There are several rumors floating around about American players either moving to Europe or changing to a different team on the continent. Anytime you change clubs, its risk vs. reward decision. I have analyzed the moves we have been hearing about.

Clint Dempsey to Everton, Spain, and a handful of other clubs

I wrote the other day that Dempsey to Everton makes sense. But there is an argument that he has improved at Fulham and will be getting regular minutes. But a move to Everton could net him a larger paycheck with a more consistent club. The only reason to leave England is to get Champions League experience.

Oguchi Onyewu to Ajax, Serie A, or France

Ajax is very serious about signing Onyewu, but Holland is not a top-flight league. Serie A would be better for his development in a World Cup year. He got his start in France, so a return would be logical. I am still holding out that a large club will realize how good he is.

Jozy Altidore to Fulham or Olympiakos

The move would be a loan and not a transfer. Olympiakos would be intriguing, but Villarreal will hold on to him for now. If Giuseppe Rossi leaves the club, then they are very thin up-front. Ultimately, Altidore will be loaned out but not until August.

Michael Bradley to Everton, Aston Villa, or Fulham

He should establish himself as a regular starter with Gladbach before looking to leave. However, Everton have been persistently interested in him. The Premiership would fit his style of play better, but it would not help with his questionable decision making regarding tackles.

Charlie Davies to a French or Netherlands club

He needs to climb up the European ladder slowly. A move to the Eredivisie for a couple of seasons would be smart. A club like Ajax or FC Twente would do wonders for his development.

Ricardo Clark to Rennes

He is in comfortable position with the Dynamo but needs to move abroad. He does not have the frame to play a holding midfielder in England, so a move to Ligue 1 would suit him better.

Heath Pearce to Randers, Austria, Bundesliga 2

He would be wise to return to Scandinavia.  He needs regular time to get his career back on track. A move to Austria makes little sense. It will be interesting to see where he winds up.

Where do you think these players should go? Should Clark leave MLS for Europe? Should Bradley leave before locking down a starting spot? Where should Davies go? Share your thoughts below.

Before the US begins its next international competition, let’s take one final look at the Confederations Cup. Below are the player grades for the tournament, which takes into consideration all five games. The grades:

Goalkeepers

Tim Howard - He deservedly won the Golden Gloves for the tournament. He was huge in the semi-final and final. He established himself as one the top goalkeepers on the planet. Grade: A

Brad Guzan – He only played in one match but had a good showing against Egypt. He firmly claimed the backup role for 2010. Grade: B

Defenders

Oguchi Onyewu – He had a little extra motivation, looking to earn a contract with a big club in Europe. He was the rock of the defense and won almost every ball in the air. His only fault was not being more dangerous on attacking set-pieces. Grade: A-

Jay DeMerit -He had an excellent tournament and elevated his status as a fringe player to a lock. A move the Premiership would bolster his chances of starting alongside Onyewu for 2010. Grade: B

Jonathan Spector – He turned the right back position into a competition and established himself as the front runner.  Regular time will benefit his cause. He could shift over and partner with Onyewu to form an interesting pair. Grade: B+

Carlos Bocanegra – He impressed in the Spain game but struggled against Brazil. His biggest problem is lack of holding the ball, when he just clears instead of looking to build. He is still the best option at left back. Grade: C+

Jonathan Bornstein – He proved to be a serviceable left back at the international level. But he did nothing to standout and had some break downs defensively. Never-the-less, he is a versatile player who probably did enough to earn a spot. Grade: C

Midfielders

Michael Bradley – He had moments of brilliance but also showed immaturity. His work ethic and play attracted interest from major European scouts. However, he must show more discipline at the international level. Grade: B-

Ricardo Clark – He recovered from his early red card and had an incredible game against Spain. He will most likely be on the 2010 roster, but a move to Europe will help his development. Grade: C+

Benny Feilhaber – He is back after dropping off the radar and showed the most skill on the ball. He proved he could be an effective two-way midfielder at this level. Grade: B-

Clint Dempsey – He started the tournament out horribly, but was a different player the last three games. A much needed rest will help for the qualifiers, and a proposed move to a bigger club will be beneficial. Grade: B-

Landon Donovan – He was the best field player for the US, and should have won the Bronze Ball. He showed that a MLS player can excel against the world’s best. Grade: A

Sacha Klejstan – He is struggling with confidence and this tournament did nothing to booster it. He needs to get out of his funk. Grade: D-

DaMarcus Beasley – Sadly, his days are likely done for the national team. He is still young enough to contribute, but injuries and lack of playing time have slowly taken a toll. Grade: F

Forwards

Jozy Altidore – He scored with great individual effort, but that was his only goal. His recent injury and lack of playing time showed, as he was usually spent by half-time. He needs to get regular first team football. Grade: B-

Charlie Davies – He is another player who improved his status from fringe to nearly a lock. His speed created all sorts of problems for opponents. Hopefully, he will break-out in the Gold Cup and move to a larger club. Grade: B

Connor Casey – He has been scoring goals and that warranted a call-up, but he played himself off the World Cup squad. He was lethargic and was never dangerous, which is not a good combination for a striker. Grade: D

Are these grades fair? Which players improved their stock? Which players should not be on the World Cup roster? Share below.

Clint Dempsey, winner of the Bronze Ball at the recent Confederations Cup, has been linked with a move to Everton. He would be wise to switch allegiances to the Merseyside club. Everton has been the model of consistency in the English Premier league.

Dempsey seems to be the type of player that manager David Moyes likes to employ. He is a hard worker who plays with a chip on his shoulder. He is capable of finishing at a pretty good rate. While he is not a target striker, he has proven he can score goals in the air. He has also shown the ability to excel when the spotlight is on.

Moyes would most likely deploy Dempsey as a striker, alongside Yakubu. He would be competing with injury-prone and aging Louis Saha for minutes. Victor Anichebe is rumored to be on the way out. Dempsey could also be plugged in at right midfielder.

With Everton’s limited budget but desire to compete with the big four in the EPL, a player like Dempsey makes perfect sense. He rarely suffers from injuries or form problems and has the ability to play multiple positions.

Everton is also rumored to be interested in signing Michael Bradley and was linked with Jozy Altidore last season. It could become a destination for top American players.

Do you think this is a smart move for Dempsey? Would he fit in well with Everton? Is the just beginning of American players heading to the Merseyside? Share your thoughts below.

-Yesterday’s loss was heartbreaking. But to help keep things in perspective, read An American Fan’s View from Baghdad from the Goal blog. The Corner Kick blog says that soccer may have just arrived in the US. American Soccer News does a great job summing up the Confederations Cup and WVHooligan talks about the US getting respect from average fans.

-Edgar Castillo is open to playing for the US. Castillo would immediately make an impact at the left back position.

-Grant Whal is reporting that Michael Bradley is being investigated for an incident following the US vs. Spain game. I wrote the other day about how US players were being discriminated against from referees.

-ESPN has announced its plans on how it will cover World Cup 2010.

-Fredy Montero has been named player of the week by MLS-Daily. WVHooligan posts a Week 15 roundup, as does US Soccer Players.

-MLS Talk discusses the new USMNT depth chart after the Confederations Cup.

-Soccer y Futbol asks what happened in the Dynamo’s 1-0 loss to the Galaxy.

-DC United released defender Anthony Peters today. Peters only appeared in one match for United.

How are you recovering from the US loss? Are you excited about Edgar Castillo potentially playing for the US? What do you think about the Bradley incident? Share below.

The US will play Brazil today in the Confederations Cup final. They have already faced Brazil in this tournament, losing 3-0. But this game is expected to be different, as they have been playing with more poise and grit since the embarrassing defeat.

The Americans will need to put pressure on the Brazilian defense during the first twenty minutes of the match. This will force them to respect the US’ attack and not throw as many bodies forward. One difference from the first game is that the US will lineup with two forwards, which should help keep the Brazilian fullbacks at home.

The US backline, bolstered by the return of Carlos Bocanegra, was outstanding in the 2-0 win over Spain. The unit will need to play even better today. Bocanegra did not get forward much and essentially set-in as the third center back. Expect more of the same. Jonathan Spector will likely provide an option to the attack, but he will need to be careful to not get caught out of position.

The midfield will need to replace its engine, Michael Bradley. He was sent off in the 87th minute of the semi-final.  Benny Feilhaber will likely get the start and pair up with Ricardo Clark. Feilhaber will need to play both ways, something he proved capable of the last two matches.

Landon Donovan will need to orchestrate the attack and exploit open space in the midfield. Clint Dempsey will need to continue to open things up with his through-ball ability. Both players are also expected to share in the defensive responsibilities.

Jozy Altidore and Charlie Davies will benefit from having both Dempsey and Feilhaber in the midfield. Brazil will have to adjust to the strength of Alitdore and the pace of Davies. The forwards will need to finish any opportunities presented.

The Americans are playing with house money at this point, but a win over Brazil would set the table for next summer. They are playing with passion and confidence, with wins over Egypt and Spain to show. If the US can get the first goal, its theirs to lose.

Prediction: US 2 Brazil 1

How do you think the US will do? What are your keys to the game? Share below.

The  US shocked the world on Wednesday, with a 2-0 win over Spain. The Americans used a combination of discipline, effort, and all-around solid play to defeat the Spaniards, ranked number one by FIFA. The ratings:

Tim Howard [9] – He was steady and made several correct decisions to parry instead of attempting to catch difficult shots. He set the tone with an important save in the beginning of the second half. He came off his line well, but his distribution was shaky at times.

Jonathan Spector [8] – He continues to impress. He did have a shaky moment early, when a bad touch led to a chance. But he stayed composed on the ball and made smart decisions on when to attack. He helped kill the game by staying compact and closing-down well.

Jay DeMerit [9] – He was the man of the match. He had several clutch tackles, and he threw his body around to block shots.

Oguchi Onyewu [9]- He was dominant in the air and quickly covered ground to thwart the attack. He was crtical down the stretch.

Carlos Bocanegra [8] – He positioned himself well. He helped to keep the back line composed. However, he did not get forward in the attack much and had an embarrassing foul throw.

Clint Dempsey [8] – His finish was pure effort. He opened the game up early with a long shot and combined well with teammates to set-up chances. He defended when called upon.

Ricardo Clark [9] – He ran with the ball well in the midfield, which helped to relive pressure off the back line. But he was everywhere on defense. He blocked at least three shots and was amazing in the closing minutes, highlighted by a bicycle clearance.

Michael Bradley [6] – His red card was unfair, but he has to show more discipline. He worked hard to pressure the ball in the midfield. He failed to connect on several through-balls.

Landon Donovan [8] – He put in another excellent, work-man type effort. He played box to box , and his set pieces were dangerous.

Charlie Davies [7] – He looked spectacular in the first twenty-five minutes. His bicycle kick would have been amazing. His pace caused problems, but he needs to work on his crossing.

Jozy Altidore [8] – He had a great individual effort on the goal, by using his strength to shield and then calmly converting. He won two corners and was a nuisance the entire match.

Benny Feilhaber [8] – His patience to hold the ball-up led to the run that created the second goal. He was smooth on the ball and worked hard to defend in the closing minutes.

Connor Casey [6] – He helped to kill some time, but should have held the ball in the corner.

Jonathan Bornstein [NR] – He was not on the pitch long enough to evaluate, but did block a shot late.

What did you think of the US’ historic performance? Who was your man of the match? Share your thoughts below.

The US will play Spain on Wednesday, after an unlikely run to the semifinals of the Confederations Cup. The Americans will have another shot at proving they can play with the world’s elite teams, after struggling earlier in the tournament against Brazil and Italy.

There is a bit of keeper controversy, as Brad Guzan performed admirably in the nets against Egypt. However, Tim Howard should start. Howard is the undisputed number one, and he should play in any important match.

The back line will remain the same, as the unit has developed cohesion throughout the competition. Jonathan Spector and Jonathan Bornstein will be instrumental in getting forward, as well as helping shut down the potent Spanish attack. Ougchi Onyewu and Jay DeMerit will have to stay connected and balanced while patrolling the center of the defense.

The midfield will need to stay compact, in order to force Spain wide. Ricardo Clark will have to tuck in and destroy. Michael Bradley will need to be more cautions and pick the right spots to join the attack.

Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey will presumably be playing the outside positions in the midfield. Donovan will need to run at the Spanish defense to create opportunities. Dempsey will need to continue to play with creativity and vision, all while avoiding being dispossessed in the midfield.

The US could opt to use a 4-5-1, but will most likely start with two strikers. Jozy Altidore and Charlie Davies combined for a goal against Egypt, and the pair will need to pressure the back line of Span into a mistake. That is not likely considering that Spain has been scored on in the last four games.

The key for the US will be creating space in the attack, but quickly clamping down once the ball is lost. The Spaniards know how to score when give time and space. The Americans will need to be cautions while defending, but the fullbacks will need to provide width to the attack when necessary.

The Americans showed spirit, discipline, and effort against the Egyptians, and the result was a 3-0 win. The US is through to the semifinal round, where they will face Spain. The ratings:

Brad Guzan [8] – He turned in a solid performance. He made an excellent save in the first half and was composed down the stretch. His distribution was on target, and he did a good job of looking to build out of the back.

Jonathan Spector [8] – His highlight of the match was hitting the wicked cross that led to the third goal. He did a good job staying compact in the final minutes, but he gave away possession twice in bad spots.

Jay DeMerit [8] – He had a critical tackle in the box that cleared a dangerous situation. He worked well with Onyewu to cover the outside backs, and he cleared out several chances in the air. But his passing was sketchy.

Oguchi Onyewu [9] – He was the man of the match for the US. He won almost every header, and he covered well for the full-backs. He read the game well and destroyed many chances.

Jonathan Bornstein [7] – He made himself an option on the left flank but had some questionable passes. He did well defending in 1 v1 situations, however he lost his man that led to an open header.

Clint Dempsey [8] – He had a gritty performance, with several excellent passes that set-up chances. His header was placed perfectly. He did turnover the ball over twice, but his overall contribution to the match overshadowed his mistakes.

Ricardo Clark [7] He had a quiet but effective game. He did well when forced to defend deep and blocked a shot in the 75th minute. He also had the flick to Bradley that sprung the second goal.

Michael Bradley [8] – He opened the game up by taking shots outside the penalty area and had some dangerous passes from deep in the midfield. His splitting run set-up the second goal, which was calmly taken. He worked hard to pressure the ball.

Landon Donovan [9] – He set the example by hard work on both ends. His runs forward were thing of a beauty and kept the Egyptians on their heels.  His set-pieces were dangerous, and his linking with Bradley on the second goal was sublime.

Jozy Altidore [6] – He should have finished the sitter. He did a good job of the holding the ball-up and sent in dangerous crosses. But he failed to link up with the midfield, when his back was to the goal.

Charlie Davies [7] – He used his pace to be pesky. His persistence paid off, which led to the first goal. He challenged the keeper with a well-taken cross.

Benny Feilhaber [7] – He did well getting back to defend. He could have struck the volley better, but showed awareness to get off a quick shot.

Connor Casey [6] – He did have an unnecessary turnover without much pressure but helped to clear a corner late in the match.

Share your thoughts on the player ratings below.

The US will play its final Confederations Cup match on Sunday, looking to redeem its poor performance in the first two matches of the competition. The Americans will need to show effort, organization, and discipline against the Egyptians, which are playing for a semifinal spot in the tournament.

The defensive back four will likely remain the same. The only question mark is if Carlos Bocanegra will return from injury. Fullbacks Jonathan Bornstein and Jonathan Spector appear to be fit and able to play another match. A quality performance from Oguchi Onyweu, who has had a good tournament, could help him secure a contract offer from a top European side.

Bob Bradley needs to send a message to Clint Dempsey, who has looked uninspired during the summer national team campaign. This comes as a surprise to many, considering his solid effort during the Premiership season. A benching could send a message to Dempsey that his spot is not secure.

Ricardo Clark, the only destroying midfielder on the roster, will return from a suspension. If Clark starts, Michael Bradley will be able to push-up more. Bradley looked very poised in the attack against Italy. The midfield will need to get width from Landon Donovan on the right flank and Jose Francisco Torres, assuming he starts, on the left flank. Benny Feilhaber is expected to feature as the attacking midfield option if Bradley sticks with the 4-5-1.

If Bradley does only start one striker, Jozy Altidore would be the logical choice. But if he elects to use two strikers, Freddy Adu should start with either Altidore or Charlie Davies. Alitdore, not being a true target striker, would struggle to create chances for Davies.

Prediction: Egypt 2 US 1

Who would you like to see Bradley start? Would sending a message to Clint Dempsey be a smart idea? Could Altidore and Davies work together? Feel free to comment below.

On my second viewing of the US vs. Brazil game, I was optimistic to see more positives emerge from my frustrated initial thoughts. But that was not the case. It was a  lousy performance from a team that played on its heels and rarely showed a complete effort. The ratings:

Tim Howard [7] – He could have done better on the first goal. But he kept the US in the game. Two plays standout: his punching out a chance in the 72nd minute and coming off his line to snag a ball in the 77th minute.

Jonathan Spector [8] – He was the man of the match for the US. He was collected and poised bringing the ball out of the back and provided support for the attack with his creative runs. He threw himself in the way of shots and intercepted numerous through-balls. The only knock was his partial responsibility on the first goal.

Jay DeMerit [6] – He was able to get his head to the ball in several dangerous situations and did a good defending when isolated. But he needed to read the game better on the third goal, where he got caught ball-watching.

Oguchi Onyewu [8] – He covered a lot of ground in the back for the US and continually pressured and forced shots wide. He had a critical tackle in the box and read the game well to cut-out many chances.

Jonathan Bornstein [6] – He did not appear to be intimidated and did a good job defending. But he has to do better at keeping possession of the ball. He had a couple of dangerous crosses.

Landon Donovan [7] – He put in a tireless effort, creating chances with his work-rate and composure on the ball. He combined well with teammates. His set-pieces were dangerous, and he worked with Spector to shut-down the right flank.

Michael Bradley [6] – He did well pressing in the midfield, but his passing out of the back was inconsistent. His bad touch led to the set-piece in the 7th minute.

Sacha Klejstan [3] – The red card was deserved for the unnecessary foul, committed out of frustration. He did a bad job of defending in the box , where Kaka blew right past him. His passing was questionable, and he was never dangerous.

Clint Dempsey [4] – Arguably, his worst performance for the national team. He repeatedly turned the ball over and struggled to defend. He held the ball for too long in the attack, when better options were available.

DeMarcus Beasley [3] – He has become painful to watch, taking too many touches and not connecting any passes. He gambled in the wrong spot defensively, but then failed to close his man down in the defending third.  He takes the entire blame for the second goal, where a lack of concentration led to an easy chance for Brazil.

Jozy Altidore [6] – He was starved for service, and rarely got the ball where he could be dangerous. He had the best chance for the US. But his first touch popped the ball up, not allowing him to get a good strike on it.

Connor Casey [4] – He was lazy. He did not apply any pressure and committed too many fouls. He did have good one-touch pass and the header off the bar.

Benny Feilhaber [7] – He brought a much needed creative spark and energy to the game. He did well chasing back to cover and got forward to support the attack.