The Pachuca midfielder is back on form, and with many of the USA's top players struggling, he breaks into the top 10.
This week has seen both good and bad for the top players on the list.
Sacha Kljestan continued to make his case as one of the USA's best exports with a lovely free kick over the weekend. Kljestan adding goals to his game would make him even harder to ignore for the U.S. national team.
While he was scoring, the man these rankings spent so much time praising last week, Oguchi Onyewu, was struggling. The big defender picked up a red card and conceded a penalty that was converted for the games only goal.
Carlos Bocanegra and Maurice Edu also had a rough week, with Rangers coughing up a tough loss to Dundee United in Scottish Cup action.
Those matches will all be reflected in the rankings this week as movement continues in the lower half of the board.
|
Age: 28
Club: Fulham
|
Position: Midfielder
Last Week: 1
|
Comment: Dempsey scored in one match last week and took a 3-0 loss in the other. Fulham's inconsistent play continues, while Dempsey continues to be the club's most reliable threat.
|
|
Age: 40
Club: Tottenham
|
Position: Goalkeeper
Last Week: 2
|
Comments: Friedel kept a clean sheet against Liverpool but couldn't get any attacking support and had to settle for a draw.
|
|
Age: 29
Club: Everton
|
Position: Midfielder
Last Week: 3
|
Comments: Donovan proves weekly that he can be a major part of an EPL club, but his time with Everton is running out.
|
|
Age: 32
Club: Everton
|
Position: Goalkeeper
Last Week: 4
|
Comments: Howard has been in good form of late but couldn't keep his club from dropping points against Wigan.
|
|
Age: 24
Club: Chievo
|
Position: Midfielder
Last Week: 5
|
Comments: Bradley's club took another loss over the weekend to Parma, but he continues to star in the midfield.
|
|
Age: 26
Club: Anderlecht
|
Position: Midfielder
Last Week: 7
|
Comment: Kljestan continues to climb up the rankings and his free-kick goal was worth moving up another spot this week.
|
|
Age: 32
Club: Rangers
|
Position: Defender
Last Week: 6
|
Comments: Bocanegra doesn't benefit from the fact that any time his team loses to another Scottish outfit (other than Celtic) it's considered an upset.
|
|
Age: 25
Club: Rangers
|
Position: Midfielder
Last Week: 8
|
Comments: Edu sits just below Bocanegra but could just as easily be just above his club teammate.
|
|
Age: 24
Club: Pachuca
|
Position: Midfielder
Last Week: NR
|
Comments: In truth, the last two spots on the list could go to any number of players. Torres seems to be finding his form and will take the ninth spot for now with his team still unbeaten in the league this term.
|
|
Age: 29
Club: Sporting
|
Position: Defender
Last Week: 9
|
Comments: Onyewu had a bad week, but his form really hasn't been poor at all this season. He drops down one spot and Jozy Altidore leaves the list.
|
