2.15.13
ASN Morning Read: Time for Tab's Team to Shine
The former midfield star prepares to bring his squad to the U-20 CONCACAF Championships in Mexico; a pair of Americans in England earn a vital victory; Stuart Holden inches back.
BY
Jesse Yomtov
Posted
February 15, 2013
8:30 AM
Ahead of the U-20s kicking off in the World Cup qualifying tournament Monday, manager Tab Ramos naturally has to answer questions about Mexico’s youth success compared to the U.S. failures from the last two years. Still, Ramos is confident in his group. “I can say that we're never afraid to face Mexico,” he says. “Sometimes we give a better showing, other times we don't, but it's never going to cost us on a mental level to face them." The tournament draw played out so the only possible meeting with Mexico would be in the final, which would mean World Cup qualification was already secured.
Clint Dempsey and Brad Friedel both started in Tottenham’s 2-1 first-leg win over Lyon in the Europa League’s round of 32. Gareth Bale scored on two fantastic free kicks, including the final play of the match, to give Spurs the advantage for the return trip to France.
Yes this is video of Friedel getting scored on by a player 22 years his junior, but you won’t regret watching the jaw-dropping strike by Lyon’s Samuel Umtiti:
Stu Holden came on as a sub in Bolton’s last two FA Cup matches, but could make his league debut Saturday. Manager Dougie Freedman confirms that Holden will be in the squad vs. Nottingham Forest. Holden only played for 10 and 17 minutes in his two appearances, so we’re all curious to see what is fitness is like at this point.
With Aston Villa knocked out of the FA Cup, the team has the weekend off, and Brad Guzan reflects on what it’s like to get a lengthy break in the action. “In this league you very seldom get a week off with the amount of games,” Guzan says. “So for us it’s a chance to get back on the training pitch, continue to improve.” Villa got out of the relegation zone with a win this past Sunday, but face Arsenal and Manchester City in the next two Premier League matches.
After his heroic bone marrow donation last year, FC Dallas and former U.S. youth goalkeeper Chris Seitz is in the best shape of his career. The 2012 MLS W.O.R.K.S Humanitarian of the Year says that his time off after the surgery served as his “offseason.” He’s competing with newly-signed Peruvian international Raúl Fernández for the starting job, but how great a story would it be if Seitz wound up winning out?
