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Americans In The UK: It's All About the Keepers
Brad Friedel and Tim Howard continue to rack up the minutes in England, but their compatriots (see Dempsey, Edu and Johnson) can't seem to get a sniff...
Sep 22, 2008 11:10:49 AM
By Matthew Braine
What a week for Big Brad, who notched three wins for Aston Villa with his fine keeping. The impressive run started out on Monday, as Friedel kept Spurs at bay for most of the match until Darren Bent netted one late. On Thursday, Friedel kept UEFA Cup competitors, Liteks Lovetch quiet as the Villains picked up a huge 3-1 road victory. Finally, on Sunday, it was West Brom who found it difficult to penetrate the wall of Friedel as the 6’3” stopper reigned in his third win in six days for his new club.
The former U.S. International has helped Villa to five victories in eight matches this season, despite keeping just one clean sheet. Friedel’s penchant for big games surely proved true this week as wins in the UEFA Cup along with two League victories catapulted the squad into fourth place, just two points off first-place Arsenal.
Friedel may get a breather come Wednesday, with Carling Cup action on the table. In his place, fellow Yankee, Brad Guzan could make his debut for the Villains.
English Premier League:
Tim Howard, Everton
Vs. Standard Liege (90 minutes, 2 goals conceded, 3 saves)
Vs, Hull (90 minutes, 2 goals conceded, 2 saves)
Howard and company got off to a tough start in the UEFA Cup Thursday, drawing 2-2 with Belgium Champions Standard Liege. Howard could not be held responsible for the second goal, as Joseph Yobo made a terrible error, slicing the ball into his own net. The Toffees came from behind twice in the first half but could not grab the winner. The two away goals will be tough to overcome in two weeks time when Everton travel east for the second leg. On Sunday’s match with Hull, Howard battled through flu symptoms but was once again a victim of his own back line as Phil Neville put one into goal. Luckily and almost miraculously, Everton were able to grab two goals late to ensure a 2-2 draw. Manager, David Moyes, will be praying for Howard’s full recovery with the Merseyside derby approaching this Saturday. Up Next: Wednesday, away to Blackburn (Carling Cup) and Saturday, home to Liverpool.
Brad Friedel, Aston Villa
Vs. Tottenham (90 minutes, 1 goal conceded, 4 saves)
Vs. Liteks Lovetch (90 minutes, 1 goal conceded, 1 save)
Vs. West Brom (90 minutes, 1 goal conceded, 3 saves)
See Above
Brad Guzan, Aston Villa
Guzan could get a look this Wednesday with QPR on the slate for Villa. The Carling Cup tie ranks low on the squad’s priority list and with Friedel coming off a 270 minute week, the other big American should get the nod. Up Next: Wednesday, home to QPR (Carling Cup) and Saturday, home to Sunderland.
Clint Dempsey, Fulham
Vs. Blackburn (DNP)
Manager, Roy Hodgson elected to not make any changes during the match, which left Dempsey on the pine with the rest of the substitutes. Matt Derbyshire netted the winner for Rovers in the 84th minute. It is becoming plainly obvious that Dempsey’s talents are being wasted on the Fulham bench and with Andy Johnson and Bobby Zamora the starters for the near future, Dempsey may need to look elsewhere come January. Up Next: Tuesday, away to Burnley (Carling Cup) and Saturday, home to West Ham.
Jonathan Spector, West Ham
Vs. Newcastle (DNP)
Spector is still out with an injury. Up Next: Tuesday, away to Watford (Carling Cup) and Saturday, away to Fulham.
Championship Round-Up:
Marcus Hahnemann and Bobby Convey, Reading
On Tuesday, Reading gave Sheffield Wednesday a good old whooping, notching six goals en route to the devastating shutout. Hahnemann picked up the clean sheet while racking up seven saves. Bobby Convey played the last 23 minutes but by that time the damage had been done. On Saturday, the Royals were brought back to reality with a 2-2 draw at Watford. Hahnemann was beaten twice in the second half but Stephen Hunt came through with an equalizer from the penalty spot in the 87th minute. Convey did not see action during that match.
Eddie Johnson, Cardiff
Cardiff won against Barnsley on Tuesday and drew with Derby on Saturday but no thanks to Johnson, who only saw 12 minutes of action during the Derby game and zero against Barnsley. Johnson had a late header sail wide on Saturday but has been a real enigma so far in his British career.
Jay DeMerit, Watford
DeMerit had a terrible Tuesday as his hand ball in the box lead to the winning goal for Plymouth. Luke Summerfield netted the winner in the 72nd minute from the penalty spot after the captain made a crucial error. The loss was the first at home for Watford this season. Saturday’s match with Reading produced a solid result; however, DeMerit’s week was certainly stained by the Plymouth result.
Frank Simek, Sheffield Wednesday
Simek still has not returned from his injury and so, did not see any action during the Reading contest or the Ipswich fixture which ended 0-0.
Meanwhile Up In Scotland…
DaMarcus Beasley and Maurice Edu, Rangers
Vs. Motherwell (72 minutes,)
Beasley played very well for Rangers on Sunday as the squad wrapped up a 2-1 victory over Motherwell. Beasley nearly scored early in the second half and was quite productive throughout the match. He was replaced by Nacho Novo, who scored what would be the winner just four minutes later. Edu took his place on the substitutes list, but did not get on during the contest. The Daily mail ran a piece about the two Americans last week, showcasing their partnership at the Glasgow outfit. The two plan to get some major American football viewing done, with Beasley and Edu supporting the Colts and Raiders respectively. Up Next: Wednesday, away to Patrick (CIS Insurance Cup) and Sunday, away to Hibernian.
What a week for Big Brad, who notched three wins for Aston Villa with his fine keeping. The impressive run started out on Monday, as Friedel kept Spurs at bay for most of the match until Darren Bent netted one late. On Thursday, Friedel kept UEFA Cup competitors, Liteks Lovetch quiet as the Villains picked up a huge 3-1 road victory. Finally, on Sunday, it was West Brom who found it difficult to penetrate the wall of Friedel as the 6’3” stopper reigned in his third win in six days for his new club.
The former U.S. International has helped Villa to five victories in eight matches this season, despite keeping just one clean sheet. Friedel’s penchant for big games surely proved true this week as wins in the UEFA Cup along with two League victories catapulted the squad into fourth place, just two points off first-place Arsenal.
Friedel may get a breather come Wednesday, with Carling Cup action on the table. In his place, fellow Yankee, Brad Guzan could make his debut for the Villains.
English Premier League:
Tim Howard, Everton
Vs. Standard Liege (90 minutes, 2 goals conceded, 3 saves)
Vs, Hull (90 minutes, 2 goals conceded, 2 saves)
Howard and company got off to a tough start in the UEFA Cup Thursday, drawing 2-2 with Belgium Champions Standard Liege. Howard could not be held responsible for the second goal, as Joseph Yobo made a terrible error, slicing the ball into his own net. The Toffees came from behind twice in the first half but could not grab the winner. The two away goals will be tough to overcome in two weeks time when Everton travel east for the second leg. On Sunday’s match with Hull, Howard battled through flu symptoms but was once again a victim of his own back line as Phil Neville put one into goal. Luckily and almost miraculously, Everton were able to grab two goals late to ensure a 2-2 draw. Manager, David Moyes, will be praying for Howard’s full recovery with the Merseyside derby approaching this Saturday. Up Next: Wednesday, away to Blackburn (Carling Cup) and Saturday, home to Liverpool.
Brad Friedel, Aston Villa
Vs. Tottenham (90 minutes, 1 goal conceded, 4 saves)
Vs. Liteks Lovetch (90 minutes, 1 goal conceded, 1 save)
Vs. West Brom (90 minutes, 1 goal conceded, 3 saves)
See Above
Brad Guzan, Aston Villa
Guzan could get a look this Wednesday with QPR on the slate for Villa. The Carling Cup tie ranks low on the squad’s priority list and with Friedel coming off a 270 minute week, the other big American should get the nod. Up Next: Wednesday, home to QPR (Carling Cup) and Saturday, home to Sunderland.
Clint Dempsey, Fulham
Vs. Blackburn (DNP)
Manager, Roy Hodgson elected to not make any changes during the match, which left Dempsey on the pine with the rest of the substitutes. Matt Derbyshire netted the winner for Rovers in the 84th minute. It is becoming plainly obvious that Dempsey’s talents are being wasted on the Fulham bench and with Andy Johnson and Bobby Zamora the starters for the near future, Dempsey may need to look elsewhere come January. Up Next: Tuesday, away to Burnley (Carling Cup) and Saturday, home to West Ham.
Jonathan Spector, West Ham
Vs. Newcastle (DNP)
Spector is still out with an injury. Up Next: Tuesday, away to Watford (Carling Cup) and Saturday, away to Fulham.
Championship Round-Up:
Marcus Hahnemann and Bobby Convey, Reading
On Tuesday, Reading gave Sheffield Wednesday a good old whooping, notching six goals en route to the devastating shutout. Hahnemann picked up the clean sheet while racking up seven saves. Bobby Convey played the last 23 minutes but by that time the damage had been done. On Saturday, the Royals were brought back to reality with a 2-2 draw at Watford. Hahnemann was beaten twice in the second half but Stephen Hunt came through with an equalizer from the penalty spot in the 87th minute. Convey did not see action during that match.
Eddie Johnson, Cardiff
Cardiff won against Barnsley on Tuesday and drew with Derby on Saturday but no thanks to Johnson, who only saw 12 minutes of action during the Derby game and zero against Barnsley. Johnson had a late header sail wide on Saturday but has been a real enigma so far in his British career.
Jay DeMerit, Watford
DeMerit had a terrible Tuesday as his hand ball in the box lead to the winning goal for Plymouth. Luke Summerfield netted the winner in the 72nd minute from the penalty spot after the captain made a crucial error. The loss was the first at home for Watford this season. Saturday’s match with Reading produced a solid result; however, DeMerit’s week was certainly stained by the Plymouth result.
Frank Simek, Sheffield Wednesday
Simek still has not returned from his injury and so, did not see any action during the Reading contest or the Ipswich fixture which ended 0-0.
Meanwhile Up In Scotland…
DaMarcus Beasley and Maurice Edu, Rangers
Vs. Motherwell (72 minutes,)
Beasley played very well for Rangers on Sunday as the squad wrapped up a 2-1 victory over Motherwell. Beasley nearly scored early in the second half and was quite productive throughout the match. He was replaced by Nacho Novo, who scored what would be the winner just four minutes later. Edu took his place on the substitutes list, but did not get on during the contest. The Daily mail ran a piece about the two Americans last week, showcasing their partnership at the Glasgow outfit. The two plan to get some major American football viewing done, with Beasley and Edu supporting the Colts and Raiders respectively. Up Next: Wednesday, away to Patrick (CIS Insurance Cup) and Sunday, away to Hibernian.
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