ex-Columbus Crew striker Stern John.
Last week, the Trinidad and Tobago star signed with the Eagles after rejecting a new contract offer from his previous team, Southampton. His move caused some consternation on the south coast, where Southampton boss Alan Pardew was uncharacteristically critical of John's last-minute change of heart. But the Saints were relegated from The Championship last season, and Palace offers John an outside shot at reaching EPL nirvana.
The Championship ought to be renamed the EPL (the English Purgatory League). Every team prays to get out of it in order to gain eternal access (hopefully) to the massive television money available in the "big show." Palace is trying to hang onto their two young striking prodigies, Victor Moses and Sean Scannell, but John is an insurance policy that could pay dividends even if neither of them leaves in the next couple of weeks. Another reason Palace's shrewd manager, Neil Warnock, signed John is because he has a history of helping teams gain promotion to the top flight. Most famously, his last-minute goal at Millwall put Birmingham City into the 2002 playoff final. Subsequently, he scored in the penalty-kick shootout against Norwich to help clinch EPL promotion for the Blues. More recently, he helped Sunderland gain EPL upward mobility in 2007.
The new campaign not only offers John a chance at shooting for the EPL, but also a chance at reestablishing his reputation as a prolific goal scorer. Last season was a nightmare for John. Playing briefly for Southampton and then on loan at Bristol City, he scored only three goals in 36 games. In his MLS days, he was better known for scoring three goals per game. It was his reputation as a hat-trick man which gained the Socca Warrior the attention of European scouts. In his two seasons with Columbus, John bagged six hat tricks, one of them coming in a 5-1 playoff game win over D.C. United in 1999.
The T&T international has deep roots in U.S. soccer. He played varsity ball at Mercer County Community College in Monmouth, N.J., and in 1997 was noticed by MLS scouts when he scored 16 goals in 26 games for the A-League's New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers. Columbus took a gamble on the young striker after John's cousin (and then Crew defender) Ansil Elcock recommended him to the team. It was one of the best signings in MLS history.
In his rookie season, John led the league with 26 goals, and won the 1998 MLS scoring crown with 57 points. In his sophomore year, his 18 goals tied him with Jason Kreis for the 1999 MLS Golden Boot. After recording a two-season haul of 44 goals in 55 regular season games, former two-time European Cup winners Nottingham Forest landed John's service in one of MLS's first major transfer deals.
At the City Ground, John found his goal-scoring groove quickly. And with a succession of clubs in England, the now veteran striker established his reputation as a reliable goal scorer, although mainly at the Championship level. Crystal Palace is betting that he can find his old form again and help them challenge for a promotion place.
John, who will turn 33 in October, has signed a one-year deal with Palace and knows he has a lot to prove. But never count out a natural born goal scorer, particularly one who four years ago helped his country become the smallest nation ever to qualify for the World Cup Finals. It seems unlikely that John and Trinidad will repeat their extraordinary World Cup qualifying exploits this time around, but he might just spark life into the Palace young guard this season. The man known as "Bravo" shoots to kickoff one more bravura goal-scoring season on Saturday. Crew fans, for sure, will be wishing him well.
UEFA Europa League
In first-leg, third-round preliminary play on July 30, former Colorado Rapids defender
Dedi Ben Dayan
played the full 90 and picked up a yellow card for his new team, Hapoel Tel Aviv (Israel), as they staged a late rally to win 3-1 at IFK Goteborg (Sweden). Another Rapids alumnus in action on Thursday was
Tom McManus
. The midfielder started for Derry City (Ireland) in a 1-0 loss at CSKA Sofia (Bulgaria).
After conceding five goals to Mexico in the Gold Cup Final, ex-D.C. United goalkeeper Troy Perkins was back in goal for Valerenga (Norway) on Thursday. It was not a happy return to Norway for Perkins, as Valerenga lost 2-1 at home to PAOK Salonika (Greece). All the goals came in the first half.
U.S. FIFA Confederations Cup star Clint Dempsey was also back in action last week. The former Revs striker went 81 minutes in Fulham's (England) 3-0 win at FK Vetra (Lithuania). Former FC Dallas and Kansas City Wizards forward Eddie Johnson dressed for Fulham but didn't get off the bench.
Ex-FC Dallas striker Juan Toja was suspended for Steaua Bucharest's (Romania) 3-0 home win over Motherwell (Scotland). Two-team MLS veteran Douglas Sequeira was a second-half substitute for Tromso IL (Norway) as they rallied for a 2-1 home victory over NK Slaven Koprivnica (Croatia).
All second-leg games will be played on Aug. 6.
CONCACAF Champions League
In first-leg, first-round preliminary play on Wednesday, July 29, ex-New England striker
Ricardo Phillips
played the full 90 as San Francisco (Panama) beat San Juan Jabloteh (Trinidad) 2-0 at home. Also on Wednesday, former LA Galaxy defender
Michael Umana
scored the first goal (on a penalty kick) for Liberia Municipal (Costa Rica) in their 3-0 home win over Real CD Espana (Honduras). On Thursday, July 30, former Crew and Fire forward
Andy Herron
scored for CS Herediano (Costa Rica) in the 6-2 home loss to Cruz Azul (Mexico). Javier Orozco, the leading scoring in last season's CONCACAF Champions League, scored a hat trick for Cruz Azul. Former San Jose Earthquakes midfielder
Mauricio Solis
played the full 90 for CS Herediano. Return legs will be played from Aug. 4-6.
Elsewhere Around the World
In Bolivia, in Week 3 of the Torneo Clausura, former MetroStars midfielder
Joselito Vaca
played the full 90 as Oriente Petrolero was held 0-0 at home by La Paz on Thursday, July 30. In Week 4, on Sunday, Aug. 2, in the Santa Cruz Classico, OP tied 1-1 at archrivals Blooming. Vaca again played the full 90. It was an interesting week all around in Bolivia, with Apertura champions Bolivar being stripped of the title last week for fielding an ineligible player in the final game of the season last month. Real Potosi, who finished second, was declared the champions.
In Brazil, in Week 15 of the Campeonato Brasileirao, on Wednesday, July 29, former MetroStars defender Danilo da Silva rode the bench as Internacional won the fabled "Gre-Nal" derby, beating archrivals Gremio Barueri 3-2 at home. After giving up an early two goals lead, Internacional rallied to win the game on a Gonzalo Sorondo 85th-minute goal.
In Colombia, in Week 4 of the Copa Mustang II, the big story was the comeback of former MetroStars striker Anthony de Avila. The 46-year-old retired a decade ago, but like old soldiers, old strikers never die. And while el Pitufo's (the Smurf) speed might have faded his enthusiasm for America de Cali cannot be questioned. The team's all-time leading scorer with 201 career goals, he came on a substitute in the 76th minute of America's 1-1 home tie with Deportivo Pasto on Sunday, Aug. 2. According to various reports, de Avila didn't enjoy a farewell game with America when he first retired and wants the opportunity to play in one later in the season.
Another former MetroStars striker, Sergio Galvan Rey, had the unusual experience of coming into the game as a substitute and then later being substituted himself. The forward's unusual afternoon came in Atletico National 1-0 win at Deportes Quindio on Saturday, Aug. 1. Rey came into the game in the 32nd minute for Orlando Berrio, and came out in the 90th just after picking up a yellow card. Armando Carrillo replaced him.
In Denmark, 2007 MLS Defender of the Year Michael Parkhurst was back with FC Nordsjaelland after a week's hiatus with the U.S. national team at the Gold Cup. On Sunday, he played the full 90 as the Wild Tigers let a 2-1 lead slip away in the last minute of a 2-2 tie with Randers FC. Soren Berg scored the equalizing goal in the 90th minute for Randers. It was Nordsjaelland's first game since its young defender Jonathan Richter was struck by lightning two weeks ago. Richter remains in hospital. The team's official web page describes his condition as stable. Also on Sunday, former Galaxy defender Danny Califf began the game on the bench for FC Midtjylland at Brondby. Califf came into the game as a second-half substitute as FCM went down 3-1.
In Ecuador, in Week 3 of the Segunda Fase, El Nacional lost at LDU Quito 1-0 on a Claudio Graf goal. Former MetroStars and LA Galaxy midfielder Wellington Sanchez played the full 90 for El Nacional.
In Germany on Saturday, former MetroStars and current U.S. national team midfield star Michael Bradley missed a penalty kick as Borussia Moenchengladbach won 2-1 at FSV Frankfurt in the first round of the German Cup. Former K.C. Wizards and Chivas USA striker Matt Taylor made his debut for Frankfurt and played 52 minutes before coming out of the game. Also on Saturday, Kenny Cooper's new team TSV 1860 Munich won 1-0 at SC Paderborn 07.
In Ireland, former Rapids midfielder Tom McManus seems to be finally healthy after struggling with injury throughout his first League of Ireland Premier season with Derry City. On August 2, McManus scored as Derry lost 2-1 at fellow title contenders Shamrock Rovers. With the win Rovers kept hold of second place behind Bohemians, while Derry stay fourth in the standings after 22 games.
In First Division action, former Revs striker Richie Baker scored for Shelbourne Rovers in the 2-1 win over Finn Harps.
In Mexico, in Week 2 of the Torneo Apertura, former Chivas USA striker Isaac Romo played the full 90 as newly promoted Querétaro lost 3-1 at Pachuca on Friday, July 31. On Saturday, former Mexico national team star and FC Dallas defender Duilio Davino picked up a yellow card for his new team Monterrey in the 3-0 home win over Atlas. On Sunday, Puebla's new striker -- former LA Galaxy star Carlos Ruiz got on the board in the 1-1 home tie with UAG. Ruiz, who moved to the Mexico last month after a stint with Olimpia in Paraguay, missed a penalty kick in the 55th minute. Former MetroStar Diego Jimenez played the full 90 for the Tecos. Also on Sunday, two former Chivas USA players faced off as Pumas lost 3-0 at home to Mexico City rivals Cruz Azul. Paco Palencia played the full 90 for the Pumas, but Cruz Azul's Ramon Nunez had to leave the game at halftime.
In Norway, on Saturday, Aug. 1, ex-Red Bulls defender Hunter Freeman played the full 90 as IK Start slumped to one of the worst defeats in their history, an 8-1 hammering at Molde. Magne Hoseth scored a first half hat-trick for Molde, who led 5-0 at halftime. To add insult to injury Start's goal was scored on an own goal, and Freeman picked up a yellow card in the last minute of the game. Former FC Dallas defender Clarence Goodson, who returned to Norway from U.S. national team duty at the Gold Cup earlier in the week, was rested for the game. If you have to sit out a game, an eight goal mauling might be the one to miss.
On Sunday, Aug. 2, former Real Salt Lake defender Willis Forko played the full 90 as FK Bodo Glimt beat Sandefjord, 1-0 at home. MLS veteran Thiago Martins also started for BG. Also on Sunday, ex-D.C. United goalkeeper Troy Perkins returned to league action for Valerenga after playing for the U.S. national team at the Gold Cup. Having conceded two goals in an Europa League tie earlier in the week, Perkins gave up a trio of goals as Valerenga went down 3-0 at Stromsgodset. Fire and Wizards midfielder Khari Stephenson played the full 90 for Aalesunds FK in their 3-0 loss at league leaders Stabaek IF. Former Toronto FC goalkeeper Kenny Stamatopoulos posted a shutout for his new team, Fredrikstad FK, in a 1-0 home win over Viking Stavanger.
In Peru, on Wednesday, July 30, in Week 24 of the Primera Professional de Peru, former D.C. United goalkeeper Jose Carvallo was benched for Sporting Cristal's 1-0 home loss to Alianza Lima. On Saturday, Aug. 1, in Week 25, Carvallo remained on the bench for Sporting Cristal's 2-2 tie at San Martin.
In Scotland, crisis club Livingston was spared going into liquidation on Thursday, July 30, after the owner Angelo Massone agreed to sell the Scottish League One team to a group led by former Cowdenbeath owner Gordon McDougall. But on the pitch, the misery continued for Livi and manager John Murphy. On Saturday, Aug. 1, in his last game at the Livi helm, the former Revs and Crew assistant saw his team go down 3-0 at Albion Rovers in the first round of the Co-Operative Insurance Cup. Two days after the Cup exit, the new owners replaced Murphy with Gary Bollan, though Murphy agreed to stay with the club as an assistant.
A bitter pill for Murphy, but elsewhere for MLS alums in Cup action it was a case of just what the doctor ordered. Dr. Goals, Kenny Deuchar, resumed his rounds for St. Johnstone in fine fashion at Stenhousemuir. The former Real Salt Lake striker scored two goals and had an assist as the Saints won 5-0. Ex-Toronto FC forward Collin Samuel also grabbed a brace, scoring both goals after coming into the game as a 52nd-minute substitute. On Sunday, Andy Dorman's St. Mirren went one goal better than St. Johnstone, winning 6-3 at East Sterlingshire. The former Revs midfielder came out after 82 minutes. His teammate, Billy Mehmet, scored five goals in the rout.
Former Chicago Fire winger DaMarcus Beasley started for Glasgow Rangers, but only played the first half, in the 3-0 loss at Arsenal in the Emirates Cup Final on Sunday, Aug. 2.
Tradewinds
Former MLS wunderkind
Freddy Adu
told Dutch magazine
Sportweek
this week that he would love to play in Holland. The former DC United and Real Salt Lake player returned to training with current team Benfica in Portugal last week. Various reports have linked Adu to a reunion with former D.C. United teammate
Earnie Stewart
, who is now the technical director at NAC Breda.
Napoli head coach, and former MetroStars midfielder, Roberto Donadoni continues his summer spending spree, signing Austrian striker Erwin Hoffer from Rapid Vienna. It is reported that Hoffer, who has scored two goals in 11 appearances for Austria, signed a five-year deal.
Performance of the Week
It was a big week for former Chivas USA goalkeeper
Brad Guzan
with Aston Villa at the Peace Cup, a 12-time exhibition tournament staged in Malaga, Spain. With Villa's first-choice stopper, former Crew glovesman
Brad Friedel
, rested after playing the first two games in the tournament, Guzan seized the opportunity to show Villa manager Martin O'Neill what he can do between the posts. In the Villans' last match of the group stage on July 29, Guzan got his first start of the preseason and played the full 90 as Villa beat Atlante (Mexico), 3-1. He was back in the nets for Villa's 2-1 semifinals win over FC Porto (Portugal) on Friday, July 31, picking up a yellow card in a ill-tempered affair. In the final Guzan shutout Italian giants Juventus for 120 minutes, as the game ended 0-0 in overtime. In the penalty shootout, Guzan covered himself in glory-saving kicks from Italian international striker Vincenzo Iaquinta, and Azzurri legend Alessandro Del Piero (in what may have been the worst penalty kick ever taken -- but Guzan still had to save it). Villa won the title, 4-3 on penalty kicks. At the postgame press conference O'Neill hailed Guzan's stellar week, calling his performance in his three starts, "wonderful." With such an endorsement, Guzan has to be the POTW.
* AUTHOR'S NOTE: In this column, I originally wrote that John Murphy had been fired by Livingston. While Gary Bollan was appointed Livingston's manager, the club's new owners asked Murphy to stay with the team as an assistant coach, which he agreed to do. He remains with the club. I apologize for any misunderstanding caused by the column.
Mark C. Young is an Emmy Award-winning freelance writer/TV producer who has covered several FIFA World Cups and Olympic Games. He is a contributor to Goal.com and also writes for the blog "No Mas."
