Clearly heeding my demands from earlier today, USMNT coach Bob Bradley has named his roster for Wednesday's key World Cup qualifier at Mexico.
G: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa: 5/3 SO), Tim Howard (Everton: 11/7 SO)
D: Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes: 21/3), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA, 2/0), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96: 18/0), Jay DeMerit (Watford: 2/0), Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew: 0/0), Oguchi Onyewu (AC Milan: 16/1), Jonathan Spector (West Ham: 2/0)
M: Michael Bradley (Borussia Mönchengladbach: 10/4), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo: 5/0), Clint Dempsey (Fulham: 17/4), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy: 30/11), Benny Feilhaber (Aarhus GF: 1/0), Stuart Holden (Houston Dynamo: 0/0), José Francisco Torres (Pachuca: 5/0)
F: Jozy Altidore (Hull City: 8/5), Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids: 5/0), Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo: 15/6), Charlie Davies (FC Sochaux: 2/1) *numbers indicate all-time World Cup Qualifying caps/goals
Meanwhile, mun2 sent me an email heads-up on a video they shot with several predictions on the game - including one from Argentina star Lionel Messi.
I've been so busy with other things that a couple of these are a day or two old, so you may have seen them...
#1 - As we await the August 12th Attack on Azteca, I am again left wondering why the U.S. coaching staff is so secretive about things. Release the roster already!
#2 - I've not actually even had the chance to read through this yet, but this looks like a terrific bit put together by ESPN scribe Wayne Drehs as he followed the USMNT this summer. I do agree with Du Nord's Brucio, though, that the title is whack.
Suddenly everyone gets to be a fly on the wall. I wanna be a fly on the wall, too.
#3 - The WPS First XI was announced the other day with three St. Louis stars in the team. Word. It's looking more and more like my hometown ladies are on a final collision course with the Los Angeles Sol. Word Part Deux.
Meanwhile, S365 colleague Lars Lifrak talks to Boston star Kelly Smith about the league's future and several other topics.
#4 - Here is Real Madrid's squad for weekend friendlies at Toronto FC and D.C. United. NSC correspondent Alex Abnos will be at FedEx Field for the latter, so we will have some nice content from that event next week.
#5 - Columbus Dispatch ace Shawn Mitchell offers the Crew crazies a hearty post with A) bad Hejduk/Schelotto injury news, B) a "Hunts buy West Ham" debunking & C) a link to his newspaper feature on Jason Garey.
#6 - Not only have the Red Bulls had a nightmare season, but reminds Big Apple Soccer ace Michael Lewis, they also must worry over whether top gun Juan Pablo Angel will return next season.
#7 - Match Fit USA's Jason Davis takes a look at the ever-changing St. Louis efforts for an MLS team. Guess what now? A third possible stadium site. Urgh.
#8 - My new MLS Club Ladder is up at S365. I took last week off the ranking - mainly because I got ill on the day I was planning to do it. But it's back.
#9 - Caught this at The Offside Rules: a fly-on-the-wall peek at all the people who made the MLS All-Star Game happen at Rio Tinto. Again with the wallfly, again with the awesome...
#10 - I know we normally just display Americans Abroad goals, but since both Clint Dempsey and Eddie Johnson notched Europa League assists last night I figure we'd throw this clip up as well. Why not, eh?
By the way, the playoff round to the group stage will be drawn in about 2 hours (9.30 AM ET) and you can watch it unfold live here.
UPDATE: Urgh. Read the wrong time. It's happening right now (7.59 AM ET).
UPDATE UPDATE: Here is the playoff round draw involving Americans, and boy are there some tough ones! First leg hosts listed first, the matches will take place on August 20th & 27th.
Benfica (Freddy Adu?) v Vorskla Everton (Tim Howard) v Sigma Olomouc Fulham (Dempsey, Johnson) v Amkar Perm Lech Poznań v Club Brugge (Jared Jeffrey) NAC Breda (TD Earnie Stewart) v Villarreal Rapid Vienna v Aston Villa (Friedel, Guzan, Lichaj) Steaua Bucharest v St. Pat's (Ryan Guy) Stabæk (Mix Diskerud) v Valencia
#11 - USMNT skipper Carlos Bocanegra took part in a fan chat at ESPN yesterday.
#12 - GELF magazine has a smart interview with SI's Grant Wahl.
Very gracious, properly excited new Tiger Jozy Altidore gave me a moment of his time not long ago. Meanwhile, the local daily has video from the unveiling and Sky talks to manager Phil Brown, who says Jozy may be in line for an opening day debut against Chelsea if his work permit is approved.
And...
Just so it doesn't get lost in a previous post update: I have been told that UK reports linking Aston Villa defender Eric Lichaj with a move to Bolton are total rubbish. There are no such discussions going on and the Villans are very high on the young American.
As you all know by now, Villarreal striker prodigy Josmer Altidore is set for a Hull City unveiling at 2.30 PM UK time, but I have managed to scrape away the details of the deal a little early.
Despite some reports that the Tigers would break their club record to sign him on a transfer, Altidore is joining the Prem battlers on a one-season loan. His Home Office work permit hearing is on Monday.
Though he falls short of the automatic approval threshold for USMNT caps over the past two years, I am very confident that Jozy will get the green light as a "special talent" arriving from a Euro-Top 25 club (not to mention Hull's obvious lack of forward options).
Do I think this is a helpful move? Yes, I do. Not only will experiencing a new league flavor round out his game a bit, but the going through a different training culture will as well. He will be forced to play those EPL matches at the highest speed, sharpening his decision making. And of course, Altidore will almost surely see more field time than he would have at Villarreal this season.
All of these things are great preparation in a World Cup year, plus he has the wizard Geovani playing behind him. It's certainly reasonable to hope he can bust into double figures in goals across all competitions.
And a few other bits:
My Freddy Adu list is down to five. Several of the club sources admitted they would be interested (to varying degrees) were it not for the Eredivisie mandatory minimum salary for non-EU players (last time I checked, it was a shade under 500K Euros/season).
I really do believe one of these Dutch clubs will feel strongly enough that they can polish the diamond - and there's nothing these people love more than a bargain find.
Meanwhile, Heath Pearce's Eredivisie option has sailed, for now at least. At one time, Vitesse were preparing a bid, preparing a bid, preparing a bid... and then never did. But don't feel too bad for the U.S. left back, who still has a Swiss topper, a Danish club and a 2.Bundesliga team continuing longstanding interest.Look for this situation to reach a conclusion next week. We hope.
One guy who is getting a real Vitesse shot is U.S. U-17 forward Jack McInerney, who began a trial with the club's youth set-up on Tuesday. I have been told he will be there a week and I have been told the stay will be 10 days, so that one I'm not certain about. I've been trying to get technical director Marc van Hintum on the phone for a week and haven't had any luck.
Sal Zizzo's Fortuna Düsseldorf loan move is now off and he is training with Hannover 96. At this time, it looks like he will remain a Red until at least January. The good news is that the heart abnormality found in his Fortuna medical does not seem to be something that will keep him from playing or endanger his life.
I'm hearing there could be a quick decision on Bryan Arguez at Charleroi. That can be either very good or very bad news.
I highly doubt Michael Bradley will be moving back to the Eredivisie, as has been rumoured. I was told by a birdie that PSV Eindhoven called 'Gladbach about Michael Bradley and that the Foals named a nasty number: 12 million. Unless Ibrahim Affelay is sold, the Farmers probably won't be throwing that kind of seed around to replace Edison Mendez.
Most importantly, Bradley is a starter in the Bundesliga and I can't imagine him trading back leagues in a World Cup year if he doesn't have to.
IK Start trialist Tony Taylor will play in a friendly with Viking this evening. You can see a short clip of him in Wednesday training here.
Today's Europa League 3rd qualifying round second leg schedule for Americans is as follows: Ryan Guy and St. Pat's travel to Russia with a 1-0 lead to face Krylia Sovetov (10 AM ET start), Johann Smith's Rijeka head to the Ukraine to tackle Metlaist Kharkiv down 2-1 (2 PM ET), Troy Perkins and Vålerenga visit Greece's PAOK trailing 2-1 (2.45 PM ET) & the Fulham duo of Clint Dempsey and Eddie Johnson welcome Lithuania's FK Vetra up 3-0 from the away leg (3.00 PM ET).
AGF midfielder Benny Feilhaber was named to the Team of the Month for July. Here is a short feature interview with the U.S. international.
That's all for now, but I hope to have another goodie for all by your lunchtimes.
You won't ever really know how much you hate the sound of a phone ring until you've heard it a thousand times in two days. Let's pop a cool one and watch some TV...
HAGL's Lee Nguyen smashed home a free kick 4-3 winner on the weekend.
Claudio Reyna joins the ESPN crew to preview the Bundesliga season, which starts Friday.
CNN World Sport also previews the German top flight.
Shaq is now taunting David Beckham for refusing his TV show challenge.
Frank Lampard talks about Sir Bobby, England's chances at World Cup and Italian managers.
Finally, Barcelona ace Lionel Messi visits the Space Needle ahead of tonight's friendly in Seattle.
You can watch Kenny Cooper's 1860 Munich unveiling here. And after that, he got to work.
For more on the move, ESPN all-star Steve Davis (a very nice fellow I inexplicably called "Mark" a few times at World Cup 2006) talks to Kenny Sr.
By the way, Steve, FC Gang Green has finished 5th, 8th and 6th the last three seasons. They still badly need a striker after selling off Marcus Berg (Hamburg), Eric Nevland (Fulham), Stefan Nijland (PSV) and Luis Suárez (Ajax) since the start of the 2007/08 season. Groningen is the largest northern city in the Netherlands, not too far past Heerenveen (who is their super-mega-monster rivalry nemesis).
In honour of Brian McBride, the all-American hero who captained the Club to the dramatic Great Escape of 2008, we are delighted to announce that our SW6 Sports Bar will be renamed McBride’s from next season.
The American striker, who was twice named Fulham’s Player of the Season during his time at Craven Cottage, made over 150 appearances for the Whites and scored 40 goals. He bid farewell to Fulham at the end of the 2007/08 season after four and a half years outstanding service.
The Lounge is a fitting tribute to Brian McBride, whose unquestionable commitment and bravery earned him the respect of everyone associated with the Club.
I've had several people write in to ask if NAC Breda technical director Earnie Stewart might go after Eredivisie winker and former D.C. United teammate Freddy Adu.
I have your answer: no. I spoke with Earnie today, and he says their squad is complete.
I'm actually trying to figure out the one or two Dutch clubs that are interested, more by eliminating possibilities first. NAC is definitely out. All but seven possibilities have now been ruled out, but I'm gonna keep cards close to vest for now.
Meanwhile, I dropped bits on trials for Bryan Arguez (Charleroi) and Tony Taylor (IK Start) over at S365 today. Right now, I'm working on transcribing a long Q&A I did with USA v Mexico play-by-play man and NSC pal Phil Schoen. As you might imagine, he can talk. I was shooting to have this done today, and I'll try, but it might not go up 'til morning.
In case you missed it on Sunday, Aston Villa's Brad Guzan and Eric Lichaj became the first American medal winners of the new campaign after a spot kicks victory over Juventus in the final of the preseason Peace Cup.
Guzan was a hero on the day, most notably for staying cool to stop an overly cheeky Alessandro Del Piero with the trophy on the line. Enjoy the full highlights...
Technical crisis seemingly solved, I catch up on a bit of Saturday business. Leeds sophomore Mike Grella struck an opportunistic opening goal well in their 2-1 friendly win at Prem risers Burnley. I know it's only a friendly, but Leeds highlights tend to be somewhat rare. Take it away, Mike...
I meant to have this up yesterday, but suddenly got rather ill after lunch. I think one of my nibbles was unfriendly. In any event, here you all get to watch me go mad.
Even though I would be happy to nail three of these, today I would tell ya they're all in the bag with a nod. Ranked from least to most certain, I give you five seemingly nutso, at least iffy forecasts for Americans overseas this season. #5 - An American will start the first Europa League final. Being that Aston Villa and Everton are the clubs I'm relying on to make it happen, I could have easily limited to this American keepers. But with so many variables to come between now and then (injuries, transfers and loans for Americans and those around them, club table position, luck, the draw, and on and on), I figured why cut my chances?
What if Jozy Altidore ends up loaned to an Ajax, Werder Bremen or Valencia (no scoops here, just fitting examples)? Or Rangers slip downs from finishing third in the Champions League group phase? Now I'm covered.
#4 - Gooch will score five goals, including a big winner.
Not everyone is as confident as I am that Oguchi Onyewu will see good playing time with AC Milan. Well, not only will he see that (thanks to the ebbing physical condition of his experienced backline stable mates), but he will also see dozens and dozens of Andrea Pirlo restarts coming his way. Even if the Italy star leaves for Chelsea at some point, the duty falls to some guy named... (factchecks paper a la Jon Stewart)... Ronaldinho. Doesn't seem so crazy now, does it?
#3 - At least one American will play in the Eredivisie and raise his World Cup 2010 squad prospects.
Who will that be? I'm not sure yet. The obvious early money goes on Freddy Adu and/or Heath Pearce - but don't discount the possibility of a new MLS recruit or a Euro-move, either before the end of August or in January.
Guys like Stuart Holden, Sacha Kljestan and Marvell Wynne would fit in well, while someone like DaMarcus Beasley already knows the terrain. Another guy who could see Dutch interest is Clarence Goodson - also currently on the outside of Bob Bradley's 23 looking in.
It also would have been very interesting to see how Kenny Cooper could have fared at FC Groningen, but that ship has sailed to Munich.
#2 - Benny will help lead Aarhus GF into the Europa League, drawing wide Bundesliga interest. I don't think this takes place in January, it will wait until the season is nearly done. Once Feilhaber has made it through a full campaign healthy and dishing assists from his proper playmaking position, ze Germans vwill tink tvwice about ze American.
And just think, it only took well-paid coaches three years to figure out he wasn't a defensive midfielder. He just gamely played one on Champions League TV when an injury crisis crippled Hamburg.
Along with the Bundesliga, he can probably look forward to plenty of Eredivisie looks as well under this scenario. Dutch clubs scout Denmark constantly and he has fans in league offices here dating back to the 2005 U-20 World Cup.
#1 - Charlie Davies will lead Sochaux in scoring.
I think Charlie benefits greatly from things like directly replacing the forward speed component (off-to-PSG Mevlüt Erdinç) in a Sochaux system that ended last season with promise. He will also benefit from the lively tandem work of strike partner Václav Svěrkoš.
He will benefit from the sly slip passing of Lionel Mathis, back from loan after leading Guingamp to shock Cup glory. The return of Jérémie Bréchet from PSV strengthens the defense's ability to enact counterattacks.
Davies has many factors working in his favor here, not the least of all is confidence. With a week to go before kicking off the Ligue 1 season at Auxerre, he will benefit today from leading the line against final friendly foe Saint-Etienne. Wanna bet he scores?
NSC is run by "handsome American" Greg Seltzer (MLSsoccer.com/ Soccer365), "continental Englishman/unofficial yank" Sean O'Conor (Soccerphile) and Texan ('nuff said) Will Parchman. Combined, the three have reported on soccer across the globe for well over two decades, covering MLS, U.S. Men, Women & Youth National Teams, the FIFA World Cup, Gold Cup, Confederations Cup & U20 World Cup, the UEFA European Championship & U21 Championship, UEFA Champions League and Europa League, UEFA Cup, CONCACAF and UEFA qualifiers, Premiership, Bundesliga, Eredivisie, various second-tier leagues, domestic cups and international friendlies, NCAA and high school soccer.
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