Graig Carbino looks at the opportunities the elite young American talent is getting in Europe while comparing it to the relative success of Americans at smaller clubs. One of them would be Matt Taylor, who went from Hollywood United to getting a hat-trick for Tus Koblenz on Sunday.
By Graig Carbino
ALBANY, NY (Oct 6, 2008) USSoccerPlayers -- What is the best way to get to Europe? More than that, how do you get there and have success on the field as well? Freddy Adu and Jozy Altidore must be asking themselves these questions as they both struggle for playing time with their new teams.
Adu, with France’s Monaco, and Altidore, with Villareal in Spain, have both found it difficult to establish themselves as impact players for their respective clubs. It’s only October and certainly no time to panic, but their lack of early production does beg the question about what is the best way to make the European move.
The bigger the club, the more likely money will be spent for quick fixes. American players in general aren't likely to be given the benefit of the doubt. Add to that the ease of coaching changes, and the situation becomes increasingly difficult. There are other ways, though in fairness not normally associated with players capable of drawing millions in transfer fees.
Charlie Davies ended up with Hammarby after a standout career at Boston College. He too struggled a bit at first to establish himself in Sweden, but has since flourished and finds himself starting every week and scoring goals in bunches. Rumors have already begun to fly around in regards to Davies and a possible transfer to a bigger league.
Just because Davies played in Sweden for two years does not mean his success there will translate to a bigger league. It might help though.
On a side note, did you happen to catch former MLS forward Matt Taylor’s performance for Tus Koblenz on Sunday? He bagged a hat trick for the 2.Bundelsiga club, a team he signed for exactly three days before the start of this season. He looks rejuvenated and injury free. Maybe at 26 he has found the goal scoring form that many observers once thought he possessed. Good thing not everyone gave up on a player that, in his mid-twenties, just might still have something.
Americans Abroad Report Card:
English Premier League: Tim Howard started in goal for Everton as they hosted struggling Newcastle at Goodison Park. Mikel Arteta and new signing Marouane Fellaini scored for Everton to get the hosts out to a 2-0 lead. Steven Taylor and Damien Duff scored for Newcastle in the first two minutes of the second half to even the match at two and that is the way it would end.
Aston Villa lost 2-0 to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. Brad Friedel started in goal for Villa while understudy Brad Guzan watched from the bench. Joe Cole and Nicolas Anelka scored for Chelsea. John Carew had a few decent chances for Villa but it wasn’t meant to be for the team from Birmingham.
Clint Dempsey started for the first time this season in Fulham’s 1-0 loss at West Bromwich Albion. Dempsey played well as a withdrawn forward and was involved in all of Fulham’s most dangerous scoring opportunities. Roman Bednar scored the decisive goal for the Baggies. Jonathan Spector is injured, missing West Ham’s 3-1 loss to Bolton.
The Championship: Marcus Hahnemann started in goal for Reading in their 3-1 win over Burnley at the Madejski Stadium. Bobby Convey did not make the game day roster. Noel Hunt, Stephen Hunt and Shane Long scored for the Royals. Watford beat Preston 2-1 at Vicarage Road on Saturday. Jay Demerit was back in the starting lineup and played 89 minutes for the Hornets.
Cardiff City drew 1-1 with Blackpool on the road. Paul Parry scored for Cardiff before a late Alan Gow leveler knotted the match at one. Eddie Johnson was an 85th minute substitute for Cardiff. Frank Simek is out long-term, missing Sheffield Wednesday’s 4-0 loss at Plymouth.
Germany: Neven Subotic again went the distance in defense for Borussia Dortmund in their 1-1 draw with Hannover 96. Steve Cherundolo started for Hannover while Sal Zizzo was not in uniform. Nelson Valdez scored for Dortmund while Mikael Forssell scored the Hannover tally.
Borussia Monchengladbach lost 2-1 to Cologne. Fabrice Ehret and Milivoje Novakovic scored for Cologne and Roel Brouwers scored for Monchengladbach. Michael Bradley was an unused substitute for ‘Gladbach. That loss brought an end to head coach Jos Luhukay's time with the club. Bryan Arguez was not involved for Hertha Berlin in their 1-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen.
Health Pearce dressed but did not play in Hansa Rostock’s 4-2 loss against FC Ingolstadt on Sunday. Djordjije Cetkovic and Benjamin Lense scored the consolations for Rostock. Gregg Berhalter started and played 90 minutes for 1860 Munich in their 3-0 win over Frankfurt. Fabian Johnson, Timo Gebhart and Lars Bender scored for 1860. Grover Gibson did not dress in Ahlen’s 1-1 draw with Nurnberg.
Matt Taylor was the star of the Americans Abroad this weekend as he had a hat trick for TuS Koblenz in their 5-0 demolition over rivals Kaiserslautern. Taylor also drew a penalty that was converted by teammate Matej Mavric. David Yelldell started in goal for Koblenz.
Scotland: Rangers lost 1-0 at St. Mirren for the first time in twenty-two years on Sunday. Substitute Stephen McGinn, who had entered the match five minutes earlier for former MLS player Andy Dorman, scored the only goal of the game in the 77th minute. DaMarcus Beasley dressed but did not play for Rangers while Maurice Edu was left out of the team all together.
France: Carlos Bocanegra started and played 90 minutes for Rennes in their surprising 3-0 win over Ligue 1 leaders Lyon on Sunday. Mickael Pagis scored a hat trick for Rennes to take all three points. Andrew Jacobson was not involved in Lorient’s 2-1 loss to Bordeaux.
Freddy Adu had to be content with a place amongst the substitutes in Monaco’s 2-0 loss to St. Etienne. Bafetimbi Gomis and Geoffrey Dernis scored for the home team. Adu will now travel back to Washington DC for the United States World Cup qualifier against Cuba on Saturday.
Spain: Villareal beat Real Betis 2-1 behind goals from Gonzalo and Joseba Llorente on Saturday. Damia scored the lone goal for Betis. Jozy Altidore was not in uniform for Villareal.
Graig Carbino covers American Abroad and writes a weekly column for USSoccerPlayers. Contact him at graiger11@yahoo.com
