ASN: Bedoya and Boyd Get on the Scoresheet in Europe

ASN 100 Replace
Bedoya and Boyd Get on the Scoresheet in Europe

It’s a Europe-heavy version of the ASN 100 Replace, as American MLSers delivered a reasonably disappointing weekend. Blake Thomsen brings you the small print, movies, and GIFs.

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Blake Thomsen

Posted
April 23, 2014
9:35 AM

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Michael Bradley—ASN rank #1
MB90 returned to the Toronto FC beginning lineup within the weekend’s 2-1 loss at FC Dallas. Bradley had been combating a minor quadriceps downside for a couple of weeks. Right here’s hoping he stays damage free main as much as the World Cup, the place his efficiency often is the largest figuring out consider how the U.S. fares.

Tim Howard—ASN rank #3
Howard shut out Manchester United over the weekend, selecting up his 14th clear sheet of the season—he’s now recorded shutouts in opposition to Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, and Manchester United this season. Howard now boasts a 76% save proportion, his finest for Everton since his peak type of 2007-08 when he was legitimately one of many world’s 4 or 5 finest keepers. He’s not fairly at that stage lately, however he’s nonetheless in unimaginable type with the World Cup looming.

Jozy Altidore—ASN rank #6
Jozy Altidore discovered himself out of the U-21 abyss and again within the 18 for Sunderland’s huge sport in opposition to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. He got here on within the 66th minute and drew what proved to be the decisive penalty in a shocking 2-1 win for Sunderland.

It was a dodgy penalty at finest, as Altidore appeared to step on Cesar Azpilicueta’s leg after which go down, moderately than being actively introduced down by the Chelsea left again. Regardless, Mike Dean gave a penalty which Fabio Borini transformed handy Jose Mourinho his first-ever dwelling league loss. It’s ironic that in a season which has gone so poorly for Altidore, this drawn penalty often is the decisive consider holding Sunderland within the Premier League. And it additionally impressed this epic, “Hold me back, bro!” meltdown from Chelsea assistant Rui Faria.

Alejandro Bedoya—ASN rank #14
Alejandro Bedoya finds himself again within the ASN 100 Replace after one other effective objective for Nantes over the weekend. He managed a go effectively earlier than slamming a half-volley into the aspect netting for his seventh objective of the season. Bedoya’s mixture of athleticism, attacking high quality, and robust work fee might effectively give him the within observe for a beginning spot in Brazil. Jurgen Klinsmann must be happy that Bedoya challenged himself with a transfer to a strong European league and has emerged as an important participant for Eleventh-placed Nantes.

Terrence Boyd—ASN rank #24
Terrence Boyd’s present ASN 100 rating might show prophetic regarding his place on the U.S. World Cup squad. He at the moment sits at #24 on the ASN 100, which would depart him as the ultimate participant left off the roster for Brazil, and the present practice of thought means that Chris Wondolowski might be forward of him for the fourth striker spot. Nonetheless, Boyd received’t go down with no struggle in his quest to get on the roster. He notched two targets for Speedy Vienna over the weekend, giving him 11 within the league and 16 in all competitions for the season. With a formidable pre-World Cup camp, he might simply sneak onto the airplane.

Matt Hedges—ASN rank #81
The 24-year-old middle again has performed an important function in FC Dallas’ stunning 5-1-1 begin to the marketing campaign. In Saturday’s 2-1 win over Toronto FC, Hedges confirmed his aerial prowess by delivering a objective and help off of set items. Hedges has impressed this season and will shoot up the ASN 100 charts when the brand new rankings come out subsequent week. Clearly he received’t be concerned with the U.S. nationwide crew earlier than the World Cup, however Hedges might actually see a while with the Klinsmann within the subsequent cycle. For what it’s value, Matt Besler didn’t earn his first cap till he was 25, so there’s actually precedent for late-blooming U.S. middle backs.

Blake Thomsen is a frequent ASN contributor. Observe him on Twitter.