Did you miss me last week? You didn’t even realize I was gone? That’s cold broseph. Well regardless, I’m here with your December update. Even without the full weekend slate of EPL action, there were quite a few fixtures for me to give you the run down on. Check out what went down and look forward to my 2010 recap coming soon!
Aston Villa @ Liverpool 12/6/10
Brad Friedel continued his struggles, giving up 3 goals at Anfield. Neither Guzan nor Lichaj appeared in the match and the Villans dropped this one 3-0. Although speculation abounded last week, Aston Villa have no plans to sell the Favre of Villa Park in January. Late update thanks to Jen Chang, of SI suggests that Friedel may well be on his way out next year.
Hannover v. Stuttgart 12/10/10
Steve Cherundolo only played the first 23 minutes before going down with a knee injury in a 2-1 victory. Beasley was not active.
Aston Villa v. West Brom 12/11/10
Friedel and Lichaj went all 90 and with their powers combined held off The Baggies 2-1. This match marked Lichaj’s first EPL start and Friedel’s 19th consecutive, but his first start allowing less than 2 goals in over a month.
Everton v. Wigan 12/11/10
Timmy H pitched a shutout, but the Toffees’ offense didn’t hold up their end of the bargain and the matched finished 0-0. Howard, for his part, was just getting warmed up for Man City.
West Ham v. Man City 12/11/10
Spector got the full 90 minute run, but the Hammers fell 3-1. These quotes are a little dated, but we can still link West Ham’s boss heaping some praise on our countryman.
Fulham v. Sunderland 12/11/10
Dempsey started in midfield and went all 90 and Eddie Johnson came on in the 72nd minute, but neither were able to score the decisive goal in the 0-0 draw. Deuce did manage to take 9 shots in the match, 3 of which were on goal, and commit 4 fouls…so the draw wasn’t for lack of effort from Dempsey, but you had to have known that already.
Bolton v. Blackburn 12/12/10
Stu Holden returned from a thigh strain to play the full 90 minutes and save the day for The Whites with an 88th minute winner for a 2-1 victory. You have to click that link, it was a beauty.
M’gladbach @ SC Freiburg 12/12/10
MB90 did what he does, and M’gladbach did what they do and lost 3-0. This team is miserable, lets hope that Junior can make a move to a new club, soon.
St. Etienne @ AS Monaco 12/12/10
Bocanegra played all 90 minutes in a 2-0 victory to bring the 9 match winless (but heavy on the draws) skid to an end for St. Etienne.
Anderlecht v. Lokeren 12/12/10
Sacha Kljestan started and went nearly 60 minutes, but Anderlecht were unable to net a winner in yet another 0-0 draw. Anderlecht slipped to the 2nd spot in the top division with the draw.
Villareal @ Club Brugge 12/15/10
Jozy played the final 12 minutes to help ensure the 2-1 victory. It was his second league appearance in a month, so maybe things are looking up in Spain. They better be…Camp Cupcake invitee Juan Agudelo has to be putting pressure on Altidore. Fake American Giuseppe Rossi collected the brace for Villareal in the Europa League fixture.
M’gladbach v. Hamburg 12/17/10
MB90 only played 78 minutes for some unknown reason, but he was able to provide the lone assist in a 2-1 defeat. Bradley floated a left footed cross into the box that was flicked home for an equalizing goal. Bradley nearly had a second assist in the 70th minute, however Thorben Marx was unable to bury Bradley brilliant ball. That’s alliteration, brother.
St. Etienne v. Arles 12/18/10
Bocanegra went all 90 in a 2-1 victory for St. Etienne. Arles was rolling with 10 men for the final half hour of the match. After a hot start to the season, St. Etienne find themselves in 5th place and they haven’t lost since November 6th, again they draw more than Muhammad Ali with an etch-a-sketch…was that too harsh? Maybe so.
This time around, there was no glorious goal for Holden. But we'll settle for Midseason Premier Player of the League honors.
Bolton @ Sunderland 12/18/10
Holden played the full match and picked up a 54th minute yellow (1 of 3 for the visitors), but Bolton dropped one on the road 1-0. I guess we can settle for one fantastic goal every two weeks, Stu. I suppose Midseason Premier League Player of the Year honors will do, young man. And yeah– that makes you hate Nigel de Jong even more, right…
West Ham @ Blackburn 12/18/10
Spector went the opening 57 minutes and took a shot in the 1-1 draw. The West Ham players are still throwing their support behind manager, Avram Grant…usually a sure sign the boss is about to get canned.
Villareal v. Mallorca 12/18/10
Altidore came on in the 84th minute this time around as Villareal won 3-1. The fake American, Rossi scored his 3rd goal in as many days. Villareal fought to a 0-0 draw at Valencia on Tuesday 12/21.
Hannover v. Nurnberg 12/18/10
Steve Cherundolo was tricked into scoring an own goal by the evil witches of Nurnberg and Hannover dropped the match 3-1. Cherundolo later picked up a 79th minute yellow. Hannover still sits in 4th place.
Frankfurt v. Dortmund 12/18/10
Ricardo Clark finally got some run and Frankfurt picked up a 1-0 victory, coincidence? I think not. The match marked Clark’s first significant minutes of the season and he responded by taking a couple fouls and narrowly missing a header from 6 yards out. All in all a good effort from the dude from A-town, and that’s good to see. Maybe more than any American, Clark has had trouble putting the World Cup behind him mentally– but he’s a tenacious ball-winner with a nice shot from distance, and it will be good to keep him in the fold.
Everton @ Man City 12/20/10
Everyone with a pulse (and twitter) already knows, but Timmy Howard made 6 saves en route to a 2-1 victory. Howard’s play matched my physical condition on Monday…sick. While I was busy throwing up, Tim was holding it down for the Toffees. Tim Cahill put it best, “He’s been the man, not just this season but all the other seasons as well.”, we know Mr. Cahill…we know.
Out of Action Yanks
Mo Edu is still yet to return to the active 18 for the Gers.
Jermaine Jones remains with the 2nd division club, but Schalke secured the top spot in Group B of the Champion’s League.
Charlie Davies was in the 18 for Sochaux on Sunday, but he didn’t see any action. Hopefully he will complete the comeback soon and we can get some stanky leg.
Benny Feilhaber, Michael Parkhurst, Clarence Goodson and the remaining Scandinavian contingent are on winter break.
Conor Doyle was not in the eighteen for Derby County this weekend against Reading.
Dominic Cervi didn’t stand in between the net for Dundee FC this week either, but the Scottish first division side was nice enough to loan him to Bob Bradley for Camp Cupcake.
That is all for now. Happy Holidays to all and have a great start to 2011.
Dru Boyer is a staff writer for The Yanks Are Coming. He can be reached at dru@yanksarecoming.com and you should follow him on Twitter at @SwampJankins.