Liga MX is again—and Membership Tijuana options extra People than ever earlier than. Plus: a cool Jozy GIF, information on Michael Parkhurst, a stunned Shane O’Neill, and far more.
BY
Josh Deaver
Posted
January 07, 2014
12:24 PM
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Jozy Altidore—ASN rank #4
This week, American observers had been provided a short second’s solace from the perpetual tragedy that’s Jozy Altidore-in-Sunderland, because the beleagured striker delivered an help within the membership’s 3-1 FA Cup win over Carlisle. Receiving the ball on the penalty spot, Altidore made a deft flip and slid the ball to El-Hadji Ba who put the match out of attain and superior the Black Cats. Regardless of the contribution—his sixth help on the season—Altidore scuffed two early probabilities which result in some lower than favorable evaluations among the many at all times truthful and even-keeled English press. Altidore and Sunderland will line up in opposition to Manchester United on Tuesday within the first leg of the Capital One Cup semi-finals.
Clint Dempsey—ASN rank #5
Deuce received the beginning within the first match of his two-month mortgage spell with Fulham, going 90 minutes in a 1-1 FA Cup draw with Norwich Metropolis on Saturday. It was Dempsey’s first match with the Whites because the Texan—who holds a membership document with 60 objectives—efficiently engineered a transfer to Tottenham Hotspur in 2012. All (American) eyes will certainly be on Dempsey this weekend, as he makes his much-anticipated return to Craven Cottage the place Fulham will battle compatriot Jozy Altidore and Sunderland in a significant relegation battle.
Jermaine Jones—ASN rank #10
You may add Jermaine Jones to the listing of People on the transfer this winter. The 32-year-old midfielder is reportedly in search of a transfer from Bundesliga membership Schalke, the place he has performed for seven non-consecutive seasons. On permission from Schalke director Horst Heldt, the hard-tackling midfielder didn’t journey to the membership’s latest coaching camp in Qatar, relatively selecting to stay in Germany to be able to discover a new membership and “assess eventual offers.” Whereas MLS is an apparent touchdown spot, there are just a few legitimate arguments as to why a transfer might not work.
Combine Diskerud—ASN rank #16
So many grains of salt are wanted throughout this time of yr. What precisely am I presupposed to do with just a few sentences on an Italian web site about AS Roma (and Bundesliga facet Werder Bremen) probably being within the mop-topped Rosenborg midfielder? I offers you the hyperlink, I suppose.
Herculez Gomez—ASN rank #23
There’s just one factor a brand new Liga MX season means: Extra Xolos! Membership Tijuana kicked off its Clasura marketing campaign on Sunday evening, battling Atlas to a scoreless draw. Regardless of the outcome, the roster picks of recent head coach Cesar Farias ought to buoy American supporters. 4 of the 5 American Xolos noticed the sector Sunday evening with Gomez, Joe Corona (#31) and Greg Garza (#83) getting begins. Edgar Castillo (#29) entered for Corona within the 71st minute, whereas Paul Arriola remained on the substitute’s bench. Tijuana meets Membership America on Friday evening.
Michael Parkhurst—ASN rank #35
The Augsburg nightmare is sort of over for Michael Parkhurst. On the books for the Bundelsiga bottom-dwellers since final January, the 29-year-old defender has solely registered two appearances for the membership since his arrival. After getting a sustained preseason run for the latest marketing campaign, Parkhurst has solely suited up as soon as this yr—a state of affairs which has the previous New England Revolution man plotting his exit technique. In keeping with a German report revealed Monday morning, Parkhurst won’t attend the membership’s winter camp and is at present in negotiations to “return home.” Whether or not that portends a transfer to MLS or the Danish Superliga—the place he spent 5 seasons with FC Nordsjaelland—is at present unknown.
Brek Shea—ASN rank #43
Brek Shea to Barnsley isn’t precisely the kind of high-profile transfer that many American observers would have been hoping for in the beginning of this switch window. Regardless, the 22-year-old joined the last-place Championship facet this week on an emergency 28-day mortgage from Stoke Metropolis. Getting his title on the workforce sheet some two hours earlier than Barnsley’s mid-week fixture, Shea received the beginning and performed 75 minutes in a 1-1 draw with Birmingham Metropolis. As is the case with most of Shea’s performances, nationwide workforce or in any other case, opinions and evaluations range wildly. Supervisor Danny Wilson was complimentary, nevertheless, saying, “Brek Shea got here into the workforce and had a incredible 70 minutes or so.” Adding, “He’ll be an enormous risk for us going ahead.” The Tykes return to league motion this weekend in opposition to Charlton Athletic.
Chris Klute—ASN rank #60
Congratulations are to ensure that the 24-year-old defender, who obtained his first senior nationwide workforce invitation this week for the annual January coaching camp. It’s not precisely a shock given his manufacturing final season in MLS—notching eight assists for Colorado Rapids—and the relative dearth on the left again place within the American participant pool. His ascent turns into all of the extra exceptional, nevertheless, provided that Klute was taking part in within the NPSL, successfully the fifth division of American soccer, as not too long ago as 2012. Let that sink in for a second.
Oguchi Onyewu—ASN rank #75
Onyewu’s gradual, regular fall from grace continues. On Sunday, English Championship facet Queens Park Rangers introduced it’s going to reduce ties with the previous Malaga defender. Onyewu solely joined the membership in October. The transfer, in line with head coach Harry Redknapp, was initially designed to get Onyewu regular minutes forward of the World Cup, seemingly predicated on the concept that the 31-year-old had an inside observe for an invite to Brazil. Um, no. Now in search of his seventh workforce since 2009, future prospects are dimming for Onyewu, who has appeared in simply 21 aggressive matches within the final two years. A transfer to MLS could possibly be the ultimate chapter within the lengthy profession of the venerable heart again.
Shane O’Neill—ASN rank #87
One in all a number of shock picks for Jugen Klinsmann’s January nationwide workforce camp was 20-year-old Colorado Rapids defender Shane O’Neill. In an interview with MLSSoccer.com, O’Neill, who represented the U.S. under-20 nationwide workforce ultimately summer time’s World Cup and not too long ago returned from a coaching stint with EPL facet Fulham, expressed his shock in receiving the invitation. “I was pretty shocked,” the versatile defender mentioned. “Obviously, just to get the opportunity to play at this level is fantastic wherever they want to play me.” Regardless of the invite, O’Neill remains to be not closing the door on the opportunity of representing Eire, for which he holds dual-citizenship.
Duane Holmes—ASN rank #97
In his quick time with Championship facet Huddersfield City, Atlanta-born teenager Duane Holmes has been a success for the Terriers. Lauded by the supervisor and followers alike, Holmes has made his presence felt primarily as a late-match substitute. On Saturday, in a uncommon televised look, Holmes as soon as once more confirmed he is usually a distinction maker. He performed 32 minutes and sparked the membership to a 3-2 come-from-behind win over Grimsby City. Within the 86th minute, Holmes cracked a shot with tempo from outdoors of the field, forcing the Grimsby keeper to parry the trouble, just for it to fall within the path of teammate Martin Patterson, who completed coolly. Huddersfield, at present sitting thirteenth on the desk, battle Millwall on Saturday.
Video: Grimsby City v Huddersfield City FA Cup Full Sport Highlights 01/04/13
ASN Contributing Editor Josh Deaver is a former tutorial turned soccer obsessive. Comply with him on Twitter already.
