Chandler's performance creaky, but remains viable; Americans Abroad

Brad Guzan recorded seven saves in net for Aston Villa in its 2-1 win against West Ham.

Sportimage/Cal Sport Media

The knee-jerk reaction following Timmy Chandler's showing in Honduras would be that he is not necessarily the answer at right back for the U.S. men's national team.

Even though Chandler's sub-par showing was one of many discouraging aspects of that match, facts are facts. Chandler has dynamic qualities, but he looked like a player who had played 90 minutes and completed a transatlantic flight three days earlier and just never had his game legs under him in the San Pedro Sula humidity. While it may be easy to dismiss Chandler's viability as a starting fullback after his showing, he'll probably have another couple of chances to prove his worth.

U.S. veteran and Hannover 96 captain Steve Cherundolo underwent arthroscopic knee surgery last Wednesday during the Americans loss to Honduras. While that injury typically requires a 4-to-6 week recovery period, it is unclear how long Cherundolo will have to be out. Considering he has not played a match for Hannover since Dec. 19, it seems unlikely that the almost-34-year-old Cherundolo would be World Cup qualifying fit by the time the USA's next matches -- March 22 against Costa Rica and March 26 in Mexico -- roll around.

Should Chandler, who returned to action for Nurnberg this past week and was part of a clean-sheet effort, not be able to lift his game in his next opportunity, Jurgen Klinsmann could always turn to veteran Michael Parkhurst. The former New England Revolution and FC Nordsjaelland man in the Bundesliga for new club Augsburg off the bench this past Sunday and will be eyeing a more regular place in the lineup to improve his chances of an international recall.

Another glaring area of need for the U.S. against Honduras was on the wing, and three-time World Cup veteran DaMarcus Beasley showed that he still has something left in his 30-year-old tank on Saturday. With the U.S. laboring through the second half and in need of fresh attacking ideas and legs, is it so far fetched to think that someone like Beasley could have provided a spark off the bench? His two-goal performance as a substitute over the weekend was a vintage, throwback showing to his peak days and secured three valuable points for Puebla as it maintains a top-eight place as the Liga MX Clausura campaign nears the halfway point.

As for some major scores off of the field, Sacha Kljestan and Mix Diskerud were able to cash in, with each getting new contracts this past week. Kljestan re-upped at Anderlecht through the 2015-16 season, while Diskerud will return to Norwegian power Rosenborg on a two-year deal after having his short-term deal end this past winter.

Those were the highlights for Americans playing abroad as clubs resumed play following the mid-week international break, but here is how all of the Americans playing their trade in major leagues across the globe fared this past week (season statistics encompass all competitions):

ENGLAND

Premier League

Geoff Cameron, D/M, Stoke City - In the 18, come on as an 84th-minute substitute and picked up a yellow card in Stoke's 2-1 victory over Reading on Saturday.

SEASON: 27 games, 25 starts

Cody Cropper, GK, Southampton - Not in the 18 for Southampton's 3-1 victory over Manchester City on Saturday. Cropper is likely in line to be the U.S. Under-20 national team's starting goalkeeper for the upcoming CONCACAF U-20 championship, which doubles as a qualifying tournament for this summer's FIFA U-20 World Cup.

SEASON: 0 games

Clint Dempsey, M/F, Tottenham - Started, played 90 minutes in Tottenham's 2-1 victory over Newcastle on Saturday.

SEASON: 31 games, 24 starts, 8 goals

Brad Friedel, GK, Tottenham - In the 18, did not play in Tottenham's 2-1 victory over Newcastle.

SEASON: 13 games, 13 starts, 19 goals allowed, 1 clean sheet

Brad Guzan, GK, Aston Villa - Started, played 90 minutes and made four saves in Villa's 2-1 victory over West Ham on Sunday.

SEASON: 25 games, 25 starts, 46 goals allowed, 6 clean sheets

Tim Howard, GK, Everton - Started, played 90 minutes and made four saves in Everton's 2-0 loss to Manchester United on Sunday.

SEASON: 28 games, 28 starts, 33 goals allowed, 4 clean sheets

Eric Lichaj, D, Aston Villa - Not in the 18 for Villa's 2-1 victory over West Ham.

SEASON: 21 games, 13 starts

Brek Shea, M, Stoke City - Not in the 18 for Stoke's 2-1 victory over Reading.

SEASON: 0 games

League Championship

Conor Doyle, F, Derby County - Not in the 18 for Derby County's 2-2 draw with Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.

SEASON: 3 games, 1 start

Stuart Holden, M, Bolton - Not in the 18 for Bolton's 2-1 victory over Burnley on Saturday.

SEASON: 2 games

Tim Ream, D, Bolton - In the 18, did not play in Bolton's 2-1 victory over Burnley.

SEASON: 16 games, 14 starts

Jonathan Spector, D/M, Birmingham City - Not in the 18 for Birmingham's 1-1 draw with Charlton Athletic on Saturday.

SEASON: 23 games, 19 starts, 1 goal

Zak Whitbread, D, Leicester City - Not in the 18 for Leicester City's 2-1 loss to Peterborough United on Saturday.

SEASON: 15 games, 14 starts, 1 goal

League One

Mike Grella, F, Scunthorpe United - In the 18, came on as a halftime substitute in Scunthorpe's 2-1 victory over Portsmouth on Tuesday. Grella started and played 60 minutes in Scunthorpe's 2-1 victory over Crawley Town on Saturday.

SEASON: 21 games, 12 starts 2 goals

Frank Simek, D, Carlisle United - Started, played 90 minutes in Carlisle's 2-1 victory over Stevenage on Saturday.

SEASON: 30 games, 28 starts

GERMANY

Bundesliga

Timmy Chandler, D, FC Nurnberg - Started, played 90 minutes in Nurnberg's 0-0 draw with Eintracht Frankfurt, his former youth club, on Saturday.

SEASON: 22 games, 22 starts, 1 goal

Steve Cherundolo, D, Hannover 96 - Not in the 18 for Hannover's 1-0 victory over TSG 1899 Hoffenheim on Saturday. Cherundolo underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee last Wednesday, and his recovery timetable is unclear.

SEASON: 28 games, 27 starts

Fabian Johnson, D, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim - Started, played 90 minutes in Hoffenheim's 1-0 loss to Hannover 96 on Saturday.

SEASON: 20 games, 20 starts, 3 goals

Jermaine Jones, M, FC Schalke 04 - Started, played 90 minutes in Schalke's 4-0 loss to Bayern Munich on Saturday.

SEASON: 23 games, 20 starts, 1 goal

Michael Parkhurst, D, FC Augsburg - In the 18, came on as a 43rd-minute substitute and picked up a yellow card in Augsburg's 1-1 draw with Mainz 05 on Sunday. The appearance marked Parkhurst's Bundesliga debut, and he was the recipient of a boot to the face by Mainz' American-eligible German forward Shawn Parker, which drew a red card.

SEASON: 22 games, 20 starts, 2 goals (21 games, 20 starts, 2 goals with FC Nordsjaelland)

Danny Williams, D/M, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim - In the 18, came on as a 78th-minute substitute in Hoffenheim's 1-0 loss to Hannover 96.

SEASON: 16 games, 12 starts, 1 goal

2. Bundesliga

John Anthony Brooks, D, Hertha Berlin - Started, played 90 minutes in Berlin's 2-2 draw with Union Berlin on Monday.

SEASON: 17 games, 14 starts

Joe Gyau, M, St. Pauli - In the 18, did not play in St. Pauli's 4-1 loss to SV Sandhausen on Sunday.

SEASON: 9 games, 2 starts

Alfredo Morales, D/M, Hertha Berlin - In the 18, did not play in Berlin's 2-2 draw with Union Berlin.

SEASON: 1 game

Bobby Wood, F, TSV 1860 Munich - Started, played 90 minutes, scored one goal and assisted on another in Munich's 3-1 victory over MSV Duisburg on Saturday. Wood turned and hit a left-footed volley from close range at the end of a loose ball scrum in the area following a free kick to level the score in the 14th minute.

SEASON: 8 games, 4 starts, 2 goals

Andrew Wooten, F, SV Sandhausen - Started played 90 minutes and had a hand in a pair of goals in Sandhausen's 4-1 victory over St. Pauli on Sunday.

SEASON: 16 games, 9 starts, 3 goals

ITALY

Serie A

Michael Bradley, M, AS Roma - Started, played 67 minutes in Roma's 3-1 loss to Sampdoria on Sunday.

SEASON: 21 games, 20 starts, 1 goal

SPAIN

Primera Division

Oguchi Onyewu, D, Malaga - Not in the 18 for Malaga's 2-1 victory over Levante on Saturday.

SEASON: 8 games, 7 starts, 2 goals

Segunda Division

Carlos Bocanegra, D, Racing Santander - Not in the 18 for Racing Santander's 1-0 victory over Huesca on Saturday.

SEASON: 19 games, 19 starts (7 games, 7 starts with Rangers)

NETHERLANDS

Eredivisie

Jozy Altidore, F, AZ Alkmaar - Started, played 90 minutes and picked up a yellow card in AZ's 3-1 loss to Feyenoord on Sunday.

SEASON: 29 games, 29 starts, 20 goals

BELGIUM

Pro League

Sacha Kljestan, M, RSC Anderlecht - Started, played 90 minutes in Anderlecht's 2-1 victory over Waasland-Beveren on Sunday. Kljestan also signed a new contract extension with Anderlecht last week, one that will keep him with the reigning Belgian champion through the 2015-16 season.

SEASON: 34 games, 27 starts, 2 goals

TURKEY

Süper Lig

Maurice Edu, M, Bursaspor - Started, played 90 minutes in Bursaspor's 3-0 victory over Karabukspor on Saturday.

SEASON: 7 games, 5 starts (1 game with Stoke City)

PORTUGAL

Primeira Liga

Caleb Patterson-Sewell, GK, Vitoria Setubal - In the 18, did not play in Vitoria Setubal's 1-0 victory over Gil Vicente on Sunday.

SEASON: 5 games, 5 starts, 12 goals allowed, 1 clean sheet

Tony Taylor, F, Estoril Praia - In the 18, did not play in Estoril's 1-0 loss to Pacos de Ferreira on Tuesday. Taylor was in the 18 and came on as an 80th-minute substitute in Estoril's 2-0 victory over Vitoria Guimaraes on Saturday.

SEASON: 11 games, 4 starts

MEXICO

Liga MX

DaMarcus Beasley, M, Puebla - In the 18, came on as a 57th-minute substitute, picked up a yellow card and scored two goals in Puebla's 3-1 victory over San Luis on Saturday. Beasley received a cross by the far post, trapped with his chest and fired in a right-footed blast to give Puebla a 2-1 lead in the 82nd minute. He then iced the game on an elongated give-and-go, starting with the ball inside his own half and then completing a run into the area and finishing with his right again to seal the match six minutes later.

SEASON: 7 games, 5 starts, 2 goals

Jonathan Bornstein, D, Tigres UANL - Not in the 18 for Tigres' 4-1 victory over Toluca on Sunday.

SEASON: 0 games

Edgar Castillo, D, Tijuana - Started, played 56 minutes in Tijuana's 2-1 loss to Club America on Saturday. The loss was reigning Apertura champion Tijuana's first in six games of the Clausura campaign.

SEASON: 6 games, 6 starts

Joe Corona, M, Tijuana - In the 18, came on as a 65th-minute substitute in Tijuana's 2-1 loss to Club America.

SEASON: 5 games, 4 starts

Michael Orozco Fiscal, D, Puebla - Started, played 90 minutes and picked up a yellow card in Puebla's 3-1 victory over San Luis.

SEASON: 6 games, 6 starts

Greg Garza, D/M, Tijuana - Not in the 18 for Tijuana's 2-1 loss to Club America.

SEASON: 0 games

Herculez Gomez, F, Santos Laguna - Started, played 90 minutes in Santos Laguna's 1-0 loss to Pachuca on Sunday.

SEASON: 6 games, 6 starts, 1 goal

Benji Joya, M, Santos Laguna - Not in the 18 for Santos Laguna's 1-0 loss to Pachuca.

SEASON: 0 games

Jose Torres, M, Tigres UANL - Started, played 79 minutes in Tigres' 4-1 victory over Toluca.

SEASON: 5 games, 5 starts