First off, a plug for our annual OT XI. So go check that out.
Jurgen Klinsmann announced the USMNT roster for the upcoming games last week and Nick Firchau gives a notebook of goodies. Also, since the roster has been announced, Brad Evans has been added to the squad.
The last of the five upcoming games is against Honduras and here is their roster. I also posted Belgium’s and Germany’s rosters last week.
Leander Schaerlaeckens looks at why US goalkeepers are awesome.
It was starting to look like Aron Johannsson was a no-go for the USMNT last week. But he might not be a lost cause as of this week. Hmm.
Tab Ramos named his roster for the upcoming Toulon Tournament earlier this week. One name missing from that roster is Anthony Brooks. He told some German press that he wants to pull a Timothy Chandler circa 2011 (rest over the summer since he is young and new to the Bundesliga) and sit out of national team competitions (but maybe he changes his mind if the USMNT come calling?).
Another name missing from the U-20 team is forward Villyan Bijev. And now he has accepted a call by Bulgaria’s U-21 team for this summer’s Euros, which would provisionally cap-tie him. Bijev’s last appearance with the US came with the U-18 team at the Lisbon International Tournament.
Speaking of the Lisbon International Tournament (I love easy transitions), the current U-18 team opened up the 2013 Lisbon International Tournament with a 3-0 win over the Czech Republic.
Going back to the U-20 team, Jose Villarreal’s name was missing from the Toulon Tournament roster because the Galaxy didn’t release him.
BBC Sport’s Garth Crooks selected Brad Guzan as his goalkeeper for his team of the season.
Stoke City and Tony Pulis have decided to part ways. Geoff Cameron, Brek Shea and Maurice Edu will have a new manager to impress this summer.
Photo time! Clarence Goodson and Brøndby avoided relegation over the weekend so they celebrated by taking a shirtless photo in the locker room (this is for the ladies).
Charlie Davies and Randers finished third in the Danish Superliga, so here is Davies showing off his bronze medal.
And congrats to Sacha Kljestan and Anderlecht on winning their second consecutive Belgian league title. Here is a photo of Sacha and the cup. Staying with Sacha, I should hopefully have the Sacha/mustache shirts up for sale later tonight/tomorrow. It all depends on my travel schedule today.
Jozy Altidore got the start, but had to be subbed out after 54 minutes after picking up an injury. His replacement was Aron Johannsson who scored AZ’s lone goal in a 3-1 loss. Here is his goal.
Jozy Altidore found the back of the net three times on Sunday in AZ’s 6-0 win over Utrecht. That gives him 28 goals across all competitions this season, which is the seventh most in AZ history according to Greg Seltzer. Aron Johannsson also scored his first goal with AZ. Here are the highlights.
There was really nothing to take away from the US-Canada game, but here are the “highlights” for those that missed it. I would suggest just checking those out over watching the whole game if you DVR’d it.
As for some other games of note from Tuesday. Maurice Edu and Bursaspor also played to a 0-0 draw in the Turkish Cup (highlights here). Jozy Altidore scored his 20th goal of the season in AZ’s 5-0 victory over Den Bosch in the KNVB Cup (highlights here). I would check out those highlights for his goal and his post-game interview where he addresses the racial cheers by the opposing fans. Altidore’s 20 goals across all competitions is a new career high after netting 19 last year. He is also the second American to reach 20 in a top-flight European league, only trailing Clint Dempsey’s 23 goals from last season.
There was also two games in the Premier League on Tuesday. Brad Guzan and Aston Villa continue their struggling ways in a 2-1 loss to the French National Team Newcastle United (highlights here). And Geoff Cameron returned from injury to go 90 minutes in a 2-2 draw to Wigan (highlights here).
I made note the other day about how the expected starters on the USMNT backline have all missed some time this month. As for the latest update, Cameron is playing again. Carlos Bocanegra is playing again. The announcers on the USMNT telecast mentioned that Steve Cherundolo is probably out for next week’s game according to Jurgen Klinsmann. And it looks like Fabian Johnson is expected back to training with Hoffenheim on Wednesday.
As for replacing Cherundolo, Brian Sciaretta was told by some sources that Timothy Chandler will be with the US for the Honduras qualifier. Then he can get cap-tied to the US and we can worry about something else for the next couple of months.
Tony Pulis has confirmed that Stoke City are planning on signing Brek Shea pending his physical and him getting a work permit.
Alejandro Bedoya is still without a team, but it is likely that he will re-sign with Helsingborg on another six-month deal.
Aron Johannsson did make the move to AZ Alkmaar and here is a photo of him with Earnie Stewart.
Marc Pelosi scored a goal for Liverpool’s U-21 team in their win over Wolverhampton earlier this week. You can see the highlights here. He is #3 and his goal is around the 1:13 mark.
I haven’t seen Devann Yao’s name with Boussu Dour Borinage recently, then he popped up on trial with Birmingham City’s U-21 team.
And finally, American-born Canadian Daniel Stanese has signed with Nurnberg. While he was born in New York, he has mainly played with Canada’s youth national teams.
The USMNT are now in Houston gearing up for tomorrow’s friendly against Canada. Canada’s young and inexperienced team lost to Denmark, 4-0, on Saturday.
Jurgen Kinsmann recaps the camp so far in this video. Grant Wahl also informs us that Klinsi has been using a helicopter to travel between his Orange County home and the camp while it was in Carson. If only I had one to avoid the 405 traffic. Also while training at the Home Depot Center, the team hung out with the U-15 team. Pretty cool idea.
Brian Sciaretta spoke to Houston Dynamo forward Will Bruin about the current camp. While Andrew Keh talked to Alejandro Bedoya about being a free agent.
Hann0ver 96 are still unsure of when Steve Cherundolo will return to the field. Cherundolo has missed the last couple games and did return to training last week only to have a set back. But he did train today.
Geoff Cameron missed Stoke City’s game this past weekend, but it sounds like he should be back for tomorrow’s game against Wigan. For those counting at home, the likely starting backline for the US (Cherundolo, Cameron, Bocanegra and Johnson) have all missed at least one game this month due to injury. Hopefully they can get healthy before the Honduras qualifier.
Speaking of Honduras, here is their roster for that qualifier.
Brian Sciaretta also talked to Maurice Edu recently to talk about his start in Turkey.
It looks like Aron Johannsson is making the move from AGF Aarhus to AZ Alkmaar. Maybe Jozy Altidore can convince him to play for the US? That said, I am wondering if this move is about lining up a Jozy replacement since most pundits think he will be making a move to a bigger club this summer.
DC United midfielder Nick DeLeon declined a call-up with Trinidad & Tobago. He is dreaming of a future USMNT call-up.
Eugene Starikov and Rostov defeated some team 17-1 (!) in a friendly this weekend with Starikov scoring two goals.
We have a Jemal Johnson sighting (not to be confused with Jamel Johnson)!
Jeff Carlisle gives us an update on Junior Flores.
And finally, some American named Patrick Otte is on trial at Leeds.
I just want to link again to the footage of Stuart Holden running around as it makes me happy to see.
Speaking of Holden, Bolton manager told BBC Radio Manchesterthat Holden could make his senior-team return next Tuesday in Bolton’s FA Cup replay at Sunderland.
Will Packwood is going to have a third round of surgery to insert a metal plate into his leg.
Zach Pfeffer scored again for Hoffenheim’s U-19 team in his second friendly with the club.
Michael Parkhurst got the start at right back in Augsburg’s 4-1 win over Hansa Rostock in a friendly on Wednesday. Here is also a photo of Parkhurst in action.
Bob Bradley and Egypt lost to Ghana today, 3-0, in a friendly.
While most of Brøndby’s players are looking for new homes with the club’s financial issues, Clarence Goodson is not ready to return to the US/MLS.
These first two links are a little dated from last week, but I didn’t have a chance to post them.
The first one is about Celtic having interest in signing Juan Agudelo, but Chivas USA are not interested in selling him. And Tim Ream wants to find more consistent playing time with Bolton so he can return to the USMNT picture.
Sticking with Ream, he spoke with Andy Schreur of Yanks Abroad for an interview.
We are approaching the winter transfer window/silly season and Brian Sciaretta gives us a list of Americans in Europe who could be on the move during the window.
Former US youth international Mobi Fehr will have a new team in MLS come Tuesday via a weighted lottery. Fehr was born in the US, but grew up in Japan and was part of Tokyo Verdy’s youth teams.
Mix Diskerud’s dad confirmed to MLSsoccer.com that Portland has contacted Mix about coming to MLS, but the league/Portland has yet to bid on his services.
According to this report, Jurgen Klinsmann did invite Aron Johannsson to come to the US camp in January to check out how things are run (not to play), but his most recent injury (I guess he is getting surgery) is going to keep him in Europe during January.
Brad Guzan made ESPN’s Team of the Week after leading Aston Villa to a win over Liverpool at Anfield. Here is also a video interview with Guzan on the Premier League site.
Herculez Gomez will be wearing these new kits for Santos Laguna next season.
Carlos Bocanegra returned early from his muscle tear and played for Racing Santander in their 1-0 loss to Sabadell on Sunday.
With their 2-1 win over OH Leuven on Sunday, Anderlecht have now won their last eight league games when Sacha Kljestan starts.
And a quick league leaderboard update. Jozy Altidore’s 11 goals are fourth most in the Eredivisie (more on this tomorrow). Matt Taylor’s 11 goals are tied for the third most in the German 3. Liga as they enter the winter break. And Terrence Boyd’s nine goals are tied for the fifth most in the Austrian Bundesliga.
Clint Dempsey was named Fútbol de Primera’s US Soccer 2012 Player of the Year for the second straight year. It was Dempsey’s third time winning the award (also in 2006), but Michael Bradley probably would have won my vote.
Speaking of Dempsey, Fulham have accepted Liverpool’s apology over their recruitment of Dempsey over the summer and have withdrawn their complaint.
Tim Howard will be making his 200th consecutive Premier League appearance on Saturday. Timmy!
Steve Davis had breakfast with Jurgen Klinsmann recently and they talked about Carlos Bocanegra’s current role with the USMNT.
Bobby Wood has played his way into a new contract with 1860 Munich through the 2014-15 season.
Brian Sciaretta caught up with Sebastian Lletget to talk about breaking through with West Ham United.
Bryan Gerzicich has been cleared to play again for Ironi Kiryat Shmona after picking up a calf injury.
Benny Feilhaber signed with Sporting KC this week, but he apparently had some European suitors according to Greg Seltzer.
Seltzer also tells us that Alejandro Bedoya has been offered an extension by Helsingborg, while Swedish champions Elfsborg are also interested in his services.
A bunch of clubs are interested in Michael Parkhurst, who is now a free agent.
According to this report, Klinsmann has contacted Aron Johannsson about playing for the US and he “is now in doubt” over his decision.
Conor O’Brien has turned down a couple offers already and is meeting up with some more new teams according to his agent.
Rapid Vienna might be interested in Mix Diskerud. Much like with Boyd’s move, USMNT assistant Andreas Herzog was the reference. Speaking of Boyd, here is a Google-translated interview he recently did.
Adam Henley was invited to the upcoming US U-20 camp, but Blackburn nixed that idea.
San Antonio Scorpions defender Karsten Smith is currently on trial at Finnish side VPS.
Potential US forward Aron Jóhannsson scored and picked up a yellow card in ninety minutes of action in this 3-3 draw. Here is Jóhannsson’s goal along with AGF’s late equalizer.
Will Gunner Stahl be a US international (via the January camp) when the Superliga picks up after winter break?
