American Player Rankings: Jose Torres breaks into the top 10 as Jozy Altidore drops out

The Pachuca midfielder is back on form, and with many of the USA's top players struggling, he breaks into the top 10.

Feb 8, 2012 1:20:00 AM

By Allen Ramsey

More On :  Oguchi Onyewu, Clint Dempsey, Maurice Edu, Sacha Kljestan, Tim Howard, Brad Friedel, José Francisco Torres, Carlos Bocanegra, Michael Bradley, Landon Donovan
This week has seen both good and bad for the top players on the list.

Sacha Kljestan continued to make his case as one of the USA's best exports with a lovely free kick over the weekend. Kljestan adding goals to his game would make him even harder to ignore for the U.S. national team.

While he was scoring, the man these rankings spent so much time praising last week, Oguchi Onyewu, was struggling. The big defender picked up a red card and conceded a penalty that was converted for the games only goal.

Carlos Bocanegra and Maurice Edu also had a rough week, with Rangers coughing up a tough loss to Dundee United in Scottish Cup action.

Those matches will all be reflected in the rankings this week as movement continues in the lower half of the board.

1. Clint Dempsey

Age: 28

Club: Fulham
 Position: Midfielder

Last Week: 1

Comment: Dempsey scored in one match last week and took a 3-0 loss in the other. Fulham's inconsistent play continues, while Dempsey continues to be the club's most reliable threat.
2. Brad Friedel


Age: 40

Club: Tottenham
 Position: Goalkeeper

Last Week: 2

Comments: Friedel kept a clean sheet against Liverpool but couldn't get any attacking support and had to settle for a draw.
3. Landon Donovan

Age: 29

Club: Everton
 Position: Midfielder

Last Week: 3

Comments: Donovan proves weekly that he can be a major part of an EPL club, but his time with Everton is running out.
4. Tim Howard

Age: 32

Club: Everton
 Position: Goalkeeper

Last Week: 4

Comments: Howard has been in good form of late but couldn't keep his club from dropping points against Wigan.
5. Michael Bradley

Age: 24

Club: Chievo
 Position: Midfielder

Last Week: 5

Comments: Bradley's club took another loss over the weekend to Parma, but he continues to star in the midfield.
6. Sacha Kljestan

Age: 26

Club: Anderlecht
 Position: Midfielder

Last Week: 7

Comment: Kljestan continues to climb up the rankings and his free-kick goal was worth moving up another spot this week.
7.  Carlos Bocanegra


Age: 32

Club: Rangers
 Position: Defender

Last Week: 6

Comments: Bocanegra doesn't benefit from the fact that any time his team loses to another Scottish outfit (other than Celtic) it's considered an upset.
8. Maurice Edu

Age: 25

Club: Rangers
 Position: Midfielder

Last Week:  8

Comments: Edu sits just below Bocanegra but could just as easily be just above his club teammate.
9. Jose Torres

Age: 24

Club: Pachuca
 Position: Midfielder

Last Week: NR

Comments: In truth, the last two spots on the list could go to any number of players. Torres seems to be finding his form and will take the ninth spot for now with his team still unbeaten in the league this term.
10. Oguchi Onyewu

Age: 29

Club: Sporting
 Position: Defender

Last Week: 9

Comments: Onyewu had a bad week, but his form really hasn't been poor at all this season. He drops down one spot and Jozy Altidore leaves the list.

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