Tomorrow is the official kickoff of the new English Premier League season. It has been 17 years since John Harkes became the first American to play at the highest level of English football, but today, there are seven players from the US National Team pool in the Premier League.
Of course there is US goalkeeper Tim Howard, who also wears the number 1 shirt for Everton. Howard, considered by some to be one of the top 5 keepers in the world, is the backbone of an Everton defense that wants to finally break into the "Big 4" of the league. Also minding the net for his club side is Marcus Hahnemann, who is now at Wolves since being released from Reading after they were relegated. Aston Villa has two American keepers, veteran Brad Friedel and his understudy Brad Guzan. Fulham FC also has two American players, both forwards. Clint Dempsey has been with the club for a few years and is a regular starter, while Eddie Johnson is relatively new to the Cottagers. Also in London is defender Jonathan Spector, who plays for West Ham United. New to the Premier League this season is Jozy Altidore, who after an unsatisfying stint in Spanish football with Villareal and Xerez, is now at Hull City. Altidore is needed to provide Hull with some offense if they hope to survive their second season in the Premier League.
This promises to be an exciting year for Americans playing abroad. Next summer will bring the World Cup to South Africa, and a new team in MLS, Philadelphia Union. Can Howard and Everton play with Manchester United? Can Altidore help Hull stay up? Can players like Johnson and Spector improve their game enough to make it on the World Cup team? Will anybody prove that they can't handle the pressure and atmosphere of a big time European league and return to MLS?
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