photo by Howard C. Smith/ISIphotos.com
By FRANCO PANIZO
As far as season finales go, DaMarcus Beasley could not have had a much better performance to close out his first year in Mexico.
Beasley capped his season with Puebla with a Man of the Match-worthy outing, playing a pivotal role in the club overcoming a one-goal deficit to defeat Tigres UANL, 2-1. Beasley assisted on the equalizer in the 83rd minute with a gorgeous cross from the left flank before partaking in the sequence that resulted in the winner in the 87th. Beasley finished the Clausura campaign with five goals and two assists, and all but one of those contributions have come since March 10.
Eric Lichaj also continued his string of solid outings in Aston Villa's 0-0 draw with West Bromwich Albion on Saturday, starting and going the distance in his seventh consecutive match for the Villans. Unfortunately for Aston Villa, the result kept them winless in the last eight games and only three points above relegation.
Far from their league's respective drop zone, Schalke 04 booked their place in next season's Champions League with a 4-0 thrashing of Hertha Berlin. Jermaine Jones contributed to Schalke's victory by playing 85 minutes in the game that saw him earn his 14th yellow card of the season.
Here is how the Americans Abroad did this weekend:
ENGLAND
Premiership
- Tim Howard started, played 90 minutes and made two saves in Everton's 4-0 win vs. Fulham on Saturday.
- Marcus Hahnemann did not dress for Everton.
- Clint Dempsey started and played 90 minutes in Fulham's 4-0 loss vs. Everton on Saturday.
- Brad Friedel started and played 90 minutes in Tottenham Hotspur's 2-0 win vs. Blackburn Rovers on Sunday.
- Brad Guzan dressed but did not play in Aston Villa's 0-0 draw vs. West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.
- Eric Lichaj started and played 90 minutes for Aston Villa.
- Tim Ream started and played 90 minutes in Bolton Wanderers's 2-2 draw vs. Sunderland on Saturday.
- Stuart Holden did not dress Bolton Wanderers. He is recovering from a knee injury.
- Zak Whitbread did not dress in Norwich City's 3-0 loss vs. Liverpool on Saturday. He is recovering from a groin injury.
- Adam Henley did not dress in Blackburn Rovers' 2-0 loss vs. Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
Championship
- Jonathan Spector did not dress in Birmingham City's 2-0 win vs. Reading on Saturday. He is recovering from a thigh injury.
- Conor Doyle did not dress in Derby County's 1-1 draw vs. Peterborough United on Saturday. He is recovering from a hamstring injury.
- Robbie Findley did not dress in Nottingham Forest's 2-0 win vs. Portsmouth on Saturday.
- Robbie Rogers did not dress in Leeds United's 2-1 loss vs. Leicester City on Saturday. He is recovering from an ankle injury.
League One
- Frank Simek started and played 90 minutes in Carlisle United's 4-1 win vs. Exeter City on Saturday.
- Anton Peterlin did not dress in Walsall's 1-1 draw vs. Huddersfield Town on Saturday.
- Mike Grella started and played 84 minutes in Bury's 0-0 draw vs. Oldham Athletic on Saturday.
SCOTLAND
- Maurice Edu started and played 90 minutes in Rangers' 3-0 loss vs. Celtic on Sunday.
- Carlos Bocanegra started and played 90 minutes for Rangers.
- Alejandro Bedoya dressed but did not play for Rangers.
- Dominic Cervi did not dress in Celtic's 3-0 win vs. Rangers on Sunday.
ITALY
- Michael Bradley started and played 90 minutes in Chievo Vorona's 0-0 draw vs. Cagliari on Saturday.
GERMANY
Bundesliga
- Steve Cherundolo started and played 90 minutes in Hannover 96's 1-0 loss vs. Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday.
- Jermaine Jones started, played 85 minutes and received a yellow card in Schalke 04's 4-0 win vs. Hertha Berlin on Saturday.
- Timmy Chandler started, played 90 minutes and received a yellow card in FC Nurnberg's 3-2 win vs. TSG 1899 Hoffenheim on Saturday.
- Fabian Johnson started and played 90 minutes in TSG 1899 Hoffenheim's 3-2 loss vs. FC Nurnberg on Saturday.
- Danny Williams did not dress for TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. He is recovering from a shoulder injury.
- Joe Gyau did not dress for TSG 1899 Hoffenheim.
- Terrence Boyd did not dress in Borussia Dortmund's 5-2 win vs. Kaiserslautern on Saturday.
- Alfredo Morales did not dress in Hertha Berlin's 4-0 loss vs. Schalke 04 on Saturday.
- David Yelldell did not dress in Bayer Leverkusen's 1-0 win vs. Hannover 96 on Saturday.
- Andrew Wooten started and played 90 minutes in Kaiserslautern's 5-2 loss vs. Borussia Dortmund on Saturday.
2. BUNDESLIGA
- Luis Robles did not dress in Karlsruher SC's 1-0 loss vs. Alemannia Aachen on Sunday.
- Bobby Wood did not dress in TSV 1860 Munich's 2-0 win vs. Eintracht Franfkurt on Sunday.
- Matt Taylor dressed but did not play in SC Paderborn 07's 1-0 win vs. FSV Frankfurt on Sunday.
- Villyan Bijev did not dress in Fortuna Dusseldorf's 1-1 draw vs. SpVgg Greuther Furth on Sunday.
FRANCE
- Quentin Westberg and Evian Thonon Gaillard did not play this weekend.
- Charlie Davies did not dress in Sochaux's 3-0 loss vs. Bordeaux on Sunday.
NETHERLANDS
- Jozy Altidore started and played 85 minutes in AZ Alkmaar's 1-0 loss vs. Feyenoord Rotterdam on Sunday.
PORTUGAL
- Oguchi Onyewu and Sporting CP play Academica de Coimbra on Monday.
RUSSIA
- Eugene Starikov did not dress in Zenit St Petersburg's 2-1 win vs. Dynamo Moscow on Saturday.
BELGIUM
- Sacha Kljestan did not dress in RSC Anderlecht's 4-0 win vs. Racing Genk in the Pro League playoffs on Friday. He was suspended due to yellow card accumulation.
- Mikkel Diskerud did not dress in KAA Gent's 2-1 win vs. Club Brugge in the Pro League playoffs on Saturday.
DENMARK
- Michael Parkhurst started and played 90 minutes in FC Nordsjaelland's 5-3 win vs. AGF Aarhus on Saturday.
- Clarence Goodson started and played 90 minutes in Brondby IF's 3-3 draw vs. SonderjyskE on Sunday.
- Conor O'Brien started and played 90 minutes in SonderjyskE's 3-3 draw vs. Brondby IF on Sunday.
- Brad Rusin came off the bench and played 32 minutes in HB Koge's 2-1 loss vs. SonderjyskE on Sunday.
SWEDEN
- Samuel Petrone did not dress in Mjallby AIF's 1-1 draw vs. Helsingborg on Friday.
NORWAY
- Josh Gatt dressed but did not play in Molde FK's 2-1 loss vs. Sogndal on Saturday.
- Steve Clark started and played 90 minutes in Honefoss BK's 0-0 draw vs. Tromso on Saturday.
- Ricardo Clark did not dress in Stabaek IF's 2-0 loss vs. Odd Grenland on Saturday. He was suspended due to yellow card accumulation.
- Sean Cunningham started and played 90 minutes for Stabaek IF.
MEXICO
- Jose Torres started, played 90 minutes and had an ASSIST in Pachuca's 3-1 win vs. Chivas de Guadalajara on Saturday.
- Herculez Gomez dressed but did not play in Santos Laguna's 3-1 win vs. Atlas on Saturday.
- DaMarcus Beasley started, played 90 minutes, had an ASSIST and helped set up another goal in Puebla's 2-1 win vs. Tigres UANL on Saturday.
- Sonny Guadarrama did not dress in Atlante's 3-0 loss vs. Monterrey on Saturday.
- Jonathan Bornstein did not dress in Tigres UANL's 2-1 loss vs. Puebla on Saturday.
- Adrian Ruelas did not dress in Jaguares de Chiapas' 1-0 win vs. Morelia on Saturday.
- Michael Orozco Fiscal started and played 90 minutes in San Luis' 2-1 loss vs. Toluca on Sunday.
- Edgar Castillo started and played 90 minutes in Club Tijuana's 1-1 draw vs. Pumas UNAM on Sunday.
- Joe Corona started and played 90 minutes Club Tijuana.
- Greg Garza started and played 45 minutes Club Tijuana.
——-
What do you think of these performances? Hope Beasley gets called in for the upcoming friendlies and World Cup qualifiers? Think Lichaj and Aston Villa will avoid dropping into the relegation zone? More surprised by Schalke reaching the Champions League, or that Jones' yellow card was his 14th of the season?
Share your thoughts below.
Dude. WHAT?
DMB played at Rangers everygame he was healthy. Starting many and being used as a sub when he was working his way back. He played in the Old Firm Derby twice IIRC.
Bedoya has not had a fraction of the time DMB has had at ‘Gers.
People said it was a bad move for Beas and his has been an even worse move for Alejandro.
I guess in Bundesliga you don’t have to sit out matches for yellow card accumulation?
I thought so too. But in the replays you can see Beasely celebrating in the background with other Puebla players and the coaching staff.
Me either. I was surprised he only had 14 for the season. I thought that I had read the “Jones started, played 90, and received a yellow card” line way more than 14 times.
Another thing I noticed is that Beas didn’t run over to celebrate with his teammates on either of the goals, even though he was directly involved in both of them. Maybe I’m reading too much into that, but wonder if he’s a bit at odds with this team.
Another thing no one mentions is the paycheck consistency issue at Puebla. It’s an awkward situation because while DmB is reviving his career that team is having equipment repo’d and paychecks paid late.
Lichaj recently got beaten back-post by Man U’s Welbeck in a 4-0 loss. And Ream was abused for a goal over the past weekend. However, on talent, Lichaj over Ream any day.
Bedoya is getting zero playing time. He is very far from breaking into the top 23 at this point.
He’s injured.
Johnson is not left footed. He is very good with his left, but he is a natural righty.
I’m not a big fan of Beasely or Shea. Although Beasely regained some of his form, I don’t think he fully recovered. I would prefer Fabian Johnson or Joe Corona or Jose Torres at central mid with Donovan on the left. Or if Donovan is on the right, I would like to see Bedoya start on the left. Granted Bedoya isn’t getting alot of playing time, he’s getting more than Beasely did when he was on the Rangers, and he’s younger. Also Edgar Castillo should be looked at as Left Mid.
Don’t forget that it was Timothy Chandler at left back who shut down Hazard in the Belgium game last year. Between Chandler and Lichaj we’ve got some decent options at outside defenders on both sides now.
there is no such thing as overly large fields….is this your second week following soccer…what an idiot…
In regards to the Nats
Lichaj has been the revelation at left back. Nobody has played at. A higher level at that position in a long time.
Mix hasnt been playing a lot since going to Gent, starting to question that move.
Video quality not good, but that does look like Torres rattling the post. Didn’t he do that also once in WC2010? In any case, Torres has a good shot at being the USMNT’s designated free-kicker. Cannot wait to see him on the field again with the USMNT with a couple of other Mexico-based players. The team is set to have a great mix of talent for WCQ.
I saw the first half of Tijuana-Pumas game yesterday and Edgar Castillo was a revelation at left wing. Great first-touch and ball-handling and was threading nice passes. He looked totally confident and close to the ball-handling skill level of Jose Torres and Fabian Johnson. If Castillo can carry that form over to the USMNT, he could develop into a key player on the Nats, which now look strong on the left with Johnson, Beasley, (switch-hitter) Chandler and Castillo. And then on the right with Cherundolo, Lichaj, Donovan, Chandler.
The question is: Where does that leave Brek Shea. I was on his bandwagon last autumn and still like the kid, but in my mind he has slipped down the depth chart. I don’t see Klinsmann calling him up next month. I think it will be hard for him to improve within the MLS and, unfortunately, I no longer see him making a dream move to a top-tier team in Europe. I would like to see him swallow his pride and go to the Dutch league, Champions League or the Second Bundesliga, better environments for development. Kaiserslautern, with Andrew Wooten and where Kyle Beckerman spent some time training in December, would be interesting for talented young MLS players.
I’ve never seen anybody rack up yellow cards the way Jermaine Jones does
Incredible free kick against the bar in the Pachuca game. That was JFT, yes?
Part of the discussion sure, but Boyd’s team won the league and Wooten’s team only called him up after it was clear they were going to be relegated. Hopefully he does well in the bundesliga 2 and gets more playing time and goals though.
He is really injury prone which is too bad I am really hoping to see him play in one of the upcoming friendlies. I don’t get to see too many Norwich games but he seems like a contender for the third center-back spot talent wise. Thankfully Gooch is back and playing.
Is Fabian Johnson left-footed? Either way, it’s unfortunate, but Chandler and Lichaj are MUCH better at RB than LB-so much so that A Johnson Boca Gooch Dolo backline with Beas/Shea at LW is preferable to starting Chandler or Lichaj at LB at this point even though pure talent wise that’s not really the case.
Which effects the product I watch how? How do ‘overly large fields’ make the product on the field less enjoyable to watch? People complain about small pitches making creative play impossible, seems like it would help that. High elevation? So? they’re used to it. Also I guess we shouldn’t watch games in Salt Lake, Denver, etc. No defensive pressure? Watch some actual games bud instead of conflating the Mexican League with the Mexican National Team. And even if that’s true guess what-it makes the game more enjoyable to watch.
+1
great point.
it’s hilarious that folks are so willing to rate a new player like Fabian Johnson over Beasley. It’s like saying “I’ll give the player who I know the least the nod because he hasn’t had a chance to disappoint me.” he’s still unproven in CONCACAF qualifying and he’s still a young player. Tons of upside, but that’s not the whole story.
Beasley is playing in a league against the kinds of players we’ll be facing in qualifying. He’s been through the concacaf ringer before. Sure he’s struggled, but the guy has proven that he’s still got lots to contribute. I don’t deny that Johnson and Shea are the future any less than I accept that Bocaneagra and Cherundolo need to be replaced some day, but that day is not this summer. Give the vets the lead, let the young bucs learn from them.
Of course, there is the whole “call ’em both into camp and let them fight it out scenario”, which is in all likelihood what will happen. Either way, in the big picture having arguments over who should start is great–having strong options and depth is nice for a change. We should be the kind of footballing nation that can afford to leave several really talented guys at home. In fact, when we can field two or three logical A-side teams is when I’ll really like our odds of winning it all.
too bad we need him on the other end of it!
agree with you on many points, but the pace of the game is often slow, and there is often little defensive pressure in the middle third of the field, which makes for a boring, easy ability to knock it around with no great intent – I think this has lessened over the years as mexico, and the world, has become more global though.
Oguchi Onyewu always gave us a long throw option, and that dude could throw some missiles.
You’re like 5 years too late to the Donovan bashing party. Everyone has packed up and gone home.
If Terrance Boyd is part of the 1st team discussion Wooten deserves to be as well. He’s had more first team minutes and goals
you must be mexican
No thanks, I can relate to small players and diving
Cle Kooiman played for Cruz Azul.
Dominic Kinnear played for Necaxa.
Eric Wynalda lasted one match as a sub for Leon before tearing his ACL. He wore the infamous #58 as a joke, but the joke ended up being on him.
I am impressed by all of the “started, played 90′ that we are starting to get…
I believe DMB should be a part of the Nats. He was one of the key contributors with Landy, Gooch, Boca, etc. Are these guys getting older, yes. But they are not too old. DMB is just as old as those guys, and we expect them (when healthy) to be a part of the team.
DMB was a key contributor before he got injured and side tracked….and it seems like he is back to his old self. We are so quick to start looking for the next big thing when what we already have might be better. Develop the youth, use the youth if they are worthy, but don’t look past a proven winner if they are still the best option for today.
I don’t follow the Mexican league, but I make a point to watch Puebla whenever Beasley is playing – he’s one of my favorite players. I’m puzzled, though, why his teammates don’t pass to him more. His tactical acumen and ability to get behind the defense is better than most of his teammates, but most of the play seems to go down the right side of the field. Language barrier?
Lichaj has looked great! He gets forward with strength and meaning and is excellent at marking left side attackers. His throw ins are a true weapon that USMNT has never had. Call him up!
I want to love Ream but he always makes at least one crucial mistake per game. Yesterday he was beaten badly for the first goal. He just seemed to get lost for that one play. Otherwise, he was solid and well positioned. Even took a free kick from deep that I thought looked dangerous.
Wooten? Has anyone seen him play against top tier defenses? Obviously, our forward pool is thin but I don’t think he should yet be part of the discussion.
Tim Ream! Consistent minutes keep it up!
Zenit’s win over Dynamo clinched the league with three games to play. Maybe Starikov can get some playing time now that the title’s all wrapped up.
Has anyone watched the Villa and/or Bolton games? How exactly have Lichaj and Ream looked?
Also, thoughts on Andrew Wooten getting a senior call-up next month?
also overly large fields, high elevation, no defensive pressure, leaving FMF players unprepared for the high pressure defensive systems in Europe.
Someone, please what is going on with Whitbread. It is like everything is against him to keep him from being off the national team.
And that’s why he was for so many years.
If our ideal first selection is available, Donovan and Fabian Johnson will start on the wings. Timmy Chandler might also play their with Fabian at LB.
That said, I’d start Beasley over Shea but if both were on the bench, I’d bring in Shea first. Speed and stamina (not strength) are Beasley’s assets and they are better over the course of a full game IMO.
That said, if Donovan gets a few more convenient illnesses (scraped knee, runny nose, etc.) around the time of the May friendlies, I could see Beasley starting in his place.
Tab Ramos, Mike Sorber, Marcello Balboa all played in Mexico while the US had no league.
I think Beasley has the skill and experience to be a starter on the national team. With Shea coming off the bench. I really hope he and Gomez get called in for the upcoming friendlies.
Is DeMarcus the first non-Mexican-American American to play in Mexico?
As much as I detest the Mexican National team, the Mexican League is awesome. Attacking play, great individual flair, some truly world class talent, incredible parity, solid fan support even among the lower teams, dramatic playoffs, intense rivalries, Americans doing well, and even games on TV at normal hours. I guess they do dive more than in MLS, but if you don’t have a horse in the race it’s not a huge deal. The America/Cruz Azul game on right now is amazing.
Hope Beasley gets the call. He’d be a great off the bench option with the speed to get forward on the flank as well as the ability to track back and defend – as long he’s healthy…
Sasha had a suspension due to yellow card accumulation.
Also, did Jose Torres have an assist this weekend?
Anyone know why Mix and Sasha didn’t play?