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So last time we looked at Americans Abroad I focused on those guys that did not, and do not play. Some thought I painted to dire a picture of things. Well, with this week's news that Benny Feilhaber is on fire (not the team, he actually plays well), but for a Danish second division side (h/t to Goff) I decide to focus on the midfielders, specifically those who can/do play centrally as I sometimes find that to be a problem with the American team.
I used Goff's list, and went a little deeper and added in a few guys from MatchFitUSA's 2014 depth chart.
Guys in bold were on this last World Cup team. I used only their stats from the last 30 days. First because leagues are starting up (except those on Fall-Spring, or split-season schedules). Second because I wanted to see how unusual Benny's success in a soccer backwater are. For the most part I used www.soccernet.com for the stats, sometimes having to go through game data as these guys aren't listed. I also went to www.Yanks-Abroad.com for a few, because honestly I hadn't heard of them. Some guys on the MF-USA list didn't make this cut, because they don't even make the Y-A list.
|
Player |
Team |
Minutes |
Goals |
Assists |
|
Borussia Monchengladbach |
360 |
1 |
0 |
|
|
Rangers |
183 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Eintracht Frankfurt |
15 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Jose Torres |
Pachuca |
154 |
0 |
0 |
|
Jermaine Jones |
Schalke 04 |
394 |
0 |
0 |
|
Benny Feilhaber |
AGF Aarhus |
570 |
5 |
0 |
|
Aris Salonika |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Sacha Kljestan |
Anderlecht |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Mikkel Diskerud |
Stabaek |
180 |
1 |
0 |
|
Erik Benjaminsen |
Stabaek |
0 |
0 |
0 |
If you are looking for an American Center-Mid on a traditional power, you should keep looking. The German sides represented are in 13th, 16th and 17th in a good league, but not on teams doing well so far. Still two Americans are regulars in said league, which says a lot more for anyone else on the list.
The MF-USA post also mentioned a few Americans in MLS and USSF Division 2 that could come onto the scene.
They are listed after the break.
|
Player |
Team |
Minutes |
Goals |
Assists |
|
Eddie Gaven |
Crew |
540 |
0 |
0 |
|
Dax McCarty |
205 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Luis Gil |
AC St Louis |
329 |
1 |
0 |
|
Kyle Beckerman |
664 |
1 |
1 |
If there is any wonder why Bradley players with either 2 CDMs or 2 CMs, look at these guys and tell me where most of them play? The list doesn't have that many playmakers, and certainly not those that play.
Odd little aside - American Center Mids in Europe seem to play in Central Europe. National Team quality Center Mids in America, they aren't on the coasts either. Yeah, I probably forgot Brad Evans. Here's his month - 0-0-0.