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Americans in the UK: Friedel Posts Another Gem
Aston Villa’s net minder earned another clean sheet after shutting out Manchester United on Saturday. One week after closing down Arsenal, Friedel inched the Villains into the top four once again.
Nov 24, 2008 8:38:57 AM
By Matthew Braine
Brad Friedel came up big on Saturday, keeping a forceful Manchester United side at bay, all the while keeping his second straight clean sheet against another top foe.
Friedel was forced to make just two saves on the day but was under constant pressure as United dominated possession 67% to 33%. The former U.S. International kept out a swirling cross from Cristiano Ronaldo early on and was lucky when Wayne Rooney squandered a great second half chance, putting the ball over the top of the net when he should have put the visitor’s on top.
Nevertheless Friedel will chalk up another clean sheet for the season, of which he now has five. The Villians passed Arsenal to overtake fourth place and are certainly putting themselves into position to upset the balance of power in the top flight.
Premiership:
Tim Howard, Everton
Vs. Wigan (Monday evening)
Up Next: Sunday, away to Tottenham
Brad Friedel, Aston Villa.
Vs. Manchester United (90 minutes, 2 saves, 0 goals conceded)
(See Above)
Up Next: Saturday, home to Fulham
Brad Guzan and Eric Lichaj, Aston Villa
The Villa Reserves have a match against Fulham on Tuesday which could mean an Eric Lichaj sighting. Guzan was on board for the Manchester United contest and is locked into the backup role.
Clint Dempsey, Fulham
Vs. Liverpool (85 minutes)
Dempsey got another start on Saturday, his second in a row, and played well as the Cottagers earned a credible draw against Liverpool at Anfield. While the Reds dominated for the most part, uncorking 22 shots to just 6 for Fulham, the Merseyside club could not hit the target. While Dempsey certainly played better last week against Spurs, he was solid over the weekend, making a few solid runs and certainly didn’t do enough to play himself out of the starting XI. With just one loss from their last seven matches and three victories, the London outfit is suddenly just five points out of a UEFA Cup spot. While this is unlikely to last, it is encouraging for a side that battled relegation for the majority of last season.
Up Next: Saturday, away to Aston Villa
Jonathan Spector, West Ham
Vs. Sunderland (DNP)
The Hammers picked up a valuable road win on Sunday, edging out the Black Cats 1-0 at the Stadium of Light. The win moves the London club from 17th to 13th in the table but with just five points separating 9th place from 18th, the battle for relegation has only just begun for the clubs at the bottom of the table. Spector did not feature for the Hammers, as he is still recovering from a hip injury. With a Reserve game coming up this week, Spector could show up to get back into full fitness. A return before the New Year is still in the cards.
Up Next: Monday, away to Liverpool.
Championship Round-Up:
Marcus Hahnemann and Bobby Convey, Reading
Although Hahnemann kept out six shots on the day, Southampton’s Bradley Wright-Philips was simply too much, notching a brace too seal the 2-1 victory. The loss does not affect Reading’s league position but with Wolverhampton winning, they now sit 10 points behind the league leaders who are in prime control of the Championship. Convey is still MIA and with no Reserves fixtures until December, the winger may or may not feature for the first team this weekend.
Eddie Johnson, Cardiff
Johnson had one solid shot on Saturday against Plymouth but the visitors could not recover from a 2-0 halftime deficit and ultimately fell 2-1. Johnson played the entire match and has now started the last three. With Cardiff still in a playoff position, they are surely weathering the injury storm that has recently hit the club. Johnson, slowly, has begun to prove his mettle in the Championship.
Jay DeMerit, Watford
Watford climbed out of the relegation zone on Saturday, as they raced out to a 3-0 halftime lead against QPR and never looked back, winning by the same score line. Although they now sit just one place above 22nd ranked Charlton, they own a two point advantage and may be on the right track after going winless for six games. DeMerit played well, anchoring a stingy defense that helped spark the electric first half.
Frank Simek, Sheffield Wednesday
Simek was back on the substitutes list for the Owls but did not get on as they fell 1-0 to Coventry. After playing in a Reserve game last week, Simek is obviously closer to full fitness and should see the pitch within the next few matches.
Meanwhile Up In Scotland…
DaMarcus Beasley and Maurice Edu, Rangers
Vs. Aberdeen (21 minutes) Edu (DNP)
Beasley got on right after Kris Boyd doubled Rangers lead with a second goal against Aberdeen. It was the first action for the winger since November 1st and he certainly made the most of it, challenging the keeper twice but could not further his squad’s lead as the home side held on for the 2-0 win. Beasley looks to be getting back into the side and although Edu did not get on, he was on the substitutes list.
Up Next: Saturday, away to Hearts.
Pub Talk:
**MK Dons striker Jemal Johnson was at it again, opening the scoring on Saturday against Wallsall en route to a 3-0 victory. The American also assisted on another goal giving him two goals and two assists in his last three matches. The Dons, who won the League Two title last season, are now on the path to another title as they sit just one point off leaders Leicester in League One.
**In other regional news, Ryan Guy of St. Patrick’s FC, Helped his squad to a second place finish in Ireland’s Eircom League. The second place result means the club will qualify to play UEFA Cup football next season. Guy scored 10 times for St. Pat’s including a stunner against JFK Olimps which earned the club its first ever European road victory.
Matthew Braine's "Americans in the UK" appears every Monday on Goal.com
Brad Friedel came up big on Saturday, keeping a forceful Manchester United side at bay, all the while keeping his second straight clean sheet against another top foe.
Friedel was forced to make just two saves on the day but was under constant pressure as United dominated possession 67% to 33%. The former U.S. International kept out a swirling cross from Cristiano Ronaldo early on and was lucky when Wayne Rooney squandered a great second half chance, putting the ball over the top of the net when he should have put the visitor’s on top.
Nevertheless Friedel will chalk up another clean sheet for the season, of which he now has five. The Villians passed Arsenal to overtake fourth place and are certainly putting themselves into position to upset the balance of power in the top flight.
Premiership:
Tim Howard, Everton
Vs. Wigan (Monday evening)
Up Next: Sunday, away to Tottenham
Brad Friedel, Aston Villa.
Vs. Manchester United (90 minutes, 2 saves, 0 goals conceded)
(See Above)
Up Next: Saturday, home to Fulham
Brad Guzan and Eric Lichaj, Aston Villa
The Villa Reserves have a match against Fulham on Tuesday which could mean an Eric Lichaj sighting. Guzan was on board for the Manchester United contest and is locked into the backup role.
Clint Dempsey, Fulham
Vs. Liverpool (85 minutes)
Dempsey got another start on Saturday, his second in a row, and played well as the Cottagers earned a credible draw against Liverpool at Anfield. While the Reds dominated for the most part, uncorking 22 shots to just 6 for Fulham, the Merseyside club could not hit the target. While Dempsey certainly played better last week against Spurs, he was solid over the weekend, making a few solid runs and certainly didn’t do enough to play himself out of the starting XI. With just one loss from their last seven matches and three victories, the London outfit is suddenly just five points out of a UEFA Cup spot. While this is unlikely to last, it is encouraging for a side that battled relegation for the majority of last season.
Up Next: Saturday, away to Aston Villa
Jonathan Spector, West Ham
Vs. Sunderland (DNP)
The Hammers picked up a valuable road win on Sunday, edging out the Black Cats 1-0 at the Stadium of Light. The win moves the London club from 17th to 13th in the table but with just five points separating 9th place from 18th, the battle for relegation has only just begun for the clubs at the bottom of the table. Spector did not feature for the Hammers, as he is still recovering from a hip injury. With a Reserve game coming up this week, Spector could show up to get back into full fitness. A return before the New Year is still in the cards.
Up Next: Monday, away to Liverpool.
Championship Round-Up:
Marcus Hahnemann and Bobby Convey, Reading
Although Hahnemann kept out six shots on the day, Southampton’s Bradley Wright-Philips was simply too much, notching a brace too seal the 2-1 victory. The loss does not affect Reading’s league position but with Wolverhampton winning, they now sit 10 points behind the league leaders who are in prime control of the Championship. Convey is still MIA and with no Reserves fixtures until December, the winger may or may not feature for the first team this weekend.
Eddie Johnson, Cardiff
Johnson had one solid shot on Saturday against Plymouth but the visitors could not recover from a 2-0 halftime deficit and ultimately fell 2-1. Johnson played the entire match and has now started the last three. With Cardiff still in a playoff position, they are surely weathering the injury storm that has recently hit the club. Johnson, slowly, has begun to prove his mettle in the Championship.
Jay DeMerit, Watford
Watford climbed out of the relegation zone on Saturday, as they raced out to a 3-0 halftime lead against QPR and never looked back, winning by the same score line. Although they now sit just one place above 22nd ranked Charlton, they own a two point advantage and may be on the right track after going winless for six games. DeMerit played well, anchoring a stingy defense that helped spark the electric first half.
Frank Simek, Sheffield Wednesday
Simek was back on the substitutes list for the Owls but did not get on as they fell 1-0 to Coventry. After playing in a Reserve game last week, Simek is obviously closer to full fitness and should see the pitch within the next few matches.
Meanwhile Up In Scotland…
DaMarcus Beasley and Maurice Edu, Rangers
Vs. Aberdeen (21 minutes) Edu (DNP)
Beasley got on right after Kris Boyd doubled Rangers lead with a second goal against Aberdeen. It was the first action for the winger since November 1st and he certainly made the most of it, challenging the keeper twice but could not further his squad’s lead as the home side held on for the 2-0 win. Beasley looks to be getting back into the side and although Edu did not get on, he was on the substitutes list.
Up Next: Saturday, away to Hearts.
Pub Talk:
**MK Dons striker Jemal Johnson was at it again, opening the scoring on Saturday against Wallsall en route to a 3-0 victory. The American also assisted on another goal giving him two goals and two assists in his last three matches. The Dons, who won the League Two title last season, are now on the path to another title as they sit just one point off leaders Leicester in League One.
**In other regional news, Ryan Guy of St. Patrick’s FC, Helped his squad to a second place finish in Ireland’s Eircom League. The second place result means the club will qualify to play UEFA Cup football next season. Guy scored 10 times for St. Pat’s including a stunner against JFK Olimps which earned the club its first ever European road victory.
Matthew Braine's "Americans in the UK" appears every Monday on Goal.com
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