Marcus Hahnemann: Second Season Syndrome - American idols who must not be off key

Mark Dillon, according to some in-depth Googleing, was the first American to play soccer in England, signing for Wrexham from Ajax Orlando in 1977. I don't remember that. I was four. But I guess he paved the way for us other Yanks to follow.

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A decade later came the first to play in the top flight — John Kerr at Portsmouth. Then there was John Harkes at Sheffield Wednesday — the first to play at Wembley (1991), the first in an FA Cup final (1993) and the first to score in a League Cup final (1993). A real American Idol.

Well, today, if everyone was fit, there could have been up to seven of the current crop of U.S. players on show at the Madejski Stadium — and we're facing off when the stakes couldn't be higher.

While we have two — myself and Bobby Convey — Fulham have five — my fellow keeper and good buddy Kasey Keller, Carlos Bocanegra, Clint Dempsey, Eddie Johnson and Brian McBride, while their Norwegian defender, Brede Hangeland, was born in Houston!

Add to that the fact I used to play for Fulham, where I spent three years trying to prove myself, and maybe the match sponsor should be Friends Reunited.

A win will be massive for our bid to stay up. But for Fulham, well, let's just say it won't be looking good. I don't even want to think about what it'll mean to their U.S. posse if they go down.

This stage of the season always feels different. The weather gets better (when it's not snowing, that is — I was almost late sitting on the Goals on Sunday couch as I was making a snowman for my kids), the days are longer, and you look at the league table that bit more.

The high stakes make it all the more important to relax when you can. We had our 'Royal Families' charity golf day on Wednesday and, just like last time, I won.

The raffle, that is. Shooting five off the first tee means that's the only thing you're going to win. Raffles are more simple. The more tickets you buy, the more chance you have of winning. My 'donation' of £85 saw to that.

Of course, three points today to any team near the bottom will be worth so much more, they'll be priceless, in fact.

A third season with Reading in the top-flight and, you never know, they may even remember my name.