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Americans Abroad: Weekend Preview

Tim Howard Everton 4 (Getty Images)

By FRANCO PANIZO

There will be no shortage of mouth-watering Premier League games involving U.S. Men’s National Team players this weekend.

Several Americans are set to partake in some of the most intriguing matches in Europe this weekend, including Tim Howard. The veteran goalkeeper and Everton will host second-placed Chelsea in a Saturday match the Toffees are hoping will end with them grabbing their first win of the season. Everton has settled for three straight draws to start the campaign, so an upset victory over the Blues would be the perfect remedy for the Toffees’ recent struggles.

Jozy Altidore is another player anticipated to be involved in a high-profile game, as Sunderland welcome fourth-placed Arsenal to Stadium of Light on Saturday. Altidore and the Black Cats are expected to have their hands full in the match, especially if talented midfielder Mesut Ozil makes his Arsenal debut, but they will be playing for a much-needed victory after coming out of the gates at 0-2-1.

Geoff Cameron, Brek Shea and Stoke City do not need to win as badly as Sunderland does, but they will still be looking for a major upset over Manchester City to keep themselves near the top of the table. Stoke are currently in fifth place in the standings and a victory at home on Saturday over star-studded City would only add to the Potters’ strong start to the season.

Here is who the Americans Abroad battle this weekend

FRIDAY

John Anthony Brooks and Hertha Berlin play VfB Stuttgart.

Bobby Wood and TSV 1860 Munich play VfR Aalen.

Josh Gatt, Ben Spencer, Ethan Horvath and Molde FK play Aalesund. (Gatt is out injured.)

SATURDAY

Brad Guzan and Aston Villa play Newcastle United.

Geoff Cameron, Maurice Edu, Brek Shea and Stoke City play Manchester City. (Edu is out injured.)

Jozy Altidore and Sunderland play Arsenal.

Brad Friedel and Tottenham Hotspur play Norwich City.

Tim Howard and Everton play Chelsea.

Tim Ream, Stuart Holden and Bolton Wanderers play Leeds United. (Holden is out injured.)

Zak Whitbread and Leicester City play Wigan Athletic.

Eric Lichaj and Nottingham Forest play Barnsley.

Jonathan Spector, Will Packwood and Birmingham City play Queens Park Rangers. (Packwood is out injured.)

Steve Cherundolo and Hannover 96 play Bayern Munich. (Cherundolo is out injured.)

Michael Parkhurst and FC Augsburg play SC Freiburg.

Jermaine Jones and Schalke 04 play Mainz 05.

Andrew Wooten and Kaiserslautern play SV Sandhausen.

Alejandro Bedoya and FC Nantes play Sochaux.

Sacha Kljestan and RSC Anderlecht play KV Mechelen.

Terrence Boyd and Rapid Vienna play FC Wacker Innsbruck.

Jose Torres, Jonathan Bornstein and Tigres UANL play Cruz Azul.

Alonso Hernandez and Monterrey play Pachuca.

SUNDAY

Danny Williams and Reading play Brighton & Hove Albion.

Fabian Johnson, Joe Gyau and TSG Hoffenheim play Borussia Moenchengladbach.

Timmy Chandler and FC Nurnberg play TSV Eintracht Braunschweig.

Alfredo Morales and FC Ingolstadt 04 play FC Union Berlin.

Aron Johannsson and AZ Alkmaar play Go Ahead Eagles.

Eugene Starikov and FK Tom’ Tomsk play Anzhi Makhachkala.

Conor O’Brien and Odense BK play Brondby IF.

Steve Clark and Honefoss BK play IK Start.

Mix Diskerud and Rosenborg BK play Tromso.

DaMarcus Beasley, Michael Orozco and Puebla play Toluca.

Herculez Gomez, Joe Corona, Edgar Castillo, Greg Garza, Paul Arriola and Club Tijuana play Chivas de Guadalajara. (Gomez is out injured.)

Freddy Adu and Bahia play Coritiba FBC.

MONDAY

Michael Bradley and AS Roma play Parma. (Bradley is out injured.)

Brian Span and Djurgarden IF play Malmo FF.

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Which of these matches are you most looking forward to? How do you see Howard and Everton faring vs. Chelsea? Think Altidore will score on Arsenal?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

    • I’m skeptical that Brek is gonna get it together. That said, I would be tickled pink to see him starting for Stoke and doing well and winning back a spot on the USMNT. The guy does have tremendous potential and could be a key USMNT asset if he would only finally pull his head out and focus on soccer instead of on trying to be cool.

      Reply
  1. Can someone who follows Club Tijuana closely please give a report on the play of Greg Garza and what position(s) he playing? Apparently he had an outstanding game last weekend. And what about Paul Arriola? Could either be considered for a USMNT call-up? Or too soon? And why has Joe Corona been warming the bench?

    Reply
    • Greg Garza is playing LB and playing it really well. with Castillo openly against playing LB, i wouldn’t be surprised to see Garza continue there. Arriola has seen most of his time at RM but can play the other side too. He has taken Corona’s starting spot it would seem. Even if it’s not a straight swap (Corona plays more central for Xolos), I believe Arriola is basically why Corona is sitting now.

      Garza, at 22, seems like a player to bring in and at least look at. he plays LB every week and enjoys it. Arriola is only 18, so maybe a little too early.

      Reply
      • Thanks, bryan. Then the Tijuana games between now Jamaica in October, whether or not Garza, Castillo and Corona are playing, might well decide whether they get call-ups, although we know Klinsmann will call in players not getting club time. Yeah, Arriola at 18 would be pretty young for a call-up. I just checked and he will be 19 in February, same age as wunderkind Julian Draxler, who is now regularly getting called up by Germany. I’m certainly not comparing the two. Draxler is awesome and will be playing after WC 2014 for a Top Six team. In any case, will be fun to witch Arriola’s development and if he continues improving, who knows.

  2. regarding Packwood:

    “‘He did so well on Monday at Barnsley, I went up to watch that game to specifically see how he got on,’ Clark told the club website. ‘He was desperate to stay on for longer. We had to drag him off. Then he played at Forest. We’ve got to be careful with that and hold him back. … But we are absolutely delighted for the kid that he’s back because he’s a brilliant boy.'”

    Reply
    • Wikipedia sez:

      The club was founded in 1902 as Be Quick, although the name was soon changed to Go Ahead at the request of the Dutch Football Association. The suffix Eagles was added in 1971, following a suggestion from the then coach, Barry Hughes.

      Because of course.

      Reply
  3. Everton will have their work cut out for them. It will be interesting to see if they are still the club that love to punch above their weight class as much as they were with Moysee.

    Reply

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