USA Tour Summary

[Exeter 77]

I was thinking that the line-up against Werder Bremen will be closer to that we will see at West Ham.

[not3bad]

Last season Norwich made use of their full squad and tactics/formations were changed depending on the opponent and match situations so we could see a few different things. It sounds like they've only used the 4-2-2-2 so far though. Albrighton and N'Zogbia will certainly be hoping for some flexibility as they might not get many opportunities otherwise.

As will Delph, Carruthers and Gardner.

EDIT: And Daniel Johnson!  I hope he gets his chance this season.

[OCD]

I think Delph and Gardner would fit into the formation quite easily and Carruthers has planned as a central attacking midfielder too. N'Zogbia might be comfortable going more central but I've only ever seen Albrighton out wide.

[tomd2103]

I think Delph and Gardner would fit into the formation quite easily and Carruthers has planned as a central attacking midfielder too. N'Zogbia might be comfortable going more central but I've only ever seen Albrighton out wide.

Thought he looked good when he came on against Portland. 

[Ads]

I think the most pleasing news is that Bannan has looked sharp in a central role.

I think he may well be Makouns replacement. He can keep things ticking over with the neat short stuff, but he is more dynamic than Makoun.

It would be great to see wee Barry make the grade.

[paul_e]

For people who have been to the matches how did the fonz do, sounds like he took his goal well and got himself into some good positions for other chances as well.  I think his style should be particularly well suited to what Lambert is trying to do so i really want him to step up and deliver on the potential this year, these friendlies might give a glimpse as to whether that may happen.

[not3bad]

For people who have been to the matches how did the fonz do, sounds like he took his goal well and got himself into some good positions for other chances as well.

The Fonz looked very lively against Philapehphia Union as he was against Burton Albion.  Sounds like he didn't combine so well with Weimann against Portland.  I only saw the highlights against Chicago Fire so not sure about one either.

[Drummond]

I'm not sure Guzan will be vying for our Goalie shirt....

Bleacher Report

On Tuesday, July 23, 2012, while on a tour of the U.S. with Aston Villa (and on the same day he played in a friendly match against the Portland Timbers), it was announced that Brad Guzan had signed a six-month loan deal with Chivas USA. The deal will keep the American keeper with the "goats" through the end of the MLS season.

Interestingly enough, he will now be on the same team as fellow American keeper and one of the top keepers in MLS, Dan Kennedy. It will be interesting to see if there will be an open competition between the two or if one is chosen as starter for the rest of the season. It would be shocking, however, if Guzan were to go on loan just to be a No. 2 behind Kennedy.

Brad will miss the first half of Villa's EPL campaign and was in the middle of a competition for the goalkeeping post with Irish international Shay Given, a race manager Paul Lambert had declared wide open.

All in all, it will be interesting to see how things work out and if Guzan could even end up with the red and white half of Los Angeles permanently.

[hilts_coolerking]

Wasn't wide open for long then.

[Mister E]

http://www.portlandtimbers.com/news/2012/07/match-replay-watch-full-archived-match-timbers-vs-aston-villa-jeld-wen-field

Just watching this - Collins is STILL trying to hit those cross field passes that tend to balloon into the left-hand stand.

[pauliewalnuts]

I like the fact that Chivas' nickname is "The Goats".

I also liked Portland's thing of having the bloke saw the log when they scored, plus their use of Italian Ultra style crowd leaders getting the atmosphere going.

I think I'd quite like going to MLS games if i lived over there.

[hilts_coolerking]

I like the fact that Chivas' nickname is "The Goats".

I also liked Portland's thing of having the bloke saw the log when they scored, plus their use of Italian Ultra style crowd leaders getting the atmosphere going.

I think I'd quite like going to MLS games if i lived over there.

middle class interloper

[pauliewalnuts]

I like the fact that Chivas' nickname is "The Goats".

I also liked Portland's thing of having the bloke saw the log when they scored, plus their use of Italian Ultra style crowd leaders getting the atmosphere going.

I think I'd quite like going to MLS games if i lived over there.

middle class interloper

[hilts_coolerking]

Ended up watching 10 minutes of Swiss Toni.  "Do I find you reading a book, Paul?"

[SoccerHQ]

Wouldn't worry about Weimann, he showed a lot of potential at the end of last season and arguably scored the goal that kept us in the premier league.

If he gets enough minutes I think he'll scored 10 league goals this season.