Dempsey, U.S. stars find promising new homes with late transfers
Silly season for Americans abroad this summer is over. But what a silly season it was.
All of the conjecture, speculation and rumor chasing gave way to tangible moves in the final days for some of U.S. Soccer's biggest names. Clint Dempsey to Tottenham. Carlos Bocanegra to Racing Santander. Maurice Edu to Stoke City. Oguchi Onyewu to Malaga. As a result, the outlook for all four players is considerably brighter than it was just a week ago at this time. Consider that Dempsey was in purgatory, caught between a Fulham club with which he was synonymous and a wish to take a next step that made him ostracized at Craven Cottage, yet not in high demand elsewhere; Bocanegra and Edu were mired in Scotland's fourth tier, with Bocanegra's name oddly going unmentioned in transfer circles until the final day; Onyewu was passed over on the depth chart at Sporting Lisbon and became an afterthought after a rebound 2011-12 season to the point that the year ahead looked hopeless.
Now, Dempsey has made his move to one of England's premier sides, a Spurs team that needs his attacking qualities after managing just single goals in each of three games en route to a 0-1-2 start. Bocanegra, the U.S. captain, is not in Spain's top flight, but he is in a substantially better position to maintain his top form and duties now than he would have been playing for Rangers. After years of succeeding in Scotland, Edu gets the opportunity to prove his worth at a higher level with his three-year deal at Britannia Stadium. Onyewu may end up being just as big of a winner, as instead of rotting on the bench in Portugal, he can fight for a place on a team already in the UEFA Champions League and learn under well-traveled, accomplished coach Manuel Pellegrini.
The key figure, though, is Dempsey. Arguably the U.S. national team's most important player, he could not afford to be left out at Fulham going forward, and as it is he enters the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Jamaica completely out of form but offers too much promise to not be called in. For Dempsey, who signed a three-year deal with Tottenham after the transfer, the move to White Hart Lane is ideal. He had made no secret about wanting to play Champions League soccer, something that Tottenham will compete for considering its talent. In the meantime, Dempsey still gets the European soccer experience by playing in the UEFA Europa League, a stage he has starred on before. By staying in London, where he has been based for almost the last six years, he has the added bonus of not having to uproot his life and family. For all the Liverpool talk, Arsenal speculation and late interest by also-rans Aston Villa and Sunderland, Tottenham, one of Jurgen Klinsmann's former teams in his playing days, was always the best option if the club were to show interest, and a potentially drastic situation evolved into an ideal one as the final whistle on the transfer window neared.
"I think the new team is a perfect fit," Dempsey told The Associated Press on Monday. "They qualified for a place last season for Champions League but missed out on a technicality. But it's still in London. My family doesn't have to move far. My daughter, she can go to another international school and be on the same curriculum. It couldn't have worked out any better in that regard."
The off-field moves were a precursor to some top performances on the field for Americans this past week, as Terrence Boyd, Jonathan Spector and Jermaine Jones, all of whom were called up by Klinsmann for the two World Cup qualifiers against Jamaica, got on the scoreboard for their respective teams. They led the charge in the past week for Americans abroad, and here is how they and the rest of their compatriots fared (season statistics encompass all competitions):
Premier League
Geoff Cameron, D/M, Stoke City - Started, played 120 minutes and assisted on two goals in Stoke's 4-3 loss to Swindon Town in the second round of the League Cup on Tuesday. Cameron also started and played 90 minutes in Stoke's 2-2 draw with Wigan Athletic in league play on Saturday.
SEASON: 3 games, 3 starts
Cody Cropper, GK, Southampton - Not in the 18 for Southampton's 3-2 loss to Manchester United on Sunday. The 19-year-old Cropper, who had been playing with the club's U-21 team prior to his official signing on Friday, had been with Ipswich Town before suffering a knee injury last season and not returning to the club. He'll compete for backup minutes for the Saints.
SEASON: 0 games
Clint Dempsey, M/F, Tottenham - Not in the 18 for Tottenham's 1-1 draw with Norwich City on Saturday. Tottenham, which will play in the UEFA Europa League this season, was drawn into a group with Lazio, Maribor and Panathinaikos.
SEASON: 0 games
Maurice Edu, D/M, Stoke City - In the 18, did not play in Stoke's 2-2 draw with Wigan Athletic. Edu signed a three-year contract with Stoke after being cleared to have his transfer from Rangers go through.
SEASON: 0 games
Brad Friedel, GK, Tottenham - Started, played 90 minutes and made three saves in Tottenham's 1-1 draw with Norwich City. The transfer deadline acquisition of French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris will put pressure on Friedel to maintain his No. 1 role.
SEASON: 3 games, 3 starts, 4 goals allowed
Brad Guzan, GK, Aston Villa - Started, played 90 minutes, made four saves and earned the clean sheet in Villa's 3-0 victory over Tranmere Rovers in the second round of the League Cup on Tuesday. Guzan also started, played 90 minutes, picked up a yellow card and made three saves in Villa's 1-1 draw with Newcastle in league play on Sunday.
SEASON: 2 games, 2 starts, 1 goal allowed, 1 clean sheet
Tim Howard, GK, Everton - In the 18, did not play in Everton's 5-0 victory over Leyton Orient in the second round of the League Cup on Wednesday. Howard started, played 90 minutes and made three saves in Everton's 2-0 loss to West Brom in league play on Saturday.
SEASON: 3 games, 3 starts, 3 goals allowed, 1 clean sheet
Eric Lichaj, D, Aston Villa - Started, played 90 minutes in Villa's 3-0 victory over Tranmere Rovers. Lichaj also started, played 90 minutes and picked up a yellow card in Villa's 1-1 draw with Newcastle.
SEASON: 3 games, 2 starts
League Championship
Conor Doyle, F, Derby County - In the 18, came on as an 89th-minute substitute in Derby County's 5-1 victory over Watford on Saturday.
SEASON: 1 game
Robbie Findley, F, Nottingham Forest - Not in the 18 for Nottingham Forest's 4-1 loss to Wigan Athletic in the second round of the League Cup on Tuesday or for Nottingham Forest's 2-1 victory over Charlton Athletic in league play on Saturday.
SEASON: 0 games
Stuart Holden, M, Bolton - Not in the 18 for Bolton's 2-1 loss to Crawley Town in the second round of the League Cup on Tuesday or for Bolton's 3-1 loss to Hull City in league play on Saturday.
SEASON: 0 games
Will Packwood, M/D, Birmingham City - Not in the 18 for Birmingham's 3-2, extra-time loss to Coventry City in the second round of the League Cup on Tuesday. Packwood was in the 18 but did not play in Birmingham's 1-0 victory over Peterborough United in league play on Saturday.
SEASON: 2 games, 2 starts
Tim Ream, D, Bolton - Started, played 90 minutes in Bolton's 2-1 loss to Crawley Town and in Bolton's 3-1 loss to Hull City.
SEASON: 3 games, 3 starts
Jonathan Spector, D, Birmingham City - Started, played 120 minutes and scored a goal in Birmingham's 3-2, extra-time loss to Coventry City. Spector also started and played 90 minutes in Birmingham's 1-0 victory over Peterborough United.
SEASON: 5 games, 4 starts, 1 goal
Zak Whitbread, D, Leicester City - Started, played 90 minutes in Leicester's 4-2 loss to Burton Albion on the second round of the League Cup on Tuesday. Whitbread was not in the 18 for Leicester's 1-0 victory over Blackpool in league play on Saturday.
SEASON: 1 game, 1 start
League One
Mike Grella, F, Scunthorpe United - Started, played 80 minutes in Scunthorpe's 2-1 loss to Norwich City in the second round of the League Cup on Tuesday. Grella also started and played 90 minutes in Scunthorpe's 2-0 loss to Hartlepool United in league play on Saturday.
SEASON: 6 games, 6 starts, 2 goals
Robbie Rogers, M, Stevenage - Started, played 63 minutes in Stevenage's 4-1 loss to Southampton in the second round of the League Cup on Tuesday. Rogers also started and played 59 minutes in Stevenage's 1-1 draw with Shrewsbury Town in league play on Saturday.
SEASON: 3 games, 2 starts
Frank Simek, D, Carlisle United - In the 18, did not play in Carlisle's 2-1, extra-time victory over Ipswich Town in the second round of the League Cup on Tuesday and in Carlisle's 2-0 loss to Milton Keynes Dons in league play on Saturday.
SEASON: 3 games, 2 starts
Bundesliga
Timmy Chandler, D, FC Nurnberg - Started, played 90 minutes in Nurnberg's 1-1 draw with Borussia Dortmund on Saturday.
SEASON: 3 games, 3 starts
Steve Cherundolo, D, Hannover 96 - Started, played 70 minutes in Hannover's 5-1 victory over Slask Wroclaw in the second leg of their Europa League final qualifying round tie on Thursday. Hannover advanced on a 10-4 aggregate and will face FC Twente, Helsingborg and Levante in the group stage. Cherundolo also started and played 90 minutes in Hannover's 4-0 victory over VfL Wolfsburg in league play on Sunday.
SEASON: 7 games, 7 starts
Fabian Johnson, D, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim - Started, played 90 minutes in Hoffenheim's 4-0 loss to Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday.
SEASON: 2 games, 2 starts
Jermaine Jones, M, FC Schalke 04 - Started, came off in the 90th minute and scored the eventual game-winning goal in Schalke's 3-1 victory over Augsburg on Saturday. Jones completed about a 40-yard run into the area and then finished with power, low and to the far corner to give Schalke a 2-0 lead at the time. Jones' Schalke was drawn into a UEFA Champions League group with Arsenal, Olympiacos and Montpellier as well.
SEASON: 2 games, 2 starts, 1 goal
Danny Williams, M, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim - In the 18, came on as a halftime substitute in Hoffenheim's 4-0 loss to Eintracht Frankfurt.
SEASON: 1 game
David Yelldell, GK, Bayer Leverkusen - Not in the 18 for Leverkusen's 2-0 victory over SC Freiburg on Saturday. Leverkusen's acquisition of German international Michael Rensing to back up starting goalkeeper Bernd Leno signifies a move down the depth chart for the one-time U.S. national team call-up.
SEASON: 0 games
2. Bundesliga
John Anthony Brooks, D, Hertha Berlin - In the 18, came on as an 89th-minute substitute in Berlin's 2-1 victory over Union Berlin on Monday.
SEASON: 3 games, 2 starts
Joe Gyau, M, St. Pauli - Not in the 18 for St. Pauli's 2-1 victory over Sandhausen on Saturday. Gyau secured a season-long loan from Hoffenheim to St. Pauli, where the 19-year-old winger, one of the top prospects in the U.S. pipeline, will have a chance at securing regular playing time as opposed to biding time with Hoffenheim's reserves.
SEASON: 0 games
Alfredo Morales, D, Hertha Berlin - Not in the 18 for Berlin's 2-1 victory over Union Berlin.
SEASON: 1 game
Andrew Wooten, F, Sandhausen - In the 18, came on as a 75th-minute substitute in Sandhausen's 2-1 loss to St. Pauli on Saturday.
SEASON: 1 game
Serie A
Michael Bradley, M, AS Roma - Not in the 18 for Roma's 3-1 victory over Inter Milan on Sunday. Bradley has a right leg injury and has been ruled out for the next couple of weeks ahead of a potential return after the international break.
SEASON: 1 game, 1 start
Primera Division
Oguchi Onyewu, D, Malaga - Not in the 18 for Malaga's 1-0 victory over Real Zaragoza on Saturday. Onyewu secured a season-long loan from Sporting Lisbon to Malaga, where he'll have the opportunity to play for a club in the Champions League. Malaga was drawn into a group with AC Milan, Anderlecht and Zenit-St. Petersburg.
SEASON: 0 games
Segunda Division
Carlos Bocanegra, D, Racing Santander - Not in the 18 for Racing Santander's 0-0 draw with Sporting Gijon on Sunday. Bocanegra secured a deadline-day, season-long loan to Santander, a club that was relegated last season and has fallen on hard times financially but not nearly to the extent of his parent club, Rangers. Bocanegra did not rule out a return to Rangers for next season by agreeing to a loan and not a permanent transfer, telling the club's official website, "I feel I could come back and play here again. I had an opportunity to sign for Santander and leave here for good because I was on a free transfer, but I purposely went for a loan."
SEASON: 7 games, 7 starts (all with Rangers)
Eredivisie
Jozy Altidore, F, AZ Alkmaar - Started, played 60 minutes in AZ's 5-0 loss to Anzhi Makhachkala in the second leg of their Europa League final qualifying round tie on Thursday. AZ fell on a 6-0 aggregate and was eliminated from the competition. Altidore also started and played 90 minutes in AZ's 5-1 loss to PSV Eindhoven in league play on Sunday.
SEASON: 6 games, 6 starts, 4 goals
Pro League
Sacha Kljestan, M, RSC Anderlecht - Started, played 90 minutes and picked up a yellow card in Anderlecht's 2-0 victory over AEL Limassol in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League final qualifying round tie on Tuesday. Anderlecht was drawn into a group with AC Milan, Malaga and Zenit-St. Petersburg. Kljestan also started and played the first half of Anderlecht's 2-2 draw with Genk in league play on Sunday.
SEASON: 10 games, 5 starts, 1 goal
Primeira Liga
Caleb Patterson-Sewell, GK, Vitoria Setubal - In the 18, did not play in Vitoria Setubal's 0-0 draw with Gil Vicente on Sunday.
SEASON: 2 games, 2 starts, 7 goals allowed
Tony Taylor, F, Estoril Praia - Started, played 59 minutes in Estoril's 2-2 draw with Guimaraes on Saturday.
SEASON: 3 games, 2 starts
Bundesliga
Terrence Boyd, F, Rapid Vienna - Started, played 90 minutes and scored a goal in Rapid's 3-0 victory over PAOK Salonika in the second leg of their Europa League final qualifying round tie on Thursday. Rapid advanced on a 4-2 aggregate and will face Bayer Leverkusen, Rosenborg and Metalist Kharkiv in the group stage. Boyd also started, played 73 minutes and scored two more goals in Rapid's 3-0 victory over Mattersburg in league play on Sunday. Boyd made a strong near-post run to one-time a cross from the right to open the scoring, and he capped it with a header from the edge of the 6-yard box midway through the second half.
SEASON: 10 games, 9 starts, 6 goals
Liga MX
DaMarcus Beasley, M, Puebla - Not in the 18 for Puebla's 1-0 victory over Toluca in the Copa MX on Thursday, but Beasley started and played 90 minutes in Puebla's 1-1 draw with Chivas de Guadalajara in league play on Sunday.
SEASON: 8 games, 8 starts
Jonathan Bornstein, D, Tigres UANL - Not in the 18 for Tigres' 3-1 loss to Santos Laguna on Saturday.
SEASON: 1 game
Edgar Castillo, D, Tijuana - Not in the 18 for Tijuana's 2-2 draw with Pumas UNAM in the Copa MX on Tuesday or for Tijuana's 2-0 victory over Jaguares in league play on Friday. Castillo is out for a couple of more weeks as he recovers from a foot injury.
SEASON: 6 games, 6 starts
Joe Corona, M, Tijuana - Not in the 18 for Tijuana's 2-2 draw with Pumas UNAM, but Corona started and played 84 minutes in Tijuana's 2-0 victory over Jaguares.
SEASON: 7 games, 7 starts
Michael Orozco Fiscal, D, San Luis - Not in the 18 for San Luis' 2-1 victory over Jaguares in the Copa MX on Tuesday. Orozco was in the 18 but did not play in San Luis' 2-0 loss to Leon in league play on Saturday.
SEASON: 7 games, 7 starts, 1 goal
Greg Garza, D, Tijuana - In the 18, came on as a halftime substitute in Tijuana's 2-2 draw with Pumas UNAM. Garza started and played 67 minutes in Tijuana's 2-0 victory over Jaguares.
SEASON: 7 games, 5 starts
Herculez Gomez, F, Santos Laguna - Started, played 77 minutes in Santos' 3-1 victory over Toronto FC in their CONCACAF Champions League group game on Tuesday. Gomez was in the 18 but did not play in Santos' 3-1 victory over Pumas UNAM in league play on Saturday.
SEASON: 6 games, 6 starts, 2 goals
Alejandro Guido, M, Tijuana - Not in the 18 for Tijuana's 2-2 draw with Pumas UNAM or for Tijuana's 2-0 victory over Jaguares.
SEASON: 1 game, 1 start
Jose Francisco Torres, M, Pachuca - Not in the 18 for Pachuca's 1-0 victory over Atlante in the Copa MX on Wednesday. Torres started and played 79 minutes in Pachuca's 1-1 draw with Cruz Azul in league play on Saturday.
SEASON: 7 games, 7 starts, 1 goal
Superliga
Charlie Davies, F, Randers - Started, played 90 minutes in Randers' 1-0 victory over Aalborg Freja in the second round of the DBU Pokalen on Wednesday. Davies was in the 18 and came on as a 70th-minute substitute in Randers' 1-0 victory over Horsens in league play on Sunday.
SEASON: 8 games, 1 start
Clarence Goodson, D, Brondby - Not in the 18 for Brondby's 2-1 victory over Nordvest in the second round of the DBU Pokalen on Wednesday. Goodson started and played 90 minutes in Brondby's 0-0 draw with FC Nordsjaelland in league play on Sunday.
SEASON: 7 games, 7 starts, 1 goal
Conor O'Brien, F, Sonderjyske - In the 18 for Sonderjyske's 4-1 victory over Hobro in the second round of the DBU Pokalen on Tuesday. O'Brien started and played 90 minutes in Sonderjyske's 4-0 loss to Aalborg BK in league play on Friday.
SEASON: 8 games, 8 starts, 2 goals
Michael Parkhurst, D, FC Nordsjaelland - Started, played 90 minutes in Nordsjaelland's 0-0 draw with Brondby on Sunday. Parkhurst's club was drawn into the same group as Chelsea, Juventus and Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League group stage as well.
SEASON: 6 games, 6 starts, 2 goals
Tippeligaen
Chad Barrett, F, Valerenga - Started, played 61 minutes in Valerenga's 4-0 victory over Sandnes Ulf on Friday.
SEASON: 4 games, 4 starts
Steve Clark, GK, Honefoss - Started, played 90 minutes in Honefoss' 2-0 loss to Aalesund on Sunday.
SEASON: 21 games, 21 starts, 24 goals allowed, 7 clean sheets
Sean Cunningham, D, Stabaek - Not in the 18 for Stabaek's 2-0 loss to Rosenborg on Monday.
SEASON: 21 games, 21 starts
Mix Diskerud, M, Rosenborg - Started, played 90 minutes and scored the game-winning goal in Rosenborg's 2-1 victory over Legia Warsaw in the second leg of their Europa League final qualifying round tie on Thursday. Diskerud's goal, in which he struck a powerful left-footed volley off a failed clearance attempt at the top of the box, was the series winner and gave Rosenborg a 3-2 win on aggregate. The club will face Bayer Leverkusen, Metalist Kharkiv and Rapid Vienna in the group stage. Diskerud also started and played 90 minutes in Rosenborg's 2-0 victory over Stabaek on Monday.
SEASON: 5 games, 4 starts, 1 goal
Josh Gatt, M, Molde - Started, played 74 minutes and assisted on the opening goal in Molde's 2-1 victory over Heerenveen in the second leg of their Europa League final qualifying round tie on Thursday. Molde advanced on a 4-1 aggregate and will face Stuttgart, FC Copenhagen and Steaua Bucharest in the group stage. Gatt also started, played 64 minutes and assisted on another goal before exiting with a hamstring injury in Molde's 4-1 loss to Brann in league play on Sunday. Gatt had originally been called up by Jurgen Klinsmann for the U.S. men's national team's upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Jamaica, but he had to withdraw with the injury.
SEASON: 20 games, 17 starts, 6 goals
Allsvenskan
Alejandro Bedoya, M, Helsingborg IF - Started, played 90 minutes in Helsingborg's 2-0 loss to Celtic in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League final qualifying round tie on Wednesday. Helsingborg lost on a 4-0 aggregate and dropped down to the Europa League, where it will face FC Twente, Hannover 96 and Levante in the group stage. Bedoya also started, played 72 minutes and picked up a yellow card in Helsingborg's 2-1 loss to AIK in league play on Sunday.
SEASON: 5 games, 4 starts, 1 goal
Brian Span, M, Djurgarden IF - In the 18, did not play in Djurgarden's 3-2 victory over Orebro on Friday.
SEASON: 5 games, 1 start, 1 goal
