Everton’s Tim Howard is elevating his sport to a different stage, whereas Aron Johannsson continues to overwhelm Eredivisie defenses for AZ Alkmaar. Plus: Herculez Gomez and Joe Corona return to the column.
BY
Josh Deaver
Posted
December 25, 2013
10:10 AM
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Tim Howard—ASN rank #5
In case you hadn’t seen, Tim Howard has been gangbusters for Everton this season, together with this previous Sunday. Commanding the backline, Howard helped the Toffees prolong its unbeaten streak to 10 video games, making three saves in a 2-1 victory over Swansea Metropolis. To go together with his 47 whole saves this season, Howard presently leads the English Premier League in each clear sheets (8) and penalties saved (2) and is rated the third-best keeper in England by statistics actuator WhoScored.com.
Geoff Cameron—ASN rank #12
He might not be the flashiest American overseas, however he might very nicely be probably the most constant. In one other busy week for the 28-year-old defender, Cameron obtained the beginning on Wednesday within the quarterfinals of the Capital One Cup, enjoying 90 minutes in a 2-1 loss to Manchester United. In a return to league motion on Saturday, Cameron once more put in his customary 90-minute shift and notched the game-winning help in a 2-1 win over Brad Guzan and Aston Villa. Solely minutes after conceding on a foul defensive gaffe, Cameron helped pull Stoke forward for good within the 69th minute, discovering Peter Crouch with a well-placed cross on a counter assault. The win brings an important three factors for the Potters, which finds itself within the high half of the Premier League for the primary time this season. Ready below the tree throughout Christmas week? Formidable fixtures towards two top-seven sides, Tottenham and Newcastle.
Aron Johannsson—ASN rank #11
Do you see what I see? That’s simply Aron Johannsson scoring at will. The 23-year-old added three extra strikes to his tally final week—now, 18 in all competitions—bagging a brace in a win over Heerenveen in Dutch Cup motion on Wednesday. He picked up one other in a 5-1 loss to the identical membership in an Eredivisie fixture on Saturday. Within the midweek, Johannsson’s double, together with an extra-time strike, regarded to seal passage into the subsequent spherical for AZ, solely to be pressured right into a penalty shootout late on. Johannsson buried his take as AZ would go on to win. It was a distinct story with the identical opponent on Saturday. Heerenveen overwhelmed Alkmaar, scoring twice within the opening 20 minutes. Johannsson’s Forty first-minute strike—a easy chest lure adopted by a peaceful end—helped pull one again, nevertheless it wasn’t sufficient for AZ, which fell to eighth within the Dutch desk on account of the loss. Stories from the match additionally had Celtic supervisor Neil Lennon scouting Johansson, who’s reportedly a switch window goal of the Scottish membership.
Aronjo 1-2 by goalsandmore
Herculez Gomez—ASN rank #19
Joe Corona—ASN rank #28
It’s good to see the Tijuana pair again on the replace. Each Gomez and Corona every discovered the rating sheet in a snug 2-0 win over second-division aspect Dorados in a preseason pleasant final Thursday. Gomez has been out since August as a result of an premature knee harm that additionally stored him from nationwide workforce responsibility within the latter levels of World Cup qualifying. Corona, however, has been misplaced in shuffle. Impacted by latest teaching adjustments, Corona was largely relegated to the bench for the Xolos towards the top of the Liga MX Apertura. Hopefully this portends a bigger position for the younger midfielder within the upcoming marketing campaign.
Timothy Chandler—ASN rank #29
Whereas he might not have the ability to discover a place with the U.S. nationwide workforce, Timothy Chandler continues to show a very good run of type for FC Nurnberg. On Saturday, Chandler was once more within the beginning lineup for Der Membership, enjoying 90 minutes in a scoreless draw towards Schalke. Regardless of the outcome for FCN, which stays winless this season, Chandler performed nicely. Energetic from the opening whistle, he helped neutralize the Schalke assault and was capable of get ahead on a number of events, coming away with just a few possibilities of his personal in entrance of objective. For his effort Chandler was named to the Staff of the Week for German publication Kicker, the primary time he has obtained the glory in his skilled profession.
Steve Cherundolo—ASN rank #31
After months of setbacks, the Mayor of Hannover made his long-awaited return to the beginning XI this weekend. In his first begin since Could, Cherundolo performed 81 minutes in a 2-1 loss to SC Freiburg. Whereas it stays a piece in progress, the return of the 34-year-old defender couldn’t have come at a greater time for the nationwide workforce. With no clear-cut favourite within the place, an in-form Cherundolo—seeking to make his fourth consecutive World Cup roster—may pose a critical problem to the incumbent proper backs in Jurgen Klinsmann’s participant pool because the workforce prepares for the World Cup. His progress might be one thing to observe intently.
Josh Gatt—ASN rank #46
In an unique interview with ASN, Molde’s Josh Gatt revealed that he’s forward of schedule in his restoration from a torn ACL suffered previous to the summer season’s Gold Cup. Regardless of a tough street, the speedy midfielder hopes to return to Norway in January to finish his rehabilitation and resume full coaching with the workforce.
Jose Villarreal—ASN rank #61
Days after the official unveiling of the previous U.S. under-20 ahead as a brand new addition to Liga MX aspect Cruzl Azul—together with San Jose’s Rafael Baca and Philadelphia’s Michael Farfan—Main League Soccer formally confirmed the offers Monday morning. Whereas Farfan and Baca have signed outright, the 20-year-old LA Galaxy striker will go south of the border on a one-year mortgage settlement with the Mexican membership, which might have an choice to purchase Villarreal’s contract on the finish of his deal.
Andrew Wooten—ASN rank #95
In line with a German report this week, former U.S. under-23 ahead Andrew Wooten is not going to be returning to FC Kaiserslautern in 2014. Wooten, who had a profitable mortgage spell with 2.Bundesliga aspect Sandhausen final season, by no means caught on in his return to mother or father membership FCK, making solely 4 appearances thus far this marketing campaign.
QUICK HITS
In MLS transaction information: Veteran Chris Rolfe (ASN #75) re-signed with the Chicago Hearth whereas San Jose’s Justin Morrow (ASN #91) might be transferring to Toronto FC in change for allocation funds.
After a poor exhibiting final week, John Brooks (ASN #23) didn’t make the sport day roster for Hertha Berlin through the membership’s enormous 2-1 win over Borussia Dortmund. The choice was reportedly not form-based, as Brooks missed follow with sickness.
ASN Contributing Editor Josh Deaver is a former educational turned soccer obsessive. Comply with him on Twitter already.
