RSS
ATOM
advertisement
Americans In The UK: Season Review Part 2
The Premier League produced some fine American performances this past season, with Clint Dempsey and Brad Friedel leading the pack.
May 24, 2010 12:33:00 AM
By Matthew Braine
Tim Howard, Everton
Season Stats: 51 games, 15 clean sheets. Everton finished eighth in the Premier League.
Howard had a very good season for Everton, helping them to a top 10 finish while notching 15 clean sheets in all competitions. Unfortunately, the Toffees finished just behind rival Liverpool, failing to qualify for European competition for the first time since 2006, the year before Howard arrived at the club. This campaign started out ugly for Howard as he conceded nine goals in the team's first three league matches, including a six spot on opening day against Arsenal.
However, the squad went undefeated in league play from early December through early February as the keeper piled up four clean sheets. Despite being eliminated early from the Carling and FA cup tournaments along with the Europa League, the club still managed to muster the confidence to challenge for European play next season almost until the bitter end. Lacking the services of top defender Phil Jagielka and creative midfielder Mikel Arteta for most of the season, the club was never expected to perform at an elite level, especially with formidable striker Yakubu limited to just 19 appearances. The Merseyside outfit will likely need to make some transfer acquisitions in order to secure a European place next season but that’s certainly on the back burner for Howard as the World Cup approaches. The national team's number one stopper has Algeria, Slovenia, and of course England to deal with before he embarks on another Premier League challenge.
Brad Friedel, Aston Villa
Season Stats: 42 games, 15 clean sheets. Aston Villa finished sixth in the Premier League.
At 39 years old, Friedel wrapped up yet another quality season in the top flight. The burly keeper went through an incredible stretch in December when he blanked Hull City, Manchester United, Sunderland, and Stoke City consecutively. Just one month later he reeled off another string of clean sheets, halting West Ham United, Arsenal, Fulham, and Tottenham. His most impressive performance came in late August when he put on an unbelievable display against Liverpool during a Monday night affair. The Ohio native stopped 10 shots and gave notice that the Villains were a club to be reckoned with. He was right.
Despite being eliminated from the Europa League in their first match-up against Rapid Vienna, the club went on to have great domestic tournament success. They reached the Carling Cup final, ultimately losing to Manchester United 1-2. Friedel played well, making eight stops, but was helpless as Wayne Rooney’s 74th minute header sealed the win. In the FA Cup semifinal, Villa kept the tie deadlocked at 0-0 but Friedel was pulverized by a late surge as Chelsea hit three times in the last 22 minutes to knock out the Birmingham club. The squad stumbled a bit down the stretch but still managed to book a spot in next year's Europa League with a solid sixth placed finish. Although the keeper is aging, he has vowed to play until his 40th birthday.
Brad Guzan, Aston Villa
Season Stats: 10 games, three clean sheets.
The second choice keeper behind Friedel, Guzan did an admirable job in cup competitions, helping them reach one final and one semifinal this season. Guzan drew the Europa League assignment against Rapid Vienna, allowing just a pair goals over the two games. However, Vienna’s away goal let them win out. The Carling Cup is where the Illinois product really shined as he shut out Cardiff City and Sunderland in the first two fixtures. He played the hero role against the Black Cats, stopping three out of four penalty shots to book the Villains in the quarter-finals. There, he stopped seven shots as Villa knocked off Portsmouth before enduring a whirlwind tie with Blackburn in the semi-final round which the squad eventually won 7-4 on aggregate.
The FA cup was another monster that Guzan seemed fit to tame as he put down Blackburn, Brighton, and Crystal Palace, leading Villa to the quarterfinals where Friedel assumed the number one post. In total, the 25-year-old stopper went undefeated in domestic tournaments, pretty impressive any way you slice it. The former Chivas USA man has made it known that he wants to get consistent playing time so a loan or alternate move may be in the cards next season. For now, he remains the number two keeper behind Tim Howard in this summer's World Cup tournament.
Clint Dempsey, Fulham
Season Stats: 46 appearances, nine goals, four assists. Fulham finished 12th in the Premier League.
Although Fulham finished 12th in the Premiership, they had quite a season. Given their penchant for mediocrity in recent years, they certainly outdid themselves in 2010. Dempsey played a big part in Fulham’s success, which included a Europa League final in Germany, scoring nine times, while playing a vital role in the team’s attack. Despite missing nearly two months of action due to a knee injury, the Texas native still managed to suit up 15 times after returning, leaving no doubt as to whether he was World Cup ready.
A stretch beginning in late October saw Dempsey score three goals over four contests, two of them ensured a point for Fulham when a loss appeared to be on the table. He notched a double in late November against Blackburn before providing an assist and a goal in a losing effort at Stoke in early January. Two weeks later his season looked to be over but his recovery was a godsend for Fulham, as Dempsey went on to score a crucial goal against Juventus that sent the Cottagers into the Europa League semifinals. Knotted at 4-4 on aggregate and needing one more goal to defeat the Italian giants, Dempsey stepped up and launched a sublime chip shot to send Fulham through. Fulham eventually lost the final to Atletico Madrid but there is no question that making it that far was a huge accomplishment for the London club.
Dempsey is locked into a starting position at the World Cup and certainly needs to be on his 'A' game if the United States hopes to progress past the group stage.
Jonathan Spector, West Ham
Season Stats: 29 appearances, 0 goals. West Ham finished 17th in the Premier League.
The U.S. national team defender should start this summer at the World Cup but could settle for a substitute role. However, this kind of teetering is nothing new to the 24-year-old; he rolled with the punches all season long with the Hammers, yet in comparison to last season, the 2009-10 campaign was a breakout year for Spector. He appeared in 29 contests and helped the Hammers notch seven clean sheets.
The right back had impressive starts against Blackburn and Aston Villa in January but also struggled mightily against most of the bigger clubs. Spector showed great improvement this season and, at such a young age, he still has a lot more to offer going forward.
Marcus Hahnemann, Wolverhampton
Season Stats: 25 games, seven clean sheets. Wolverhampton finished 15th in the Premier League.
Hahnemann supplanted first choice keeper Wayne Hennessey just before the New Year and never relinquished the spot, holding firm for the club until season's end. The veteran from Seattle managed to produce some fine efforts including an impressive seven-save clean sheet performance against Spurs in December and a nine-stop shutout over Everton. He didn't concede too many goals either, allowing one goal or less 16 times out of 25 starts.
The franchise brass extended Hahnemann's stay at Molineux for another year after he helped Wolves stay afloat in the Premier League for another season. As the third choice keeper behind Howard and Guzan, the 37-year-old isn't expected to see much action in South Africa.
Jozy Altidore, Hull City
Season Stats: 30 appearances, two goals, three assists. Hull City finished 19th in the Premier League, relegated to the Championship.
The young striker exploded onto the English scene in August with a pair of impressive performances. He notched a brilliant assist to Kamel Ghilas on what was basically his first touch of the ball on his debut as Hull edged out Bolton 1-0. Then, three days later, he scored what would be the match winner against Southend United in a Carling Cup fixture. Unfortunately, Altidore struggled after his hot start, failing to score again for nearly sixth months as the club dropped into the depths of the relegation zone.
The former Red Bulls striker got back on the score sheet on February 6 when he scored a great goal against Manchester City which the Tigers surprisingly won 2-1. Altidore's season ended on a sour note when he was banned for the final two games after receiving a red card for headbutting Alan Hutton after the defender threw a ball at him. Hull was eventually relegated to the Championship and, while Altidore will likely return to Villareal at first, another loan spell, possibly in England, is certainly a strong possibility. For now, the World Cup is priority number one.
Stuart Holden, Bolton Wanderers
Season Stats: Three appearances, 0 goals. Bolton finished 14th in the Premier League.
After spending time training in England following the 2009 MLS season, Holden came to Bolton in February. He only appeared in three fixtures for the squad as hip and leg injuries put a damper on his season. The midfielder was able to return late in the campaign, coming on for the final 25 minutes in a win over Birmingham. The former Dynamo standout made the preliminary 30-man roster leading up to the World Cup but will not know if he's headed to South Africa until after Tuesday’s match against the Czech Republic when head coach Bob Bradley is expected to narrow his squad down to 23.
Matthew Braine writes the Americans in the UK piece every Monday. Contact him with your questions or comments at matthew.braine@hotmail.com or follow him on Twitter @MatthewBraine
Season Stats: 51 games, 15 clean sheets. Everton finished eighth in the Premier League.
Howard had a very good season for Everton, helping them to a top 10 finish while notching 15 clean sheets in all competitions. Unfortunately, the Toffees finished just behind rival Liverpool, failing to qualify for European competition for the first time since 2006, the year before Howard arrived at the club. This campaign started out ugly for Howard as he conceded nine goals in the team's first three league matches, including a six spot on opening day against Arsenal.
However, the squad went undefeated in league play from early December through early February as the keeper piled up four clean sheets. Despite being eliminated early from the Carling and FA cup tournaments along with the Europa League, the club still managed to muster the confidence to challenge for European play next season almost until the bitter end. Lacking the services of top defender Phil Jagielka and creative midfielder Mikel Arteta for most of the season, the club was never expected to perform at an elite level, especially with formidable striker Yakubu limited to just 19 appearances. The Merseyside outfit will likely need to make some transfer acquisitions in order to secure a European place next season but that’s certainly on the back burner for Howard as the World Cup approaches. The national team's number one stopper has Algeria, Slovenia, and of course England to deal with before he embarks on another Premier League challenge.
Brad Friedel, Aston Villa
Season Stats: 42 games, 15 clean sheets. Aston Villa finished sixth in the Premier League.
At 39 years old, Friedel wrapped up yet another quality season in the top flight. The burly keeper went through an incredible stretch in December when he blanked Hull City, Manchester United, Sunderland, and Stoke City consecutively. Just one month later he reeled off another string of clean sheets, halting West Ham United, Arsenal, Fulham, and Tottenham. His most impressive performance came in late August when he put on an unbelievable display against Liverpool during a Monday night affair. The Ohio native stopped 10 shots and gave notice that the Villains were a club to be reckoned with. He was right.
Despite being eliminated from the Europa League in their first match-up against Rapid Vienna, the club went on to have great domestic tournament success. They reached the Carling Cup final, ultimately losing to Manchester United 1-2. Friedel played well, making eight stops, but was helpless as Wayne Rooney’s 74th minute header sealed the win. In the FA Cup semifinal, Villa kept the tie deadlocked at 0-0 but Friedel was pulverized by a late surge as Chelsea hit three times in the last 22 minutes to knock out the Birmingham club. The squad stumbled a bit down the stretch but still managed to book a spot in next year's Europa League with a solid sixth placed finish. Although the keeper is aging, he has vowed to play until his 40th birthday.
Brad Guzan, Aston Villa
Season Stats: 10 games, three clean sheets.
The second choice keeper behind Friedel, Guzan did an admirable job in cup competitions, helping them reach one final and one semifinal this season. Guzan drew the Europa League assignment against Rapid Vienna, allowing just a pair goals over the two games. However, Vienna’s away goal let them win out. The Carling Cup is where the Illinois product really shined as he shut out Cardiff City and Sunderland in the first two fixtures. He played the hero role against the Black Cats, stopping three out of four penalty shots to book the Villains in the quarter-finals. There, he stopped seven shots as Villa knocked off Portsmouth before enduring a whirlwind tie with Blackburn in the semi-final round which the squad eventually won 7-4 on aggregate.
The FA cup was another monster that Guzan seemed fit to tame as he put down Blackburn, Brighton, and Crystal Palace, leading Villa to the quarterfinals where Friedel assumed the number one post. In total, the 25-year-old stopper went undefeated in domestic tournaments, pretty impressive any way you slice it. The former Chivas USA man has made it known that he wants to get consistent playing time so a loan or alternate move may be in the cards next season. For now, he remains the number two keeper behind Tim Howard in this summer's World Cup tournament.
Clint Dempsey, Fulham
Season Stats: 46 appearances, nine goals, four assists. Fulham finished 12th in the Premier League.
Although Fulham finished 12th in the Premiership, they had quite a season. Given their penchant for mediocrity in recent years, they certainly outdid themselves in 2010. Dempsey played a big part in Fulham’s success, which included a Europa League final in Germany, scoring nine times, while playing a vital role in the team’s attack. Despite missing nearly two months of action due to a knee injury, the Texas native still managed to suit up 15 times after returning, leaving no doubt as to whether he was World Cup ready.
A stretch beginning in late October saw Dempsey score three goals over four contests, two of them ensured a point for Fulham when a loss appeared to be on the table. He notched a double in late November against Blackburn before providing an assist and a goal in a losing effort at Stoke in early January. Two weeks later his season looked to be over but his recovery was a godsend for Fulham, as Dempsey went on to score a crucial goal against Juventus that sent the Cottagers into the Europa League semifinals. Knotted at 4-4 on aggregate and needing one more goal to defeat the Italian giants, Dempsey stepped up and launched a sublime chip shot to send Fulham through. Fulham eventually lost the final to Atletico Madrid but there is no question that making it that far was a huge accomplishment for the London club.
Dempsey is locked into a starting position at the World Cup and certainly needs to be on his 'A' game if the United States hopes to progress past the group stage.
Jonathan Spector, West Ham
Season Stats: 29 appearances, 0 goals. West Ham finished 17th in the Premier League.
The U.S. national team defender should start this summer at the World Cup but could settle for a substitute role. However, this kind of teetering is nothing new to the 24-year-old; he rolled with the punches all season long with the Hammers, yet in comparison to last season, the 2009-10 campaign was a breakout year for Spector. He appeared in 29 contests and helped the Hammers notch seven clean sheets.
The right back had impressive starts against Blackburn and Aston Villa in January but also struggled mightily against most of the bigger clubs. Spector showed great improvement this season and, at such a young age, he still has a lot more to offer going forward.
Marcus Hahnemann, Wolverhampton
Season Stats: 25 games, seven clean sheets. Wolverhampton finished 15th in the Premier League.
Hahnemann supplanted first choice keeper Wayne Hennessey just before the New Year and never relinquished the spot, holding firm for the club until season's end. The veteran from Seattle managed to produce some fine efforts including an impressive seven-save clean sheet performance against Spurs in December and a nine-stop shutout over Everton. He didn't concede too many goals either, allowing one goal or less 16 times out of 25 starts.
The franchise brass extended Hahnemann's stay at Molineux for another year after he helped Wolves stay afloat in the Premier League for another season. As the third choice keeper behind Howard and Guzan, the 37-year-old isn't expected to see much action in South Africa.
Jozy Altidore, Hull City
Season Stats: 30 appearances, two goals, three assists. Hull City finished 19th in the Premier League, relegated to the Championship.
The young striker exploded onto the English scene in August with a pair of impressive performances. He notched a brilliant assist to Kamel Ghilas on what was basically his first touch of the ball on his debut as Hull edged out Bolton 1-0. Then, three days later, he scored what would be the match winner against Southend United in a Carling Cup fixture. Unfortunately, Altidore struggled after his hot start, failing to score again for nearly sixth months as the club dropped into the depths of the relegation zone.
The former Red Bulls striker got back on the score sheet on February 6 when he scored a great goal against Manchester City which the Tigers surprisingly won 2-1. Altidore's season ended on a sour note when he was banned for the final two games after receiving a red card for headbutting Alan Hutton after the defender threw a ball at him. Hull was eventually relegated to the Championship and, while Altidore will likely return to Villareal at first, another loan spell, possibly in England, is certainly a strong possibility. For now, the World Cup is priority number one.
Stuart Holden, Bolton Wanderers
Season Stats: Three appearances, 0 goals. Bolton finished 14th in the Premier League.
After spending time training in England following the 2009 MLS season, Holden came to Bolton in February. He only appeared in three fixtures for the squad as hip and leg injuries put a damper on his season. The midfielder was able to return late in the campaign, coming on for the final 25 minutes in a win over Birmingham. The former Dynamo standout made the preliminary 30-man roster leading up to the World Cup but will not know if he's headed to South Africa until after Tuesday’s match against the Czech Republic when head coach Bob Bradley is expected to narrow his squad down to 23.
Matthew Braine writes the Americans in the UK piece every Monday. Contact him with your questions or comments at matthew.braine@hotmail.com or follow him on Twitter @MatthewBraine
For more on Americans abroad, visit Goal.com's dedicated page and join Goal.com USA's Facebook fan page!
Thank you for your comment!
Please enter your name
Please enter your location
Please share your comment!
5 Comments
Advertisement
Inside Goal.Com
-
ISOLA: Roma's De Rossi smart to remain with one club for career
De Rossi has a chance to build a lasting legacy at Roma similar to NBA veterans Tim Duncan and Kobe Bryant, who have never switched teams.
-
RANKINGS: Torres breaks into the top 10 as Altidore drops out
The Pachuca midfielder is back on form, and with many of the USA's top players struggling, he breaks into the top 10.
-
COHEN: Has the game of soccer lost its human decency recently?
Between recent allegations of racism in England and the death of dozens in Egypt, Steven Cohen wonders where the humanity is in soccer.
-
DEMPSEY'S DIARY: Things changed with family now with me in England
In another diary entry for Goal.com, the U.S. international and Fulham midfielder talks about how his family life in London and explains why he decided to join Twitter.
-
VERTELNEY: Le Toux trade creates attacking surplus in Vancouver
With a huge surplus of attacking players, the Whitecaps are likely not through making moves
Advertisement
Advertisement
