Know your enemy. Sun Tzu said it, as have countless others through the centuries. Here at SBI, we feel you, as American soccer fans, should know your enemies too (enemies on the soccer field that is).
So it is time to start updating you on how the other players in the region are doing in Europe. This will become a weekly update on how CONCACAF players are doing in Europe's top leagues (and just like for Americans Abroad, the English Coca Cola Championship and Bundesliga 2 will be regarded as top leagues).
If you were curious about how Mexico and Canada's (and any other country in the region's) top players are doing across the pond, or how Honduran superstar David Suazo (pictured) is doing in Italy, this will become the place to find out.
Now, without further ado. Here is how the rest of CONCACAF's players did in Europe this weekend:
CANADA
Julian DeGuzman started and played 90 minutes in Deportivo La Coruna's 1-0 win against Real Betis on Saturday.
Jonathan DeGuzman started and played 90 minutes in Feyenoord's 3-0 loss to Ajax on Sunday.
Will Johnson dressed but did not play in DeGraafschap's 1-1 tie against Excelsior on Saturday.
Iain Hume started and played 83 minutes in Leicester City's 2-1 loss to Blackpool on Saturday.
Patrice Bernier started and played 90 minutes in Kaiserslautern's 1-1 tie vs. Monchengladbach on Friday.
Rob Friend missed the match for Monchengladbach due to suspension.
COSTA RICA
Alvaro Saborio came off the bench and played 37 minutes in FC Sion Sitten's 2-0 loss to Grasshoppers.
GRENADA
Jason Roberts dressed but did not play in Blackburn's 0-0 tie vs. Everton on Saturday.
HONDURAS
David Suazo came off the bench and played 34 minutes in Inter Milan's 1-0 win against Empoli on Sunday.
Edgar Alvarez came off the bench and played 10 minutes in Livorno's 1-0 loss to Palermo on Saturday.
JAMAICA
Marlon King started and played 90 minutes in Wigan's 1-0 win against West Ham United on Saturday.
Ricardo Gardner started and played 90 minutes in Bolton's 2-0 win against Reading on Saturday.
Nyron Nosworthy started and played 90 minutes in Sunderland's 3-0 loss to Liverpool on Saturday.
Ricardo Fuller started, played 90 minutes and scored a goal in Stoke's 2-1 win against Cardiff on Saturday.
Luton Shelton started, played 90 minutes, and scored a goal in Sheffield United's 2-2 tie against Colchester on Saturday.
Jason Euell started and played 90 minutes in Southampton's 1-1 tie vs. Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Damion Stewart started and played 90 minutes in Queens Park Rangers' 3-0 win against Bristol City on Saturday.
MEXICO
Rafael Marquez started and played 90 minutes in Barcelona's 1-0 win against Osasuna on Sunday.
Giovani Dos Santos came off the bench and played 27 minutes for Barcelona.
Carlos Vela started and played 85 minutes for Osasuna.
Andres Guardado played just 12 minutes before leaving with a thigh injury in Deportivo La Coruna's 1-0 win against Real Betis on Saturday.
Guillermo Franco came off the bench and played 20 minutes in Villarrea's 1-1 tie vs. Mallorca on Sunday.
Pavel Pardo and Ricardo Osorio both missed Stuttgart's 4-1 loss to Schalke 04 on Sunday due to suspension.
Carlos Salcido started and played 90 minutes in PSV Eindhoven's 2-0 win against AZ Alkmaar on Saturday.
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
Stern John started, played 90 minutes and scored a goal in Southampton's 1-1 tie vs. Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Kenwyne Jones started and played 90 minutes in Sunderland's 3-0 loss to Liverpool on Saturday.
Please feel free to add other CONCACAF players to this list in the comments section. Preferably players from European first divisions and the second divisions of England, Italy, Germany and Spain. You can add other players from other divisions but I won't be including them in the weekly roundup because that would take WAY too much time.
Ives Galarcep is an American soccer columnist for ESPNsoccernet.com and creator of SoccerByIves.net.
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excellent addition to the site's regular features...thanks Ives.
Posted by: Javier | February 04, 2008 at 03:35 PM
can we have a concacaf dive counter? how many dives did the latin american players take over the weekend?
Posted by: gilly hotrod | February 04, 2008 at 03:40 PM
Is it possible that these other CONCACAF countries have so few players abroad? Or do you just do the more well known ones?
You hear about how literally thousands of Brazilians go abroad each year, etc.
It'd be interesting to see a ranking of countries with amt. of players abroad and see where the US stacks up. It seems like we'd be in the top 5-10 considering the dozens of our players who play in the Scandinavian countries...
Posted by: THE Nick | February 04, 2008 at 03:46 PM
Great thread, Ives! This, coupled with your YA thread is extremely useful...
Posted by: RK | February 04, 2008 at 03:52 PM
Hearing about CONCACAF players abroad made me even more excited for the US vs. Mexico match on Wednesday. I want a 3-0 win with Bradly, Altidore and Adu all scoring. I know I'm asking a lot, but a guy can dream.
Posted by: Nick | February 04, 2008 at 03:55 PM
Great feature - many thanks!
Posted by: fuego@fanatico.com | February 04, 2008 at 03:55 PM
How i wish my G's would sign David Suazo
Posted by: Henry | February 04, 2008 at 04:02 PM
Also, Salcido (MEX/Fullback) was traded to Atletico Madrid.
Don't forget about Daniel Imhof, who started and played 90 minutes for Vfl Bochum in their BIG 2-1 win AT Werder Bremen.
Posted by: Kris | February 04, 2008 at 04:09 PM
Hey Ives, I think the Honduran Palacios went 90 for Wigan. The other Honduran on Wigan, Figueroa, neither played nor set on the bench. This is a great feature, thanks for working so hard on this blog.
Posted by: BFBS | February 04, 2008 at 04:25 PM
There is also a Honduran now at Wigan - Wilson Palacios he played in his second game at the Prem side on Saturday and played the full 90. He started the previous week as well, and looked pretty dangerous (I just noticed him because it was an FSC game and they said he was a new player).
Posted by: centrejack | February 04, 2008 at 04:27 PM
Great idea! I look forward to seeing more of these in the future.
Also, did you ever get the scoop on what happened to Dorman?
Posted by: Adam | February 04, 2008 at 04:30 PM
The Netherlands Antilles have a brand new team with some players from the Dutch Premier Division: Leon Kantelberg played for VVV Venlo this weekend, just as Tyrone Loran for NAC Breda, Nuelson Wau at Roda JC and Robin Nelisse for FC Utrecht (very good striker). Also Shelton Martis in England at West Brom. Giving SBI a little exotic twist!
Posted by: jan | February 04, 2008 at 04:36 PM
You forgot Paul Stalteri - Canada
Posted by: sublicon | February 04, 2008 at 04:43 PM
Good stuff. Keep it up!!
Posted by: Uncle Jason | February 04, 2008 at 04:44 PM
Ives, I was hoping you would start this, but you did forget a few players. Keep this section up though, even though Mexico, CR, etc are our rivals it is good to have pride in good players that come from the CONCACAF.
Posted by: Joe_in_ND | February 04, 2008 at 04:54 PM
Glad you added Jonathan De Guzman on there. Though I doubt he'll join his brother Julian and choose to play for his native Canada. The half-Filipino, half-Jamaican is most likely going to play for the Dutch, with whom he has lived with from age 13.
He's the Giuseppe Rossi of Canada.
Posted by: Dominghosa | February 04, 2008 at 05:02 PM
With the WC qualifying underway (albeit barely) this is a great addition and this will help me follow the lead up to WC 2010 that much more. This is why I support your sponsors. Thanks Ives.
Posted by: Danny | February 04, 2008 at 05:09 PM
Ives: it's good to see what a little friendly competition can result in--I've looked long and hard for good, reliable coverage of the domestic football scene, and it seems you and Goff are it. Now one of you just needs to hire Jenn Chang and call it a day.
This is a great feature, btw. Good to see you iterating on the initial vision so quickly. I now check the site at least three times a day.
Posted by: judemaier | February 04, 2008 at 05:12 PM
Great to have the add'l info. Can you also post the players positions like, Kenwynne Jones (F)? I've never heard of a lot of these guys and it would help!
Posted by: nick | February 04, 2008 at 05:13 PM
Ives, did you get this idea from one of my previous comments (requesting more news on international players)? If so, I am taking all the credit for this idea. j/k.
Good stuff, enjoyed it as usual!
Posted by: HE from NJ | February 04, 2008 at 05:14 PM
Paul Stalteri - Transferred from Spurs to Derby, next stop the Coke League.
Great feature!
Posted by: Steve | February 04, 2008 at 05:32 PM
With regards to top leagues, Mexico also has Nery Castillo (currently injured) at Manchester City, Aaron Galindo at Eintracht Frankfurt, and Hector Moreno just joined AZ Alkmaar. And since he got a call up for Wednesday's game, it's worth mentioning that Antonio De Nigris is playing for Ankaraspor in Turkey.
Posted by: jpc | February 04, 2008 at 05:32 PM
More Canadians:
Josh Simpson played in that same match as Patrice Bernier (for Kaiserslautern) and got himself sent off in the 70th minute.
Kevin McKenna played 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw for FC Koln at home to FC St. Pauli.
Jason DeVos played 90 minutes for Ipswich Town against Sheff. Wednesday.
Tomasz Radzinski played for Skoda Xanthi in their 3-2 win over Atromitos.
Tam Nsaliwa played the first 45 minutes for AEK Athens versus Panionios.
David Edgar dressed but did not play for Newcastle United versus Middlesborough.
Marcel De Jong played 90 for Roda JC against FC Groningen.
Daniel Imhof played 90 minutes for Bochum in their 2-1 victory over Werder Bremen.
Posted by: Rudi | February 04, 2008 at 05:35 PM
someone already mentioned it, but Wilson Palacios is at Wigan...already cementing himself as one of the better players on the team.
Posted by: nico | February 04, 2008 at 05:41 PM
any news on if jean-phillipe peguero has been playing for brondby in denmark? Once jozy leaves rbny, maybe he could come back for a little longer this time??
Posted by: Richard | February 04, 2008 at 05:58 PM
"He's the Giuseppe Rossi of Canada"
He's the Owen Hargreaves of Canada...oh, wait.
Some other Canadians to keep an eye on in those leagues... Marcel de Jong (Roda JC Kerkrade), Kevin McKenna (FC Koln), Jamie Peters (Ipswich Town), Josh Simpson (Kaiserslautern),
Posted by: Anders | February 04, 2008 at 06:05 PM
Great column Ives, one that I've been hoping to see. Reading through the posts seems as though the list of players that could potentially be listed here is fairly large. Is there a way to tap into your readers to get updates sent on Monday to post on Tuesday so you have the most complete list possible? You may need a blogger intern...
Posted by: Mark | February 04, 2008 at 06:22 PM
this is great. thanks ives!
Posted by: brentmcd | February 04, 2008 at 07:07 PM
Love this Ives, please continue this I've been looking for something like this for years.
Jamie Peters is on loan to gillingham until the end of the year so that's the 3rd division.
Paul Stalteri is at Portsmouth not Derby.
other Canadian players that have been overlooked:
Belgium
Michael Klukowski (D) at Club Brugge KV
Denmark
Atiba Hutchinson (M) at FC Copenhagen
Issy Nakajima-Farran (M) at FC Nordsjaelland
England
Asmir Begovic (GK) occasionally dresses for Portsmouth
Germany
Nik Ledgerwood (M) 1860 Munich - he's been injured most of this year.
Romania
Lars Hirschfeld (GK) at CFR Cluj
Scotland
Richard Hastings (D) at Inverness CT
Rhian Dodds (M) at Kilmarnock
Trinidad and Tobago Player overlooked:
Darryl Roberts is in the Netherlands playing for Sparta Rotterdam. (A TFC draft pick last year)
Posted by: Chris | February 04, 2008 at 07:51 PM
Paul Stalteri is at Fulham... not Portsmouth or Derby.
Good addition Ives. Cheers.
Posted by: Michael | February 04, 2008 at 09:46 PM
I like the new feature. Bravo
Posted by: Scott A | February 04, 2008 at 09:56 PM
Excellent feature. It should be noted that Giovani Dos Santos pulled out a top drawer touch in the driving rain to set up Xavi's cracking volley for Barcelona's winner over Osasuna.
(Doesn't mean he's the wunderkind, but credit where credit is due).
Watch it here: http://www.gamingaccess.com/index.php?news_id=10399&language=english
Touch at the 15 second mark-
Posted by: YankatOxford | February 04, 2008 at 11:36 PM
Fantastic addition to the site. I look forward to reading this one every week. Its funny to see so many canadians offering so much advice about canadian players as well. Reminds me of all my Canadian friends here in Japan who are always pointing out when someone famous or succesful is from Canada.
Posted by: Matt in Japan | February 04, 2008 at 11:47 PM
Yeah, we always talk about Rossi, but Canada has been screwed by Hargreaves, and most likely the younger DeGuzman. Jonathan looks like he is on his way to being a solid Euro player.
That said, at least we continue to cap players with dual nationality (Zizzo, Altidore, Parkhurst, and hopefully Holden against Mexico). Bradley knows what he is doing. If Arena wouldn't have treated Rossi like crap then maybe things would be different (they probably wouldn't be but I can dream).
Posted by: Ted | February 05, 2008 at 12:48 AM
Nice new feature!
Sounds a bit lame, but how about adding the league for some of those more obscure teams?
Also - people jumping in w additional names -add the country so we know where they're coming from.
Posted by: FredMacMurray | February 05, 2008 at 07:52 AM
Costa Rica International
KAA Gent 1 FC Brussels 0
Bryan Ruiz scored once again and gave KAA Gent a victory at home. He now has 9 league goals and 1 cup goal. He is one of the top scorers in the Belgium League.
Posted by: Harold Font | February 05, 2008 at 10:24 AM
Follow the Honduran Players Wilson Palacios with Wigan
Posted by: Robert | February 05, 2008 at 02:23 PM
jonathan de guzman will never play for canada, he's just gotten or is in the process of getting his paperwork done to play in Holland.
sorry Canada.
Posted by: JaySlick | February 06, 2008 at 01:43 AM