As I readied to trek over to AZ training for Jozy Altidore's first session last Friday, I finally came to a sad conclusion after so much denial: my camera is old and crap.Fortunately, there was a nice fan who regularly snaps photos at the ground. She mentioned that the players often ask her for shots, so I asked if she'd be willing to share some with the folks back in America monitoring Jozy.

Michael Bradley's time with Aston Villa is over.

According to Bradley's agent, New York-based representative Ron Waxman, Bradley will not be returning to Aston Villa next season.

He spent a half season on loan with Villa, but played sparingly in a crowded central midfield under former Villa manager Gerard Houlier.

It was a fight that we didn't hear many details about, but given the players involved, it figured to be a serious scuffle.

Now we know just how serious.

Just days after the one-year anniversary of the Oguchi Onyewu-Zlatan Ibrahimovic fight, details have surfaced about the highly-publicized brawl that left one of the combatants with a broken rib.

By the way, ref: Worst. PK call. Ever.- Greg Seltzer

Rizespor playamker Freddy Adu scored from close range mere seconds after entering the match in 56 minutes, but it was not enough to avoid a 2-1 road defeat. Clip when I find one...- Greg Seltzer

photo by Andrew Katsampes/ISIphotos.com

By FRANCO PANIZO

Jonathan Spector has spent the last five years with West Ham United, but his time with the club appears to have come to a end.

Spector is officially a free agent after failing to agree to new a deal with West Ham, which will be attempting to gain promotion to the Premiership next season.

Photo by ISIPhotos.com

With January here, the winter transfer season is upon us and while the moves of big European stars will rule the headlines, there are a bunch of American players in dire need of loans or transfers this month.

You know it's not an ideal trend.

A report dropped late last night the Egypt were set to interview three candidates for their vacant manager job, including erstwhile USMNT boss Bob Bradley. I have now confirmed this with the EFA, and have been told that Bradley is their first choice. I'll have a proper report up at MLSS once the fine folks in New York arrive at the editorial offices.

By FRANCO PANIZO

It was a topsy-turvy weekend for the Americans Abroad contingent, and no player may have illustrated that more than Maurice Edu.

Having missed out on last week's U.S. men's national team friendly against Mexico with an injury, Edu recovered enough to earn a start in Rangers' 2-0 win against Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

Clint Dempsey keeps re-writing the record books.

A few weeks after setting the single-season goal record for an American in the Premier League, Dempsey scored twice in Fulham's 3-0 victory over Bolton Wednesday to become the club's all-time leading goal scorer in the Premier League era with 33.

Ingolstadt forward Edson Buddle toys with the defenders, the keeper and the pitch on this equalizer.- Greg Seltzer

While we wait for my MLSS report to be published, I'll just give you all the lowdown on Alejandro Bedoya's Rangers deal (work permit pending). It is a three-year contract to join when his Örebro deal expires this winter. I've asked, and both his agent and the club are feeling confident he can win a UK Home Office rubber stamp on appeal.

photo by Howard C. Smith/ISIphotos.com

Eddie Johnson has more to worry about than just finding a new club.

Johnson was involved in an incident earlier this week after his wife, Janelle, rammed her car into his rental after seeing him at a Florida hotel with another woman, according to a deputy's report.

By FRANCO PANIZO

On a day when a host of Americans Abroad had first-leg games in the playoff round of the UEFA Europa League, Clint Dempsey had the best performance with a 90-minute outing in which he bagged a brace.

Dempsey scored the last two goals in Fulham's 3-0 victory against Dnipro, likely assuring the Cottagers' passage to the next round.

By FRANCO PANIZO

Tim Howard, Everton and Liverpool aren't too far from the relegation zone, and this weekend's Merseyside Derby could determine which team continues to fight for safety for the remainder of the season and which starts to climb the table.

Howard and Everton travel to Liverpool on Sunday in one of the marque match-ups of the weekend.

Former Los Angeles Galaxy striker Edson Buddle got his European career off to a great start on Friday, scoring a goal in FC Ingolstadt's 1-1 draw vs. Duisburg.

Buddle started and played 88 minutes and looked to give relegation-threatened Ingolstadt a big boost with his late goal, but Duisburg found a late equalizer to spoil Buddle's debut.

Photo by ISIPhotos.com

After being a regular starter for Borussia Moenchengldbach for the better part of two and a half seasons, U.S. national team midfielder Michael Bradley days with the relegation-threatened German club appear numbered.

Bradley has come off the bench in Moenchengladbach's past two matches, with rumors swirling about clubs interested in his services.

Don't don't don't don't! Bình Dương's Lee Nguyen scored twice from restarts, including the late winner from a devilish corner kick, to key a 4-3 win over Thanh Hóa.Side note: Isaac Acuna also scored again this weekend, but his Mexico call-up seems set to pull him out of our pool. Of course, if he turns it down, I'll go back to putting him up at NSC.

I have a Top 5 USMNT v Parguay Afterthoughts coming in a bit (translation: after I cook/eat dinner). For now, let's just make sure everyone is caught up on my latest output elsewhere...- Earnie Stewart reacts to his HOF selection- Postcard From Europe: new Osnabrück boss Joe Enochs- My USMNT v Paraguay Player Ratings- All that's left to play for with Americans Abroad, Pt 1- An international break

Things will probably be a bit light from me over the next couple weeks. I actually have some cool stuff to post, but time is the essence as there's a whole lot of regular life going on at the moment. Nevertheless, we will soon be adding a new contributor and I'd have to be a total jerkface to not dishing up the weekly fix.

I am still trying to round out full reports for MLSS on these two (and other) items, but why not go ahead and crank up the ol' transfer Nugget-a-tron 3000 for season?I was told last week that Bursaspor are trying to land Jozy Altidore from Villarreal on a permanent deal. This finally hit the Turkish tabloids, so I figured it was safe to reveal as much.

Photo by Howard C. Smith/ISIphotos.com

New president of AS Roma, Boston-based Thomas DiBenedetto, is making changes at his new club.

Reports abound say that DiBenedetto will appoint Walter Sabatini as the new sporting director, and after that, he is apparently turning his attention to bringing an American star over to Italy.

Photo by ISIphotos.com

Freddy Adu has had his share of ups and downs throughout his seven years as a professional soccer player. There were the highs of signing with MLS and Benfica, and enjoying success with the Under-20 national team, but there have also been lows, like bouncing around on a string of unsuccessful loan spells.

Update:

What's changed since we did this piece below in March:

• The Resurgence of Stan Petrov at Aston Villa

The skinny: After coming back from injury, the captain increasingly found the pitch for Villa as they navigated away from relegation waters.

Clint Dempsey is ready to have a homecoming of sorts this weekend as he returns to Gillette Stadium for Saturday's USA-Spain friendly. The U.S. national team star returns to the town where his professional career began after completing what is easily the best season of his professional career.

Both seniors teams are set for big tourneys after the weekend action. World Cup-bound ladies first...Next, we'll check in with a Motor City Studio 90, listen to a few of our boys talk Gold Cup, catch the latest USMNT In England episode with Stu and enjoy a sublimely titled indivudal highlight reel of Michael Bradley against Spain.

photo by ISIphotos.com

By FRANCO PANIZO

DaMarcus Beasley signed with Puebla earlier this summer in the hopes of reviving his club career, and that challenge begins for him this weekend.

Puebla opens its Apertura campaign on Saturday against Atlas, and Beasley will hope to make his first start for the club.

Photo by ISIPhotos.com

American striker Herculez Gomez has developed a reputation in Mexico for stepping up late in matches and delivering vital goals. Pachuca learned this when Gomez played for 'Los Tuzos' last season, and on Friday night Gomez reminded Pachuca what it lost when it sold Gomez to Tecos earlier this summer.

photo by Florian Eisele/ISIphotos.com

By FRANCO PANIZO

If you came away from the U.S. men's national team friendlies wanting to see more of Fabian Johnson, you'll likely get your chance on Sunday.

Johnson should make his way back into TSG 1899 Hoffenheim's lineup when it takes on relegation-threatened Hamburg SV.

BY ADAM SERRANO

Ryan Miller's name isn't one many would have expected to receive a U.S. national team call-up a month ago, but considering how far he has come in his career over the past two years, nothing should come as too much of a surprise.

After a frustrating fall spent watching AC Milan matches from the sidelines (and more often from the stands), U.S. national team defender Oguchi Onyewu is set to make his league debut with FC Twente today against Heracles (12:45pm).

Onyewu has made the move to the Dutch Eredivisie on loan, where he will be re-united with his former Standard Liege manager, Michel Preud'homme.

I don't want to kick a good man while he's down, but how do you make £40,000 a week and end up £5million in debt? Isn't Friedel supposed to be good at saving? [cue rimshot] But seriously folks, The Mirror has all the details.

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Photo by ISIPhotos.com

American midfielder Freddy Adu's long and winding path through Europe has taken him to Turkey.

According to Richard Motzkin, his agent, Adu is set to move to Turkish second division club Rizespor on loan. Portuguese club Benfica, which bought Adu from Real Salt Lake in 2007, still owns Adu's contract.

photo by John Dorton/ISIphotos.com

By FRANCO PANIZO

World Cup qualifying for the U-20 World Cup is fast approaching, and one American who is currently helping his cause to make the United States' roster is Bobby Wood.

Having recently been promoted to TSV 1860 Munich's first team, Wood made his professional debut against MSV Duisburg on Saturday.

I will update this post through the day. I have several pots boiling on the stove, but let's start this day with one small sample taste, shall we?- I have learned that Fulham forward Eddie Johnson has at least two Championship loan suitors. And not much more yet, but I'm on it. I will add, though, that I think it's a swell idea.

Your top 5 games for Americans to watch this weekend:

(And when we say to watch that doesn't mean an American has to be playing just that we're suggesting you check out the game if you're around some HD in the States.)

It's been mostly "hold the applause" for Everton this year.

By FRANCO PANIZO

FA Cup action resumes this weekend, and with it could come a tasty match-up involving two American midfielders who are both in the midst of strong seasons.

Clint Dempsey and Stuart Holden could square off as Fulham hosts Bolton Wanderers with a spot in the quarterfinals on the line.

By FRANCO PANIZO

If Hull City ends up getting promoted to the Premiership at season's end, the club might point to Brad Guzan's performance against Coventry City as one of key points of the season.

Having just joined Hull on loan for a second time this season, Guzan made his way back into the club's starting lineup on Saturday.

photo by Chris Brunskill/ISIphotos.com

Stuart Holden's first full season with Bolton Wanderers has been going as well as he probably could have hoped for, but that season has prematurely come to a close.

Holden will be sidelined for about six months with the knee injury picked up in Bolton Wanderers' weekend loss to Manchester United, Bolton announced on its website on Monday.

photo by Michael Janosz/ISIphotos.com

By FRANCO PANIZO

The U.S. U-20 men's national team is one win away from reaching this summer's World Cup, and one player who could be on the team that isn't right now is Joshua Gatt. The 19-year-old attacker made that more likely with another start for Molde FK this weekend.