Big, bad Brad Friedel posted another victory last weekend as he and Aston Villa kept on rolling.

Friedel was one of few bright spots for Americans Abroad last weekend. How bad were things? Consider this linep of Americans:

------------------------------Jozy Altidore-----------------------------

DaMarcus Beasley-----------Freddy Adu-------------Clint Dempsey

---------------------Michael Bradley---Maurice Edu------------------

Heath Pearce------Jay DeMerit----Jonathan Spector---Frank Simek

-------------------------------Brad Guzan------------------------------

Like that team?

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Big college games, MLS East showdown and a couple of big traditional derbies. All times ET; home teams listed first

TOP FIVE GAMES

- 8 p.m. Fri., Maryland-Wake Forest, Fox Soccer Channel: Consensus top two men's teams in an ACC clash.

- 8 p.m. Fri.

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It took a while, but Freddy Adu finally made his first start for AS Monaco. The U.S. Olympic midfielder made the starting XI in Monaco's French Cup match against Paris St. Germain. It could be Adu's last start for a while after a goal from one-time Chicago Fire target Fabrice Pancrate gave PSG the win, thus ending Adu's potential source for major playing time.

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Brad Friedel and Tim Howard continue to rack up the minutes in England, but their compatriots (see Dempsey, Edu and Johnson) can't seem to get a sniff...


Jay DeMerit, Watford

DeMerit had a terrible Tuesday as his hand ball in the box lead to the winning goal for Plymouth. Click to continue reading...

Attention all U.S. national team fans, if you have seen Clint Dempsey please contact SBI. He has gone missing since returning to Fulham. At least missing on the field.

Dempsey has found a seemingly permanent place on the bench at Fulham, making him one of several key American players to ride the pine last weekend without getting a single minute of action.

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Everton drew, Forest drew and Landon Donovan demolished D.C. But the weird one was over in England, where Reading got a goal even though the ball went well wide. Manager Steve Coppell has offered to replay the game; U.S. keeper Marcus Hahnemann isn't so sure. (BBC)

And a milestone on the U.

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Trying a new format this week that hopefully won't take me so long next week. Feedback welcome. All times ET; home teams listed first

TOP FIVE GAMES

- Friday, 7 p.m.: Notre Dame-St. John's, CSTV XXL: Top-five men's teams clash in the Big East.

- Friday, 8 p.

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Brad Friedel nearly earned a shutout on Monday and Reading ran roughshod over Sheffield Wednesday in midweek action in England. Click to continue reading...

During the transfer window, Cercle Brugge of the Belgian Eerste Klasse added a third goalkeeper to their roster by signing unknown American Patrick Lane, who got a big assist from US legend Brad Friedel. Click to continue reading...

Ryan Guy and St Patricks take on Herta Berlin on Tuesday night, while Brad Friedel and Aston Villa travel to Bulgaria a couple days later to take on FC Litex in UEFA Cup action. Click to continue reading...

This weekend was a memorable one for Americans Abroad as two recent MLS transfers made their European club debuts, while a few other Americans found the net.

Maurice Edu (pictured) made his debut for Glasgow Rangers on Saturday in a 2-1 win over Kilmarnock while U.S. Olympic teammate Jozy Altidore impressed in his La Liga debut for Villarreal.

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What gives? Brad Friedel and Tim Howard are the only two Americans getting regular time in England. At least the pair of Yanks at Rangers are showing well. Click to continue reading...

I owe, I owe, it's back to my club I go ...

OUR TEAMS

Everton (1-2-0, 17th in Premier League): Away to Stoke (8:30 a.m. ET Sunday; 11 a.m. on Fox Soccer Channel). Marouane Fellaini should be in the lineup, but new defender Lars Jacobsen is out for a while.

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Notable arrivals: James Milner (Newcastle United), Carlos Cuellar (Rangers), Luke Young, (Middlesbrough), Nickey Shorey (Reading), Brad Friedel (Blackburn), Steve Sidwell (Chelsea), Curtis Davies (West Brom), Brad Guzan (Chivas USA). Notable departures: Shaun Maloney (Celtic), Patrik Berger (Sparta Prague), Olof Mellberg. Click to continue reading...

Notable arrivals: Vince Grella (Torino), Keith Andrews (Milton Keynes Dons), Julio Santa Cruz (Cerro Porteno), Danny Simpson (Manchester United, loan), Paul Robinson (Tottenham), Carlos Villanueva (Loan). Notable departures: David Bentley (Aston Villa, Tottenham), Brad Friedel (Aston Villa). Rovers target heading. Click to continue reading...

Notable arrivals: James Milner (Newcastle United), Carlos Cuellar (Rangers), Luke Young, (Middlesbrough), Nickey Shorey (Reading), Brad Friedel (Blackburn), Steve Sidwell (Chelsea), Curtis Davies (West Brom), Brad Guzan (Chivas USA). Notable departures: Shaun Maloney (Celtic), Patrik Berger (Sparta Prague), Olof Mellberg. Click to continue reading...

Notable arrivals: Vince Grella (Torino), Keith Andrews (Milton Keynes Dons), Julio Santa Cruz (Cerro Porteno), Danny Simpson (Manchester United, loan), Paul Robinson (Tottenham), Carlos Villanueva (Loan). Notable departures: David Bentley (Aston Villa, Tottenham), Brad Friedel (Aston Villa). Uruguay star on. Click to continue reading...

Notable arrivals: James Milner (Newcastle United), Carlos Cuellar (Rangers), Luke Young, (Middlesbrough), Nickey Shorey (Reading), Brad Friedel (Blackburn), Steve Sidwell (Chelsea), Curtis Davies (West Brom), Brad Guzan (Chivas USA). Notable departures: Shaun Maloney (Celtic), Patrik Berger (Sparta Prague), Olof Mellberg. Click to continue reading...

Brad Friedel and Aston Villa held on at home against Liverpool to get a share of the points on Sunday, while Everton couldn't keep up with Portsmouth on Saturday and fell for the second time in three games. Click to continue reading...

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In the Carling Cup Third Round Draw, QPR will play Aston Villa (at Villa!)
Matches will be played the week of September 22.

Could you be tough, depending who Aston Villa actually play on the night: - Aston Villa's Current First Team Squad!
1 Brad Friedel Goalkeeper
2 Luke Young Defender
3 Wilfred Bouma Defender
4 Steve Sidwell Midfielder
5 Martin Laursen Defender
6 Gareth Barry Midfielder
7 Ashley Young Striker
9 Marlon Harewood Striker
10 John Carew Striker
11 Gabriel Agbonlahor Striker
13 Stuart Taylor Goalkeeper
14 Nathan Delfouneso Striker
15 Curtis Davies Defender
16 Zat Knight Defender
17 Moustapha Salifou Striker
18 Wayne Routledge Midfielder
19 Stiliyan Petrov Midfielder
20 Nigel Reo-Coker Midfielder
21 Nicky Shorey Defender
22 Bradley Guzan Goalkeeper
26 Craig Gardner Midfielder
27 Isaiah Osbourne Midfielder
29 Stephen O'Halloran Defender
48 Nathan Baker Defender


Complete Round Three Draw

Arsenal v Sheffield United
Brighton & Hove Albion / Manchester City v Derby County
Burnley v Fulham
Portsmouth v Chelsea
Blackburn Rovers v Everton
Rotherham United v Southampton
Swansea City v Cardiff City
Ipswich Town v Wigan Athletic
Stoke City v Reading
Leeds United v Hartlepool United
Watford v West Ham United
Manchester United v Middlesbrough
Liverpool v Crewe Alexandra
Aston Villa v Queens Park Rangers
Sunderland v Northampton Town
Newcastle United v Tottenham Hotspur
- Complete Third Round Draw Click to continue reading...

About a year ago, I talked to Brad Friedel about his plans for a youth academy in Ohio. It was actually still in the process of being built and planned and such. I believe it's in its just completed its first full year or it's been opened right around there. Things seem to be heading in the right direction for Premier Soccer Academies. Click to continue reading...

Brad Friedel, Martin Laursen and Leon Cort have a competition to see who can stretch their bodies into the most uncomfortable positions. Martin Laursen's face wins. (AFP/FIFA) Click to continue reading...

Clint Dempsey saw little action as Fulham upset Arsenal, Tim Howard got a road win, but Brad Friedel gave up a soft losing goal in injury time this weekend in England. Click to continue reading...

Picture from the BBC via the PA.

Well well well, could the first halves be any more boring than we saw this past weekend? I think this was the most boring collective first forty-five minutes in the Premier League since I've started following.

Paddy Power got their press saying they would pay off Stoke City for relegation, now they get laughed at.

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Martin O'Neill...A Simple Plan

2007/8 Review

When Martin O'Neill joined Aston Villa in August 2006, he had spent most of the previous six years managing in Scotland. However the Premiership had already seen the prototype of O'Neill's Aston Villa in his final year at Leicester. With his last major signing for the Foxes, he bought athletic striker Stan Collymore. Click to continue reading...

Notable arrivals: Julio Santa Cruz (Cerro Porteno), Danny Simpson (Manchester United, loan), Paul Robinson (Tottenham), Carlos Villanueva (Loan). Notable departures: David Bentley (Aston Villa, Tottenham), Brad Friedel (Aston Villa). Ince would like his old captain back Aston Villa are hoping... Click to continue reading...

Notable arrivals: Carlos Cuellar (Rangers), Luke Young, (Middlesbrough), Nickey Shorey (Reading), Brad Friedel (Blackburn), Steve Sidwell (Chelsea), Curtis Davies (West Brom), Brad Guzan (Chivas USA). Notable departures: Patrik Berger (Sparta Prague), Olof Mellberg (Juventus), Scott Carson (Liverpool), Luke Moore (West. Click to continue reading...

It's about time we started reading about players linked with a move to Ewood Park, rather than away from the Lancashire club. Brad Friedel and David Bentley have already upped sticks, while Roque Santa Cruz and Stephen Warnock are both being linked with a move, despite playing an important role ... Click to continue reading...

Photo by ISIphotos.com

It is that time of year again. Time for European leagues to kick off and time for American players to ply their trade throughout Europe (and Mexico).

This week marked the first week for the English Premier League and German Bundesliga, meaning several names joined the list of Americans playing abroad.

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Brad Friedel and Marcus Hahnemann had successful season debuts in goal, but Tim Howard was not as fortunate as the Premiership joined the rest of English soccer. Click to continue reading...

Brad Friedel will start in a new jersey as all of English soccer is in action when the Premiership returns for the 2008/09 campaign. Click to continue reading...

Part two of Groan's predictions for the season ahead sees us look at the lower midtable: 15. Blackburn (Last season: 7th) Blackburn have been enjoying a few good seasons, but the minute Paul Ince took over, it all started to go wrong. They lost the keeper that had won them countless matches in Brad Friedel, and of course [. Click to continue reading...

It's Friday, so if you're in the mood for I'd-rather-be-reading-than-working, here are several very revealing Premier League-related articles from around the world. Enjoy. "Credit Crunch Makes Premier League Clubs Feel The Squeeze" (The Telegraph). Read how the Credit Crunch, which started in the U. Click to continue reading...

David Moyes has stated publically that Leighton Baines is considered the best left back at Everton. However competition for starting spots in the Everton backline is fierce, and the things have been shaping up that Baines may not have gained a starting role. His smaller size seems to have counted against him as Lescott and Yobo are more robustly built, and these players seemed to be the favorites of the gaffer. Click to continue reading...

Brad Friedel and David Bentley have already jumped the good ship Blackburn Rovers this summer, and there now appears to be a third exit on the horizon. It appeared that Paul Ince had retained the services of all key players bar the above pair, although an important defensive player has now stated he wants to [. Click to continue reading...