by FRANCO PANIZO

World Cup qualifying is in the rear-view mirror, and for the Americans Abroad that means it is time to get back into club soccer.

After missing international duty due to an ankle injury, Tim Howard should be healthy enough to start for Everton in possibly the most intriguing match of the weekend when the Toffees host Manchester United, Howard's former club.

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by FRANCO PANIZO

World Cup qualifying is in the rear-view mirror, and for the Americans Abroad that means it is time to get back into club soccer.

After missing international duty due to an ankle injury, Tim Howard should be healthy enough to start for Everton in possibly the most intriguing match of the weekend when the Toffees host Manchester United, Howard's former club.

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It was a triple killing -- three goals in eight minutes that easily saw off the U.S. challenge in Aarhus. Friendlies tend to spawn more overreactions than calm, logical analysis simply because most American soccer fans expect to be better than they really are.

From the distant perspective of a TV screen carrying the international feed, the defensive collapse was a frustrating exercise that you'd rather not see.

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The United States traveled to play Denmark for their second friendly of the international break. They lost to Slovakia 0-1 on Saturday and were looking to get a result on Wednesday's match. Here's a recap of the match along with video highlights.

Denmark beats the United States 3-1 Video Highlights

The United States did not come out strong as Denmark had most of the possession and chances early.

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2 - Jonathan Spector 3 - Carlos Bocanegra 4 - Michael Bradley 5 - Benny Feilhaber 7 - Stuart Holden 12 - Jonathan Bornstein 13 - Ricardo Clark 15 - Jimmy Conrad 17 - Jozy Altidore 18 - Brad Guzan 19 - Robbie Rogers 22 - Frankie Hejduk 25 - Clarence Goodson 28 - Dax McCarty 32 - Jeff Cunningham 33 - Edgar Castillo 35 - Marcus Hahnemann 36 - Eddie Johnson Click to continue reading...

1. Another Revamp: A lot is being asked of the squad in camp, needing a quick reshuffle and integration of players from Slovakia to Denmark. Clint Dempsey and Steve Cherundolo started against Slovakia but won't be available against Denmark. Cherundolo's absence in particular means reshuffling the defense. Click to continue reading...

Edgar Castillo fue convocado de nuevo por Bradley, técnico de los Estados Unidos para el partido de éste miércoles ante Dinamarca, en Aarhus.

Edgar debió de haberse presentado ayer lunes en Dinamarca junto con Stuart Holden y Ricardo Clark jugadores del Dynamo para unirse el grupo que ya está en aquel país.

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With the Houston Dynamo knocked out of the MLS playoffs, Ricardo Clark and Stuart Holden were called in for the friendly against Denmark on Wednesday. Neither are a surprise, having forced their way into the national team setup at this stage in their career. The other two call ups, Jose Francisco Torres and Edgar Castillo were a welcome sight -- though news also came out that Torres declined for personal reasons.

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An injury-riddled, star-lacking USMNT team lost 1-0 to Slovakia over the weekend. I didn't watch, so I don't have much to add.
Seems like a fair result on the road. Here's the tweaked lineup for the upcoming Denmark friendly:

GOALKEEPERS: Brad Guzan, Marcus Hahnemann, Troy Perkins.

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Bob Bradley added four players over the weekend to his roster for the upcoming friendly in Denmark. Ricardo Clark, Stuart Holden, and Edgar Castillo.

José Francisco Torres was initially called into the camp for Denmark and has since been excused for personal reasons.

Steve Cherundolo, Clint Dempsey and Chad Marshall have been released back to their clubs after the USA's 1-0 loss to Slovakia on Nov.

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Edgar Castillo, Stuart Holden, Jose Francisco Torres, and Ricardo Clark were called in. Clint Dempsey, Steve Cherundolo and Chad Marshall have been sent home.

The full squad:

GOALKEEPERS: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Marcus Hahnemann (Wolverhampton), Troy Perkins (Valerenga)

DEFENDERS: Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Edgar Castillo (Tigres), Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards), Clarence Goodson (IK Start), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus Crew), Heath Pearce (FC Dallas), Jonathan Spector (West Ham)

MIDFIELDERS: Michael Bradley (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo), Benny Feilhaber (AGF Aarhus), Stuart Holden (Houston Dynamo), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Dax McCarty (FC Dallas), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew), José Francisco Torres (Pachuca)

FORWARDS: Jozy Altidore (Hull City), Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids), Jeff Cunningham (FC Dallas), Eddie Johnson (Fulham)

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Edgar Castillo has been called into his first U.S. national team camp.

The New Mexico native and former Mexican national team player was one of four new players called into the U.S. men's national team camp ahead of Wednesday's friendly against Denmark.

Midfielders Stuart Holden and Jose Francisco Torres were also called in, as was Ricardo Clark.

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Edgar Castillo has been called into his first U.S. national team camp.

The New Mexico native and former Mexican national team player was one of four new players called into the U.S. men's national team camp ahead of Wednesday's friendly against Denmark. He will be joining the U.S. team for the first time since the new FIFA rule that allowed him to change national team affiliations from Mexico to the United States.

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The USMNT list for the Aarhus party:G: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Marcus Hahnemann (Wolverhampton), Troy Perkins (VÃ¥lerenga )D: Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Edgar Castillo (Tigres), Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards), Clarence Goodson (IK Start), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus Crew), Heath Pearce (FC Dallas), Jonathan Spector (West Ham United)M: Michael Bradley (Borussia Click to continue reading...

A Slovakian team that was (apparently)Â good in European qualifying, but not well ranked by FIFA, Â played a defensive, counter-attacking game against the USA in a partially filled stadium, on a pretty ugly field and won 1-0 on a weak penalty call. Â Â Not what you call must-see-TV, so it is probably good that not many people saw it.

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Dont forget: We'll find out who the Galaxy play next Sunday at MLS Cup in Seattle - Real Salt Lake or Chicago Fire - at 5 p.m. on Fox Soccer Channel.

(AP Photo)

A below-strength U.S. team lost 1-0 to Slovakia today in Bratislava, Chivas USA's Jonathan Bornstein being called for what was a very harsh penalty decision in the 26th minute (I think this is the moment, above, he 'brought down" Vladimir Weiss).

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1. Guzan In Goal: Brad Guzan is coming off a superb performance in the League Cup for Aston Villa. On October 27th against Sunderland, Guzan stopped a penalty in regulation and then stopped three more in the shootout. Though hopefully he won't need to save any penalties on Saturday, he could use that big moment where he is the difference. Click to continue reading...

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With the World Cup inching ever closer, it's just about time to stop nibbling around the edges of the U.S. depth chart conversations and start biting into the chewy center of that little candy bunny.

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Marcus Hahnemann is back in the US MNT roster with his new ride (hint: it's his bike don't get you hopes up for a pimped out 1970s army tank or something), but first, the best news of the week from The AP:

U.S. forward Charlie Davies was released from a Washington hospital on Tuesday nearly a month after a car accident killed a fellow passenger.

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Bob Bradley didn't call up those guys with league commitments in the MLS playoffs, which explains why a few familiar names aren't included.

GOALKEEPERS: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Marcus Hahnemann (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Troy Perkins (Valerenga)
DEFENDERS: Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover), Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City), Clarence Goodson (IK Start), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus), Chad Marshall (Columbus), Heath Pearce (FC Dallas), Jonathan Spector (West Ham)
MIDFIELDERS: Michael Bradley (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Clint Dempsey (Fulham), Benny Feilhaber (Aarhus), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Dax McCarty (FC Dallas), Robbie Rogers (Columbus)
FORWARDS: Jozy Altidore (Hull), Conor Casey (Colorado), Jeff Cunningham (FC Dallas), Eddie Johnson (Fulham)

How about that EJ/Cunningham forward pairing. Click to continue reading...

Chivas USA's Jonathan Bornstein and Sacha Kljestan, as well as former Goat Brad Guzan, were named to the 22-player U.S. squad today for games Saturday against Slovakia (10 a.m. Fox Soccer Channel and Galavision) and Denmark four days later (no TV by the sound of it).

From U.S. Soccer::

The U.

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USMNT boss Bob Bradley has selected 22 players to gather in Bratislava to prepare for Saturday's friendly with fellow World Cup qualifier Slovakia.As you can see, I pegged much of the roster, with a few notable exceptions (like Tim Howard and the Mexican-based guys). However, I also expect some changes to the roster before the Denmark match that follows four days later. Click to continue reading...

US Soccer has announced the roster for the upcoming friendlies vs. Slovakia (11/14) and Denmark (11/18).

GK: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Marcus Hahnemann (Wolverhampton), Troy Perkins (Valerenga).
DEF: Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover), Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards), Clarence Goodson (Start), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus Crew), Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew), Heath Pearce (FC Dallas), Jonathan Spector (West Ham).

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The USA plays 2 international friendly matches in the next 10 days.
Matches & Scores:
-Sat Nov 14
Slovakia v USA
-Wed Nov 18
Denmark v USA
Here is the roster:
G:
Brad Guzan - Aston Villa
Marcus Hahnemann - Wolverhampton
Troy Perkins - Valerenga
D:
Carlos Bocanegra - Rennes
Jonathan Bornstein - Chivas USA
Steve Cherundolo - Hannover
Jimmy Conrad - Kansas City Wizards
Clarence Goodson - Start
Frankie Hejduk - Columbus Crew
Chad Marshall - Columbus Crew
Heath Pearce - FC Dallas
Jonathan Spector - West Ham
M:
Michael Bradley - Monchengladbach
Clint Dempsey - Fulham
Benny Feilhaber - AGF Aarhus
Sacha Kljestan - Chivas USA
Dax McCarty - FC Dallas
Robbie Rogers - Columbus Crew
F:
Jozy Altidore - Hull City
Conor Casey - Colorado Rapids
Jeff Cunningham - FC Dallas
Eddie Johnson - Fulham
So much for Edgar Castillo's call up. Click to continue reading...

I guess the late season run for FC Dallas helped cash things in for a couple guys as Bob Bradley named a handful of FC Dallas players to his 22-man roster for the Slovakia friendly later this month.

Also the loss of Columbus in the playoffs meant callups for a few Crew players as well.

To me though the big news may be the re-call of Eddie Johnson, someone we haven't seen called into action in a very long time.

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by FRANCO PANIZO

Clint Dempsey has found his scoring touch again, netting in Fulham's previous two league matches, and this weekend he gets a chance to extend that streak against a familiar foe.

Dempsey and Fulham battle Wigan Athletic on Sunday, a team the U.

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The big Zach attack. (AP Photo)

Readers of this blog didn't agree, but Chivas USA's Zach Thornton was named MLS Goalkeeper of the Year today, 11 years after first taking the honor with the Chicago Fire.

That time span between awards was undoubtedly one of the reasons the 34-year-old took the honor, beating out the Galaxy's Donovan Ricketts and Seattle Sounders veteran Kasey Keller (both in their first MLS seasons).

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It seems like the clock had been turned back to 1998 this year as a revival for Chivas USA keeper Zach Thornton took place. It was just 11 seasons ago that Thornton won his first keeper of the year, now he has two as the league announced today that he was named the 2009 Goalkeeper of the Year.

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Let's begin today's stroll about the intarwebs in the land of the vikings... I'm sure everybody has read all the Brit-hype and seen all the mobile phone videos of Brad Guzan walking on water, and that's all well and good--he's the #2 behind Timmy... Click to continue reading...

Tim Howard: under siege these days at Everton.

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Every Tuesday I go out with some buddies to a local (and soccer-friendly, of course) pub.

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_____________________________________________Photo by ISIphotos.comÂ

by FRANCO PANIZO

From tweets to fines to rumored firings, Hull City's Phil Brown and Jozy Altidore have had quite an interesting week, and it gets even more intriguing this weekend.

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Â
                                    Photo by ISIphotos.comÂ

by FRANCO PANIZO

From tweets to fines to rumored firings, Hull City's Phil Brown and Jozy Altidore have had quite an interesting week, and it gets even more intriguing this weekend.

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Sunderland v Aston Villaby gargaton2 Click to continue reading...

Thanks to an NSC reader's diligence (and Spanish), we have a proper video report of ambitious Aston Villa keeper Brad Guzan's lights out display on Wednesday night. I thought it deserved it's own post.- Greg Seltzer Click to continue reading...

Briefly:

*The MLS playoffs begin tonight and Seattle Sounders fans will demonstrate the right way to support a team - by going freaking nuts in the stands. Hope Galaxy and Chivas USA fans are taking note. The Dynamo-Sounders game is on ESPN2 at 7 p.m. Game preview here.

*Incidentally, the U.

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