AMSTERDAM – German soccer is set to emerge from the winter pause next weekend, so it is time to see how each American in the Bundesliga fared over the season's first half and what is expected of them the rest of the way.
It's been a tough season thus far for most of our boys in Deutschland, with 'Gladbach back-up Fabian Johnson (pictured) the only US international currently in the race for a Champions League invite. Four of the six Americans playing Germany are on clubs with relegation battles ahead.
John Anthony Brooks, Hertha Berlin
Midterm grade: C+
It's been a hot-and-cold semester for Brooks, who did rebound well from a fall detour with the reserves. Still, he continues to have consistency issues: He can make the Bundesliga team of the week one day and struggle through a stinker two weeks later.
The youngster is eighth in the league with 6.3 clearances per match and ninth on the pass-interception chart with 3.2 per game. His work moving the ball forward can also be quite influential when he's on, but Brooks has hurt the team several times with errors at the back.
Plainly put, Hertha needs fewer mistakes, more consistency. Brooks is certainly capable of ushering them away from the danger zone if he can just smooth out the focus wrinkles.
Timothy Chandler, Eintracht Frankfurt
Midterm grade: B-
Chandler had a slow start following his summer arrival at Eintracht Frankfurt, but he nailed down the right back job by week 10. After that, Chandler closed the first half of the season with a handful of very active two-way displays as his club pulled six points clear of the relegation fray going into the break.
Starting 11 of 14 games, Chandler has averaged nearly seven total defensive stops per game and created a string of good chances over the last four contests. Now that he's settled, the US defender can build on his recent run of form. Eintracht have scored plenty, so a run at the Europa League places is not out of the question if they can lower that astronomical two goals-against-per-game average.
Julian Green, Hamburg
Midterm grade: Incomplete
A string of nagging injuries early in the season gives Green an extension on his marks. Nevertheless, working 112 minutes through the first 17 games of his Hamburg loan spell is quite a disappointment.
The teen winger recently promised local daily Morgenpost he had more to give as HSV try to move away from another relegation scrape. In his limited time, Green has looked lively and moved the ball well. He has, however, been a bit shy taking on defenders, which is something he'll need to do to earn pitch time.
If he can improve that attribute, his participation in a few scoring plays would go a long way toward keeping Hamburg's status as the only team never relegated from the Bundesliga safe for another year.
Joseph Gyau, Borussia Dortmund
Midterm grade: Incomplete
While Green's "I" mark is reprieve from a low grade, one might be tempted to give Gyau a high mark just for having cracked a name-brand Borussia Dortmund selection so quickly (even if their results have been abysmal this season).
Gyau was a major handful in his BvB debut, helping them rally late for a draw. He went on the injury shelf soon after and is due back from comeback try 2.0 next month.
Previously potent Dortmund have only out-scored three league foes thus far, so job No. 1 for the American is getting fit. The sooner he does that, the sooner he can help this esteemed club out of the mire. The bench weapon will see some tired defenders down the stretch, so the obvious hope is for him to book a big Bundesliga goal or two by summer.
Fabian Johnson, Borussia Mönchengladbach
Midterm grade: D
Also hampered by injuries, the World Cup 2014 participant is currently hurting for minutes. He's been leaky in odd looks at right back and quiet up on left wing, where's he been stationed for a majority of his 511 minutes across all competitions for new employers Borussia Mönchengladbach.
It's hard to point out a quick fix here. Johnson arrived with a hamstring ailment, and the Foals started the season with a 10-game unbeaten streak. He simply has to fight for playing time and find a way to have impact. It won't be easy, but that's how it is on a team occupying a Champions League place.
On the plus side, Johnson has passed the ball very well, especially in his three Europa League outings. With Gladbach still alive in three competitions, the American could easily triple his current total of two assists by season's end with increased activity.
Caleb Stanko, Freiburg
Midterm grade: Exempt until next season
Freiburg's young defensive midfielder will likely miss the entire season recovering from ACL surgery, so his goals all revolve around being set to go when the 2015-16 preseason rolls around. His club, however, have some heavy lifting to do if Stanko is to return still seeking a Bundesliga debut; they currently sit bottom of the table and three points shy of the safety zone at the turn.
