By FRANCO PANIZO

The winter transfer window closed this past Tuesday, and a pair of Americans who secured moves during it will be looking to make their debuts this weekend.

George John and Robbie Rogers could make their first appearances abroad for West Ham United and Leeds United, respectively, as the Championship gets back into a full weekend swing.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

photo by Howard C. Smith/ISIphotos.com

By FRANCO PANIZO

It must be Thanksgiving weekend, because there are some tasty match-ups involving the Americans Abroad contingent this weekend.

Michael Bradley and Chievo Verona have one of the marquee games, as they take on AC Milan on Sunday.

By FRANCO PANIZO

Domination.

That's one of the words that can best be used to describe Rangers' undefeated season, a season that Carlos Bocanegra, Maurice Edu and the rest of the club will attempt to build on when they face Dundee United on Saturday.

Currently nine points clear of second-place Motherwell with an 11-2-0 record, Rangers should take another step towards claiming a fourth straight Scottish Premier League title if it can live up to its expectations against Dundee.

Yeesh, Frank Simek is seriously unlucky. And I was preparing to file a report today about how he'd gotten back to training.Now starting over, we both are...- Greg Seltzer

By FRANCO PANIZO

Michael Bradley may not currently be a starter on the U.S. men's national team, but he'll have a big chance to show head coach Jurgen Klinsmann that he's ready for more minutes.

Bradley and Chievo Verona take on league leader Juventus this weekend in a match that the U.

Anton Peterlin was the only American in action in England during the weekend, as Frank Simek, Mike Grella, Jemal Johnson and Jon-Paul Pittman were all out of action for their respective teams.

By FRANCO PANIZO

Tim Howard and Everton's start to the season has not been a flawless one, but the Toffees could get momentum rolling if they come up with a win in one of the weekend's marquee matches.

Everton hosts Liverpool on Saturday in the first Merseyside derby of the season, and Howard is sure to be tested as he goes up against Luis Suarez, Andy Carroll, Steven Gerrard and the rest of Liverpool's attacking weapons.

By FRANCO PANIZO

Ever since Oguchi Onyewu was inserted into Sporting CP's starting lineup, the club has done something it did only once during the opening month of the season: Win.

Onyewu has helped Sporting CP come out victorious in its last three matches across all competitions, and as a result, he'll likely get the nod again when the club faces Vitoria Setubal.

By FRANCO PANIZO

Carlos Bocanegra may be one of the most experienced players on the U.S. men's national team, but he has likely been seeking advice from Maurice Edu in advance of Rangers' upcoming game.

Bocanegra is likely to get his first taste of the Old Firm rivalry on Sunday, as Rangers is set to face Celtic in the first of three matches between the two teams scheduled this season.

photo by Howard C. Smith/ISIphotos.com

By FRANCO PANIZO

It's been a while since we've seen a U.S. men's national team player play in Serie A, but that looks to change this weekend.

Michael Bradley is set to make his debut Chievo Verona debut on Sunday when the club takes on recently-promoted Novara.

By FRANCO PANIZO

Tim Howard missed out on the Premiership's opening weekend as Everton's game versus Tottenham Hotspur was postponed due to rioting. But the wait to begin the season will end for Howard as he is set to man the pipes against Queens Park Rangers.

By FRANCO PANIZO

English Premier League defenses beware: Clint Dempsey is back and ready to pick up where he last left off.

Coming off a career season, Dempsey will begin his sixth season with Fulham on Saturday as the Cottagers host Aston Villa on the opening weekend of the Premier League season.

By FRANCO PANIZO

Robbie Findley did something on Tuesday that he hasn't done in over a year: score in an official game.

Findley netted his first goal abroad, scoring Nottingham Forest's second goal in a 3-3 Carling Cup draw with Notts County that had to be decided via penalty kicks.

Frank Simek and Carlisle United dropped their opener to Notts County while Jemal Johnson and Southend United picked up three points in a home win over Hereford United

photo by John Todd/ISIphotos.com

By FRANCO PANIZO

Mix Diskerud may not have been called into the U.S. men's national team for its upcoming friendly against Mexico, but he's making quite the case for himself to get the call in September.

Diskerud continued his strong season with Stabaek IF on Friday, hitting the equalizing goal in the club's 2-1 victory over Fredrikstad.

By FRANCO PANIZO

Jozy Altidore's club troubles are well documented, but the opportunity to put it all past him begins this weekend.

Altidore kicks off his first season with AZ Alkmaar on Sunday, and he does so with a grueling test against heavyweight PSV Eindhoven.

USA & Canada Football League XI 2010/2011

In goal I have chosen Brad Guzan (USA) who had a spell on loan at Hull City. Across the back are the quartet Eric Lichaj (Leeds & USA), Zak Whitbread (Norwich City & USA), Frank Simek (Carlisle United & USA) and David Edgar (Burnley & Canada).

USA & Canada Football League XI 2010/2011

In goal I have chosen Brad Guzan (USA) who had a spell on loan at Hull City. Across the back are the quartet Eric Lichaj (Leeds & USA), Zak Whitbread (Norwich City & USA), Frank Simek (Carlisle United & USA) and David Edgar (Burnley & Canada).

As we look forward to Monday's highly anticipated announcement of the 2011 Gold Cup roster, we first take a look back at the make up of the U.S. teams that competed in the previous two editions of the confederation championship. The 2007 team had eight players returning from the 2005 championship-winning squad and went on to defeat Mexico in the final, securing a place in the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup.

By CALEB SONNELAND

American defender Frank Simek has dislocated his elbow after falling awkwardly in his club's home loss to Yeovil Town on Saturday.

The Carlisle United defender has been a rock at the back for the League One side. The injury has yet to be fully assessed, however, Simek was just an hour away from completing every minute of United's season.

photo by Howard C. Smith/ISIphotos.com

By FRANCO PANIZO

If he hasn't already, Clarence Goodson appears to be cementing a starting spot for Brondby IF.

Goodson started his second game of the season for Brondby on Monday, and he helped the club shutout Randers FC, 4-0, with a 90-minute performance.

We ought to give a pat on the back to Frankie Simek, who starred in Carlisle United's Johnstone's Paint Trophy win against Brentford on Sunday and became the first American Wembley cup final winner since Jemal Johnson in 2008, or the first at the new Wembley with an American accent let's say.Frank has always been an impressive performer in my eyes, and could easily have worked at a higher level.

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.

First Star: Frank Simek and Carlisle United lifted the Johnstone's Paint Trophy at Wembley, beating Brentford 1-0. The League Trophy is contested between clubs in League One and League Two. Peter Murphy scored the game's only goal in the 12th minute. Simek went the distance in a game where Carlisle dominated the chances.

It is a quick turnaround for the yanks in England's lower leagues with Frank Simek and Carlisle United hosting Yeovil Town while Mike Grella and Swindon Town welcome in Exeter City.

Frank Simek and Carlisle United dropped another home result, this time to Brentford while Mike Grella and Swindon Town succumbed to League One leaders Brighton.

Frank Simek and Carlisle United welcome in Brentford while Mike Grella and Swindon Town host League One leaders Brighton in a limited slate of weekend English action.

By FRANCO PANIZO

If Eddie Johnson is to end his nine-month scoring drought this weekend, he'll have to do so against a fellow American.

Johnson and cellar-dwellers Preston North End face Hull City and Brad Guzan, who will look to record his third cleansheet for the club.

By FRANCO PANIZO

A familiar face in a new place. That's a recurring theme for the Americans Abroad contingent this weekend.

From Michael Bradley to Eddie Johnson, nearly a handful of Americans will look to make debuts with their respective new clubs.

Bradley could make his Premiership debut on Saturday as Aston Villa faces Fulham.

By FRANCO PANIZO

Clint Dempsey and Fulham may have had a flat showing against Liverpool on Wednesday, but they'll have a chance to quickly erase that from their memories in FA Cup action this weekend.

Fulham hosts Tottenham on Sunday, and Dempsey will look to spark the Cottagers' attack against the likes of Ledley King and Michael Dawson after failing to find the back of the net against Liverpool.

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.

STARTERS
Greg Seltzer at MLSsoccer.com tells us that Jermaine Jones has left Germany and Schalke and signed with Blackburn in England. OK. Not bad.
TEAM USA
Training continues in Carson CA with the young inexperienced USAers as they prepare for next Saturday's game against Chile at the Home Depot Center.

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.

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.

Brad Guzan earned his first win for Hull who downed Portsmouth in the Championship while Carlisle's American duo of Mike Grella and Frank Simek fell to Tranmere Rovers in League One.