Another week of EPL actions sees losses for the USA's top two players come in very different ways
It was not a great week for the top two players in the rankings and a particularly bad one for Clint Dempsey at Fulham.
After being the hero against Liverpool last Monday, Dempsey was on the other end of things against Swansea, scoring an own goal and having a penalty saved in a 2-0 loss. In between those two events the American did all he could get his side back into the match, driving the attack and setting up a couple of dangerous moments, but once the penalty was stopped the momentum swung back against the Cottagers.
Howard had his hands full with Arsenal and pulled off several fine saves, but right now every goalkeeper in the world is at the mercy of Robin van Persie, and Howard is no different. The Dutch striker scored one of the goals of the season to give Arsenal a 1-0 win.
Luckily for Howard the road should be a bit easier as Christmas draws near. Everton has three matches in the next two weeks and all of them look reasonably winnable, with a road trip to Sunderland as the most difficult of the fixtures.
For Dempsey and Fulham, the Christmas season could be brutal. The Cottagers have an extra match tossed in for Europa League play, a must-win game against Odense BK Wednesday, and the league schedule is brutal. Bolton comes to London this weekend, but a home match against Manchester United and a trip to Chelsea on Boxing Day loom large.
Neither side is really out of the relegation fight yet, but both seem safe bets to end up safe in the long run. Still, this season has not gone according to plan, and as 2012 begins it will be worth keeping an eye on how Fulham and Everton react in the transfer window.
For the purposes of the ratings, Dempsey and Howard stay one and two and will almost certainly finish 2011 in that order.
| 1. Clint Dempsey |
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Comment: Dempsey had a tough day at the office against Swansea. Two bad moments will do that. However, for much of the rest of the match he was Fulham's most dangerous player and continues to be one of the few real threats the club has to offer. |
| 2. Tim Howard |
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Comments: Howard was beaten by one of the best goals of the EPL season. Van Persie's form right now is absurd and the American 'keeper was at his best to hold Arsenal to just one goal. That's probably a little consolation for a loss that keeps Everton within four points of the relegation fight. |
| 3. Jozy Altidore |
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Comments: Altidore continues to play well for AZ and has been the surprise of the year in terms of Americans in Europe. Hopefully that form carries throughout 2012 and can be replicated on the international level. |
| 4. Landon Donovan |
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Comments: Donovan is worth keeping and eye on right now because of his club situation and the rumors that inevitably swirl around the Galaxy constantly. |
| 5. Carlos Bocanegra |
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Comments: Bocanegra was back in action this week and his club picked up another routine win in the SPL, holding another clean sheet in the process. |
Honorable Mention: A couple of players are noteworthy this week. First, Fabian Johnson ofHoffenheim grabbed two assists, both with good balls in from the left. He continues to show that he can deliver the service the USA has lacked from the wings and could be a major player when World Cup qualifying comes around. The other in Maurice Edu, who seems set to have a contract extension with Rangers in the near future. On the one hand, it's positive to see Edu has gained the trust of the club. On the other, it would be nice to see him in a better league and those chances may go away if his price goes up, which tends to happen when new contracts are signed.
i really love dempsy plaing style:P love uuuu
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