The DLF Premier League Team of the Season: Week 5 Update!

Before the start of the season, I made my bold declaration that I was done trying to choose an English Premier League team to call my own.  Four weeks of games have come and gone, and I feel as though it is high time to re-evaluate the teams that fans of the USMNT need to care about.


With the exception of our keepers, it has been rather discouraging for American players in the EPL thus far. So without further ado, here is the new top five in the running for The DLF Premier League Team of the Season.

1. Sunderland (previously 2nd)

Despite Jozy's inability to find the back of the net so far in league play, he has consistently started and played significant minutes.  I will admit that my own expectations ran a bit high after his sublime performance for the US against Bosnia, but his integration into Premier League play was always going to take some time.  In his most recent match against Arsenal, he was absolutely ROBBED by a referee's decision in the 71st minute after brushing aside an unapologetic challenge from Bacary Sagna that should have been played as an advantage.  Instead, the ref stopped play because he had already blown the whistle, negating what would have been Jozy's first EPL goal for Sunderland.  It was certainly a foul on Sagna, but this is precisely the sort of instance in which Jozy needs the ref to understand where his advantages lie.  If an opponent can be awarded with a soft foul anytime they have to deal with him physically, then he will have a hard time using his strength.  He should have been allowed to attempt to make something out of the play, at least until the point of being pulled down.  But it was an encouraging moment for him at least. 

If Altidore continues to be featured up top, and receives the majority of starts and significant minutes, there is no reason to think that Sunderland won't remain atop the rankings.  I have faith that if he continues to get time, Jozy will end up with a respectable goal tally by the end of the year.  He may or may not be able to keep Sunderland from going down at the end of the year, but it doesn't really matter if he gets in a full year of EPL experience ahead of Brazil 2014.  His value will only continue to increase as he gets acclimated to his new surroundings,  and a productive striker in the EPL is about as valuable to the USMNT as it gets.

2. Everton (previously 3rd)

I feel as though I downplayed Everton (and Tim Howard's) importance in my first installment.  Basically I reasoned that Everton could back into the award simply by starting Howard in every league game and having the rest of the Americans in the EPL fall to shit, but he is so much more important to our hopes in Brazil than that.  For the USMNT to have a successful run in the 2014 World Cup, Tim Howard will have to continue to be one of the best keepers in the world.  Much has been made of the emergence of the likes of Omar Gonzales, Matt Besler, Clarence Goodson, etc. but not enough attention has been paid to the leadership that Howard has demonstrated in getting the best out his defenders.  I won't pretend to be an expert on the differences that leadership in goal can have for a team, but Howard has been so consistent in goal over the last decade that we can sometimes take him for granted.  I love Brad Guzan, and am seriously excited that we have somebody of such quality as our backup, but at this point there is no argument in my mind that Howard is the starter in Brazil.

Howard and the toffees just managed a huge 1-0 win against Chelsea over the weekend, and in the process extended their league shutout streak to 289 minutes.  That is a seriously impressive for an American-led defense in the Premier League.  So consider this my official apology Mr. Howard, you shant be disrespected again. 

3. Stoke City (previously 1st.)

My hopes at the beginning of the year for Stoke city were quite lofty, but now things seem to have taken a steady downturn.  Despite giving Geoff Cameron steady time, Stoke haven't even been including their other two Americans on the game day roster.  Both Brek Shea and Maurice Edu haven't even sniffed playing time so far this season, which is really discouraging as a USMNT fan.  It feels as though in almost every performance that Brek has for the national team, he creates at least two quality chances and has several more moments of technical brilliance.  He always seems to be going forward, and has consistently created threatening situations as a substitute when given the chance.  Part of me wants to start by saying "what's wrong with Stoke, why aren't they giving him a chance?" But in reality what I want to know is, 'what is going on in those training sessions?  Is Brek playing scared?  Is he not all the way back from injury?  Did he make a pass at the coaches wife while he was giving her art lessons?  What the fuck gives?'

Compounding my annoyance with Stoke is the lingering (albeit unfair) distaste I have for Geoff Cameron following the USA's qualifying loss in Costa Rica.  Cameron was inserted in midfield for the injured Michael Bradley, and the US midfield has never looked worse.  It seemed as though he had no confidence on the ball, and provided none of the steady leadership that we have come to expect from Michael Bradley.  But is it really fair of me to be so down on Cameron simply because he isn't Michael Bradley?  Of course not.  So I can't rightfully drop Stoke any lower than third, because they are currently giving an American outfielder significant time against the highest level of competition.  It doesn't change the fact that I don't really want to see Cameron on the field in Brazil, but I can't fault the guy for getting quality minutes.

Get it together Stoke/Brek.  Be more open minded/play better in training.  And when Agudelo joins in January, give him a chance/make sure that he learns from your mistakes!  

Oh, and nobody gives a shit about Maurice Edu.

4. Aston Villa

Part of me wanted to put Aston Villa third, but at the moment they aren't playing anybody that is likely to get playing time in Brazil.  It is nothing but positive to have more than one keeper in the EPL consistently manning the backstops, but I pray that nothing happens to Timmy and that he has an injury free run through next summer.  But it's great to have somebody waiting in the wings that is getting big game experience.  Now if they just avoid relegation so that Brad has an EPL team to play for in the future, that'd be great.

5. NOBODY

Talk about a letdown:  there is seriously zero other EPL teams with an American making any significant contribution.  In fact, I don't think there is another American (besides old man Friedel) on an EPL ROSTER. This is thoroughly depressing to me.  I didn't realize just how scant the American presence in the EPL was, with only a fifth of teams employing Americans in a significant way.  But NO MATTER.  We're in this for the long haul, and at some point there will be another team deserving of this fifth spot.  For the time being, we can begin rooting for Championship teams to be promoted!  So here's the top three teams that I'm hoping gain promotion at the end of the season, preferably thanks to the heroic efforts of the American's they employ.

1. Nottingham Forest (Eric Lichaj)

2. Birmingham City (Jonathan Spector)

3. Bolton (Tim Ream)

Stay tuned for an update of The DLF Team of the Season: Euro Bracket! coming tomorrow.  As always, I would love to hear any questions, comments, or insults that anybody cares to share.  Go Black Cats, and go USA.