It was a tough Saturday for Americans in the U.K., particularly in Glasgow, where Rangers FC's disastrous season continued with a 2-1 loss to visiting Heart of Midlothian. Last month, the three-time defending Scottish Premier League champion entered administration, akin to bankruptcy reorganization in the U.S., and as a result, was penalized with a 10-point deduction in the standings. On Friday, club administrators announced they needed to find about $5.4 million in savings by the end of the season, which could lead players to defer wages or even face contract cancellations. Carlos Bocanegra started and played the full 90 minutes in central defense on Saturday for Rangers FC but couldn’t prevent the defeat, as Heart of Midlothian came from behind with goals in the 58th and 79th minutes. (AP Photo)
Three members of the U.S. national team — captain Carlos Bocanegra and midfielders Maurice Edu and Alejandro Bedoya — are part of Rangers' roster. Bocanegra started and went the full 90 minutes in central defense on Saturday but couldn't stop the loss, as Hearts rallied with goals in the 58th and 79th minutes. Edu, who played alongside Bocanegra in last week’s national team win over Italy, missed Saturday’s game due to suspension while Bedoya was an unused substitute.
“During the games, it’s not so difficult because we’re professionals and competitors who want to win,” Bocanegra told The New York Times last week. “The challenging part is the mood around the training ground. There’s a lot of uncertainty. Nobody really knows what’s happening.” The veteran joined Rangers in August after spending three years in France. “The atmosphere has shifted a bit where everyone is somewhat timid,” Bocanegra said. “Clearly, the club is in administration at the moment, and people are worried about losing their jobs. That’s the worst part of it. It’s never a pleasant feeling hanging over your head as you go into work. That’s been disappointing just in the atmosphere around the training ground, not only among the players but also the staff.” “It’s just been dark days these past few weeks. You have to stay positive because I don’t know what’s going to happen, and nobody knows the magnitude of the situation and what’s going on.”
Rangers remained in second place in the SPL with a record of 20-5-4 but trail city rival Celtic by a distant 21 points, who will claim its first league title since 2008. To the south in England, American players struggled to secure victories. Everton extended its unbeaten streak in English Premier League action to six games with a 1-1 draw at Queens Park Rangers. U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard couldn’t reach a close-range header from QPR’s Bobby Zamora in the 36th minute, which canceled out Everton’s opening goal. Howard and his teammates are now 9-10-7 and sit in 11th place.
Elsewhere in the EPL, Tim Ream started in defensive midfield for Bolton Wanderers rather than his usual central defensive role. However, there wasn’t much he could do against league leaders Manchester City, who won comfortably 2-0. Ream completed the full 90 minutes in his third game since joining Bolton from the New York Red Bulls. Bolton stands at 6-19-2 and occupies 19th place in the 20-team league.
American defender Zak Whitbread, still awaiting his first call-up from U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann, played the full 90 minutes in Norwich City’s 1-0 loss at Stoke City. Norwich dropped to 9-10-8 and now occupy 10th place.
In second-division play, Jonathan Spector’s Birmingham City fell further behind the leaders in the race for automatic promotion to the Premier League after conceding a two-goal lead at home and drawing 2-2 with Derby County. Spector played the full 90 minutes. Birmingham City is 15-8-10 and sits in sixth place in the Championship, where the top two clubs will move up to the EPL next season, and teams finishing third through sixth will contest playoffs for the third promotion spot.