The U.S. men's national team's European friendlies are fast approaching and we will soon learn which new faces head coach Bob Bradley will be taking a look at.

Why should we expect to see some new faces? The long term losses of Charlie Davies and Oguchi Onyewu, coupled with the absence of Jay DeMerit, has left serious voids in the squad.

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The U.S. men's national team's European friendlies are fast approaching and we will soon learn which new faces head coach Bob Bradley will be taking a look at.

Why should we expect to see some new faces? The long term losses of Charlie Davies and Oguchi Onyewu, coupled with the absence of Jay DeMerit, has left serious voids in the squad.

Click to continue reading...

Thanks to a singular Premier League fixture and some midweek matches in Mexico, a handful of Americans Abroad saw the pitch on Wednesday.

Two Americans went head-to-head against each other in London, as Brad Friedel's Aston Villa traveled to Upton Park out to pile misery on West Ham and Jonathan Spector.

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Thanks to a singular Premier League fixture and some midweek matches in Mexico, a handful of Americans Abroad saw the pitch on Wednesday.

Two Americans went head-to-head against each other in London, as Brad Friedel's Aston Villa traveled to Upton Park out to pile misery on West Ham and Jonathan Spector.

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Jonathan Spector started the game on the bench for West Ham United, but was on the field within eight minutes as they beat Aston Villa 2-1 at Upton Park. Spector subbed on for injured defender Herita Ilunga, with West Ham saving the offense for late in both halves. Mark Noble put them up from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time, beating Brad Friedel. Click to continue reading...

Jonathan Spector came off the bench in the eighth minute while Brad Friedel was beaten from the penalty spot as the Hammers rode their fortune to three points in midweek action. Click to continue reading...

With play raging on in Europe, Jonathan Spector will face Brad Friedel in the lone Premier League game in midweek. Click to continue reading...

by FRANCO PANIZO

If there was any doubt about Michael Bradley having returned to his top form, he surely killed off that uncertainty this weekend.

Bradley capped off his impressive October on Saturday, starting and going the distance in Borussia Moenchengladbach's 3-2 victory over Hamburg SV.

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by FRANCO PANIZO

If there was any doubt about Michael Bradley having returned to his top form, he surely killed off that uncertainty this weekend.

Bradley capped off his impressive October on Saturday, starting and going the distance in Borussia Moenchengladbach's 3-2 victory over Hamburg SV.

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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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                                    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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Jozy, less tweeting, more football.

It was a weekend with mixed results for the Americans who apply their trade in the Premier League. All U.S. players who saw action or are on current rosters were only able to manage a point with their respected sides.

Fulham striker Clint Dempsey came out on top of the U.

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by FRANCO PANIZO

It took three months and nine games, but Clint Dempsey finally scored his first goal of the Premiership season.

Dempsey netted in the 68th minute of Fulham's match against Manchester City, heading home the equalizer from 10 yards out.

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by FRANCO PANIZO

It took three months and nine games, but Clint Dempsey finally scored his first goal of the Premiership season.

Dempsey netted in the 68th minute of Fulham's match against Manchester City, heading home the equalizer from 10 yards out.

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It's been seven matches since West Ham last tasted the joy of victory. Struggling from defensive lapses, visibly lacking goalscoring power and down on luck, West Ham faces a difficult London derby against "le magnifique" Arsenal. To hope for victory would be bordering on impossible but there is reason to be bullish. Click to continue reading...

by FRANCO PANIZO

The scoring drought is over.

After numerous scoreless weekends, the Americans Abroad killed the near month-long streak as two players found the back of the net this weekend.

Michael Bradley, who scored midweek in the U.S.

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by FRANCO PANIZO

The scoring drought is over.

After numerous scoreless weekends, the Americans Abroad killed the near month-long streak as two players found the back of the net this weekend.

Michael Bradley, who scored midweek in the U.S.

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Jogaram pelas eliminatórias da Copa do Mundo, em San Pedro Sula, no Estádio Olimpico, para um público de 37.000 pessoas, as seleções de Honduras (35º no Mundial Sub-20) e Estados Unidos (11º no ranking da FIFA).
Antes desse jogo, as 2 seleções jogaram:
Eliminatórias Copa do Mundo: 6 jogos, 1 vitória de Honduras, 1 empate, 4 vitórias dos Estados Unidos, 8 gols de Honduras e 11 gols dos Estados Unidos. Click to continue reading...

by FRANCO PANIZO

The injury bug has bitten a number of the Americans Abroad recently, but there are still plenty of healthy players to keep an eye on this weekend as club soccer resumes.

Jose Francisco Torres is one of those players. After showing well as a sub in the U.

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by FRANCO PANIZO

The injury bug has bitten a number of the Americans Abroad recently, but there are still plenty of healthy players to keep an eye on this weekend as club soccer resumes.

Jose Francisco Torres is one of those players. After showing well as a sub in the U.

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Courtesy of the Guardian... I have little doubt that this will end up in one of Ives' caption-that-photo posts, so I'll just do a preemptive strike and get it out there a bit early to give you a head start (should you be the type to participate... Click to continue reading...

Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano has been a bastion for the Catrachos

If representation in the world leagues were a criterion for winning, the Hondurans would be a strong match for the US. Unlike Jozy Altidore, Jonathan Spector, and Oguchi Onyewu, these players also get to make the starting squad.

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The U.S. men's national team has played Honduras three times this year, but none of the previous meetings will be as tough for the Americans as the fourth meeting, this Saturday in San Pedro Sula.

It won't just be the toughest because it is in Honduras, but because Honduras will be featuring a strong side than any the Americans have faced this year.

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The U.S. men's national team has played Honduras three times this year, but none of the previous meetings will be as tough for the Americans as the fourth meeting, this Saturday in San Pedro Sula.

It won't just be the toughest because it is in Honduras, but because Honduras will be featuring a strong side than any the Americans have faced this year.

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Each season more and more Americans are playing abroad in European leagues. Clint Dempsey remains a solid contributor for Fulham in the English Premier League and Tim Howard is still a top goalkeeper for Everton. Oguchi Onyewu is now with AC Milan in the Italian Serie A and Charlie Davies has joined Sochaux in the French Ligue 1.

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Early in Bob Bradley's tenure it appeared like the US was going to be a side that utilized width and the quality runs of its fullbacks to stimulate an attack. But as time has worn on, Bradley's ideal playing style has been limited by a lack of depth in the player pool, the falling off of certain key individuals, and the general lack of depth being produced by our national team programs.

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Bob Bradley announced his 22-man roster for the upcoming World Cup Qualifiers against Honduras and Costa Rica last week. Here it is in case you haven't seen it yet:

GOALKEEPERS (2): Brad Guzan (Aston Villa: 5/3 SO), Tim Howard (Everton: 14/8 SO)

DEFENDERS (7): Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes: 24/3), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA, 4/0), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover: 19/0), Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards: 1/0), Clarence Goodson (IK Start: 1/0), Oguchi Onyewu (AC Milan: 18/1), Jonathan Spector (West Ham: 3/0)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Michael Bradley (Borussia Mönchengladbach: 13/4), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo: 7/1), Clint Dempsey (Fulham: 20/5), Benny Feilhaber (AGF Aarhus: 4/0), Stuart Holden (Houston Dynamo: 3/0), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew: 0/0), José Francisco Torres (Pachuca: 6/0)

FORWARDS (6): Jozy Altidore (Hull City: 11/6), Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids: 5/0), Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo: 16/6), Kenny Cooper (1860 Munich: 1/1), Charlie Davies (FC Sochaux: 5/2), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy: 33/11)
*numbers indicate all-time World Cup Qualifying caps/goals

You'll notice Jimmy Conrad replaces Jay DeMerit and his infected eye, and FrankenCooper makes a rare appearance in a full strength US MNT squad.

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by FRANCO PANIZO

Carlos Bocanegra has made a career out of solid defending and timely tackles, and this weekend he prevented a potential goal with a last-second challenge.

Unfortunately for Stade Rennes, Bocanegra did so with his hands.

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by FRANCO PANIZO

Carlos Bocanegra has made a career out of solid defending and timely tackles, and this weekend he prevented a potential goal with a last-second challenge.

Unfortunately for Stade Rennes, Bocanegra did so with his hands.

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Conor Casey has been named part of the U.S. men's national team roster of 22 players that will train in advance of World Cup qualifiers against Honduras and Costa Rica.

The U.S. first travels to San Pedro Sula to face Honduras, with kickoff at 8 p.m. (Mountain) on Oct. 10 at the Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano.

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by FRANCO PANIZO

It is the final weekend of club action before the international break, meaning the last chance for some key U.S. national team players to get some much-needed playing time before the upcoming World Cup qualifiers vs. Honduras and Costa Rica.

Midfielder Michael Bradley looks to continue his recent run of playing time when Borussia Moenchengladbach take on Neven Subotic and Borussia Dortmund, while AC Milan defender Oguchi Onyewu looks to build on his impressive mid-week Rossoneri debut with a match against Serie A bottom-feeders Atalanta.

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by FRANCO PANIZO

It is the final weekend of club action before the international break, meaning the last chance for some key U.S. national team players to get some much-needed playing time before the upcoming World Cup qualifiers vs. Honduras and Costa Rica.

Midfielder Michael Bradley looks to continue his recent run of playing time when Borussia Moenchengladbach take on Neven Subotic and Borussia Dortmund, while AC Milan defender Oguchi Onyewu looks to build on his impressive mid-week Rossoneri debut with a match against Serie A bottom-feeders Atalanta.

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No surprises. No gimmicks.

Goalkeepers: Tim Howard (Everton), Brad Guzan (Aston Villa).
Defenders: Oguchi Onyewu (AC Milan), Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes), Jonathan Spector (West Ham), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Steve Cherundolo (Hanover), Clarence Goodson (Start), Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City).

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Not much change as one might expect at this stage of the competition, while Robbie Rogers, Landon Donovan and Jonathan Bornstein all retain their spots.

A victory in either game and the U.S. has booked a spot in South Africa.

The squad (with club and WC caps and goals):

Goalkeepers - Brad Guzan (Aston Villa: 5/3 SO), Tim Howard (Everton: 14/8 SO)

Defenders - Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes: 24/3), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA, 4/0), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover: 19/0), Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards: 1/0), Clarence Goodson (IK Start: 1/0), Oguchi Onyewu (AC Milan: 18/1), Jonathan Spector (West Ham: 3/0)

Midfielders - Michael Bradley (Borussia Mönchengladbach: 13/4), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo: 7/1), Clint Dempsey (Fulham: 20/5), Benny Feilhaber (AGF Aarhus: 4/0), Stuart Holden (Houston Dynamo: 3/0), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew: 0/0), José Francisco Torres (Pachuca: 6/0)

Forwards - Jozy Altidore (Hull City: 11/6), Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids: 5/0), Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo: 16/6), Kenny Cooper (1860 Munich: 1/1), Charlie Davies (FC Sochaux: 5/2), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy: 33/11).

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The United States has basically sewn up a World Cup berth. Political trouble in Honduras coupled with the complete collapse of Costa Rican football (outside the youth level) in the past few months has the US virtually assured passage from CONCACAF. But Bob Bradley still is not leaving anything to chance, calling an experienced squad to the final two qualifiers against reeling sides.

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