|
|
Americans in the UK: Friedel Cements Villa’s Spot
Brad Friedel and his Villains have been living a dream all season and on Saturday, their win over Sunderland put them in the driver’s seat of third place.
Jan 18, 2009 7:01:08 PM
By Matthew Braine
In what was a rather boring weekend for the Americans in the UK, Brad Friedel managed to help create some headlines as Villa continued their majestic run amongst the top four in the Premiership.
The 37-year-old keeper was impressive on Saturday as Villa grabbed a controversial victory at the Stadium of Light Saturday. After Ashley Young was sent off in the 72nd minute, Gabriel Agbonlahor was awarded a questionable penalty by referee Mike Dean in the 80th which Gareth Barry blasted home. Friedel made a few nice saves including a great footed stop of Dean Whitehead’s first half effort. Friedel and company now sit three points ahead of Arsenal and are in control of third place, just three points behind leaders Manchester United.
Premiership:
Tim Howard, Everton
vs. Liverpool (Monday)
Up Next: Sunday, away to Liverpool (FA Cup)
Brad Friedel, Aston Villa.
vs. Sunderland, 1-2, 90 minutes, 4 saves, 1 goal conceded.
(See Above)
Up Next: Villa is scheduled to place the winner of Cheltenham vs. Doncaster this Saturday in an FA Cup contest.
Brad Guzan and Eric Lichaj, Aston Villa
Guzan was active and playing his usual back up role on Saturday, while Lichaj suited up for the Reserves on Tuesday as the Villains drew 0-0 with West Ham. It was an American affair as both Eric Lichaj and Jonathan Spector represented their respective sides.
Up Next: Monday, home to Chelsea. (Reserves match).
Clint Dempsey, Fulham
vs. West Ham, 3-1, 90 minutes.
On Sunday, Fulham had their nine match unbeaten run snapped at the hands of the Hammers. After Paul Konchesky leveled the scoring at 1-1 in the 22nd minute, the defender committed a ghastly error, giving away a 60th minute penalty which was converted by Mark Noble. A late Carlton Cole strike sealed the fate of the Cottagers, who will certainly be seeing red in their FA Cup contest with lowly Conference dwellers Kettering Town next week.
Up Next: Saturday, away to Kettering Town (FA Cup).
Jonathan Spector, West Ham
vs. Fulham, 3-1, DNP.
Spector was not active for Sunday’s win over the Cottagers, but did play for the Reserves on Sunday. The Hammers drew 0-0 with Villa as Spector played the entire contest.
Up Next: Saturday, away to Hartlepool United (FA Cup). Reserves: Tuesday, home to Fulham.
Championship Round-Up:
Marcus Hahnemann and Bobby Convey, Reading
Reading finally missed Hahnemann on Saturday as Swansea got two past back up Adam Federici and rolled to an easy shutout victory. It was a very poor display from the usually consistent Royals but both Federici and the squad in general have been solid all year. Hahnemann is expected back within the next few weeks but Federici may have supplanted him with his recent performances. It should be an interesting position battle going forward. Convey, as usual, was not in action and is a rumored target for the San Jose Earthquakes.
Eddie Johnson, Cardiff
Johnson got on for the final seven minutes of Saturday’s match and saw first hand why Birmingham is one of the elite clubs in the Championship. Cardiff held a 1-0 lead going into the fourth minute of stoppage time but Lee Bowyer grabbed an equalizer at the death, robbing the Bluebirds their first victory at St. Andrew’s since 1966. Johnson was pretty much a non-factor during his short stay on the pitch.
Jay DeMerit, Watford
Watford’s terrible goals against record continued on Saturday as Sheffield United blanked the home side 2-0. DeMerit has seen his squad, particularly the back four, struggle immensely this season. Watford have allowed 50 goals this season, second highest to Charlton Athletic, who sit in last place. Watford don’t look too much better as they sit just outside the drop zone in 21st place.
Frank Simek, Sheffield Wednesday
Simek, still sidelined, watched on as his Owls beat up on Championship cellar dwellers Charlton Athletic on Saturday. The 4-1 victory should inspire some confidence in the side that has been severely hit by injuries this season.
Meanwhile Up In Scotland…
DaMarcus Beasley and Maurice Edu, Rangers
vs. Falkirk, 3-1, both DNP.
While Edu made it onto the substitutes list, he did not get off the bench as Rangers defeated Falkirk 3-1 over the weekend. Meanwhile, Beasley was not even on the bench and has expressed his desire to leave the club if he cannot earn a regular spot in the rotation. The winger is in the prime of his career and a move would certainly boost his morale and play, however, I doubt that he’ll ever play for a club with more prestige than Rangers.
Pub Talk:
** MK Dons striker Jemal Johnson played inspired football on Saturday and helped his squad stake a 2-0 halftime lead over Carlisle United. The crafty Johnson sprinted down the left side early on and slotted a nice cross to Aaron Wilbraham, who scored his first of two goals on the day. However, the Dons would lose concentration fast as they gave up a 46th minute goal Carlisle’s Danny Graham along with two more goals, ultimately falling 3-2. Crucial points were lost, as the Dons still sit four points behind leaders Leicester City in League One.
Matthew Braine's feature "Americans in the UK" appears every Monday on Goal.com. He can be reached at matthew.braine@hotmail.com
In what was a rather boring weekend for the Americans in the UK, Brad Friedel managed to help create some headlines as Villa continued their majestic run amongst the top four in the Premiership.
The 37-year-old keeper was impressive on Saturday as Villa grabbed a controversial victory at the Stadium of Light Saturday. After Ashley Young was sent off in the 72nd minute, Gabriel Agbonlahor was awarded a questionable penalty by referee Mike Dean in the 80th which Gareth Barry blasted home. Friedel made a few nice saves including a great footed stop of Dean Whitehead’s first half effort. Friedel and company now sit three points ahead of Arsenal and are in control of third place, just three points behind leaders Manchester United.
Premiership:
Tim Howard, Everton
vs. Liverpool (Monday)
Up Next: Sunday, away to Liverpool (FA Cup)
Brad Friedel, Aston Villa.
vs. Sunderland, 1-2, 90 minutes, 4 saves, 1 goal conceded.
(See Above)
Up Next: Villa is scheduled to place the winner of Cheltenham vs. Doncaster this Saturday in an FA Cup contest.
Brad Guzan and Eric Lichaj, Aston Villa
Guzan was active and playing his usual back up role on Saturday, while Lichaj suited up for the Reserves on Tuesday as the Villains drew 0-0 with West Ham. It was an American affair as both Eric Lichaj and Jonathan Spector represented their respective sides.
Up Next: Monday, home to Chelsea. (Reserves match).
Clint Dempsey, Fulham
vs. West Ham, 3-1, 90 minutes.
On Sunday, Fulham had their nine match unbeaten run snapped at the hands of the Hammers. After Paul Konchesky leveled the scoring at 1-1 in the 22nd minute, the defender committed a ghastly error, giving away a 60th minute penalty which was converted by Mark Noble. A late Carlton Cole strike sealed the fate of the Cottagers, who will certainly be seeing red in their FA Cup contest with lowly Conference dwellers Kettering Town next week.
Up Next: Saturday, away to Kettering Town (FA Cup).
Jonathan Spector, West Ham
vs. Fulham, 3-1, DNP.
Spector was not active for Sunday’s win over the Cottagers, but did play for the Reserves on Sunday. The Hammers drew 0-0 with Villa as Spector played the entire contest.
Up Next: Saturday, away to Hartlepool United (FA Cup). Reserves: Tuesday, home to Fulham.
Championship Round-Up:
Marcus Hahnemann and Bobby Convey, Reading
Reading finally missed Hahnemann on Saturday as Swansea got two past back up Adam Federici and rolled to an easy shutout victory. It was a very poor display from the usually consistent Royals but both Federici and the squad in general have been solid all year. Hahnemann is expected back within the next few weeks but Federici may have supplanted him with his recent performances. It should be an interesting position battle going forward. Convey, as usual, was not in action and is a rumored target for the San Jose Earthquakes.
Eddie Johnson, Cardiff
Johnson got on for the final seven minutes of Saturday’s match and saw first hand why Birmingham is one of the elite clubs in the Championship. Cardiff held a 1-0 lead going into the fourth minute of stoppage time but Lee Bowyer grabbed an equalizer at the death, robbing the Bluebirds their first victory at St. Andrew’s since 1966. Johnson was pretty much a non-factor during his short stay on the pitch.
Jay DeMerit, Watford
Watford’s terrible goals against record continued on Saturday as Sheffield United blanked the home side 2-0. DeMerit has seen his squad, particularly the back four, struggle immensely this season. Watford have allowed 50 goals this season, second highest to Charlton Athletic, who sit in last place. Watford don’t look too much better as they sit just outside the drop zone in 21st place.
Frank Simek, Sheffield Wednesday
Simek, still sidelined, watched on as his Owls beat up on Championship cellar dwellers Charlton Athletic on Saturday. The 4-1 victory should inspire some confidence in the side that has been severely hit by injuries this season.
Meanwhile Up In Scotland…
DaMarcus Beasley and Maurice Edu, Rangers
vs. Falkirk, 3-1, both DNP.
While Edu made it onto the substitutes list, he did not get off the bench as Rangers defeated Falkirk 3-1 over the weekend. Meanwhile, Beasley was not even on the bench and has expressed his desire to leave the club if he cannot earn a regular spot in the rotation. The winger is in the prime of his career and a move would certainly boost his morale and play, however, I doubt that he’ll ever play for a club with more prestige than Rangers.
Pub Talk:
** MK Dons striker Jemal Johnson played inspired football on Saturday and helped his squad stake a 2-0 halftime lead over Carlisle United. The crafty Johnson sprinted down the left side early on and slotted a nice cross to Aaron Wilbraham, who scored his first of two goals on the day. However, the Dons would lose concentration fast as they gave up a 46th minute goal Carlisle’s Danny Graham along with two more goals, ultimately falling 3-2. Crucial points were lost, as the Dons still sit four points behind leaders Leicester City in League One.
Matthew Braine's feature "Americans in the UK" appears every Monday on Goal.com. He can be reached at matthew.braine@hotmail.com
Inside Goal.Com
-
RIGG: Anelka struggling against the current in Shanghai
Nicolas Anelka went against the grain when he moved to Shanghai. Now he's finding that coaching and gelling tactically is like swimming against the tide.
-
ROGERS: Bradley should command a bidding war among Serie A teams
Chievo is currently shopping the American midfielder and several Italian clubs have shown interest.
-
ISOLA: Neymar-led Brazil should be considered the 2014 WC favorite
Neymar was brilliant as Brazil easily handled the United States with early World Cup preparations officially underway.
-
LATHAM: Mexico using summer friendlies to build depth
With World Cup qualifying to begin in June, Mexico is using three U.S.-hosted friendlies to build squad depth.
-
McCARTHY: Harrisburg springs its wildest Open Cup upset to date
The City Islanders fought back from three goals down with nine minutes to play and won the game on penalty kicks in a stunning game on a wild night for the U.S. Open Cup.