Monthly Wrap of Americans in Iceland Division 2 - Wrap for May

OK  weird to do a monthly wrap, but in truth its very very difficult to get info on 2nd Division Icelandic teams - we do have a number of young players there, and finally I have found a site that will give all the info I need going forward. As the season is young I thought it would be a good time to do a catch-up....so here goes. May 7th, Matt Nigro, started went 90, and Scored the eventual winning goal in a 3 - 0 victory for Vestri over...

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TRANSFERS: Johnatan Lama Joins Huginn in Iceland

22 year old Dual USA/Colombia Johnatan Lama joined Huginn in Iceland's Inkasso-deildin (1st Division) in late April, since then he has become a regular starter and is making his mark. Johnatan who joined Huginn from Miami/Dade FC. was a top 4 Nike Chance winner as an amateur and has spent time with several program's including Barcelona and Dinamo Zagreb, and he was under consideration for Stoke City, word has it, he is still attracting interest...

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WEEKEND WRAP: Sunday 5/29/2016 - Features a Promotion in Germany, a Goal in Sweden and an Assist in Finland

Matches involving Americans in Germany were not quite over, today Jan George played for Regensburg as they won the day and promotion from Regionalliga to 3 Liga - Congrats to Jann. In Japan Daniel Schmidt has become unbeatable in the nets for Yamaga, registering his 9th shut-out in 15 games. Eddy Prugh continues to score for Bodens BK as they make an early season noise, pulling themselves into 4th spot (tied 3rd /GD) just 2 point out of top spot....

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WEEKEND WRAP: Saturday 5/28/2016 - Features 4 Goals including a Brace (Video) in Sweden

We are in that time of the year when all the 'big leagues' in Europe are complete. For me that means zeroing in on Scandinavia (primarily). It's a time for identifying who is playing for who and where everyone is placed (not easy -sometimes- with a reduced amount of web and social media available). So this Saturday we have 4 goals, from 3 different players and Leagues. The first in Denmark, 2 goals in Sweden and 1 in Iceland. All things considered...

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TRANSFERS: Jon-Paul Pittman Has Found a New Club - Harrogate Town

Jon-Paul Pittman, who surprisingly, was let go by promoted Grimsby Town, has bounced back immediately, signing with Harrogate Town in the National League North league (5th tier) Pittman commented "I played against Harrogate last year for Grimsby and got a good feeling about the place. When I've been speaking to people about a move here, well I just love everything I hear about the club. Me and the gaffer have had a chat about what is required...

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TRANSFERS: Marc Heider Leaves Holstein Kiel for VFL Osnabruck in Germany 3Liga

Sacramento's Marc Heider, has transferred to VFL Osnabruck in Germany's 3LIga.  Marc (30) has been plying his trade at Holstein Kiel since July of 2009 , where last season he played 42 times across all competitions and scored 7 goals. Marc began his career at Osnabruck, working his way through the ranks (U19,  U21/Osnabruck II, Senior) before being transferred to Bremen, where he spent 3 years in the Bremen II squad. After Bremen Marc...

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CONTRACTS: GK Cody Cropper Released by MK Don's

Photo: MKDons.com The annual  'clean-out' continues, as British clubs pare down their squad sizes and and start the process of rebuilding for next season. We have seen a few Americans fall along the way, over the past few days Zak Whitbread and Jon-Paul Pittman have been released, now goalkeeper Cody Cropper join's the list. According to the MK Don's web-site, the club has decided not to exercise its contract with Cody when it expires at...

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DAILY WRAP: 5/23-24/2016 Quick Wrap-up of the Past 2 Days - Promotions a Goal and a shut-out

Yesterday and again today, we had good news for Americans in Germany. Yesterday 5/23/2016), Tim Chandler and Frankfurt won their 2nd leg P/R play-off, against Nurnberg, and will remain in Bundesliga next season. Frankfurt won the play-off 1 - 2 on agg.  Tim did limp off in the 69th minute with an apparent muscle injury, it's unclear how serious Chandler's injury is. Maybe Jurgen Klinsmann will need to go back to his Copa America roster and pick another fullback. Earlier yesterday George Fochive (90) and Viborg visited Europa League bound...

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CONTRACTS: Jon-Paul Pittman Released by Grimsby Town

Grimsby Town have made there retention list public, and Jon-Paul Pittman is leaving the team. According to the Grimsby Telegraph; Jon-Paul Pittman was the first released by Grimsby Town after posting a goodbye message to fans on his Facebook page. The 29-year-old from Oklahoman made 33 appearances in total this season, including substitute cameos in both the Play-Off Final and the FA Trophy Final. Scoring 6 goals. He wrote on Facebook: "Loved...

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CONTRACTS: Zak Whitbread released by Shrewsbury in England

Yup  that's Clint Dempsey at Fulham and Zak Whitbread, Norwich, as they battle in the EPL The linchpin of last season's defensive corp at England's League One Shrewsbury Town, Zak Whitbread, has been released by the team in its annual retention listing. Zak joined Shrewsbury in September 2015 (his contract is up May 30), its uncertain what Zak, now 32, will do in the coming years. Zak played 21 times in the league this past season plus an...

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WEEKEND WRAP: Sunday 5/22/2016 - Features 1 Goal, 1 Assist, 1 Shut-Out and 1 Team Qualifies for Europa Cup

Not a whole lot today, but we did have 1 Goal in Norway, an Assist in Denmark and a Shut-Out in Japan (considering how few American's were in action, not to bad). The USMNT (which we normally don't write about, had a 1 - 3 win at Puerto Rico, with goals from Tim Ream (Fulham), Bobby Wood (Union Berlin/Hamburg) and Paul Arriola (Tijuana)  Finally, Belgium side Gent, with Kenny Saief qualified for the Europa League, while Netherlands side...

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WEEKEND WRAP: Saturday 5/21/2016 - Features a 4 Goal Performance, German Lower Leagues and Scandinavia

So, except for some intriguing Cup games, we are now at a time when Scandinavian football comes to the fore, lower leagues become the news of the day, and scoring goes off the charts. 10 Goals today 3 goals in Finland, 6 goals in Germany and 1 goal in Sweden, with 6 goalscorers. Lets start with Alassane Kane, playing for DJK Bamberg in Oberliga, almost pulled off an amazing outcome to an amazing game. With his team down 3 - 7 he bought them back...

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RUMORS: DeAndre Yedlin - Sunderland to Make Offer to Spurs

Photo: TottenhamHotspur.com Most don't remember that USMNT DeAndre Yedlin is only on loan from Tottenham to Sunderland. That's testament to how he has melded into the Sunderland line-up.  Now, according to a report in England's Daily Mirror manager "Big" Sam Allardyce would like that to become a permanent deal. The 22 year old, Seattle Washington speedy defender, joined Sunderland on loan in September 2015, has played 23 times for the "Black...

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RUMORS: Report Says Emerson Hyndman Will Leave Fulham This Summer

Photo: Fulham FC According to a report by ESPNFC, USMNT and Fulham midfielder, Emerson Hyndman will leave Fulham when his contract expires next month (30.06.16). According to ESPNFC; "Fulham had hoped to keep the highly-rated midfielder, but Hyndman has informed the club he has no intentions to sign a new deal as he plans to move on." Emerson, who is only 20, played 17 times (16 League, 1 League Cup) for Fulham this past season, and scored 1...

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WEEKEND WRAP: Sunday 5-15-2016 Features Tim Howard (Video) Bobby Wood and DeAndre Yedlin plus 3 Goals

An eventful Sunday Match Day. with the EPL coming to a close (almost - Manchester United-Bournemouth game was postponed due to a bomb scare) Reports are out that Sunderland will offer Spurs $2million for DeAndre Yedlin (that's what Spurs paid Seattle) Tim Howard finished his EPL/Everton career (Video Below) with his 132nd shut-out. In the lower leagues, Jon-Paul Pittman and Grimsby gained promotion to League 2. In Germany, promotion/relegation...

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TRANSFER: Bobby Wood Joins Hamburg in Bundesliga

Photo: zimbio.com After a successful season in Germany's 2. Bundesliga with Union Berlin, Bobby Wood has been picked up by Hamburg SV for an estimated $4 million. According to Kicker on-line the deal was completed today, following conversations and a medical on Friday. Hamburg finished 10th in the Bundesliga this season. Great move for Bobby, who has earned the move up. I am sure we will see Bobby in the USMNT in Copa America next mon...

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WEEKEND WRAP: Saturday 5/14/2016 - Features 4 goals, Final Day in Germany and More

So today was the final day for the senior leagues in Germany, with Bayern, Dortmund and Leverkusen all qualifying for the Group Stage of the Champions League, and M'Gladbach will have to take the long road in qualifying. In the Europa League Schalke and Mainz qualify with a disappointing Hertha entering the early rounds to qualify.  Stuttgart and Hannover are relegated to 2Liga, and Frankfurt will play in a play-off against Nurnburg to see...

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US Goalkeepers Moving Around Across The Pond

Everton will have a special game program tomorrow to celebrate Tim Howard's tenure at the club, very classy. Tim is obviously a very high profile keeper, but there are others playing in Europe and Scandinavia who get less coverage (undeserved) and some are on the move. Paul Rachubka who spent this season with hapless Bolton Wanderers has been released. Paul has become a bit of a journeyman in England's lower leagues, so it would not surprise to...

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WEEKEND WRAP: Sunday 5/8/2016 - Features 3 Goals, a Red Card and More End of Season Drama

In soccer not everyday is going to be a great day - today may be one of those day's. There is good stuff, but not so good as well (and a lot of 'short appearances). First we had 3 goals, 1 in Sweden, 1 in Germany and 1 in Iceland. We had a shut-out in Germany from 1 goalkeeper, and a very costly red card from another in Norway. 2 teams in Germany were promoted to Bundesliga next season, in Denmark one team is on the cusp of promotion, one team...

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WEEKEND WRAP: Saturday 5/7/2016 - Feature 7 Goals (inc Hat-Trick) End of Season Drama

Busy, Busy, day that saw 7 goals by 4 players, 1 in Philippines, 1 in Germany, 3 in Israel (video) 1 in Poland and 1 in France (video). There was an assist in England (video) and we had a couple of shut-outs by our goalkeepers 1 in Japan and 1 in Germany. In all (I covered) 54 US players played in 14 countries today - pretty impressive numbers Lets go to the list; GK Daniel Schmidt and Yamaga visited Verdy in Japan's J-League 2 and came away...

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TRANSFERS: Goalkeeper Craig Hill Moves to KuPS in Finland

Photo: svenskafans.com Goalkeeper Craig Hill has left Kultsu FC and moved to KuPS in Finland. Craig who joined Kultsu in 2015 had a mixed time with the Kakkonen (third tier) side, being loaned out to KTP in Ykkonen (second tier) for 4 months before returning. The move to Veikkausliiga's KuPS (first tier) happened today, and would seem like a good move on his part. Craig played at SMU before being drafted by FC Dallas in 2011, form there he spent...

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DAILY WRAP: 5/4/2016 - Features 3 Goals, Finland League Play & Norway Cup Shocks

More than enough going on today to warrant a 'Daily Wrap'. Finland who are in their very early season had a full card of games, while Norway's NM Cup is getting to 'nitty gritty' time. The news from Norway is grim for US players. We had 3 goals, 1 in Bosnia, 1 Finland and 1 in Sweden. Let just go to the list..... Danijal Brkovic (dual US/Bos) started and went the whole 90 minutes and Scored Olimpic Sarajevo 2nd goal in a 0 - 3 win over Drina...

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