Goal.commentary: A Banner Year for Americans Abroad

In the end, however, 2008 will be remembered more for the play of Americans in Europe than for the effort of the team as a whole. From big name transfers -- Jozy Altidore, Freddy Adu, Michael Bradley -- and solid defensive play -- Carlos Bocanegra, Oguchi Onyewu -- to always brilliant American goalkeeping -- Tim Howard and Brad Friedel -- and simply the increasing number of Nats in European leagues, it was a banner year for U.S. footballers in England and on the Continent.

While Americans have had trouble finding spots on the rosters of top leagues around the world (and playing time once they arrive), that reality has begun to change. Altidore, who set a record transfer fee in going to Villarreal, is the poster child for this phenomenon. While his success is due as much to injury problems of the team's top strikers as it is to the teen's talent, the youngster hasn't looked out of place when playing up top for one of Spain's best sides. To crib a line from another one of the year's ground breakers, Jozy's put another crack in the glass ceiling holding down American soccer players. (Furthermore, the improvement in his game brought on by training with world-class talent on a daily basis has shown in recent matches with the Nats.)

The tradition of American goalkeepers finding success in England, always one of the strongest aspects of the U.S. game, continued in a big way this year. Howard, the American No. 1, has been solid for Everton, while Brad Guzan has backed up his friend and mentor effectively in spot duty. Friedel has retired from the international game, but his spectacular play at Aston Villa has the squad in the hunt for a previously unthinkable top four finish. Marcus Hahnemann's Reading squad suffered through relegation, but it wasn't his fault.

The strongest aspect of the U.S. National Team in 2008 was its defense, which only conceded eight goals all year. Carlos Bocanegra and Oguchi Onyewu anchored the centreback positions, and have found impressive success for their club sides. Bocanegra's Rennes squad has been a defensive monster this season and is racing up the Ligue 1 table. While Gooch's Standard Liege team has struggled to start the 2008-2009, the previous season was a revelation for the club and the six-foot, four-inch giant has been drawing interest from some of the best leagues in the world. A move cannot be far away.

It wasn't all fairytales for Americans abroad -- Adu being used as a marketing ploy rather than an actual player at Monaco stings the worst -- but when all things are considered, 2008 will go down as one of the best years ever for the Nats across the pond. If nothing else, it screams of potential. Clint Dempsey, Steve Cherundolo, Michael Bradley, even Neven Subotic (one hopes), all found levels of success previously achieved by a select few. The lower leagues are littered with Americans. We might not have a Brian McBride-type player who's capable of carrying the offensive load of an English Premier League team, but we will. 2008 served notice that the Yanks are coming.

Noah Davis covers the United States Men's National Team for Goal.com.