Americans Abroad
Injuries, New Clubs Force Americans to the Sidelines
The Premier League is back! And the other major leagues in Europe are not far behind. Brian Sciaretta monitors the action overseas for ASN, and every week you'll find his observations and insights right here.
THIS PAST WEEKEND was a bit disappointing for those who follow American soccer players abroad. With so many U.S. internationals returning to Major League Soccer, there are fewer players to track overseas. And many Yanks playing in Europe find themselves on the trainer's table or in battles for playing time.
The good news is that the young American players who have made the move recently are truly top prospects, and they could make a significant impact abroad. Here's a look at some of the top stories from the weekend.
In the 90 minutes he played, Hyndham touched the ball 83 times. He completed 67 of 74 passes (91%) and was at the heart of the team’s most dangerous opportunities. He's a very impressive prospect: At times he can drift deep to collect possession but he can also move effectively into the final third.Best of all, he is a quick decision-maker. Whenever he receives the ball, he has a good idea of what he is going to do with it.
As for Fulham, the Cottagers have lost the first two games of the season. In both games Fulham has out-possessed its opponent and created more chances but the goals simply have not come. The club is eager to bounce back up to the Premier League, but it will need to finish better if it hopes to do so.
Cameron has been pretty clear that he would like to play in the middle of the field—either in central defense or defensive midfield—and at Stoke he has been stuck at right back. The Massachusetts native is 29-years-old it would make sense for him to want to find a place to show what he can do at his best position. Of course, maybe he is happy to remain at Stoke and he is simply recovering from the World Cup, as Hughes said.
Either way, this will be interesting to watch over the next few weeks.
Emerson Hyndman Passes Test
After a strong debut, Emerson Hyndman was given another start for Fulham on Saturday against Millwall. While Fulham suffered another loss,a 1-0 defeat in the London derby, Hyndman once again controlled the pace of the game in the midfield.
In the 90 minutes he played, Hyndham touched the ball 83 times. He completed 67 of 74 passes (91%) and was at the heart of the team’s most dangerous opportunities. He's a very impressive prospect: At times he can drift deep to collect possession but he can also move effectively into the final third.Best of all, he is a quick decision-maker. Whenever he receives the ball, he has a good idea of what he is going to do with it.
As for Fulham, the Cottagers have lost the first two games of the season. In both games Fulham has out-possessed its opponent and created more chances but the goals simply have not come. The club is eager to bounce back up to the Premier League, but it will need to finish better if it hopes to do so.
Rubio Rubin impresses in pro debut
On Saturday the Oregon native was named to the starting lineup for Utrecht in its Eredivisie home opener against Willem II. While Rubin, 18, was named to the lineup primarily because of injuries to Utrecht starters, he performed very well and likely earned himself more minutes in the near future.Happy to have made my Pro European Debut with @fcutrecht . Win over Willem II. 3 points. Onto the next one. pic.twitter.com/IpgjxyUlOp
— Rubio Mendez Rubin (@RubioRubin) August 17, 2014What's up with Geoff Cameron?
As soccer fans across the globe were enjoying the opening of the Premier League on Saturday, American fans quickly noticed that U.S. international Geoff Cameron was not in the matchday 18 for Stoke City. Afterward, Stoke manager Mark Hughes indicated that Cameron missed a large portion of preseason due to the World Cup and was still a few weeks away. Still, the decision to leave him out of the squad entirely is likely to have fans wondering if a potential transfer could take place before the close of the window at the end of August. After all, Cameron is coming off a very good season for Stoke and his versatility makes him an attractive option—especially off the bench.
Cameron has been pretty clear that he would like to play in the middle of the field—either in central defense or defensive midfield—and at Stoke he has been stuck at right back. The Massachusetts native is 29-years-old it would make sense for him to want to find a place to show what he can do at his best position. Of course, maybe he is happy to remain at Stoke and he is simply recovering from the World Cup, as Hughes said.
Either way, this will be interesting to watch over the next few weeks.
German-Americans Stuck to bench
German-Americans paid huge dividends for the U.S. national team at the 2014 World Cup. Julian Green, John Anthony Brooks, and Jermaine Jones all scored in Brazil, while Fabian Johnson was terrific at right back. This year, however, could prove to be challenging for all of them. Brooks, Johnson, and Chandler were all unused substitutes for their respective clubs this past weekend, with the latter two having moved to new Bundesliga teams during the summer. Green, meanwhile, is in a very tricky position. How will playing time come for the teenager at a Bayern Munich with more talent than maybe any other club in the world? He is too good for their reserve team but not good enough yet for the first team. Outside of Germany, Danny Williams remains injured for Reading following knee surgery, and Jermaine Jones’ club situation is still murky. So the months ahead will be a test for these players and Jurgen Klinsmann will be keeping a close eye on all.Castillo, Atlas flying high in Mexico
Edgar Castillo may struggle for the attention and admiration of American soccer fans, but there is no denying that he has turned in some impressive club performances over the years in Mexico. He has won titles with Santos Laguna and Club Tijuana while playing left back—a position that has plagued the U.S. national team for years. This season the New Mexico native is off to a flying start. Castillo's new club, Atlas, remains undefeated through five games and is riding a four-game winning streak. The Guadalajara-based club is currently in second place and trails Club America by two points. On Saturday, Atlas defeated Universidad Guadalajara 1-0, with Castillo earning the penalty which resulted in the game’s only goal. Castillo has never quite translated his club success to the international level, but given the uncertainty at left back on the U.S. national team, it wouldn't be shocking to see the diminutive Castillo 27-year-old back in a few Jurgen Klinsmann rosters.More Surgery for Aron Johannsson
It has certainly been a difficult few months for Aron Johannsson, who injured his ankle at the end of last season playing for AZ Alkmaar. The Icelandic-American striker recovered in time for the World Cup only to have ankle surgery shortly after the U.S. team’s final game against Belgium. On Monday it was announced that Johannsson will have to undergo a groin surgery similar to the procedure he had in 2012. With AC Milan great Marco van Basten now coaching AZ Alkmaar, Johannsson will have to impress his new boss while recovering from surgery.Interesting how every little progress in rehab makes you crazy happy #healthcantbebought
— Terrence Boyd (@TBoyd91) August 18, 2014
