Several Americans On The Move Following January Transfer Window Moves

Freddy Adu, MF/FW to Çaykur Rizespor
Rizespor is a Turkish 2nd division side.  At this point the quality of opposition or the level of a league doesn’t really matter all that much for Adu’s situation.  He needs to play, period.  MLS, reserves, 2nd division Turkish league, whatever.  Adu needs games & just needs to play somewhere where maybe the expectations aren’t so heavy.  At this point I think Adu just needs to be removed from the USMNT’s picture & just allowed to refind himself.  If he merits a call-up later, so be it, but for now Adu just needs to get regular playing time.  He’s still only 21, so he has plenty of time to rediscover himself, he just needs to do it.

Jozy Altidore, FW to Bursaspor (Loan)
The heavily maligned Altidore is going to another situation which can go either way for Jozy.  Bursaspor are the Turkish top division’s defending champions & they recently brought in another forward, Kenny Miller, but Jozy has the chance to get some real playing time if he applies himself, something which in the past has been a question for Jozy.  I know a lot of people bash Jozy for his goalscoring record but several of the goals Jozy has scored at the international level (such as his 1st international goal vs. Mexico & the goal vs. Spain in the Confederations’ Cup) have arguably been “World Class”-type goals & I am in the camp that thinks that part of his awful goalscoring record at Hull was due to Hull being an awful team with virtual non-existent service to the striker(s) up top.

Jonathan Bornstein, DF to UANL Tigres
Bornstein is the proverbial whipping boy in the US’ backline with his often sub-par (read as “really crappy”) performances for the USMNT.  Though I’m not ready to throw him to a pack of rabid, genetically mutated puppies like my colleague Chad is just quite yet, Bornstein still has a lot to learn at fullback following his switch from being a striker several years ago.  Interestingly, he moves to the Mexican Primera Division, Mexico being his mother ‘s native land (Bornstein originally was qualified to play for Israel, Mexico & the US internationally) & it’ll be interesting to see how his defense progresses as Mexico is generally a league that is a bit more open in its play.

Michael Bradley, MF to Aston Villa (Loan)
Baby Bradley moving to England is a good move in Bradley’s career which has been on a constant upswing the last few years.  Bradley is another player that is often maligned in certain US SOCCER circles as being the beneficiary of nepotism by head coach & father, Bob Bradley.  But Bradley impressed in the World Cup even receiving praise from Arsène Wenger on French TV at one point.  I think his aggressive, box-to-box style can fit in in the EPL but Bradley will have to battle Jean Makoun, Nigel Reo-Coker & Stilian Petrov in Villa’s midfield for playing time.

Edson Buddle, FW to FC Ingolstadt 04
Buddle has moved to 2. Bundesliga side, FC Ingolstadt & in 3 matches so far he’s scored a goal & added an assist.  Personally, I’m on the fence with Buddleas a USMNT player.  I’m not sure if he’s mobile enough to be a full-time international player especially if Bob Bradley will continue to experiment with the lone striker up top.  However, playing in Germany can only help his game expand & he did himself the biggest favor you can when going to Europe & scored on his debut.

Kenny Cooper, FW to Portland Timbers
Cooper returns to MLS possibly a bit humbled following two pretty unsuccessful seasons in Germany with TSV 1860 Munich.  He was injured most of last year & when you aren’t a guaranteed first-teamer, when you get injured overseas, often it’s hard to get back into the lineup.  Cooper will turnout for the expansion Timbers & no doubt look to get back into the USMNT mix up top but that situation is now more complicated with the likes of Teal Bunbury & Juan Agudelo impressing as youngsters so far.

Robbie Findley, FW to Nottingham Forest
Findley is another USMNT that is much-maligned (I’m definitely not a fan of him) but is on the move to England’s Championship level.  This should be a good move for Findley, though he has yet to play, because the Championship is a rugged, competitive league despite being a 2nd tier league.  Findley should learn a lot & his speed may be put to good use at Forest as English teams generally play a bit more with the long ball tactics which Findley may be a beneficiary of.

Brad Guzan, GK to Hull City (Loan)
Guzanmoved on loan to Hull & has been starting the last few matches.  He has been at Aston Villa the last 2 seasons but hasn’t gotten any 1st team matches in the league since his move & even though he’s a clear #2 behind Tim Howard, he needed matches to keep his sharpness.  He wasn’t getting any at Villa b/c his compatriot, Brad Friedel has been in pretty solid form despite being 39.

Eddie Johnson, FW to Preston North End (Loan)
Johnson gets a loan move which will hopefully see him get more starting time.  He has already started for Preston in their last match playing in the middle of a front 3.  While Johnson had seen much more playing time, albeit as a substitute, under Fulham manager Mark Hughes following Roy Hodgson’s departure to Liverpool, Johnson still needed starts to get his career fully back on track.

Jermaine Jones, MF to Blackburn Rovers (Loan)
This is possibly one of the shrewdest moves of the window of all, not just for an American player.  Jones’ physical, active midfield style should mesh well with the EPL & he shouldn’t require too much time to settle in.  Indeed, Jones has impressed in his first few matches for Rovers & it wouldn’t be surprising at all if the move was made permanent for next season.

Eric Lichaj, DF to Leeds United (Loan)
Lichaj moves on loan to Leeds as previously reported here.  I’m a big fan of Lichaj & have been impressed with him in his few early outings with the USMNT.  A move to the Championship should be really good for Lichaj as it should toughen him up properly as he’s already pretty damn good going forward like modern fullbacks must.

Oguchi Onyewu, DF to FC Twente Enschede (Loan)
Gooch was another USMNT that just needed a move to get game time.  Following his move to AC Milan after impressing in the 2009 Confederations Cup he unfortunately picked up a serious knee injury that October in a World Cup Qualifier & nearly missed the World Cup though he was clearly not match fit in South Africa.  The injury coupled with a glut of defenders at Milan, Gooch hadn’t seen a 1st team game at club level in over 18 months so any move would’ve been good for Gooch & he landed at Twente which is battling for the Eredivisietitle in Holland.  Though curiously, Gooch, has been initially seeing time at left back there under the guidance of his former manager at Standard Liège, Michel Preud’homme.

A few other “minor” moves for Americans in the window
Sean Cunningham, DF to Molde FK (NOR)
Josh Gatt, MF to Molde FK (NOR)
Jemal Johnson, FW to Lokomotiv Sofia (BUL)
Jeremy Vuolo, GK to AC Oulu (FIN)