Brad Friedel, amongst his peers, still going strong at 41 years old

A recent post by Jamie Trecker poses the question will the USA ever win the World Cup? And when will the USA ever produce its own Pele, if ever?

Trecker goes on to say that the USA has always produced top quality goalkeepers, the country's most visible export to overseas leagues in this sport.

USA 2014 World Cup Squad Projection Version 1.5 - The 90th Minute Soccer Blog

It's been a few months since the initial projection and it's changed a bit with several friendlies taking place. Overall, the core of the team remains the same with the final spots still unclear. This projection is of what the team (23 man squad) will be for the World Cup (in 2014) and not during qualifying.

With the transfer window shut, teams across Europe are moving forward with their new parts in place.

Queens Park Rangers' newest signings Djibril Cisse and Taye Taiwo are in the starting lineup for the club's match at Aston Villa, which has Robbie Keane in the starting lineup and Americans Brad Guzan and Eric Lichaj ready on the bench.

photo by ISIphotos.com

By FRANCO PANIZO

The German Bundesliga kicks back into full gear this weekend, and with it could come a direct head-to-head duel between a pair of U.S. men's national team players.

Steve Cherundolo and Fabian Johnson could do battle when Hannover 96 and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim resume their Bundesliga campaigns on Saturday.

"Shay will go back between the sticks and we explained to Brad that our No. 1 goalkeeper is Shay. Brad didn't necessarily agree but Shay is my first-choice goalkeeper. Football is cruel at times, although Brad's been magnificent. It's the first time I've had a chance to see him in high-profile games and I've been really delighted.

What had the potential to be a battle of the Americans ended up not happening, with Brad Guzan giving way to the returning Shay Given in goal for Aston Villa. Tim Howard and Landon Donovan started in the 1-1 draw. Donovan assisted on Victor Anichebe's equalizer, with a pass that probably reminded too many of the Everton faithful why Donovan is such an upgrade for their club.

Inter Milan seems to finally have found its form, and after winning five straight matches and outscoring its last two opponents 9-1 and getting Wesley Sneijder back from injury, the club faces bitter rival and first-place AC Milan with a chance to make a statement in Serie A.

The Milan derby is the highlight of the weekend slate across Europe, one that also includes an Aston Villa-Everton game that will be of interest to U.

Saturday Aston Villa - Everton 12pm - Fox Soccer Potentially a chance to see LA Galaxy teammates Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane face each other at Premier League level, with Keane signing a loan deal with Villa. Assuming Brad Guzan stays in goal for the home team, this is another battle of the American goalkeepers for Tim Howard.

By FRANCO PANIZO

If Brad Guzan retains his spot in Aston Villa's starting lineup this weekend, we are in for a treat.

Guzan and the Villans host Landon Donovan, Tim Howard and Everton on Saturday in arguably the biggest match-up involving Americans this weekend.

Brad Friedel and Tottenham Hotspur welcome Wolverhampton to White Hart Lane, while Brad Guzan and Aston Villa take on the American duo at Everton of Landon Donovan and Tim Howard.

Robbie Keane is returning to the Premier League as a short-term member of Aston Villa. The Los Angeles Galaxy has agreed to loan Keane to Brad Guzan and Eric Lichaj's club and Keane could be playing against the Americans at Everton this weekend. It's a quick trip for Keane, who has spent most of January training with Spurs in London.

photo by Neil Tingle/ISIphotos.com

Shay Given has recovered from his groin injury and has returned to training for Aston Villa, but that does not necessarily mean he is going to supplant Brad Guzan as the Villans' starting goalkeeper.

Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish is keeping his options open in terms of who to start between the goal posts on a permanent basis as a result of Guzan's string of strong performances since filling in for Given since early December.

Though Brad Guzan in goal for Aston Villa was supposed to be a temporary assignment, he has done enough to create a problem for Villa manager Alex McLeish. So much so in fact that McLeish has publicly made it known that his former #1 goalkeeper Shay Given isn't a lock to take the job back. "He has made great progress," McLeish said of Given.

photo by Michael Janosz/ISIphotos.com

By FRANCO PANIZO

A trio of Americans saw the field for one team this weekend, but it is not the trio you might first think of.

Mexican-Americans Edgar Castillo, Joe Corona and Greg Garza received minutes for Club Tijuana in its Clausura opener, a 1-1 draw with Morelia.

It wasn't a bad day for Americans in England as Clint Demspey, Brad Guzan and Landon Donovan impressed in the third round of the FA Cup.

Dempsey continued his impressive goal-scoring form with a hat trick in Fulham's 4-0 victory over Charlton Athletic at Craven Cottage.

Dempsey opened the scoring against the League One leaders in just the eighth minute, taking control of a deflected through ball and beating John Sullivan in Charlton's goal.

Saturday Bristol Rovers - Aston Villa 12pm - Fox Soccer The FA Cup enters the Third Round proper, with Brad Guzan and Eric Lichaj's Villa getting an away date with League Two club Bristol. Part of the fun of the English cup competitions is seeing stadiums that normally don't appear on US television. Memorial Stadium in Horfield, Bristol is mostly standing areas, since Bristol has never been high enough in the English league system to.

The USL Premier Development League has existed since 1995 as the highest amateur soccer level in the United States. The name was changed and tweaked early on but by the time the Chicago Fire entered a team into the league in 2001, it was referred to as what it is referred to today: PDL. Chicago became the first Major League Soccer team to have a PDL team thanks to support from former Fire President & General Manager Peter Wilt and the direction of current Fire Player Development Director & Consultant John Dorn.

Clint Dempsey enjoyed a career year in England in 2011, and he will look to take his first step toward a great 2012 when he and Fulham take on Arsenal in today's slate of English Premier League matches.

Chelsea kicks things off today, hoping to erase the bad taste of a stunning lost to Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

photo by Gerhard Steenkamp/ISIphotos.com

By FRANCO PANIZO

Aston Villa finished 2011 with a big upset victory over Chelsea, and Brad Guzan played a part in making that happen.

In his fifth start of the season, Guzan helped the Villans stun Chelsea, 3-1, on Saturday.

On the last day of 2011, Brad Guzan got his first big result as a starting Premier League goalkeeper. Guzan's Aston Villa beat Chelsea 3-1 at Stamford Bridge. After giving up a 23rd minute penalty, Villa were level five minutes later through a Stephen Ireland goal. Stiliyan Petrov put Villa in front in the 83rd, with Darren Bent scoring three minutes later.

Sir Alex Ferguson celebrates his 70th birthday today and his Manchester United will try to give him a present in the form of a victory and sole possession of first place when the Red Devils take on struggling Blackburn today.

Manchester United pulled even with Manchester City during the most recent set of Premier League matches, but can pull ahead with a victory against a Rovers side that has endured a nightmare season under manager Steve Kean.

Apologies for not producing a killer match preview before this one, but work has been one hateful bitch this week. Anyway, do we really even need to look ahead to this New Year's Eve fixture when we have classic images like the one below?

Yes.

Who: Aston Villa (est.

New Year's Day will usher in 2012 this weekend, but it will also provide us with a loaded menu of English Premier League matches as most of the league pulls off a two-games-in-three-days marathon over the next three days.

Brad Guzan will look to continue his stellar form for Aston Villa when his team travels to London to take on Chelsea on Saturday.

When Aston Villa starting goalkeeper Shay Given went down with an injury in an early December match against Manchester United, Alex McLeish was forced to turn to American backup Brad Guzan, who has been patiently waiting for a starting role in the Premier League ever since joining Villa from Chivas USA in 2008.

Photo by Joe Toth/ISIphotos.com

By FRANCO PANIZO

Clint Dempsey has made quite the statement in 2011, and this weekend will provide him with a chance to finish it in style.

Having enjoyed a career year, Dempsey's final game of 2011 will pit him and Fulham against Norwich City in a match that could see the Cottagers inch closer to the top half of the Premiership table.

Chelsea had championship aspirations heading into the season, but a few stumbles have left the big-spending Blues trailing the Manchester clubs and now stand closer to falling out of top four than challenging for the top spot.

If Chelsea is going to stay ahead of the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool, they will need to beat London rival Fulham in today's Boxing Day clash.

By FRANCO PANIZO

If the Christmas weekend left you starved for soccer, Monday might just be enough to satisfy your hunger.

Nearly a dozen games involving Americans Abroad are scheduled to take place on Boxing Day, including Jonathan Spector's match against his former club, West Ham United.

In Thursday's Premier League game, Brad Friedel was in goal for Spurs in a 1-1 draw with Chelsea. Tottenham went up eight minutes in when Emmanuel Adebayor scored. Chelsea equalized in the 23rd. A tough night on Wednesday for Clint Dempsey and Fulham with Manchester United beating them 5-0 at Craven Cottage.

Photo by ISIphotos.com

With nearly full slates of action in the Premier League, Serie A and Ligue 1 and domestic cup play on the docket as well, plenty is on the line across Europe today.

A number of Americans are in action across the continent, as Clint Dempsey looks to keep his goal-scoring form going at Craven Cottage against Manchester United, while goalkeepers Tim Howard and Brad Guzan aim for clean sheets against Swansea City and Arsenal, respectively.

By FRANCO PANIZO

A week after enduring one of his worst performances of the season, Clint Dempsey responded in a big way.

Dempsey lifted Fulham to victory over Bolton Wanderes on Saturday, scoring a goal and assisting on another in the 2-0 affair. Dempsey found the back of the net with a well-placed header before sending Costa Rican teammate Bryan Ruiz in on goal with a nifty pass.

Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish celebrated his first league win as a manager at Villa Park as first-half goals from Craig Bellamy and Martin Skrtel ensured a comfortable 2-0 victory over Aston Villa.
Bellamy and Skrtel struck inside the first 15 minutes to seal the Reds' fifth away win in the Barclays Premier League this season.

Aston Villa 0-2 Liverpool | Premier League match report

The woodwork continues to frustrate Liverpool and Luis Suárez in particular but this was never going to be one of those days when Kenny Dalglish would be left lamenting the number of times that his side have been denied by the upright or crossbar.

Liverpool head back out on the road, visiting the West Midlands in search of their second consecutive win in league. Success away from Anfield has been easier to come by, with Kenny Dalglish's squad winning more at opposition venues than they have at home. Alex McLeish's squad are level on points with Norwich City in ninth and have earned eleven of their nineteen points at Villa Park despite losing two of their last three.

Zak Whitbread looks for his second start in a row in Norwich City's game against Tim Howard's Everton, while Brad Guzan and Aston Villa host Liverpool.

By FRANCO PANIZO

Zak Whitbread is on the brink of doing something that he's only done once this season: Start consecutive games.

A week after returning to Norwich City's lineup in a surprise victory over Newcastle, Whitbread appears set to start for the Canaries when they play Tim Howard and Everton.

Stefan Frei is the latest Major League Soccer standout to join Liverpool FC for offseason training. The Toronto FC goalkeeper will spend one week practicing with the Reds, according to TorontoFC.ca.
"This is a great opportunity for Stefan and we were happy to give him permission to train with a historic club like Liverpool," Toronto FC manager Aron Winter said.

FC Barcelona won the match-up of the weekend, if not the season to date, with a thrilling 3-1 victory against arch-rival Real Madrid. Goals from Alexis Sanchez, Xavi and Cesc Fabregas helped the reigning champions erase Real Madrid's three-point hold on first place in La Liga (though Real Madrid still has a game in hand).

By FRANCO PANIZO

There were several noteworthy performances from the Americans Abroad contingent this weekend, but none was better than the match put in by Oguchi Onyewu.

Onyewu was the only American to find the back of the net this past weekend, as he hit the winner in Sporting CP's 1-0 victory over CD Nacional de Madeira.

Marc Albrighton and Stiliyan Petrov produced the vital goals to deliver Villa's first away win of the season, but Ivan Klasnic was able to prevent Brad Guzan earning a clean sheet on his first Premiership start.

It was a much improved performance during the first half, and fans crying out for a 4-4-2 system will be quick to point out that was the case today with Marc Albrighton on the right and Charles N'Zogbia on the left.

Brad Guzan looks for his first start of the season in Aston Villa's clash with Bolton, while Tim Howard and Everton travel to London to play Arsenal.