TUESDAY NIGHT CARLING CUP ACTION

Jon-Paul Pittman pounces for third match running

JPP is a striker who has found his rhythm, taking his tally to four goals in three games after netting a brace in Wycombes 2-2 draw with Northampton. The Chairboys went out 3-0 on penalties.

It was JPP's penalty that drew Wycombe level, and his 92nd minute downward header that sent the tie into extra-time.

JPP had spoken to Chairboys Player on Saturday afternoon, after his stunning 80th minute strike earned the Blues their first three points of the season against Bristol Rovers.

"It's up there with my best goals" JPP said. "It was a very important goal and it's always nice to score.

"We needed those three points and everyone is buzzing. We've worked really hard this week, not that we don't normally, but we've tried to work on a few things and I felt that we were more positive.

"In training you try and work on taking as few touches as possible around the penalty area and luckily it came off for me. I was struggling with a cold earlier in the week but I'm over that now and I just want to get out there and score more goals."

He duly did last night, although it's a shame Wycombe are out of the Carling Cup, because on this form Pittman would be relishing the chance to play against tougher opposition.

Pittman's next test comes on Saturday, with a trip to Brighton.

TUESDAY NIGHT RESERVE TEAM ACTION

Eric Lichaj wrote another chapter into his successful reserve team story, helping Aston Villa beat West Ham 2-1. Villa have won their first two games of the season, as they defend their Barclays Reserve Southern League title.

Cody Arnoux came on as a half-time substitute for Everton Reserves, but could do little to help as they went down 4-1 to Manchester City. Fellow American Anton Peterlin was named but unused.

THE WEEKEND ROUND-UP

Jon-Paul Pittman scores again - a League One player can make the national team. Elsewhere, a relatively quiet week in England.

By James Curtis

Soccer by Ives posted the news that Jon Paul-Pittman scored his second goal in as many games, in what turned out to be the winner as Wycombe Wanderers beat Bristol Rovers 2-1 on Saturday. It drew plenty of response on why Ives had posted such a "pointless" story, raising the question can a League One player compete at a national level?

JPP is regarded highly by the Wycombe fans, and there is no doubting he has ability to be a top league scorer by the end of the season. In today's football climate, it is becoming more common for top clubs to scroll further down the league in search of talent, and it wouldn't be surprising if JPP was offered a contract for a Premier League team if he catches the eye this year.

It's something of a catch-22 as to why top flight clubs are dedicating more time towards finding talent from the lower leagues.

Because the money has dried up for many, managers are being forced to search for talented players from as far wide as the non-league circuit. "Doing more with less" was the way managing director of the Baltimore Sun Thomas Klebanow put it, in American television drama The Wire.

This summer, 19-year-old midfielder Fabian Delph was signed by Aston Villa from League One side Leeds. He impressed by featuring heavily for the Yorkshire club in 44 games last season, scoring 6 goals.

Keith Andrews is another good example. The Irishman was bought by Blackburn from MK Dons in 2008 and has now played 33 games for the Rovers, earning 6 international caps along the way.

In the way of Non-League, Cody McDonald was snatched from Isthmian Division One North side Dartford, by Norwich in February 2009, jumping from the eighth tier of English football to The Championship in one move.

The saddest part resides in the fact this type of talent has always been there, beating in the dark beneath a world of egotistic big money signings, lazy scouting systems, and lazy business. This is the catch.

But ultimately these agendas are ringing positive, because we are beginning to see a new surge in the level of football as first-team places are no longer guaranteed like they once were. Cheaper players who can perform to the same standards as aging stars are beginning to get the nod.

The third tier of English football too, should be taken more seriously. Charlton Athletic, Leeds United, Norwich and Southampton have all been Premierships teams as far back as 2005, and as near as 2007. Ironically, the dip in money available has brokered a more fiercly contested world for football.

So I remind JPP of Cody's McDonald's words: "If you are scoring goals you are going to get noticed." At just 22 years-old Pittman is young enough to gradually progress and work his way up the football pyramid. He has every opportunity to reach the the higher end of English football and then, playing for the national team would be within reason.

The other bright news around the Football League, was Brad Friedel's clean sheet, in Aston Villa's 2-0 win over Clint Dempsey's Fulham. Eddie Johnson made his first contribution of the season, coming on as a late sub for The Cottagers. In League One, Jemal Johnson, started and played over an hour, in MK Dons 2-1 win over Exeter.

EUROPA CUP DRAW

Americans meet in group stages

Tim Howard faces the possibility of competing against national team-mate Freddie Adu. Ghanaian born Adu was on loan at Monaco last year where he made nine appearances. He has struggled for regular first team football since joining Benfica in 2007, scoring two goals in 11 games. AEK Athens and BATE make up group E

Clint Dempsey will be looking to test his skills in Europe when Fulham play Roma, Basel and CSKA Sofia in Group I.

EUROPA CUP ROUND-UP

Rickrolled Villa miss the Europa train, but full steam ahead for Dempsey and Howard

By James Curtis

It’s called “Rickrolling“. Described as an internet meme - a web term for a bait or a switch - Rickrolling happens when a person provides a web link claiming to be something, but the link actually takes the user to a video of Rick Astley’s 1987 smash hit, “Never Gonna Give You Up”. I have been “Rickrolled” before, and it was the same feeling last night when Aston Villa were dumped out of the Europa Cup.

It’s easy to get Rickrolled twice in succession, and the first one last night came when Martin O’Neill named his starting XI. Nigel Reo-Coker, Steve Sidwell and Gabriel Agbonlahor were all dropped to the bench after Villa’s win at Liverpool on Monday, and in came Emile Heskey, John Carew and Fabian Delph. Brad Guzan replaced Brad Friedel in goal.

The changes may not have been as drastic as last year when O’Neill was slammed for fielding a weakened side in Moscow. But consistency in results is built on momentum, and this can be achieved in football by finding a formation that works, together with a group of players who naturally gel to that arrangement.

Winning 2-1 on the night was not good enough though, bailing out 2-2 on aggregate and losing on the away-goal ruling. Villa were guilty of missing good chances, including a penalty taken by Ashely Young.

MON said: "We had a number of chances to go from 2-0 to 3-0 and that would have sealed the tie. I'm desperately disappointed."

MON also said he felt the team would need three goals before the game to be sure of qualification, but with a stronger side, Villa could have sealed this game by four or five. With the defensive depth of Reo-Coker and Sidwell, they might have kept a clean sheet on the night. Not conceding would have been Villa’s other path through.

Villa were guilty of setting their alarm to late, failing to get the vital away goal in Vienna, where this tie looks to have been settled, only now in hindsight. It is the heavy price of not starting the season sharply and because of this they have missed the Europa train.

Villa fans might also feel Rickrolled, purchasing their ticket on the night with a ‘buy one get one free’ policy; pay money for a Rapid Vienna ticket and get one free for a tie that now doesn’t exist.

The Villains entertain Fulham on Saturday knowing their opponents qualified for the Europa League through the same route. Fulham ended up nine points behind Villa last year.

Tim Howard and Clint Dempsey await to see who they will facing in the group stages after Everton and Fulham both saw out second leg ties against Sigma Olomouc and Amkar Perm respectively. The draw will be made later today.

EUROPA LEAGUE PREVIEW

"Salvation lies within" for Brad Friedel, and Howard and Dempsey hoping for straightforward evenings

Brad Friedel could be back between the sticks in Aston Villa's Europa League home leg clash against Rapid Vienna tonight. The Ohio giant will be looking to emulate Tim Robbins, the star of his favourite film The Shawshank Redemption, by keeping a clean sheet and helping Villa escape from their 1-0 deficit. American understudy goalkeeper Brad Guzan started in the first leg, and might feature if Martin O'Neil decides to field a weakened team.

Friedel made it 40 appearances in a Villa shirt against Liverpool on Monday night, proving his worth once again by keeping the reds at distance with a fine display. He was like a great Ohio Sawtooth Oak bearing down on anybody trespassing in his penalty area. At other times an Aspen Bigtooth, reaching with long branch-like arms to deny his opponents. The 38-year-old will probably be hoping for a much easier night though, something like putting his feet up and taking in a little Le Nozze di Figaro by Mozart.

Elsewhere, Tim Howard will likely face a stress-free evening in goal when Everton try to protect their 4-0 lead on their trip to visit Czech team Sigma Olomouc. Clint Dempsey is expected to start while Eddie Johnson could see the field as Fulham try to protect their aggregate 3-1 lead when they pay a visit to Amkar Perm on Thursday.

WEDNESDAY'S ONE TO WATCH

Young American Eric Lichaj on right path to Villa first team action

By James Curtis

The Aston Villa Reserve team made the best possibly start to defending their title last night, seeing off Chelsea 4-0 with considerable ease. Kevin McDonald’s men have won the Southern League for the past two years, but there is one player who has been a permanent part of the ride, and he is catching the eye of hungry talent spotters around the Midlands.

Illinois native Eric Lichaj is just one in a handful of bright and talented young American soccer players to be found in the Premier League this year. He is a tribute to the great American psyche that understands what is good and becomes better at it than the rest of us, a consensus that has seen a young country grow to be the world’s leading super power.

Eric, now 20, is taking his time though, and progressing steadily through the Villa ranks since arriving in August 2007 from the University of North Carolina Tar Heels, although his unquenchable thirst to make his mark on English football is plain for all to see.

Last season he stared in all but two games for the victorious reserve team, filling in at right back. No easy feat attempting to hold down a regular spot in one of the countries finest youth systems.

Born in Downers Grove, Illinois, Eric was soon making a name for himself. At the age of 11 he was noticed by Chicago Magic founder and former director of soccer Mike Matkovich, now assistant coach at Chivas USA of the MLS.

"I knew then Eric was a special player," Matkovich said. "You can play him at almost every position, and he won't hurt you.

"Mentally he's tough enough to go to Europe and make it, whereas a lot of guys in the American system don't have a chance. They think they do, but they don't because mentally they're not tough enough.''

Perhaps it is the European blood in him that has helped Lichaj adapt so assuredly to the English game. Both his parents, Stan and Ann, were born in Poland, meaning Eric holds a Polish passport.

Because of this, Eric was a quick signing, the first American to join Villa since they were bought by Cleveland Browns owner Randy Lerner in 2006. It was on a pre-season tour of the US where Eric was spotted, and despite carrying a foot injury at the time he was still snapped up, a testament to his mental toughness Matkovich spoke about so early on.

During this years pre-season Peace Cup tournament, Eric was handed his first team debut by boss Martin O’Neil, a game in which he didn’t disappoint even though Villa ran out 2-1 losers to Malaga.

"This environment is good for the younger players.” O’Neil said at the time. “Eric Lichaj played with the senior players for the first time, which would have been an experience for him.”

Eric responded positively, saying: "It's always nice to play in the first team and playing in preseason friendlies was a good experience. So [getting in] as soon as possible would be great, but if it takes time, I'll be patient.''

We would do well in England to take note of these wise words. Too many times in recent years, have talented young Englishmen made the move to stardom and fame prematurely, only to suffer a lack of regular football and fall behind in their natural development. If Eric keeps progressing at this rate, then Villa and the US can expect to celebrate yet another young superstar.

TUESDAY NIGHT CARLING CUP ACTION

Jozy Altidore drilled home his first goal for Hull City from 30 yards, helping his team to a 3-1 win over League 1 side Southend. It was a strike with much vigour, zipping through a crowd of players, burying neatly into the bottom left hand corner.

After the game Phil Brown praised Altidore's performance warning that there is more to come from the 19-year-old.

Elsewhere, Frank Simek played a full 90 minutes during Sheffield Wednesday's 2-0 away loss at Port Vale. Marcus Hahnemann was between the goalposts for Wolves' penalty shootout win over Swindon. Jonathan Spector was involved during West Ham's slug-fest with arch-rivals Millwall, winning 3-1 AET, and 22-year-old Mike Grella made his second Carling Cup appearance of the season, playing 83 minutes as Leeds triumphed 2-1 over Watford AET.

TUESDAY NIGHT RESERVE TEAM ACTION

Cody Arnoux wrapped up a good night for Everton Reserves, scoring the last goal in a 3-0 win against Burnley. The New-Yorker replaced Yakubu on 70 minutes, and began his Everton career is the best possible way, nodding in Adam Forshaw's cross after 82 minutes.

California born Anton Peterlin who joined Everton during the summer also came on as a late substitute.

THE EYE ON EUROPE

AMERICA LANDS! – The Tommy gun is dead - Charlie Davies lets his boots do the shooting, and Kenny Cops goal for 1860

By Tom G Smith

A new young soldier has arrived in France and he goes by the name of Charlie Davies. French football has lacked that killer edge for quite sometime but all seems set to change.

French soil is no stranger to American saviour and history looks set to repeat itself! Davies gave a striking performance on his home debut, Saturday August 15, against Ligue 1 defending champions Bordeaux, scoring both goals for Sochaux in their 3-2 defeat.

Davies arrived at Sochaux this summer from Swedish side Hammarby boasting 21 goals from 56 appearances. Having lately broke into the American National squad there have been many a mixed view, though his goal scoring tally of 4 in 14 I don’t believe to be a bad return in any way shape or form.

There is no doubting that the boy has talent, it just needs to be developed and Ligue 1 is as good a place to start as any. Regular football in a decent European league that has bore the likes of Drogba, Ronaldhinho, Benzema and Henry should do the trick.

Much has been made of Bordeaux’s Marion Chamakh of late, turning many a Premier League head this summer. He too bagged a brace during the game and no doubt immediately updated his Curriculum Vitae as soon as he got on the bus home.

The French League has always suffered from such a problem, as it has never maintained a competitive level in wage structure as its European counterparts. As soon as a star is born it seeks to shine somewhere else.

The French public need not lose too much sleep over this thought however! Chamakh may have his bags waiting at Calais ready to board the euro-tunnel with the other hundred thousand immigrants who gaze starry eyed at the cliffs of Dover, but he looks set to be replaced almost immediately by another class act in the form of the young American.

Davies displays all the attributes in order for a star too develop. Pace, control, awareness, composure, it’s all there in abundance.

In the words of General George S Patton in his final pep talk to the last American heroes that entered France:

“America loves a winner. America will not tolerate a loser. Americans despise a coward; Americans play to win”.

Have faith, Charlie Davies is a true American.

The other stand-out story from Europe came in the Bundesliga second tier, where Kenny Cooper opened the scoring for 1860 Munich in a 3-1 loss to Karlsruhe on Monday night.

It was the second goal in three games for the US striker, who is adjusting nicely to life in Germany since moving from FC Dallas. Despite playing below the top flight, the Baltimore born big man will be tugging at the sleeve of national coach Bob Bradley for a starting role.