Anybody remembers Freddy Adu? A few years ago, that name was not only making noise in U.S. soccer, but all over the international scene. For those of you who don’t remember (or don’t know him at all), Freddy Adu was once a teenage soccer sensation in America. Taken first pick in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft at age 14 by D.C. United, he became the youngest American athlete in 100 years to be signed professionally in any team sport. He then played for his country at the young age of 16, sparking interest in the major European teams. Premier League giants Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal were rumored to sign him. But none of them did. Now, Adu is back in the U.S. After playing in a few mid-market teams in Europe (like Benifica and AS Monaco), he returned to MLS proving almost nothing to the world. His loan spell to AS Monaco in France gave fans a glimmer of hope for the budding superstar as the team (and the league) seemed like a perfect fit for him. A country as soccer-savvy as France could have been a helpful environment for Adu’s growth. Unfortunately, it did little in his improvement. Freddy returned to the United States liked a washed-up athlete. Let’s hope that it won’t happen.

In his misfortunes in Europe, Freddy could have gambled his fortune away. Especially in his stay in Monaco, there are casinos everywhere you go. He could have played poker there and do it professionally. Poker is a great way to earn money, and also release stress. Perfect for a frustrated athlete. Knowing his personality, a guy like Freddy would have stayed at home and played online in websites like partypoker. The feel maybe different compared to live poker, but the prize is just the same. It could have been his ticket to a new career, and maybe a second chance at stardom.

In 2011, Freddy Adu returned to MLS to play for Philadelphia Union. This move reunites him with former D.C. United and U.S.A. U-23 coach Piotr Nowak. Like in Monaco, everything seemed perfect for Adu. The place, the team and the people supports him. Fans were hopeful that he could make a successful comeback in the MLS. However, reports of his disrupted influence inside the locker room spread all over the news. Early this year, Philadelphia Union announced that Adu will be traded because he is no longer part of their “plans.”

It would be a waste of talent if Freddy turned out to be a bust. The hype that was given to him when he was young could have caused a lot of pressure. Hopefully this trade can change Adu for the better. He is still young and can turn things around. But that decision is all up to him.

Live Chat is after the jump...

Following a U.S. Men's National Team match, it has become a ritual for U.S. soccer fans, such as myself, to constantly hit the refresh button on our Twitter feeds as we await player ratings from the major sports media outlets. Once these ratings get published, diehards and casual fans alike rush to analyze and debate over the latest numeric values assigned to their favorite players.

When I analyze the latest player ratings following a critical international game, I catch myself either nodding my head in agreement or thinking "well that's one way to spin it" due the subjectivity of this performance analysis tool. It's easy to see where these ratings do become subjective- Edgar Castillo either effectively stopped (7) or helplessly watched (4) Mexico's attack in August, as his performance in Azteca earned drastically different scores depending on who you ask. Not only is it difficult to use one set of player ratings to accurately assess an individual's performance, but the single game ratings also make it difficult to get a good look at how players performed across multiple matches.

So to help you speculate on how the next two World Cup Qualifying games could play out, I've pulled player ratings from ESPN, Fox Soccer, New York Times, Sports Illustrated, and the Washington Post for each player who played in, and received ratings for, 2 or more games since the Scotland friendly. After aggregating these across from the aforementioned 5 media platforms, I averaged ratings from the last 6 games to create a Composite Player Rating (CPR) for each player.

With those restrictions in mind, 15 of the 24 players called-up for the September matches vs. Jamaica had sufficient data for this analysis:

Captain(s) Consistent

Fabian Johnson - 4 games; 6.80 CPR

Carlos Bocanegra may be Captain America these days, but Johnson continues to log solid game after solid game in the wing-back position. While he never received the highest rating for a single game he was consistently rated one of the best performers. Even on nights when he isn't marauding too far up field he turns in a solid defensive outing.

Clarence Goodson - 3 games; 6.57 CPR

Didn't face the stiffest of competition, but in the three games he did feature in, his ratings were always solid, making him a surprise showing in the top half of the rankings. Goodson manages to routinely meet that slightly above average standard of play without making any major mistakes.  

Tim Howard - 6 games; 6.49 CPR

Shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone! Even when he isn't having games like he did against Mexico, he normally comes through in a big way. Howard is as good as it gets at the position right now, even when discussing his quality at the international level.

Clint Dempsey - 4 games; 6.16 CPR

For someone who was coming off an injury at the end of the Premier League, Dempsey was obviously still in form. With the exception of Canada, where most of the team was just "meh," Dempsey was one of the best attackers, most recently scoring in both June qualifying matches.

Herculez Gomez - 6 games; 6.12 CPR

Only one goal in the past six U.S. games for the Santos striker, but the service just wasn't there in many of these matches. Nary a complaint about his work-rate or energy level in any of those games, help to propel his name atop the rankings. 

Do-Gooders

Carlos Bocanegra - 5 games; 5.92 CPR

Captain America isn't flashy but he's got style, guile, and makes hockey-esque body checks (had to be said). Other than the game against Brazil, he continues to put in solid defensive work despite his age.

Kyle Beckerman - 4 games; 5.94 CPR

The "Dread Pirate" Beckerman isn't always the quickest, well he's never the quickest, but in a three man mid-field triangle speed is not a necessity. Instead, Beckerman serves as the defensive wall in front of the backline, a dependable player in Klinsmann's system.

Terrence Boyd - 5 games; 5.92 CPR

For a player who had yet to make his 1st team club debut at the time of these games, he didn't have bad outings with the senior national team. Boy is in good form right now in Austria, scoring 4 league goals already, and I'm sure he's eager to continue his scoring ways and make his mark against Jamaica. After showing no signs of inexperience against Mexico in Azteca, I expect Boyd to step up during this round of qualifiers.

Steve Cherundolo - 5 games; 5.59 CPR

Still the same Steady-Eddy but you can't help but wonder if 'Dolo isn't losing a step or two at the age of 33. It seems as if Cherundolo is not getting forward at the same rate as he had in the past, a possible sign of his decline.

Jozy Altidore - 3 games; 5.00 CPR

One of the harder players to judge from this past stretch of international matches just because Altidore was coming off his best European club season last campaign, but was not released to play for the U.S. until the last possible moment by his club, AZ Alkmaar. Jozy is off to a torrid start this season though (4 goals in 4 league matches), and thus he shouldn't have the same fitness issue this go-round.

Most Improved

Geoff Cameron - 3 games; 5.95 CPR

Aside from the own-goal, Cameron's game and rating improved with each fixture he played in, making him the only player who can claim this distinction during this past stretch of matches. His better-than-most-center-backs passing distribution, highlighted in the Yanks historic August win vs. Mexico in Azteca, may give him a slight edge in the depth chart as well.

 Hot 'n' Cold

Maurice Edu - 6 games; 5.66 CPR

Edu's best game came when he was shifted from defensive midfield to the center-back position for the Mexico friendly. He has once again been listed as a defender in Klinsmann's recent roster announcement. One outing may not be enough for a permanent switch but it certainly warrants another look, which likely will come in game 2 at home after Edu gains proper fitness (Edu has not played for quite awhile as his switch from Rangers to Stoke City took quite some time).

Jermaine Jones - 5 games; 5.67 CPR

Outstanding performance against Scotland. Not so hot against Brazil, Canada, and Mexico, but showed quality in the June qualifiers against Antigua & Barbuda and Guatemala. Yellow cards aside, it's anyone's guess which version of Jones we'll see against Jamaica, especially since there isn't any clear pattern based on opponent quality.

Jose Torres - 5 games; 5.16 CPR

Similar to Jones (except he didn't feature against Guatemala due to injury), Torres has not received consistent player ratings recently, but unlike Jones, Torres' position on the team is not secure. You get the feeling that unless he comes up strong against Jamaica in one of these upcoming games, like he did versus Scotland, he's going to become expendable.

Yikes

Michael Parkhurst - 2 games; 3.94 CPR

No one else called in for this roster had a lower average rating than Parkhurst, a newly touted Champions League participant. Yes, he only featured in two games, but his score was lower against Canada than it was Brazil (which also wasn't a good rating). If you have a coherent reason for why Parkhurst was called up instead of Eric Lichaj I'm all ears.

Final Thoughts

If we're firing on all cylinders - lookout

The best evidence of this was the game against Scotland. Our starters all took care of business from defense to offense (own goal not-withstanding) and if weren't for big minutes by the subs when the game was well in hand than the Yanks would have collectively recorded the best CPR ranking when compared over this recent stretch for a given match. With Donovan and Bradley, two of the heroes from that game, out Klinsmann will have to look to others (i.e. Jermaine Jones, Clint Dempsey, Jozy Altidore) to step up their games and fill those voids.

Midfield needs to show up

A flat game by the men in the middle can make for a frustrating night. Even with solid, if not inspired, defending (see: away at Guatemala) the opposing team can still find a way into the match. Nights when the midfield has more than one player off his game, especially if the attack minded Dempsey is on the bench, then the Americans we'll likely find their performance resembling their lackluster effort against Canada a few months back.

Statistics sez: According to FIFA, the USA boasts an undefeated 10-8-0 record against the Reggae Boyz. Not impressed? Think about it in terms of win percentage, then. The USA's win percentage against Jamaica is approximately 56%, while Jamaica's win percentage is a big fat zero. Naysayers will point out other, less flattering statistics: that the USMNT has never won a World Cup qualifier on Jamaican soil; that 4 out of the last 5 qualifiers against Jamaica have ended in a draw; and that the USA has only won twice in qualifying against Jamaica, ever (out of 8 matches). To these naysayers, I'd point out that all these statistics can be "revamped" to favor the USA: the USMNT has never LOST a qualifier on Jamaican soil; the USMNT is UNDEFEATED in 5 of the last 5 qualifiers; and Jamaica has won ZERO qualifying matches (or any matches, for that matter) against the USA. Then I'd ask the naysayers why they're being such downers. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, naysayers, and I'd say the statistical record between the USA and Jamaica is beautiful indeed.

What I'm eating: The national dish of Jamaica is ackee and saltfish - a combination of dry salted cod, onions, tomatoes, spices, and boiled ackee, a pear-shaped fruit related to the lychee. The best part? If the ackee you eat isn't ripe enough, you'll quickly come down with a case of Jamaican vomiting sickness, characterized by the sudden onset of vomiting, dehydration, seizures, or even death! I have to hand it to you, Jamaica - it's pretty awesome that your national dish carries with it the risk of death. But America will not be outdone - not on USMNT gameday. If it's death-inducing food you're looking for, the USA has it "on lock", with the "Quadruple Bypass Burger" from Heart Attack Grill in Las Vegas, NV: four 8-oz beef patties, four pieces of American cheese, onion, tomato, special sauce: and a whopping 10,000 calories. Eating ackee and saltfish may create a risk of death, but eating this burger practically guarantees it. So support the USA on gameday by gorging yourself on one of these burgers while you watch the match - and take comfort in the fact that if you die, at least you will have died watching your beloved USMNT.  


Caption: America's version of ackee and saltfish. No fish, no ackee - but a significantly higher risk of cardiac failure. Take that, Jamaica!


What I'm drinking: You know, I've always been a sucker for Red Stripe beer. The stubby brown bottles, the hilarious commercials, the awesome slogan ("Hooray, Beer!") - it's everything I've ever wanted in a beer. But when the USMNT plays Jamaica, there's an extra reason to like Red Stripe: it's now brewed in America! That's right, drinking down a cold Red Stripe is no longer a reminder of the laid-back Jamaican lifestyle, but instead is a reminder of America's economic superiority and dominion over every other country, ever. I'd usually never advocate drinking a USMNT opponent's beer on game day. But nothing will stick it to Jamaica like drinking the beer that was once the pride of Jamaica, and is now the pride of mass beverage producer City Brewing, LLC in Latrobe, PA. Hooray, Irony!


Caption: Red Stripe beer was indeed brewed in Jamaica for over 75 years. But then America took over, and now it's brewed here. You lose, Jamaica.


What I'm singing: "This Isn't 'Cool Runnings'", sung to the tune of "Yankee Doodle".

Jamaica you're good at riding bobsleds and at sprinting
And at winning soccer tournaments that have no meaning
But tonight you're out of luck, you see, the Yanks are coming
You don't stand a chance tonight, cause this isn't "Cool Runnings" 



Until next time - GO USA!
 
 

For more entertaining analyses of the U.S. Men's National Team's opponents be sure to check out Know Thy Enemies and follow him on twitter @KnowThyEnemies

An infinite number of questions concern the U.S. backline right now. Is Carlos Bocanegra in form despite his recent deadline day move to Spain? Can Geoff Cameron and Maurice Edu handle the center-back duties? Will Oguchi Onyewu ever become a dominant player again following numerous injuries and club switches? When will it be time for Steve Cherundolo to pass the mantle? I can go on and on, but let's try to assess the possible defensive lineup for Friday's match....

I see the backline starters looking like: Cherundolo - Cameron - Bocanegra - F. Johnson ....now if Bocanegra's form is not there (I think he'll be O.K. because he was starting for Rangers consistently before the move to Racing Santandar, albeit playing in the Scottish 3rd division) I believe Klinsmann will give the nod to Clarence Goodson due to his experience playing the position at the international level. Serious consideration needs to be given to Edu as well, since his lateral quickness matches up nicely with Jamaica's speedy counter-attack offense. Again though fitness questions surround Edu, who was not playing for Rangers before his official switch to Stoke City on Friday. Despite Goodson's lack of foot speed, his size is critical in guarding against Jamaica's wide play, which results in numerous crosses into the box. In the end a healthy Bocanegra surpasses both Edu and Goodson on the depth chart, as his positional awareness and "captain-ness" can't be replaced when it comes to a CONCACAF road qualifier.  



Do you think Dempsey will play? Who should be the preferred back four? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below! 

Yesterday, U.S. manager Jurgen Klinsmann announced the 25-man roster available for the two upcoming World Cup Qualifying matches vs. Jamaica. This large roster yielded few surprises with all the big names and recent regulars getting the call to report to Miami for training outside of Landon Donovan and Michael Bradley, who will both miss these important games because of leg injuries. 

The U.S. first travels to Kingston, Jamaica to take on the Reggae Boyz this Friday, September 7th (8 pm ET, beIN SPORT) and then immediately fly back to the States to face the same squad on Tuesday, September 11th at Columbus Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio (8 pm ET, ESPN2). 

Thus far the Yanks have accumulated 4 points in qualifying after a pair of matches in July, of which the Americans recorded a win vs. Antigua & Barbuda and a hard fought draw against Guatemala on the road. As a result, the U.S. lead Group A in the Semifinal Round of CONCACAF Qualifying, but are level with Jamaica on points and only have the edge due to goal differential.

Here is the full U.S. Roster....

Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)

Defenders: Carlos Bocanegra (Racing Santander), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover), Maurice Edu (Stoke City), Clarence Goodson (Brondby), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim), Michael Orozco Fiscal (San Luis), Michael Parkhurst (Nordsjaelland), Jonathan Spector (Birmingham City)

Midfielders: Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Joshua Gatt (Molde), Jermaine Jones (Schalke 04), Brek Shea (FC Dallas), Jose Torres (Pachuca), Danny Williams (Hoffenheim), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)

Forwards: Jozy Altidore (AZ Alkmaar), Terrence Boyd (Rapid Vienna), Clint Dempsey (Tottenham Hotspur), Herculez Gomez (Santos)


Roster Notes - 

1. Josh Gatt was scratched from the roster shortly following the initial announcement after picking up a hamstring injury Sunday afternoon (no replacement is expected)
2. Sean Johnson will serve as the 3rd choice keeper in the first match while Nick Rimando will fill that role for the home leg, as Real Salt Lake wanted to have Rimando available for their September         6th league game vs. Houston
3. Although Bolton Wanderers announced Tim Ream would make the U.S. squad he was surprisingly left off the roster....Reason: FIFA requires national teams to submit a preliminary roster 15 days       prior to international matches, however this list further gets divided between a final roster and a standby list according to Klinsmann. In this case Ream received the initial invite and then was             placed on the standby list, which was what led to the confusion.

Also, here is Jamaica’s roster:

Goalkeepers: Dwayne Miller (Syrianska, Sweden), Duwayne Kerr (Strommen, Noway), Jacomeno Barrett (Montego Bay)

Defenders: Adrian Mariappa (Reading, England), Nyron Nosworthy (Reading), Shavar Thomas (Montreal Impact), Dicoy Williams (Toronto FC), Jermaine Taylor (Houston Dynamo), O’Brian Woodbine (VPS, Finland), Lovel Palmer (Portland Timbers)

Midfielders: Andrae Campbell (Waterhouse), Rudolph Austin (Leeds, England), Jason Morrison (Aaelsund, Norway), Jevaughn Watson (Houston Dynamo), Ewan Grandison (Portmore), Joel Senior (Harbour View), Luton Shelton (Karabukspor, Turkey), Dane Richards (Vancouver Whitecaps), Tremaine Stewart (Aaelsund, Norway)

Forwards: Errol Stevens (Arnett Gardens), Ryan Johnson (Toronto FC), Omar Cummings (Colorado Rapids), Kavin Bryan (Song Lam Nghe An, Vietnam), Darren Mattocks (Vancouver Whitecaps)

For weeks Dempsey was all but a lock to sign with Liverpool, as Merseyside fans were ready to embrace the American's goal-scoring touch. The prominent U.S. international, who spent the last 6 seasons at Fulham FC, was set to move up the ranks of English football, determined to call one of the English Premier League's "Big 6"- Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, and Tottenham Hotspur- his new home. As his determination festered, Dempsey made it clear that he would not return to Craven Cottage, which alienated the Fulham community, most notably manager Martin Jol.

"There are always players in football like van Persie who want to move, but they keep quiet," Jol said last week. "This was different. Although we like to keep everything under the surface, it was impossible. Van Persie did the right thing. I always hope for players to keep a low profile and wait for what will happen. It's better for the manager and club."

With the manager clearly frustrated and the Liverpool rumors swirling about, the 29-year old playmaker did not even see the bench for Fulham's opening EPL matches, leaving Dempsey figuratively without a club even though he had one year remaining in his contract. 

Despite the obvious momentum that was building throughout the week for Fulham and Dempsey to agree to terms with Liverpool, many pundits became worried about the lack of reports of an official offer from the Reds. Then once Sunderland surfaced as a surprising player in the Dempsey sweepstakes, a bigger question mark surrounded the type of offer Liverpool had put together for Clint's services. However, Sunderland was always an extreme long shot to acquire the American, who was keen on moving to a Champions League caliber side.

Then Friday, August 31st - deadline day - arrived, with Dempsey's end destination still in doubt, but the popular belief remained that American would ultimately arrive at Anfield to sign the paper work for a new deal. We all know now that things did not go exactly according to plan even with Liverpool receiving extra capital through the sales of Andy Carroll (loan to West Ham) and Charlie Adam (transfer to Stoke City). Over the course of the day Liverpool, Aston Villa, and Tottenham Hotspur all made offers for the man who scored 17 EPL goals last campaign, and in the end it was Spurs who swooped in late and signed Clint Dempsey. Here is how it all played out according to USfutblog's Twitter account (@USfutblog) thanks to reports from Fox Soccer and Sky Sports....

8:06 am ET - Aston Villa joins race to sign Clint Dempsey, reportedly offered around £7M...Dempsey later rejects move
12:45 pm - Tottenham Hotspur makes a late bid for Clint Dempsey
2:08 pm - Fulham rejects a bid from Liverpool for Clint Dempsey
2:38 pm - Fulham rejects another Liverpool bid, in the neighborhood of £4M in addition to Liverpool players who refused to move to Fulham
3:40 pm - Dempsey's move to Liverpool falls apart 
4:33 pm - Dempsey seen at Tottenham's training ground
4:36 pm - Fulham and Tottenham agree on Dempsey's transfer fee
4:59 pm - Clint Dempsey agrees to personal terms with Tottenham
5:03 pm - Clint Dempsey officially signs with Tottenham per Fox Soccer on a 3-year deal for a transfer fee of £6M
6:34 pm - Spurs officially announce Clint Dempsey signing 

So, Clint Dempsey signed with Tottenham Hotspur what does this mean...

All the drama is FINALLY over. Dempsey got his wish, securing a move to one of England's elite clubs, but he will not receive the Champions League minutes he covets just yet. Spurs will not play Champions League football this season even though they qualified for a spot based on league play thanks to Chelsea's heroic title run in the tournament last campaign. Overall though Tottenham's high stature in English football represents an extremely exciting time for U.S. Soccer and obviously for Clint Dempsey, one in which I believe he will take full advantage of.

Based on Tottenham's tactics where will Dempsey play? 

Spurs manager, Andre Villas-Boas, will deploy Dempsey in multiple roles - as a central attacking midfielder (CAM), a wing player, and possibly even as a striker in a two forward formation. Dempsey will predominately occupy the CAM role in a variation of a 4-3-3, sitting right behind Emanual Adebayor, and sandwiched between high fliers Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon. This foursome presents a dynamic group of attacking weapons that the club can unleash on opponents this season. Their speed and creativity will result in plenty of scoring opportunities throughout the year, even against the toughest of defenses. Also, you can't forget that Spurs will have Moussa Dembele, another big signing from Fulham, in that midfield to help facilitate the offense. In conclusion, I believe this firepower will allow Spurs to finish in that all important 4th Champions League qualifying spot. 

It wasn't exactly the smoothest transition to a top EPL club, but Dempsey did manage to make it happen, and at 29 it was pretty much a now or never situation for the American so it's exciting to see the deal get done. Now, we can sit back, relax, watch Dempsey in his new kit, and analyze his every move....can't wait!


 

Michael Bradley’s first official 90 minutes for AS Roma were unspectacular, but the U.S. National Team member ended the game with a bang, providing the tying assist in stoppage time to secure a 2-2 result against Catania.

Bradley struggled with possession at times, which came to haunt the American international in the 12th minute. The hard-working, relentless midfielder was forced to make a dangerous tackle from behind after poor ball control, and as a result the referee pulled out a yellow card. Overall, Bradley’s first 20 minutes were forgettable to say the least, but he wasn’t the only one, as the whole Roma side played poorly during the early parts of the match.

However, as the game wore on, Bradley's play improved, as he showed off his one-touch passing skills that make him such a dynamic player at various key moments throughout the match. His passing prowess came from a more advanced role compared to the defensive midfield position fans saw Bradley play last season with Chievo Verona, which is also similar to the deeper role he occupies under Jurgen Klinsmann for the U.S. Men's National Team. This shouldn’t change throughout the season with Roma, because Danielle De Rossi will play as the regista (deep-lying playmaker) while Bradley pushes closer to the opponent’s goal.

With the American playing in an advanced midfield position, Bradley should score more Serie A goals this year than the single goal he mustered up last season for Chievo. Multiple times against Catania the Roma midfielder made dangerous late runs into the box, and even missed an opportunity that he usually would finish in the 75th minute. The advanced position will suit Bradley well, as the U.S. player is lethal in front of goal.

If anything, expect the former Chievo player to put up numbers that resemble the 10 goals Antonio Nocerino produced for AC Milan last Serie A campaign. For Milan, Nocerino made a living off dangerous late runs into the box that were unnoticed by defenders who were busy marking one of the World's top strikers, Zlatan Ibrahimović. I envision Bradley executing on a similar strategy, slipping through Serie A defenders who are busy worrying about his Roma teammates, Pablo Osvaldo and Francesco Totti.

AS Roma's coach, Zdeněk Zeman, will also help Bradley increase his scoring production. The Czech-born coach is know for his attacking style Serie A teams who are willing to take risks by putting numbers forward. Throughout Italy, his tactics are dubbed Zemanlandia, after he remarkably took Foggia from Serie C to Serie A with an attacking flare. Zeman’s teams play attractive soccer and finish to ridiculous score lines – either they win 5-0 in a blowout or lose 5-0 trying to outscore their opponents. So, you should never expect a dull moment at Stadio Olympic with this Czech coach on the bench. As a result, it won’t be just Bradley’s position, but additionally, his coach’s tactics that will allow him to score more.

As I previously stated, Bradley didn’t perform optimally in his first match for the Giallorossi, however, he did provide a moment of magic when his pass set up Nicolás López’s tying goal in second half stoppage time. Big players show up when their team needs them, and on Saturday, Bradley made THE play that earned Roma a crucial point to kick off the season. The only surprise for me during the match was the former MLSer's lack of involvement on set pieces, as Bradley was usually positioned at the top of the box. Regardless, Bradley’s playing style and tireless running will fit perfectly into Zeman’s plans in the Italian capital.

Written by Anthony Mannino (@AnthonyMannino), regular contributor for SoccerATX and The USA 10 Kit

Following the financial turmoil and demotion to 4th tier Scottish football that ravaged Rangers Football Club, Maurice Edu wisely found a new league to play club ball. After 4 seasons in Scotland, Edu not only found a new place but also found a big stage to showcase his talents after agreeing to personal terms with Stoke City of the EPL. Stoke and Edu have agreed to a three-year contract; however, the University of Maryland alum will need to pass a medical examination and receive a UK work permit before the deal is officially complete. 

The 26-year-old American will join fellow international teammate, Geoff Cameron, at Britannia Stadium. Like Edu, Cameron just completed a deal with Stoke City this week. To add to this Hollywood script, Edu and Cameron were recently paired together by Jurgen Klinsmann in the center of the US' defense. How recent? The two footballers served as the foundation of the Yanks' backline on August 15th, for the Americans historic 1st victory vs. Mexico in Azteca.

Stoke City secured one point in their season opening match vs. newly promoted side, Reading. Tomorrow, the Potters will take on Arsenal in an effort to continue to move in a positive direction up the table.

 
This is a superb move for Maurice Edu's career, as he fights for a starting position at the international level with the Yanks. Whether it's in the midfield or at central defense Edu will need to feature regularly for Stoke to force Klinsmann's arm throughout World Cup Qualifying.

I do believe Edu has the toughness and technical ability to compete at the EPL level and as a result of the league's top quality, Edu's game should continue to mature. The issue for Edu right now is consistency at one position. With Edu currently on the outside looking in when it comes to the US midfield due to positional depth, and Stoke most likely playing him predominantly in the middle of the park, Edu may struggle to find a rhythm at one position. I am just wary of the fact that Edu will not be able to develop the full repertoire of skills necessary of an international-caliber starting central defender without consistent play in the back at Stoke. Nevertheless, this was the correct move for Edu and his journey will definitely be an interesting one to watch.