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Americans Abroad: Weekend Rewind

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photo by Gerhard Steenkamp/ISIphotos.com

By FRANCO PANIZO

Aston Villa finished 2011 with a big upset victory over Chelsea, and Brad Guzan played a part in making that happen.

In his fifth start of the season, Guzan helped the Villans stun Chelsea, 3-1, on Saturday. Guzan only made one save in the game, but it was enough to allow Aston Villa a chance to take the three points in perhaps the club's biggest triumph of the season. Guzan and Aston Villa take on Swansea City on Monday.

Another goalkeeper on the positive end of a result was Tim Howard. The U.S. international recorded his third cleansheet of the season as Everton defeated West Bromwich Albion, 1-0. The Toffees, which will have Landon Donovan available for selection in their next game, jumped up to ninth place in the Premiership table.

It was not all good news this weekend. Making his first appearance in over a month, Robbie Findley suffered a shoulder injury just six minutes into Nottingham Forest's game against Cardiff City and had to be replaced. Nottingham Forest lost the game, 1-0.

Here is how the Americans Abroad did this weekend:

ENGLAND

Premiership

  • Tim Howard started and played 90 minutes in Everton's 1-0 win vs. West Bromwich Albion on Sunday.

  • Marcus Hahnemann did not dress for Everton.
  • Clint Dempsey started and played 90 minutes in Fulham's 1-1 draw vs. Norwich City on Saturday. Dempsey and Fulham play Arsenal on Monday.

  • Brad Friedel started, played 90 minutes and made 3 saves in Tottenham Hotspur's 1-1 draw vs. Swanswa City on Saturday.
  • Brad Guzan started, played 90 minutes and made 1 save in Aston Villa's 3-1 win vs. Chelsea on Saturday. Guzan and Aston Villa play Swansea City on Monday
  • Eric Lichaj did not dress for Aston Villa. He is recovering from a hip injury.
  • Stuart Holden did not dress in Bolton Wanderers' 1-1 draw vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday. He is recovering from a knee injury.
  • Zak Whitbread started and played 90 minutes in Norwich City's 1-1 draw vs. Fulham on Saturday. Whitbread and Norwich City play Queens Park Rangers on Monday.

Championship

  • Jonathan Spector started and played 90 minutes in Birmingham City's 3-0 win vs. Blackpool on Saturday. Spector and Birmingham City play Peterborough United on Monday.

  • Conor Doyle did not dress in Derby County's 2-1 win vs. West Ham United on Saturday. Doyle and Derby County play Hull City on Monday.
  • Robbie Findley started and played 6 minutes in Nottingham Forest's 1-0 loss vs. Cardiff City on Saturday. Findley and Nottingham Forest play Ipswich Town on Monday.

  • Daniel Potts started and played 90 minutes in West Ham United's 2-1 loss vs. Derby County on Saturday. Potts and West Ham United play Coventry City on Monday.

League One

  • Frank Simek did not dress in Carlisle United's 1-1 draw vs. Huddersfield Town on Friday. Simek and Carlisle United play Sheffield United on Monday.
  • Anton Peterlin started and played 90 minutes in Walsall's 0-0 draw vs. Rochdale on Saturday. Peterlin and Walsall play Bury on Monday.
  • Mike Grella dressed but did not play in Brentford's 3-3 draw vs. Milton Keynes Dons on Saturday. Grella and Brentford play Charlton Athletic on Monday.

SCOTLAND

Premier League

  • Maurice Edu and Rangers play Motherwell on Monday.
  • Carlos Bocanegra and Rangers play Motherwell on Monday.

  • Alejandro Bedoya and Rangers play Motherwell on Monday.

First Division

  • Dominic Cervi and Greenock Morton play Ayr United on Monday.

——-

What do you think of these performances? Think Guzan should remain Aston Villa's starting goalkeeper once Shay Given comes back? How worried are you by Findley's injury?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Spot on. Was so-so for first 10-15 minutes, played well thereafter. A left-footed CB…could Boca’s time be drawing to a close?

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  2. Other than getting tourched and spun on Fulham’s goal, I thought Whitbread played pretty well after that. Even had some decent chances on goal.

    we’ll see.

    Reply
  3. I’ve said it before, keepers are about playing the slow hand. Guzan is right where he needs to be, hopefully he will finish the season strong and parlay that into a starting spot either at AV or someplace else but he is investing his time wisely, gathering experience and staying injury free while developing his game apprenticing with some really fine keepers. These choices will allow him to take the next steps he’s taking now with very little public learning curve (memories of a young Tim Howard at Man U come to mind). A successful career in any path, but especially a position like goalkeeper, is a study in delayed gratification. There are a lot of players (keepers and filed players) who learned the wisdom of that the hard way. Hopefully JK will see the wisdom of Guzan’s path and call him up soon, lest we have another estranged great keeper wander away from the national team fold.

    Reply
  4. Let’s hope so. The Norwich games that have been televised, he’s been a solid CB and he is an outstanding passer from the backline. On many occasions, he’s intercepted a ball and passed it forward to a teammate who didn’t break stride to receive it.

    Reply
  5. Last week Landon Donovan isn’t mentioned in this list (for a couple months, at least).

    Can’t wait for Wednesday…

    Reply
  6. Unfortunately, he isn’t German/American.

    All kidding aside, his pace was more than adequate to keep up with Nani.

    For being such a young player, I was impressed. While I don’t like Nani, he’s still a handful on the wing when he’s focused.

    Reply
  7. Saw that CD9 is back training with Sochaux.

    Any chance he’s in the plans there? Or is this in advance of a loan to another squad? Anybody?

    Reply
  8. Anybody know the full story on Adam Henley of Blackburn (born in Knoxville, Tn). I know he grew up in Wales and played on the Welsh junior teams but not at the senior level. Looks to have played at left back a bit for Rovers (a position of yearning for the US over the years). Anybody know if he is on Klinsmann’s radar at all?

    Reply
  9. I’ve seen Guzan practice at the hdc. He doesnt practice poorly. Macleish himself has complimented his workrate at practice. But the ‘gamer’ part is right on. He’s definitely that. Brad could start on any mid upper level team in Europe.

    Reply
  10. It was a strange case of Drogba not taking a PK well enough for Guzan to save it. Unless he meant to slide it under Guzan, in which case, well played.

    At any rate, Guzan showed that, with a little more confidence, he can get to just about any penalty kick. Hope Villa see that.

    Reply
  11. what part of ” Robbie Findley suffered a shoulder injury just six minutes into Nottingham Forest’s game against Cardiff City and had to be replaced.” do you not understand?

    Reply
  12. Actually, my guess is that he’s very good, but is always behind a high quality keeper that takes the starting spot. Five years ago, one could have been the second best keeper in Europe, but noone would know if you were playing behind Buffon. He’ll get his shot soon enough, just play out his contract and go on a free.

    Reply
  13. He played some center mid at the beginning of the season, but has been playing right back every game for the past couple months.

    Reply
  14. Am I the only one who thinks that Guzan is at least Europa league quality? He does nothing but impress with his chances, but is never given a great gig. My guess would be that he practices poorly but is a “gamer.”

    Reply

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