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Americans Abroad: Potts signs new deal, Lichaj nearing return and more

WHFC

The future remains bright for an up-and-coming U.S.-eligible defender.

Danny Potts, 17, put pen to paper Friday on a two-and-a-half year deal that will keep him at West Ham through the 2013-2014 season. Potts, whose father was born in the United States and played for West Ham, is eligible to play for both England and the United States. 

Potts is the captain for West Ham's U-18 team and can play either left back or in central defense. He took part in a U.S. Under-20 camp last spring, and although he has yet to feature for West Ham's first team, he has been included on the initial 20-man roster for West Ham's match against Barnsley this weekend.

The move could pay off in a big way for Potts and his Premier League aspirations. Looking down the road, West Ham is currently in position to reclaim a place in the top flight, as it sits three points behind Southampton for first place place in the League Championship.

Here are a couple of more items involving Americans Abroad:

LICHAJ NEARING RETURN

It's been almost four months since U.S. defender Eric Lichaj last played a competitive match, but his road to recovery is nearing its completion.

Lichaj, who had hip surgery in the fall, has returned to light training and is expected to rejoin his first-team teammates at Aston Villa following the turn of the new year.

"He's getting stronger every day, and it's great to see him out on the training field every day, not with us, but with the physios," Villa assistant Peter Grant told Sky Sports. "So hopefully it will be the turn of the year when he comes back and he'll be fully fit."

For Lichaj, the timing couldn't be better, as he'll either be poised for a loan move to secure regular playing time as the winter transfer window opens, or he'll fight for first-team minutes at Villa. Leeds United, where Lichaj played on loan last year, was publicly interested in re-acquiring his services before the injury put him out of action.

He has made one appearance for Villa this season, starting and scoring a goal in a Carling Cup match against Hereford United on Aug. 23.

CROPPER OUT WITH KNEE INJURY

With Fulham recalling on-loan goalkeeper David Stockdale from Ipwsich Town, it seemed to pave the way for U.S. Under-20 goalkeeper Cody Cropper to receive the lion's share of backup duties at the very least. Unfortunately for Cropper, that window for that opportunity has slammed shut.

Cropper injured his knee in training and is set for several months on the sideline, according to reports from England. Cropper, 18, appeared on the bench for one of Ipswich Town's games this season.

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Excited about Potts' new deal? Where do you think Lichaj fits in to the national-team picture upon his return? Would you like to see him go on loan again or fight for a place with Aston Villa?

Share your thoughts below. 

Comments

  1. it’s not fair to say he’s like spector, this guy was starting for leeds every game last year and he’s relatively young and leeds is a decent team, certainly better than starting for “houston” or something. He’s got a much higher ceiling than spector because he’s much more athletic, there’s not really any such thing as a good, slow, fullback.

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  2. If you want to see hate look at this burning desire of everyone to dump Dolo as soon as humanly possible.

    Pointing out that Lichaj has yet to prove himself as a full time player and has a long way to go is far from hating.

    USMNT fans love to anoint people as super stars on the basis of a couple of games. I don’t know about stronger. Lichaj may be faster but that does not necesarily make him a better player than Spector.

    When Lichaj actually plays more than 5 games in the EPL at right back then you’ll have a better sample size from which to anoint him. It would help if everyone waits until we see how he recovers from injury.

    And if any of you think Lichaj is a better left back than Chandler then they haven’t been watching the games.

    When I first saw him I thought Lichaj was Dolo’s natural successor. But the world has changed since then. Lichaj is promising but until he becomes a full time player somewhere, like Chandler, D. Williams, Johnson, Loyd, S. Williams, Franklin, Spector or anyone else likely to compete with him for playing time,that is all he is,promising. And the JK is looking at a lot of promising players.

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  3. Potts? lol his nickname should be harry potter. But, i heard good things about him for a while now. Interested in his devlopment for sure. Another player id be on the look out for that isnt known by the casual fan, Caleb Stanko- look him up, if he keeps a good head on his shoulder and digs in and keeps learning hes going to be quality.

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  4. Lichaj is far from Bornstein. He’s demonstrated far better foot skill, positioning, and mentality. The only thing Bornstein has on him is left footedness.

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  5. Chandler and Lichaj are both right backs who were moved to left back. The difference is:

    Chandler is fundamentally a far better soccer player

    Chandler is a more proven pro in the Bundesliga. Lichaj is a bench guy who keeps trying to break into the starting lineup.

    Chandler shut down Hazard, a pretty hot Belgian winger in his first game at left back and besides slumping this last time out, shows every sign of getting better.

    If anyone is concerned about his left foot Chandler scored his first goal for Nuremberg this year with a left footed bomb.

    It’s taken the US nearly ten years or more to find a suitable left back in Chandler. Why anyone would think to move him after all that hasn’t been watching the US the last ten years.

    As for Dolo, he may be one of the best US players, certainly at right back, ever to play. I’m not convinced he is finished.

    But if he is there is a far longer list of suitable candidates to replace him than there is to play left back. Playing Fabian Johnson at left back would be a big waste.

    Lichaj’s best position is at right back and that is where he should play for the US. He is not as good a left back as Chandler.

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  6. “he shut down bale”

    He did not do it by himself.

    And if your criteria of being good is shutting down a great player once then consider this.

    In 2007 when Leo Messi was having his breakout season Argentina played the US in the Copa America. The American who marked him shut him down so bad that in the second half they moved Mesi to the other wing.

    That American was Jonny Bornstein.

    Anyone can have one great game.

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  7. Would be awesome if West Ham reentered the Premier League with two young Americans knocking on the door. Lletget and Potts, keep it up.

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  8. The Mayor of Hanover has given the USMNT a lot over his career, but he will not be playing come 2014 and you can take that to the bank. He is already breaking down, and rumors out of Germany having him retiring after the season.

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  9. True but its not out of line to think that he might not be our best option for 2014 as he will be 32 by then. Same with bocanegra. Next summer will be interesting to see how klinsy picks vets for qualifing.

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  10. Agreed. I’m high on the Lechaj, but I meant no disrespect to Chernudolo. He has been a big time player for us and is a respected, established pro in top flight Euro league. Sadly, though, father time is catching up with him. He has lost a step, and his vetren savey and ability to ready the game are not enough anymore to contain the faster wingers.

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  11. I love how Cherundolo gets absolutely no love these days. He’s only one of the most successful field players the USA has ever produced. I’ll take him out of form over some nice theory prospects for the next 12 months and even after that thoose pups are gonna have to earn every square inch of pitch.

    I’m excited about the idea of the future as well, but until it earns it’s place in the present it’s just that, an idea.

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  12. yea, he definitely shows promise to make it a good PL fullback. Good speed, workrate, strength; can cross well too. He needs minutes, but he has talent.

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  13. Liking the depth developing and the LB and RB. With Lichaj and Chandler plus Fabian Johnson and a few others feeling comfortable that LB and even backup RB are no longer HUGE holes to fill.

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  14. I agree with you that Lichaj and Chandler are very likely to be the starting wing backs for the USNT moving forward. Both are quick, like to get forward, and for the most part are not defensive liabilities. Give them a year to gel with the Wing Midfielders and the center backs (Gooch & Boca now…Ream/Gonzo & Cameron future) and we’ve got the potential to have a very strong defense. They just need some experice together and internationally.

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  15. Before his injury Lichaj was a young player who got a number of starts and showed that he most definitely had PL potential to be a regular starter. Does that mean that he would crack the starting 11 at Man City, Man United, Liverpool, Chelsea or Arsenal. Probably not. But there is a an EPL beyond those 5. IMO when healthy, he was not just the USMNT best converted option at LB, but rather he is a true, legit LB. I hope that he regains his form, move Chandler to RB. With a healthy Gooch and a veteran Boca in the middle (with a number of younger players who are steadily developing) then I begin to feel good about our back line. Once we find the right combination of our over abundance of midfield talent, then we are really just a second forward (or permantily moving Deuce/Donnocan up top) from being a solid international squad. Putting aside recent results, I think that the natl squad is coming together quite nicely. But we sooo need to lock down the LB spot. A healthy Lichaj really unlocks a bunch for us..

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  16. Lichaj is a decent player but is he PL material? He’s kinda like Spector. Best shot at the PL is either starting for a relegation fodder team or mainly as a super-sub/bench player. But it’s good to know he’s on the way back and ready to play.

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  17. I would love to see Lichaj get loan to Leeds United and play LB for them game after game

    Putting Chandler back to RB and putting Lichaj at LB could be the future positions for them for the USMNT

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  18. Would love to see Lichaj loaned out in the January window in order to knock the rust off after his recovery. it would also help get him back into the national team picture. With the way Dolo has been falling out of favor for his club…I wouldn’t mind seeing Lichaj and Chandler for the national team come FIFA dates in Feb/March.

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