wanderers.
- Eric Lichaj did not dress for Aston Villa. He is recovering from a hip injury.
- Brad Friedel did not dress in Tottenham Hotspur's 7-6 penalty kick loss (after a 0-0 draw) vs. Stoke City.
- Robbie Findley started, played 120 minutes and scored a GOAL in Nottingham Forest's 4-3 extra time loss vs. Newcastle United.
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What do you think of Holden's return? Hoping Findley gets called into the U.S. men's national team?
Share your thoughts below.
It is spelled Moron, good catch genius.
Do you see Findley scoring goals like Gerd Muller? No. Do you see Findley scoring goals at all? No, not really. He got a goal against Newcastle United early in the Carling Cup, and suddenly because BB is gone, and its Klinsmann now, he’s going to change his ways and play well? Give me a break. Take off your Findley-colored glasses and realize that you’re in the minority.
Besides, if Findley is so amazing, why hasn’t Klinsmann picked him up for any of these friendlies? I’d almost guarantee we dont see him this year. And I pray we dont see him next year either, cause I’d actually like to see the US score goals.
Absolutely agree! Call up Davies, Buddle, Gomez but NO to Findley. Findley, E.Johnson, Rico Clark and Bornstein should never be called up again.
Very beautiful flowers! As they satisfyingly? I’ll buy her favorite birthday!
From the Guardian article on the Bolton-Aston Villa game:
“Stuart Holden, making his return after six months out injured, looked as though he had never been away, and his distribution, along with Fabrice Muamba’s physicality, gave Bolton a clear edge in midfield, where Villa looked distinctly lightweight.”
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/sep/20/aston-villa-bolton-wanderers-carling-cup
Findlay has no soccer brain. Fast, but dumb
For now, I agree. We can’t look at a few goals by Findley and think the USMNT is saved. Could he get better? Certainly, but I don’t think he became our best prospect since the world cup just because he scored a few goals. If he continues to score and get better in the next 6 months or so, then call him in, but there are plenty of guys scoring goals in MLS and that hasn’t translated to very much on the international stage (i.e. Findley when he was still in the MLS, Casey, Cooper, and Wondo to name a few).
Altidore, for as much crap as we give the guy, is going to be very good I think. Partnered with Agudelo, the offensive prowess of the USMNT should only get better as the two get better individually, and as a unit. Not to mention we have Bunbury, Sapong, Davies if in form, Buddle, Gomez, Starikov, and some solid young players from our lower age group NT’s if we need strikers.
Even with these players, I don’t think our strikers are our biggest problem. It’s easier to score when you actually get the ball in the area. Thus, our midfield needs to up the creativity, while our strikers produce better runs. As Klinsmann keeps our guys going with the new style of play, we will ultimately be far better off. We simply need better link up and less congestion when passing. Open up the midfield with more attack minded players to assist the strikers up top.
Adding in guys to our midfield like Holden, Mixx, Fabian Johnson, etc. will help with the creativity, whether a winger or an attacking or deep-lying CM. This will lead to better possession, chances, and ultimately goals for our strikers.
“This is what the kids call Epic Fail.”
/Saul
I’ve never heard that restriction on the use of ‘talisman’ before. It just basically means ‘good luck charm’ dude.
Convinced and i agree, we have time to experiment!
mmm, I think you are wrong with the “he couldn’t even make the mediocre national team” statement, I’ll agree that he wasn’t starting for the national team but mainly because it was BB’s decision. Holden is probably one of the best Mids that we currently have.
“Stuart Holden, playing for the first time since rupturing knee ligaments in March, bossed the midfield.
And manager Owen Coyle said: “Given he had six months out and the horror injury, to play at that level was marvellous. We’re better with him.
“It was important we picked ourselves up after the home defeat to Norwich.”
DREAM TEAM STAR MAN – STUART HOLDEN (Bolton) ”
@Mingjai — Excellent. Thanks for that link.