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.
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.
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