Crossing the Pond: EPL and MLS #1
There are a number of British players dotted around the league; and more to come on the horizon with the eagerly awaited arrivals of Premier League legends Steven Gerrard in LA and Frank Lampard in New York.
In terms of American Premier League involvement, Tim Howard and Brad Guzan are the most notable. There were no Premier League or Championship games this week however due to the international break.
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It is not all about the Premier League though, the league is under scrutiny due to the failures of all its representatives in the European Champions League and the Europa League. No English sides are left in Europe. Scottish giants Celtic also had a miserable European campaign. It must be remembered that the Championship, below the Premier League, is packed full of talent and includes some Americans in Tim Ream of Bolton, Oguchi Onyewu of Charlton Athletic and Danny Williams of Reading.
The biggest British name in MLS right now is arguably Bradley Wright-Phillips; although the biggest former Premier League name is that of Robbie Keane. Keane was missing for the LA Galaxy this week on international duty with the Republic of Ireland.
Clint Dempsey could also lay claim to the title of most notable former Premier League player but the Seattle forward pulled out of the USMNT roster through injury and therefore was not in action this week either.
It was business as usual for Bradley Wright-Philips, as he scored first from a free-kick against Columbus Crew in what turned out to be 2-1 win for the New York Red Bulls. The free-kick was won due to a foul by ex-Middlesborough and West Ham defender Emanuel Pogatetz. The second goal was The Red Bulls 1000th goal and was scored by a player with various English clubs to his name, Mike Grella.
New Vancouver Whitecaps signing, Welshman Rob Earnshaw made the perfect start to his new team with a late winner against the Portland Timbers, obviously this meant that English defender Liam Ridgewell of Portland was less happy to see his side lose so late in the game.
In Orlando, on-loan Middlesborough defender Seb Hines started for Orlando and helped them to a draw against the Montreal Impact. Hines was joined by fellow Englishman Luke Boden and the Republic of Ireland’s Sean St. Ledger. Orlando’s Head Coach Adrian Heath is English too making this game a good result for the English contingent. For the Impact, former West Ham man Nigel Reo-Coker played the full 90 minutes.
English (and possibly American international in the future) Dom Dwyer started for Kansas as they ended New York City’s unbeaten start to the season with a 1-0 road win at the Yankee Stadium, although he was unable to get on the score-sheet.
Real Salt Lake’s Luke Mullholland scored in their win over Toronto, the Preston born midfielder scoring in the 38th minute. Their opponents had another Englishman in Luke Moore, who partnered ex-Nottingham Forest striker Robbie Findley in attack because of regular starter Jozy Altidore’s absence.
Elsewhere, former Leeds United winger Robbie Rogers started in LA Galaxy’s loss against DC United.