Chris Richards stepped into the Crystal Palace starting lineup on Tuesday and after impressing in his first start since February, the American defender might be due for a re-call this weekend.
Richards and the Eagles face off with London rivals West Ham United on Saturday with only three points separating them in the standings. The 23-year-old got the starting nod at Wolves on Tuesday and excelled despite the Eagles falling 2-0 on the road. With starting centerback Joachim Andersen’s status undetermined following a midweek injury, Richards could remain in the starting lineup for the final five matches of the English Premier League season. A home win for Crystal Palace would not only guarantee them league safety but would complete a season sweep of the Hammers.
In Scotland, Malik Tillman and Cameron Carter-Vickers go head-to-head once again, this time in Scottish Cup semifinal action.
In England, Antonee Robinson, Tim Ream and Fulham host Manchester City as the Cottagers look to rebound from a midweek loss. Josh Sargent and Norwich City desperately need to win at West Bromwich Albion to save their promotion playoff hopes.
In Germany, Joe Scally and Borussia Moenchengladbach face off with Stuttgart. Kevin Paredes hopes to make his return for Wolfsburg.
Elsewhere, Yunus Musah and Valencia seek another important La Liga win against Cadiz. Sam Rogers and Rosenborg visit Odd in Norwegian Eliteserien action. Haji Wright and Antalyaspor visit Fatih Karagumruk with the American striker seeking another strong performance. Gabriel Slonina and Chelsea host Brighton & Hove Albion in Chelsea U-21’s final league match of the season.
Here is a closer look at this weekend’s Americans Abroad:
England
Premier League
Weston McKennie, Brenden Aaronson and Leeds United visit Bournemouth on Sunday.
Antonee Robinson, Tim Ream and Fulham host Manchester City on Sunday.
Chris Richards and Crystal Palace host West Ham United on Saturday.
Christian Pulisic and Chelsea are off until Tuesday.
Matt Turner and Arsenal are off until Tuesday.
Tyler Adams is OUT (Injury) for Leeds United.
Championship
Zack Steffen and Middlesbrough visit Rotherham United on Monday.
Ethan Horvath and Luton Town visit Blackburn Rovers on Monday.
Josh Sargent and Norwich City visit West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.
Auston Trusty and Birmingham City visit Coventry City on Saturday.
Lynden Gooch and Sunderland host Watford on Saturday.
Daryl Dike is OUT FOR SEASON (Achilles Injury) for West Bromwich Albion.
Duane Holmes is OUT FOR SEASON (Injury) for Huddersfield.
League Two
Jonathan Tomkinson and Stevenage host Grimsby Town on Saturday.
PL2
Gabriel Slonina and Chelsea host Brighton & Hove Albion on Friday.
Germany
Bundesliga
Joe Scally and Borussia Moenchengladbach visit VfB Stuttgart on Saturday.
Jordan Pefok and Union Berlin host Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday.
Gio Reyna and Borussia Dortmund visit Bochum on Friday.
Timmy Chandler, Paxten Aaronson and Eintracht Frankfurt host Augsburg on Saturday.
John Brooks, Justin Che and Hoffenheim visit Caden Clark and RB Leipzig on Saturday.
Kevin Paredes and Wolfsburg host Mainz on Sunday.
2. Bundesliga
Julian Green and Greuther Furth host FC Heidenheim on Friday.
Terrence Boyd and Kaiserslautern host Hansa Rostock on Saturday.
George Bello and Arminia Bielefeld visit St. Pauli on Saturday.
3. Liga
Johan Gomez, Nico Carrera and FSV Zwickau visit Osnabruck on Sunday.
Spain
La Liga
Yunus Musah and Valencia visit Cadiz on Sunday.
Luca De La Torre and Celta Vigo visit Villarreal on Sunday.
Italy
Serie A
Sergino Dest and AC Milan visit AS Roma on Saturday.
Serie B
Gianluca Busio, Tanner Tessmann, Andrija Novakovich and Venezia host Modena on Monday.
France
Ligue 1
Tim Weah and Lille host AC Ajaccio on Saturday.
Folarin Balogun and Stade Reims visit Clermont Foot on Sunday.
Erik Palmer-Brown and Troyes host Nice on Sunday.
Netherlands
Eredivisie
**The Eredivisie is off until May 6-7.
Eerste Divisie
Anthony Fontana and PEC Zwolle host Dordrecht on Friday.
Portugal
Liga Portugal
Reggie Cannon and Boavista visit FC Porto on Sunday.
Alex Mendez and Vizela host Pacos de Ferreira on Saturday.
Scotland
Cup
Cameron Carter-Vickers and Celtic face Malik Tillman and Rangers on Sunday.
Belgium
Pro League
Mark McKenzie and Genk host Club Brugge on Sunday.
Marlon Fossey and Standard Liege visit Cercle Brugge on Saturday.
Bryan Reynolds and Westerlo visit Gent on Friday.
Cup Final
Sam Vines and Royal Antwerp visit Mechelen on Sunday.
Hungary
NB I
Henry Wingo and Ferencvaros visit Ujpest on Monday.
Denmark
Superliagen
Christian Cappis and Brondby visit FC Kobenhaven on Sunday.
Emmanuel Sabbi and Odense visit Horsens on Friday.
Austria
Bundesliga
Sebastian Soto and Austria Klagenfurt visit LASK on Sunday.
2. Liga
Ulysses Llanez and SKN St. Poelten visit Dornbirn on Saturday.
Norway
Eliteserien
Sam Rogers and Rosenborg visit Odd on Sunday.
Kobe Hernandez-Foster and HamKam visit Viking on Sunday.
Croatia
1. HNL
Rokas Pukstas and Hajduk Split host Dinamo Zagreb on Sunday.
Sweden
Allsvenskan
Joe Gyau and Degerfors host Djurgarden on Sunday.
Turkey
Super Lig
Haji Wright and Antalyaspor visit Fatih Karagumruk on Saturday.
Israel
Ligat HaAL
Josh Cohen and Maccabi Haifa visit Hapoel Beer Sheva on Monday.
Brazil
Johnny Cardoso and Internacional host Goias on Sunday.
Mexico
Liga MX
Alejandro Zendejas and Club America visit Alan Sonora, Joel Sonora, Ventura Alvarado and FC Juarez on Friday.
Sebastian Saucedo and Toluca host Necaxa on Sunday.
Ream done for the season and knocked out of the USMNT for this summer with a broken arm. Opens door for others. Trusty, Richards etc…
Also let’s talk about Pulisic. Does anyone really think an elite team is coming in for Pulisic in the summer? His numbers tell of a player who is not an elite level attacker. A lot of teams are going by stats these days. He isn’t also going to be able to demand his current wages he has with Chelsea. Now I personally could see Newcastle still try to get him or possibly a couple Serie A sides like Inter, Napoli, or Roma. But he may find that more teams that are in middle of the pack of their respective league tables are the teams who try to go after him. And those teams probably won’t pay him at his current salary. He will have to take a pay cut if he wants to get his career back on track.
I think we need to put the USMNT in perspective right now. Most Americans abroad really aren’t doing great. Most of our attackers are barely playing and really aren’t contributing to their respective teams. Our presumed starting RB hasn’t played first team soccer in months. Our first choice GK barely gets minutes, our starting midfield has been either injured or not playing great. Now three of our strikers (Sargent, Pepi, Wright) have been producing which is good. Antonee has been really solid again this season. Ream has been a steady rock this season, and both McKenzie and CCV have been in fine form. M.Tillman has been one of Rangers best players this season. Scally continues to be good, Reynolds and Mossey have been good this season and Paredes, and P. Aaronson are seeing minutes as young players in the Bundesliga. Rokas Pukstas has been in really good form for Hajduk Split as a young attacker deployed in various attacking positions. Might not be long before Pukstas gets a USMNT call up. And since mid January De La Torre has been a regular starter for Celta Vigo.
Still some optimism, but there is some worry for some of our elite talent this season. Pulisic, McKennie, Reyna, Dest, Turner, Richards definitely have to figure out either new teams this summer or what their place is in their current team heading into next season. Adams and B. Aaronson will have to wait and see if Leeds gets relegated. Musah might be on the move this summer too.
Also Weah needs to probably find a new team this off season as well. But where will that new team play him?
Richards back to the bench. Just wonder if Richards may look for a different club in the summer? Maybe a loan. Can’t keep riding the pine at 23 going on 24.
They could sell Guehi this summer, he’s expected to be England’s next big CB. ManU and Spurs are rumored to be interested.
Just read that the Argentine FA is building a training facility in Miami. Main purpose to recruit dual nationals. This is going to be a huge problem in the future for US soccer. Argentina, Mexico and other countries are viewing the U.S. market as a huge potential of player talent in the future. US soccer needs to realize that they need to get a handle on things in their backyard.