MNT European Update: April 12, 2005
An update on select members of the U.S. Men's National Team player pool who are plying their trade in Europe.
April 13, 2005
ENGLAND
Carlos Bocanegra
Fulham FC, English Premier League
Record: 9-16-6 (33 points)
Last match: [April 9] DNP in 1-3 loss @ Bolton
Next Match: [April 16] v. Manchester City
League Position: 16 (last week's position: 15)
STATBOX
League FA Cup League Cup TOTALS
GP:GS Gls C/E GP:GS Gls C/E GP:GS Gls C/E GP:GS Gls C/E
28/26 1 4/0 3/3 0 1/0 3/3 0 0/0 34/32 1 5/0
QUICK HITS
- Bocanegra was left out of the starting lineup for the second straight match, forced to watch as Fulham fell for the third time in the last five matches
- Forced to play a man down for 77 minutes after Claus Jensen was dismissed for a deliberate handball, the loss kept the Cottagers hovering perilously close to the relegation zone, now only five points clear with seven matches remaining
- An even .500 at Craven Cottage, Fulham host Manchester City in a rematch of the 1-1 opening day draw on Aug. 14 in Manchester
Bobby Convey
Reading FC, English League Championship
Record: 18-11-13 (67 points)
Last match: [April 9] DNP in 2-1 win @ Sunderland
Next Match: [April 16] v. Nottingham Forrest
League Position: 6 (6)
STATBOX
League FA Cup League Cup TOTALS
GP:GS Gls C/E GP:GS Gls C/E GP:GS Gls C/E GP:GS Gls C/E
18/4 0 0/0 2/2 0 0/0 2/1 0 0/0 22/7 0 0
QUICK HITS
- Convey has been in civilian clothes for the last six matches, missing two of those games while on duty with the U.S. national team
- Reading pulled off a massive victory away to league leaders Sunderland, ending the Black Cats eight-match winning streak and pulling level on points with Derby in the league table
- The Royals look to gain ground this weekend when they host next-to-last Nottingham Forrest, having surrendered a league-fewest 13 goals at home
Tim Howard
Manchester United FC, English Premier League
Record: 19-3-10 (67 points)
Last match: [April 9] played 90 minutes in 2-0 loss @ Norwich
Next Match: [April 17] v. Newcastle, FA Cup, Semifinal
League Position: 3 (3)
STATBOX
League Champions League FA Cup League Cup TOTALS
GP:GS GAA SO GP:GS GAA SO GP:GS GAA SO GP:GS GAA SO GP:GS GAA SO
10/10 0.80 4 5/5 1.40 1 3/3 0.00 3 5/5 0.40 4 22/22 0.75 12
QUICK HITS
- Howard has four shutouts from seven matches in all competitions since returning to his starting role, but he couldn't help stem the tide against Norwich
- The 2-0 blanking from the EPL cellar dwellers effectively ends Man-U's league title run, with an automatic berth in the Champions League now the only prize remaining from league play
- But there's still silverware to be collected this year as the Red Devils chase their 12th FA Cup title this weekend with a semifinal clash against Newcastle set for the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff. Despite 140 lifetime meetings between the clubs, they have only met three times in the FA Cup, with Man-U collecting wins in all three
Eddie Lewis
Preston North End, English League Championship
Record: 20-11-11 (71 points)
Last match: [April 9] started and played 66 minutes in 2-1 win @ Rotherham
Next Match: [April 16] v. Cardiff
League Position: 4 (4)
STATBOX
League FA Cup League Cup TOTALS
GP:GS Gls C/E GP:GS Gls C/E GP:GS Gls C/E GP:GS Gls C/E
39/36 4 7/0 1/1 0 0/0 1/1 0 1/0 41/38 4 8/0
QUICK HITS
- Lewis remains a staple in the Preston attack as the LilyWhites march toward a playoff spot with dreams of promotion a very real possibility
- Preston have been the class of the league since Dec. 18, going 12-2-5 while vaulting from 15th to fourth place in the League Championship
- Lewis went 66 minutes and was the catalyst on the game-winning goal by Youl Mawene in the 61st
- PNE look to preserve and an eight-match unbeaten run against the visitors, welcoming Cardiff to Deepdale
Brian McBride
Fulham FC, English Premier League
Record: 9-16-6 (33 points)
Last match: [April 9] played 90 minutes in 1-3 loss @ Bolton
Next Match: [April 16] v. Manchester City
League Position: 16 (15)
STATBOX
League FA Cup League Cup TOTALS
GP:GS Gls C/E GP:GS Gls C/E GP:GS Gls C/E GP:GS Gls C/E
24/8 1 0/0 2/0 0 0/0 4/2 3 0/0 28/9 4 0/0
QUICK HITS
- Fresh off his first goal of the campaign - the gamewinner against Portsmouth on April 2 - McBride made his first start of the new year
- Fulham have not taken full points from Manchester City since Aug. 14, 1998, a string of eight matches
Claudio Reyna
Manchester City, English Premier League
Record: 10-12-10 (40 points)
Last match: [April 9] played 90 minutes in 1-0 win v. Liverpool
Next Match: [April 16] @ Fulham
League Position: 11 (12)
STATBOX
League League Cup TOTALS
GP:GS Gls C/E GP:GS Gls C/E GP:GS Gls C/E
11/10 1 0/0 0/0 - - 11/10 1 0/0
QUICK HITS
- Reyna has gone the distance in the last four matches since returning from a six-month injury layoff
- The shutout win against fifth place Liverpool put an end to a eight-match winless spell and represented their first victory against the Reds since 1994
- Seemingly ensconced midtable, the Citizens look for their first back-to-back league wins since November
GERMANY
Gregg Berhalter
Energie Cottbus, German Second Bundesliga
Record: 9-12-7 (34 points)
Last match: [April 8] played 90 minutes in 2-1 win v. Eintracht Trier
Next Match: [April 15] @ Rot-Weis Erfurt
League Position: 10 (11)
STATBOX
League DFB Cup TOTALS
GP:GS Gls C/E GP:GS Gls C/E GP:GS Gls C/E
21/21 1 5/1 1/1 0 0/0 22/22 1 5/1
QUICK HITS
- After missing last week's contest due to a bout with the flu, Berhalter's absence next week will be enforced as he picked up his fifth yellow card of the campaign in the 2-1 win, eliciting a one-match ban
- The victory added much needed points to the total for Energie, who sit near the top end of a relegation fight that sees only eight points separating teams 9-18
- Cottbus head out to face a hungry RW Erfurt side that sit second from bottom in the league, having spanked the hosts 3-0 in their first meeting Nov. 7 in Cottbus
Conor Casey
FSV Mainz, German Bundesliga
Record: 8-14-6 (30 points)
Last match: [April 9] played final 16 minutes in 0-2 loss v. VfL Wolfsburg
Next Match: [April 16] @ Borussia Moechengladbach
League Position: 14 (13)
STATBOX
League DFB Cup TOTALS
GP:GS Gls C/E GP:GS Gls C/E GP:GS Gls C/E
24/13 1 4/0 2/2 2 0/0 26/15 3 4/0
QUICK HITS
- Casey fought off a hip pointer and made his third straight appearance from the reserve's bench as Mainz dropped their second straight 2-0 defeat
- There's no margin for error for Mainz as only four points separate them from the drop zone
- Holding a pathetic 1-10-3 away record, Mainz travel to face the team one below them in the league table
Steve Cherundolo
Hannover 96, German Bundesliga
Record: 11-12-5 (38 points)
Last match: [April 9] started and played 76 minutes in 0-1 loss @ VfL Bochum
Next Match: [April 16] v. Bayern Munich
League Position: 11 (10)
STATBOX
League DFB Cup TOTALS
GP:GS Gls C/E GP:GS Gls C/E GP:GS Gls C/E
26/26 2 3/0 3/3 1 2/1 29/29 3 5/1
QUICK HITS
- Cherundolo caught a bad break as his attempted clearance found its way into the back of Hannover's net, gifting Bochum a 1-0 victory
- After rebounding with two straight wins, the loss gives Hannover four 1-0 defeats in their last six matches
- They've got no time to hang their heads as they host a hungry Bayern Munich side that sits a precarious three points atop the league summit and has just crashed out of the Champions League
Kasey Keller
Borussia Moenchengladbach, German Bundesliga
Record: 7-13-8 (29 points)
Last match: [April 9] played 90 minutes in 1-2 loss @ Bayern Munich
Next Match: [April 16] v. Mainz
League Position: 15 (15)
STATBOX
Moenchengladbach
League TOTALS
GP:GS GAA SO GP:GS GAA SO
11/11 1.36 3 11/11 1.36 3
Spurs (8/14/04-1/15/05)
League League Cup TOTALS
GP:GS GAA SO GP:GS GAA SO GP:GS GAA SO
0/0 - - 2/2 1.50 1 2/2 1.50 1
Southampton (loan 11/12/04-12/12/04)
League TOTALS
GP:GS GAA SO GP:GS GAA SO
4/4 2.00 0 4/4 2.00 0
QUICK HITS
- Keller has been 'Gladbach's man between the posts, starting every game since moving to Germany on Jan. 22
- They've played the last four matches with only point to show for it, putting their team in relegation peril
- While no shame in losing to the league's top team in Bayern Munich, 'Gladbach nonetheless remain the only team in the Bundesliga without an away win
- Keller and Co. will try their luck at home against a Mainz team that has an equally dreadful road record
HOLLAND
DaMarcus Beasley
PSV Eindhoven, Dutch Eredivisie
Record: 23-1-4 (73 points)
Last match: [April 9] started and played 65 minutes in 3-0 win v. FC Den Bosch
Next Match: [April 13] v. Lyon, UEFA Champions League, Quarterfinal Round, Second Leg; [April 17] @ Willem II
League Position: 1 (1)
STATBOX
League Champions League League Cup TOTALS
GP:GS Gls C/E GP:GS Gls C/E GP:GS Gls C/E GP:GS Gls C/E
25/13 6 0/0 11/5 4 1/0 2/2 1 0/0 38/19 11 1/0
QUICK HITS
- Beasley has been dazzling for PSV since the winter break, appearing in every match while scoring four goals
- His efforts have mirrored the efforts of the Dutch league leaders, who remain undefeated in through 16 games in 2005
- PSV have gone an astonishing six straight league games without surrendering a goal, netting 17 in the process
- Beasley has the chance to join Jovan Kirovski (Borussia Dortmund, 1996-97) as the only Americans to participate in the semifinals of the Champions League. PSV take a 1-1 draw into their home leg against Lyon tomorrow, a victory or a 0-0 draw ensuring their advancement
- With 13 points separating PSV from AZ at the top of the table, they can close in on the Dutch league title with a win against midtable Willem II
Cory Gibbs
Feyenoord, Dutch Eredivisie
Record: 17-5-5 (56 points)
Last match: [April 10] played 90 minutes in 2-0 win v. NAC Breda
Next Match: [April 13] @ Den Bosch; [April 16] v. Ajax
League Position: 4 (4)
STATBOX
League UEFA Cup Dutch Cup TOTALS
GP:GS Gls C/E GP:GS Gls C/E GP:GS Gls C/E GP:GS Gls C/E
10/10 1 1/0 2/2 0 0/0 2/2 0 0/0 14/14 1 1/0
QUICK HITS
- Gibbs has started every game in all competitions since moving to the Eredivisie in January, playing 14 total
- He has helped marshal Feyenoord to a nine-match winning streak that includes six shutouts, vaulting the Rotterdam side to fourth place
- Now just three points behind Ajax with a game in hand, Feyenoord do double duty this week with a Wednesday visit to last place Den Bosch before a crucial home bout with the Amsterdam outfit
BELGIUM
Oguchi Onyewu
Royal Standard de Ligue, Belgium First Division
Record: 17-5-6 (47 points)
Last match: [April 10] played 90 minutes in 1-1 draw @ FC Bruges
Next Match: [April 17] v. Mons
League Position: 3 (4)
STATBOX
League UEFA Cup Belgium Cup TOTALS
GP:GS Gls C/E GP:GS Gls C/E GP:GS Gls C/E GP:GS Gls C/E
23/22 2 8/0 6/6 1 1/0 1/1 0 0/0 30/29 3 9/0
QUICK HITS
- Gooch has been an anchor in Standard's central defense, helping preside over an 11-match unbeaten run since the winter break
- Standard's march has seen them climb into third place in the table, good for a place in UEFA Cup if they can hold up the rest of the way
- They took a nice step forward by taking a point from league leaders FC Bruges at home, and face the tempting prospect of 17th-place Mons at home this weekend. Gooch potted a pair in the 3-2 away victory against Mons on Nov. 6, his first and only goals of the league campaign
