DaMarcus Beasley, who joined Dutch powerhouse PSV Eindhoven from the Chicago Fire in July, has had the best start to the 2004-05 season among U.S. players abroad. The 22-year-old holds the top spot in Soccer America Magazine's Top 20 Americans Abroad rankings for August.
The rankings take into account players' form and their clubs' success, primarily in league play, and is weighted based on the competitive level of the league in which they play.
1. DaMarcus Beasley
(F, PSV Eindhoven, Dutch Eredivisie)
Beasley, who stepped into a starting spot at left wing, scored in the league opener Aug. 11 and in his second Champions League appearance, a 5-0 win over Red Star Belgrade in which he was also fouled on a breakaway that result in a red card for Belgrade's Milan Bisevac. PSV qualified for Champions League group play.
League stats: 3 games, 1 goal. Champions League stats: 2 games, 1 goal.
2. Carlos Bocanegra
(D, Fulham, English Premier League) Played every minute of Fulham's first four games — 1 win, 2 losses, 1 tie — and scored on a diving header in a 4-3 loss to Portsmouth, his first goal for Fulham since arriving last December.
League stats: 4 games, 1 goal.
3. Brad Friedel
(G, Blackburn, English Premier League)
Man of the Match in a 1-1 tie with Manchester United and is hanging tough behind the porous defense of Rovers, which has lost two and tied two.
League stats: 4 games.
4. Claudio Reyna
(M, Man. City, English Premier League)
Started every game for 10th place Man City, which shook off losses to Liverpool and Birmingham with a 4-0 rout over Charlton.
League stats: 4 games, 0 goals
5. Steve Cherundolo
(D, Hannover 96, German Bundesliga 1)
Named captain of Hannover, for which the 25-year-old is in his sixth season. Scored in a 3-0 German Cup win over Neumuenster and played solidly in a 1-1 road tie with Borussia Dortmund.
League stats: 2 games, 0 goals. German Cup stats: 1 game, 1 goal.
6. Tim Howard
(G, Man. Utd., English Premier League)
Started and played every minute of Man U's seven games within 22 days that saw it lose the Community Shield, struggle in league play and advance to the group stage of the European Champions League.
League stats: 4 games. Champions League stats: 2 games.
7. Jonathan Spector
(D, Man Utd., English Premier League)
The 18-year-old Illinois product, who signed with Man U from youth club Chicago Sockers in the summer of 2003, made his debut in official competition as an 82nd minute sub in the Community Shield game. He started Man U's last two league games — was highest rated Man U player by Manchester Evening News in 0-0 tie with Everton — and its third-round Champions League match, which saw Man U qualify for the group stage.
League stats: 2 games, 0 goals. Champions League stats: 1 game, 0 goals
8. Greg Vanney
(D, Bastia, French Ligue 1)
Started first four league games as Bastia went undefeated.
League stats: 4 games, 0 goals.
9. Oguchi Onyewu
(D, Standard Liege, Belgian Juliper League)
Played every minute as Standard picked up four points in first four games.
League stats: 4 games, 0 goals.
10. Conor Casey
(F, Mainz, German Bundesliga 1)
After going scoreless off the bench in his first two league games, Casey struck twice in Mainz's 5-2 first-round German Cup at VfR Aalen Aug. 22. He played the whole 90 of Mainz's third league game.
League stats: 3 games, 0 goals. German Cup: 1 game, 1 goal.
11. Daniel Hernandez
(M, Necaxa, Mexican Torneo Apertura)
Started first game as defensive midfielder and second as central defender as Los Rayos split their opening games.
League stats: 2 games, 0 goals.
12. Marcus Hahnemann
(G, Reading, English Championship League)
Played every minute of Royals' first five league games and their League Cup win over Oxford. Reading is 9th in England's second tier.
League stats: 5 games. League Cup stats: 1 game.
13. Eddie Lewis
(M, Preston, English Championship League)
Played all but two minutes of the first six games for Preston, 12th place in England's second tier.
League stats: 6 games, 0 goals.
14. Bobby Convey
(M, Reading, English Championship League)
Earned two starts and came off the bench three times since joining Royals in July.
League stats: 4 games, 0 goals. League Cup stats: 1 game, 0 goals.
15. Brian McBride
(F, Fulham, English Premier League)
Has come off the bench in the second half of each of Fulham's first four league games.
League stats: 4 games, 0 goals.
16. Clint Mathis
(M, Hannover, German Bundesliga 1)
Missed first two league games and a German Cup match with an injured ankle before starting in 1-1 tie at Borussia Dortmund.
League stats: 1 game, 0 goals
17. Robbie Russell
(D, Rosenborg, Norwegian Tippeligaen)
Started in 1-1 league tie with Viking Aug. 1 shortly after joining the Norwegian defending champ from last-place Sogndal, missed three league games and three Champions League games because of injury, then played the full 90 in Aug. 29 league 3-2 league win over Molde. Rosenborg advanced to the Champions League group stage.
League stats: 15 games; 2 goals.
18. Brian West
(F, Fredrikstad, Norwegian Tippeligaen)
Highest rated player for second-to-last place Fredrikstad according to Dagbladet.
League stats: 15 games, 4 goals.
19. Antonio Martinez
(M, Necaxa, Mexican Torneo Apertura)
Made Mexican First Division debut at left midfield when he entered in the 72nd minute of Necaxa's second game, a 2-1 win over Tigres.
League stats: 1 game, 0 goals.
20. Kenny Cooper
(F, Academica, Portuguese Super Liga)
On loan from Manchester United, with which the 19-year-old Texan striker signed last year, Cooper made his debut in Portugal's top league, entering a 2-2 tie with Sporting Braga in the 72nd minute.
League stats: 1 game, 0 goals.
DISPATCHES: U.S. national team goalkeeper KASEY KELLER has stayed on the bench as starter Paul Robinson has conceded only two goals in four games for Tottenham Hotspur. … GREGG BERHALTER has been tabbed to wear the captain's band for German Second Division Energie Cottbus, whose lineup he is expected to rejoin upon his recovery from facial injuries suffered late last season. … WADE BARRETT has been out injured since his first game for Norway's Fredrikstad Aug. 8. … JOHN O'BRIEN, who played only four games for Ajax Amsterdam last season, remains out because of injury. … ZAK WHITBREAD, 19, was on the bench during Liverpool's 1-0 loss to Austria's Graz AK in the second league of the Champions League's third preliminary round. The 1-0 loss put Liverpool through, 2-1, on aggregate, to the group stage. … JAY DEMERIT, 24, signed with Watford of the English Championship League after being spotted at non-league Northwood. He debuted for Watford in the League Cup. … PETER PHILIPAKOS, 21, made his debut at Greek club Olympiakos in its friendly against Spanish club Levante. Philipakos began his college career at St. John's, then spent two years at American University before signing with AEK Athens in January. He moved this summer to Olympiakos, where he'll play with Brazilian great Rivaldo. …