ASN: EPL or Championship? Right here Are the Yanks to Watch

The English Premier League has the big-money stars and the recognition, however the Championship has a compelling mixture of Individuals. Here is a information that can assist you put together for the 2013-14 seasons.

BY

Blake Thomsen

Posted
August 15, 2014
2:32 PM

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ARGUABLY THE BEST and definitely the preferred soccer league on the planet—the English Premier League—will get underway tomorrow, and, per common, there are sufficient Individuals concerned to maintain issues attention-grabbing for U.S.-centric followers.

With that mentioned, don’t forget in regards to the EPL’s youthful brother, the Sky Wager Championship, the place much more Yanks play.

ASN POLL: What’s your favourite European League?

Let’s check out the entire Individuals taking part in within the high two divisions in England, and from there, you possibly can determine which league to totally make investments on this yr—potential Championship followers, we hope you may have beIN Sports activities.

PREMIER LEAGUE
In a considerably uncommon prevalence, no new Individuals joined the Premier League forward of the 2014-15 marketing campaign, apart from DeAndre Yedlin, who will stick with the Seattle Sounders till no less than January 2015 (and maybe longer). There’s nonetheless some intrigue right here, although, as just a few gamers have advanced membership conditions.

Tim Howard, Everton—ASN rating #1

At this level, you realize what you’re going to get from Howard: constant excellence. Everton’s league type might undergo with Europa League duties, however you possibly can guess that Howard’s stage is not going to drop one bit. Will Howard be a significant contributor to the U.S. nationwide group over the approaching yr? Onerous to say. However stranger issues have occurred.

Jozy Altidore, Sunderland—ASN rating #7

Hopefully Jozy Altidore’s reminiscence works rather a lot like Landon Donovan’s.

Sure, Altidore’s 2013-14 season in northeast England was that unhealthy, with the 24-year-old New Jersey native scoring simply as soon as in 31 league appearances. Are his prospects brighter this time round? Who is aware of?. With one other yr of seasoning, he’s a digital lock to carry out higher, however he may even see much less of the sector. Coming into the season, Connor Wickham and Steven Fletcher are doubtless forward of him within the pecking order.

All instructed, prepare for an additional yr of anxiously checking Twitter on Saturday mornings for Sunderland’s beginning XI. Generally you’ll be delighted, different instances you’ll be upset. Till Altidore begins scoring recurrently within the Premier League, that’s simply the best way it’s going to be.

Geoff Cameron, Stoke Metropolis—ASN rating #9

Cameron’s state of affairs is each bit as difficult as Altidore’s, though for barely totally different causes. He’s expressed his want to play as a middle again, and different EPL groups are fascinated by his providers at that place. However Stoke prefers him at proper again, and administration is in no hurry to promote its proficient American.

Relaxation assured that no matter place he performs and no matter membership he performs for, Cameron will do a wonderful job—as he has since his Premier League debut season in 2012-13.

Final word on Stoke: the Potters at present personal Brek Shea, too, however he’s anticipated to maneuver earlier than the season begins.

Brad Guzan, Aston Villa—ASN rating #10

It’s time for American soccerdom’s favourite query: Can Brad Guzan singlehandedly preserve Aston Villa within the Premier League but once more? He’s managed it within the final two years, however his luck would possibly lastly run out this time round. With Christian Benteke nonetheless nursing an Achilles damage and no impression transfers arriving this summer season, Villa may very well be in deep trouble. Guzan will have to be at his best possible if the Villans are to remain within the Prem. This author doesn’t suppose they’ve sufficient, however Guzan might simply show me incorrect—he’s actually performed it earlier than.

Brad Friedel, Tottenham—ASN rating #89

With all due respect to the 43-year-old Mr. Friedel, he’s most likely not going to see a lot—aka zero—of the sector this yr. If Yedlin does be a part of Spurs in January, it’ll be awfully humorous to have a fellow American teammate who’s greater than twice his age, in order that counts for one thing, proper?

CHAMPIONSHIP
The EPL boasts 4 gamers within the high decile of the ASN 100, however the Championship has loads of American expertise, too. Younger stars like Emerson Hyndman and Will Packwood, amongst others, may very well be top-tier Individuals sometime. Elsewhere, there are just a few guys of their mid-to-late-twenties who should have some U.S. nationwide group life left in them. If you happen to’re searching for an abundance of fellows with nationwide group conditions which are rather less settled than their EPL counterparts, this may very well be the right league to keep watch over over the subsequent 9 months or so.

Tim Ream, Bolton Wanderers—ASN rating #27

Was Tim Ream a World Cup snub? That reply is dependent upon whom you ask, nevertheless it’s simple to see why so many suppose extremely of the middle again who may fill in at fullback or defensive midfield. Ream picked up the Bolton Participant of the Season award for the 2013-14 marketing campaign, and he’ll be simply as important to Bolton this time round. Is Jurgen Klinsmann paying consideration? We’ll see. Ream shall be onerous to disregard if he maintains his type from a season in the past.

Danny Williams, Studying—ASN rating #32

Danny Williams was unfortunate to overlook the pre-World Cup camp, as he’d been starring for Studying earlier than a knee damage took him out of rivalry. Klinsmann clearly likes the concept of a deep-lying defensive midfielder, given his intensive use of Kyle Beckerman. Who performed that function for the U.S. earlier than Beckerman? None aside from Williams. He’ll be seeking to win again that job with the help of Beckerman and Jermaine Jones’ advancing age alongside along with his personal continued high-quality play at Studying.

Eric Lichaj, Nottingham Forest—ASN rating #39

Like Williams, Eric Lichaj’s World Cup aspirations had been dented by a late-season damage. There have been by no means any robust indications that Klinsmann was excited about bringing him to Brazil, however that was due extra to the German’s stubbornness than Lichaj’s play, because the fullback had a really robust season for Forest.

Lichaj’s versatility has at all times been his calling card, and he’s performed each left and proper again within the Championship. He’ll hope that Klinsmann will worth that versatility, too.

Will Packwood, Birmingham Metropolis—ASN rating #44

Packwood is without doubt one of the extra intriguing gamers within the U.S. pool. Only a few Individuals make their debut as youngsters in a league pretty much as good because the Championship, however Packwood did, and excelled. A horror leg break has considerably slowed his rise, however a primary U.S. cap appears imminent. Packwood is close to John Brooks within the “center back of the future” division. Catch him beginning nearly each week for Birmingham.

Jonathan Spector, Birmingham Metropolis—ASN rating #51

At 28, it appears doable that Jonathan Spector’s U.S. profession might be over. He’s a constant contributor for Birmingham Metropolis, although, and Klinsmann has pulled quite a lot of wild playing cards with gamers regarded as out of the nationwide group image (Brad Davis, anybody?).

The Illinois native final appeared for the U.S. in February 2012, and acquitted himself properly in opposition to Italy. He has not too long ago gone on file {that a} transfer to MLS could also be within the playing cards, and that would work out effectively for Main League Soccer, Spector, and his nationwide group prospects.

Duane Holmes, Huddersfield City—ASN rating #80

Nonetheless simply 19, Duane Holmes has already made 16 league appearances for Huddersfield City. However he’s at present in a battle for first-team motion, and it’s doable that he’ll head out on mortgage to get extra common minutes. He’s had success as a supersub, however supervisor Mark Lillis will wish to see extra consistency out of the speedster if he’s to be a giant a part of Huddersfield’s plans this yr.

Emerson Hyndman, Fulham—ASN rating #100

Get the hype machine rolling! We usually reserve this therapy for forwards and attacking midfielders, however we’ll make an exception for this very gifted 18-year-old central midfielder. Hyndman began and shined for Fulham in its season opener final Saturday, finishing 59 out of 66 passes in his first-team debut. With a efficiency like that, Hyndman ought to see loads of the sector all season lengthy.

And, as Brian Sciaretta commented earlier this week: An American at Fulham? It simply appears proper.

Which league will you be watching extra intently this yr? Which England-based American are you most trying ahead to watching? Tell us within the feedback part under.

Blake Thomsen is a frequent ASN contributor. Comply with him on Twitter.