Two things of note this Friday. First, it appears Steve Cherundolo is targeting a Gold Cup return to action. This will allow him to play lesser competition and regain his form before the next Bundesliga season and of course South Africa next summer. As Ravi Ubha notes, Cherundolo appears simply thankful this rather freakish thigh injury didn’t occur next spring or the American right back would be absent from a second consecutive World Cup. Get fit Stevie C !!!!
This leaves right back for the Confederations Cup wide open– with candidates from all walks including the Yanks other San Diego dude– Frankie Hejduk– Jon Spector, Marvell Wynne (who WILL get a look in the Gold Cup all firmly in the mix and the recently reserve side relegated Heath Pearce left to wonder what happened. Jon Bornstein’s pace and his close connection with Bob Bradley means he can’t be discounted either.
Second– the whirlwind speculation around Belgian’s Standard Liege stud and Clemson alum Oguchi Onyewu continues… linked anywhere from Real Betis to Marseille to Chelsea– Gooch can more or less do what he wants this summer because his contract with Liege has expired and he enters the transfer window a free agent. Harsh financial times make this interesting– because Gooch’s form will doubtlessly allow him to demand a high bidder– but that could work against him if he hopes to attach to a side assured of Europa or Champions League football. Wolves and Birmingham City are early hopefuls-– but Gooch has made it clear that a more competitive English club would easily be the frontrunner, despite Marseille’s intense interest and his flirtation with Real Betis.
We’ll see. Be safe. And hope Jozy Altidore escapes Spain to a very interested and striker starved Stoke City….or even better– the soon to be Jo-Less European bound and FA CUP Finalist Everton.
