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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.

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.

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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.

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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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.

U.S. World Cup striker Edson Buddle has been in Europe for most of the winter, in search of a big payday after finishing out his MLS contract with the Los Angeles Galaxy.

He has found that payday, and it has taken him to Germany.

Buddle is set to sign with German second division side FC Ingolstadt, sources told SBI on Saturday evening.

Eric Lichaj...

If only we had asked the right question at the beginning of the interview. That question: "Eric, are you a fan of interviews?"

Because, the conclusion of our conversation with Aston Villa defender Eric Lichaj went something like this, "Anything we missed Eric? Any questions we should have asked?

In his second appearance back from an injury, Rangers midfielder Maurice Edu made a fine individual play to slam home the capper in a 4-0 win over hapless Hamilton. We've got full highlights with some club commentary, but if you're in a rush, Mo's goal play starts at about the 5:40 mark.And no, the Cut of the Day is not actually me on guitar - just some dude I found with the same name and a

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Jermaine Jones needed to escape the doghouse at Schalke 04 quickly, and now he's heading to a place where he will be able to play as well as work on his English.

Jones has had his loan move to Premier League side Blackburn go through, meaning he will join fellow U.

After being sidelined in recent weeks with a knee injury, American midfielder Maurice Edu showed just how healthy he is on Saturday, when he delivered this beautiful goal for Rangers.

Enjoy:

Just days after Jermaine Jones made the move from the German Bundesliga to the English Premier League, now comes word a U.S. teammate of Jones could be joining him in the EPL.

Sunderland is lining up a transfer bid for U.S. World Cup midfielder Michael Bradley. The Black Cats are believed to be looking for a potential replacement for Lee Cattermole, who is battling a back injury and is drawing transfer interest from the likes of Liverpool, and Bradley could be just the player to solidify the midfield for Steve Bruce's side.

U.S. national team striker Jozy Altidore was handed a rare start for Spanish power Villarreal, but he couldn't keep his squad from being knocked out of the Copa Del Rey quarterfinals after a 3-0 loss to Sevilla.

Altidore played 62 minutes, and showed some glimpses, but struggled to make an impact as the left forward in a 4-3-3 attack.

Alright, I'm being lazy while so many of you are at work. I'm off my ass now.We're in the 20th minute, Twente up on their derby rivals 1-0 on a Marc Janko goal (4') and our man Gooch is playing left back.Yes, LEFT back. Twente have an injury crisis at the back right now - only not in the center.Gimme a moment to get the line-ups to ya, but here we go.

Oguchi Onyewu's drought of playing club-level soccer has come to an end.

Onyweu played 90 minutes in his first match with FC Twente since being loaned to the club from AC Milan, with whom he hadn't played since September, 2009.

Twente defeated Heracles, 5-0, behind four goals from Marc Janko.

By MIKE NASTRI

Japan slipped by Qatar 3-2 in the quarterfinals of the Asian Cup behind a Masahiko Inoha game winner.

The Kashima Antlers midfielder jumped on a loose ball in front of net and slotted home the stoppage time winner. Shinji Kagawa added two goals in the effort for the Blue Samurai.

The injury that forced American defender Oguchi Onyewu to leave Wednesday's FC Twente match against PSV Eindhoven has turned out to not be serious.

According to SBI's Avi Creditor, who spoke to Onyewu on Thursday, Onyewu suffered a muscle injury in his rib cage that will require some rest and rehab, but he isn't expected to be sidelined for an extended period of time.

By FRANCO PANIZO

Brad Guzan started 2011 by doing something he did little of last year: he started a match.

Having completed a one-month loan to Hull City, Guzan made his first start at the club level since a Sept. 22 Carling Cup match for Aston Villa on Saturday.

Brad Guzan's month-long loan move to Hull City has already produced more playing time for the American goalkeeper in three days than he'd seen in the past three months.

Guzan made five saves to help Hull City post a 3-2 victory against Portsmouth on Monday.

Guzan started and played 90 minutes, making a key late save to preserve the victory.

Jermaine Jones' time in the Schalke 04 doghouse figures to end this month with a likely transfer, and now another German club has emerged as a potential destination for the U.S. national team midfielder.

TSG Hoffenheim is reportedly interested in signing Jones after selling Brazilian Luiz Gustavo to Bayern Munich.

This is the second guest column by Preston Petri

Gerard Houllier, contemplating changes in front of the mesh at Villa Park...while higher-ups likely contemplate his...

Recently, Aston Villa of the Barclays Premier League have followed in the footsteps of the old Fullhamerica teams by integrating former and current USMNT players into their first team fold.

It's not over yet and we still await the clip, but Clint Dempsey has bagged a corner kick header for the middle tally in Fulham's 3-0 lead over West Brom...- Greg Seltzer

Seems like a lot of news for a new year, no?

Lilly ran away from defenders and everyone in the stats department...

• Bigger than MJ....seriously

Kristine Lilly has just announced her retirement from the US Women's National Team this morning after 6,435,943 caps.

[Photo: Gary Bogdon/ESPN]I am still trying my ass off to get the full details, but Benfica outcast Freddy Adu is auditioning with second Bundesliga survivalists Ingolstadt (who've also been linked with Kenny Cooper this week).I say 'trying' because no one at the club - and I mean, NO one - is answering a phone.

Several FC Twente-related websites are claiming that a six-month loan plus purchase option deal for AC Milan defender Oguchi Onyewu has been completed, some going so far as to say the club have confirmed this.However, both Twente and Gooch's agent have told me this is not done (though I get the impression it could be soon).

By FRANCO PANIZO

Eddie Johnson has been receiving sporadic minutes with Fulham as of late, but this weekend's FA Cup action may be just what he needs in order to receive a start.

Fulham take on League One club Peterborough United, and that could give Johnson an opportunity to get his first start since early October.

Zenit St. Petersburg forward Eugene Starikov has been added to the USMNT camp roster, along with U-20 "transfer" Juan Agudelo.Word.- Greg Seltzer

[Photo: Sky Sports]As promised, the reel from Jonathan Spector's FA Cup winner for West Ham on Saturday...UPDATE: Hmm. Some sort of embed code problem. Matty has the goods, though.- Greg Seltzer

Let's catch us both up on some happenings from the past two days:

• Anyone got a pretzel?

Brat-City!

Multiple reports have Edson Buddle en route to Germany to sign a deal with Bundesliga 2 side FC Ingolstadt. Quite an American contingent has recently traipsed through the Bavarian side.

By FRANCO PANIZO

Jonathan Spector's time at West Ham United may be numbered, but the U.S. national team defender is doing his best to make sure he leaves with a bang.

Spector continued his cup heroics this weekend, scoring the winner in West Ham's 2-0 victory over Barnsley in the third round of the FA Cup.

BY ADAM SERRANO

CARSON, CALIF -- Eugene Starikov's journey has been a winding road that is not typical among American soccer players. A search for soccer success that has taken him from the heat of Central Florida to the chill of Siberia and finally to the sunny fields of Carson, California.

Eric Lichaj...

If only we had asked the right question at the beginning of the interview. That question: "Eric, are you a fan of interviews?"

Because, the conclusion of our conversation with Aston Villa defender Eric Lichaj went something like this, "Anything we missed Eric? Any questions we should have asked?

In a much rumored move that is now official, US defender Oguchi Onyewu heads back to the Eredivisie to join FC Twente on loan through the remainder of the season from AC Milan

Onyewu, 28 and coming off an injury plagued 2010, will be rejoining manager Michel Preud'homme who we last played for at Standard Leige before his Milan move that saw the defender get but one game in the Champion's League for the Serie A leaders.

[Animated GIF: NED1/BigSoccer legend Johan Derksen]Finally, the Eredivisie has another American - if only for six months. I just spoke to new FC Twente loan defender Oguchi Onyewu, and you can see what he said over at MLSS shortly.So... who wants to know why it took so long to complete the deal? From what a birdie told me, Lens tried to hijack the loan move this weekend.

You may or may not have heard about how Évian keeper Quentin Westberg stared down French champs Marseille in a 3-1 Coupe de France upset on Sunday. Well, either way, I got a quick word with the Ligue 2 club's #2 and we have the highlight reel. Please do note how his terrific outlet boot provides an "NHL assist" on the game-winner.

Herculez Gomez: Pachuca

CREDIT: Conrad Hinojosa, Conrado R Hinojosa, Javier Leija

Era el momento más dificil pensando en un ángulo para nuestra conversación con Herculez Gomez pero despues de pensar eso, nomas me reí. En esta entrevista, Herculezy yo "discutimos" con qué futbolista se compara (yo creo que es Solomon Kalou), Herculez me dice que no puede decír con quien se compara (si hay uno).

Herculez Gomez for Pachuca...

I had the hardest time coming up with angle for our in-depth conversation with Herculez Gomez below and then I chuckled. In the interview, Herculez and I "debate" what player his game is most like. I suggesting Salomon Kalou and that's not really a great one. He suggesting.