When Mike Grella passed on the 2009 MLS draft, it was unclear where the Duke striker would test the professional soccer waters. It appears his quest for a professional contract has landed him in England.

Grella is on trial with Leeds United, and scored three goals in Leeds' reserve match against Barnsley on Tuesday.

 

                                                                        Photo by ISIphotos.com

When Marcus Tracy passed on Major League Soccer's last offer, and decided to skip the MLS Combine and Draft for a chance at European soccer, he wasn't expected to wait too long to find interest from abroad.

   

The Landon Donovan show continued for Bayern Munich on Monday as the U.S. national team star came off the bench and scored a goal in Bayern's 2-0 win vs. Kaiserslautern on Monday.

Donovan came off the bench in the second half, replacing Miroslav Klose, and put the friendly out of reach with his perfect header from close range.

by GIANFRANCO PANIZO

With most people (including those of us on SBI) focused on the MLS Draft and Landon Donovan's performances with Bayern Munich last week, you might have missed the other American player who beautifully scored for his German club side. The author of the fascinating goal?

 

Everton's search for a striker has led them to none other than Jozy Altidore, but Villarreal isn't interested.

According to Sky Sports, Everton has had an initial offer for Altidore turned down, with Villarreal wanting the 18-year-old Altidore to settle in Spain.

Altidore has seen limited playing time for Villarreal, earning a pair of starts just before the winter break only to return to the bench, but he told SBI just last month that he was happy in Spain and enjoying his time with Villarreal.

Jozy Altidore's loan move to Spanish second division leaders Deportivo Xerez is now official, a source close to Altidore confirmed on Friday.

Altidore joined his new club today for the start of a half-season loan that should afford him the opportunity for much more playing time than he has been receiving with Villarreal.

 

By SULAIMAN FOLARIN

Can anyone explain why American sensation Freddy Adu is not getting more playing time with mid table AS Monaco in the French Ligue 1?

This is one question that bothers and still perplexes this writer. Yes Adu did not dazzle in MLS when he played for DC United or Real Salt Lake, but amongst young talents in Canada at the FIFA U-20, especially against Brazil, he dominated that game which paraded Pato and Jo.

 

                                                                        Photo by ISIphotos.com

When Marcus Tracy passed on Major League Soccer's last offer, and decided to skip the MLS Combine and Draft for a chance at European soccer, he wasn't expected to wait too long to find interest from abroad.

                                       Photo courtesy of Duke Athletics

By DYLAN BUTLER

Following a successful two-week trial, former Duke University standout Mike Grella has been offered a contract to play with English First Division side Leeds United, sources told SBI on Friday.

 

by GIANFRANCO PANIZO

After two solid weeks of impressive performances to start the new year, Americans playing abroad ran into a wall this past weekend.

The majority of Americans Abroad either sat on the bench or did not dress last weekend, while many of the players who did see time struggled with results and their own performances.

 

by GIANFRANCO PANIZO

When Maurice Edu made a move from Toronto FC to Scottish powerhouse Glasgow Rangers in August of 2008, big expectations awaited him.

In his first handful of months with the Scottish Premier League giant, the former U.S. Olympic standout has only amassed 64 minutes in one lone appearance this season.

Danish outlet 442 has a brief video interview with fresh Aalborg recruit Marcus Tracy, longingly entitled "The American Henry?". Unfortunately, I have no idea what AaB chairman Lynge Jakobsen (one of the nicest and funniest execs in Europe to my experience) is saying. On this note, I had an excellent interview with Marcus today, and you will find that up at Soccer365 in the morning.

 

The long and ugly saga that Lukas Podolski's inevitable transfer has become appears to be reaching a conclusion and the outcome could be great news for Landon Donovan.

The U.S. national team star stands poised to take advantage of some more avalable playing time during his loan spell with Bayern Munich now that Podolski is moving closer to a transfer back to FC Cologne, his former club.

By GIANFRANCO PANIZO

Landon Donovan made his first appearance in an official match in Europe in four years on Tuesday and while he did not score,the appearance was still significant.

Donovan played 23 minutes in Bayern Munich's 5-1 blowout win over VfB Stuttgart in DFB Pokal (Germany's nation-wide tournament) action on Tuesday.

                                       Photo courtesy of Duke Athletics

By DYLAN BUTLER

Following a successful two-week trial, former Duke University standout Mike Grella has been offered a contract to play with English League One side Leeds United, sources told SBI on Friday.

Happy New Year to all of our readers wherever you are; from Dubai to New Jersey and from Korea to Texas - thanks for stopping by this year.
2009 should be an exciting year and here is just a bit of what we can look forward to:
- The USA taking on Sweden on January 9th
- Gooch perhaps finally making the jump to a new club
- Players like Marvell Wynne and Sacha Kljestan possibly moving across the pond
- Vincenzo Bernardo and Jozy Altidore possibly being loaned out
- Young Giuseppe Nazzani getting a chance with Bologna's first team
- The Confederations Cup and U-20 World Championships
- Seeing if Clint Dempsey can keep his hot touch into the spring
- Waiting for Freddy Adu to establish himself as a first team player at Monaco
- Michael Bradley finding his stride and tearing his way through the Bundesliga
- Carlos Bocanegra continuing his strong play at Rennes and earning a CL spot
- Danny Szetela continuing his strong left midfield play at Brescia
- Seeing if Landon Donovan can prove that he can hang with the big boys every week
- Whether DaMarcus Beasley heads home to play in MLS or finds a new European club
- Watching Maurice Edu assert himself as a key player in Rangers' title run
- Watching Bruce Arena turn the LA Galaxy into a winner
-
Here are some fun highlights from 2008 which we hope you'll enjoy:
Best Goals:
Best Keepers:
Best Skills:
Flops and Follies (Multisport):

by GIANFRANCO PANIZO

Last summer, Landon Donovan revealed his desire for another taste of European soccer. After half a year of repeatedly expressing his ambitions, Donovan is set to join one of the top teams in Europe.

No, the loan deal everyone has known about for months (but nobody has bothered to make official) hasn't "happened yet.

Just a day after reports surfaced about an Everton move for Jozy Altidore, Spanish club Villarreal has stepped forward to let it be known that the young American striker isn't going anywhere.

Villarreal manager Manuel Pellegrini made it clear that he intends to keep the 19-year-old striker around and still intends on using him in the second half of the La Liga season.

 

by GIANFRANCO PANIZO

With only a handful of Americans participating in this weekend's soccer festivities, most fans might assume it was a relatively quiet weekend. It wasn't. The number of players may seem miniscule but there was plenty to talk about when the weekend came to a close.

Effective immediately, Landon Donovan is a target man. - Greg Seltzer

Just a quick peek at some January window happenings... Former Duke striker Mike Grella netted a dazzling hat trick in his Leeds United trial friendly debut. The League One's B+ team took out Burnley Reserves 4-0, with the young American setting Whites fans abuzz. I can hope for video to surface on this (and from what I've heard of his performance, it would be worth the trouble) - but don't hold

Landon Donovan can't stop scoring.

Yes, it is still the pre-season, but Donovan added two goals and an assist to his growing tally, starring in Bayern Munich's 5-0 pasting of Mainz 05 on Wednesday. The two goals give Donovan four in five pre-season matches for Bayern.

Here are both Donovan's goals:

Even the staunchest Donovan hater has to start giving the guy some credit.

by GIANFRANCO PANIZO

When Monaco faced off against Juventus in a friendly on Tuesday, many American fans were pleasantly surprised to see Freddy Adu's name in the starting line-up.

In the 36th minute the teenage midfielder, who has struggled to find playing time for his French club this season, dribbled past a pair of defenders before being tripped up by a third.

 

by GIANFRANCO PANIZO

The Mexican national team is going to have a tough time beating Tim Howard if the U.S. goalkeeper's recent hot form is any indication.

Howard delivered one of the best performances of the weekend by posting an eight-save effort in Everton's 1-1 tie vs.

By GIANFRANCO PANIZO

Jose Francisco Torres' resume continues to grow more impressive with each passing month. Torres added to his international experience on Wednesday by starting in Pachuca's Copa Libertadores clash against Universidad de Chile.

After falling behind early, Torres almost hit the equalizer for the visitors with a 25-yard blast but Universidad goalkeeper Miguel Pinto would have none of it as he tipped the ball over the crossbar with a one-handed save.

 

Reports linking American striker Jozy Altidore to a loan move to Spanish second division side Deportivo Xerez were just a tad bit premature.

Villarreal general manager Jose Manuel Llaneza revealed to Spanish daily AS on Friday that Altidore's reported loan deal to Xerez wasn't happening because neither Altidore or Villarreal head coach Manuel Pellegrini wanted it to happen.

by GIANFRANCO PANIZO

With the majority of the leagues in Europe still enjoying their "winter breaks", a myriad list of tournament match-ups were on display. The Americans Abroad contingent participated in England's FA Cup, the Coupe de France and even the Mexican InterLiga this past weekend.

I have a few transfer morsels that I picked up to share before I chill out and watch Traitor. I hope it's good, I love Don Cheadle! Expect Lee Nguyen to be presented by Vietnamese side Hoàng Anh Gia Lai next weekend, give or take a couple days. The MLS suitor has dropped out. Oguchi Onyewu agent Lyle Yorks told me it was "99% that he'd sign a pre-contract to start with his new club in summer.

Landon Donovan made his Bayern Munich debut in a 3-2 friendly win over Al-Jazira in the UAE. The American notched an assist on FC Hollywood's first, then set up the second by winning a danger free kick for Daniel van Buyten to bury. Donovan told the club website, "It was fun! My legs were still a bit heavy.

 

by GIANFRANCO PANIZO

U.S. national team and LA Galaxy star Landon Donovan went the full ninety minutes, tallied his first assist and drew a pivotal free kick which led to a goal in his debut for Bayern Munich, a 3-2 victory over Al Jazeera on Saturday.

The Los Angeles Galaxy player, currently on loan until March, found German international Bastian Schweinsteiger in the 31st minute with a simple yet effective pass.

 

by GIANFRANCO PANIZO

Landon Donovan is having himself quite the time at Bayern Munich. Just two days after enjoying his debut with FC Hollywood, the U.S. National Team all-time leading goal scorer accomplished another feat. He scored for the German giants.

                                                                    Photo by ISIphotos.com

by GIANFRANCO PANIZO

With the amount of defenders getting nicked up during the U.

I gotta move quickly. All of this work is cutting into my leisure time... #1 - Please do note the Cut of the Day. It has a nice ring to it today. Not to get too political, but let's give this guy an honest shot - even if he is a West Ham supporter. My scouting report on him isn't devoid of red marks, but I think he is just the puzzle piece we need.

Yes, I will update, but not at the usual rate. I shall pick up the pace, though, should Lanodn Donovan enter the fray. Our man is on the bench, so here are your line-ups: Bayern - Rensing; Lell, Lucio, Demichelis, Lahm, Schweinsteiger, van Bommel, Zé Roberto, Ribery, Toni, Klose Vfb - Lehmann; Osorio (Mexico international), Tasci, Delpierre, Boka, Khedira, Hitzlsperger, Hilbert, Bastürk, Simak,

 

Jozy Altidore is set to join Spanish second division club Deportivo Xerez on loan, but anything beyond that looks unlikely.

Villarreal general manager Jose Manuel Llaneza revealed to Spanish daily AS on Friday that Altidore's potential transfer to Xerez won't be happening because neither Altidore or Villarreal head coach Manuel Pellegrini wanted it to happen.

Jozy Altidore's loan move to Spanish second division leaders Deportivo Xerez is now official, a source close to Altidore confirmed on Friday.

Altidore joined his new club today for the start of a half-season loan that should afford him the opportunity for much more playing time than he has been receiving with Villarreal.

[Photo: Digitalsport] I want another day off - my first official whine of 2009. #1 - Joining the likes of Bobby Boswell and Freddy Adu, Vålerenga keeper Troy Perkins now has a blog up at the club's official website. In this edition, he talks about spending the holidays in Norway. Of course, that pic above is a bit ironic considering Perkins will report to the Home Depot Center in California

[Photo: Bildbyrån] I know, it's now three of the last five posts... shut up, life is busy! #1 - A few heads up on stuff I've dropped at Soccer365 in the last 24 hours or so: you can now find one 2008 All-American Squad headed by Hammarby forward Charlie Davies (I hope everyone likes the twist), one talk with USMNT defender Danny Califf and one thumbs up report from recent injury returnee

I was going to do a new Top 5 today, but I woke up feeling overly crummy. Instead, I will focus my meager lever of energy chasing transfer leads. I hope to be in and out of this post all day, but let's start slow... My Turkish birdie scored on the Bobby Boswell tip, and now he says that's all but a done deal.

U.S. star Landon Donovan has opened his Bavarian account, capping Bayern Munich's 3-1 friendly decision over Jeddah with a smooth turn-and-finish from 18. Enjoy the full highlights (Donovan's goal play starts at 5:13 if you're in a hurry for now). And as a bonus, an extended look at his debut against Al-Jazira the other night (be warned: this clip has LOUD electronic music.