JOB, where dose he fit now??

[EL MONO MARIO]

JOB is one of the USA's most talented midfielders but with so many injuries he has fallen off the map... How is he now??? Is he still at AJAX?? will he start???? Where dose he fit in BA plans?

[ag944]

JOB is one of the USA's most talented midfielders but with so many injuries he has fallen off the map... How is he now??? Is he still at AJAX?? will he start???? Where dose he fit in BA plans?

JOB re-signed with AJAX for another year. He was injured at signing time, so I think he was happy to get picked up again.

I don't know what BA's plans are for JOB. He certainly used him in Korea, but who knows, as time moves on. I imagine that when he's healthy he'll play, depending on the opponent.

---Mark

[forza inter]

hey hey, word from espn's page is that he is training again with ajax, and he is looking as healthy as he has been in some time. so thats some good news right? go JOB go!!



forza inter

[afgrijselijkheid]

i was at training last week and he looked fine - he hasnt played in a preseason friendly yet, but that may be because he is a little sore from inactivity

[Roblar]

And if he isn't injured, he'll play, and it won't matter where he plays - he'll make us better.

:)

[smith07]

most likely the only place he would fit in is the trainer's table

[Bruce S]

let's hope he can get healthy, see how he plays and hope for the best. I think we have to assume he won't be helping the USA, and just keep fingers crossed that he can play at all, and can play at a level he used to.

[DCFAN96]

JOB will fit in anywhere he wants, he is probably our most skillful midfielder. He could play AM, DM, LM or even LB and I wouldn't lose any sleep over it.

[Bruce S]

JOB will fit in anywhere he wants, he is probably our most skillful midfielder. He could play AM, DM, LM or even LB and I wouldn't lose any sleep over it.
if healthy and in form.He has barely played for 2 years.

[StillKickin]

if healthy and in form.He has barely played for 2 years.
That's what I'm thinking. Everybody assumes he's going to step out on the field and instantly he's the best player there. He's been out for 2 years. Will he be the same? I hope so.

but I just keep thinking of Clint Mathis and his return from injury....and we're still pretty much waiting.

[freisland]

Just for the record, while JOB has been injured quite a bit lately, he has not had a solid 2 year layoff. And his injury has not been of the catastrophic ACL tear/ankle surgery kind. Which is not to say that he has not suffered a loss of form as a result of his down time, but let's not overstate the case.

By the way, article (in Dutch) from yesterday's Ajax site with big scruffy photo.

http://www.ajax.nl/show/id=1322/contentid=35555

[Bruce S]

Just for the record, while JOB has been injured quite a bit lately, he has not had a solid 2 year layoff. And his injury has not been of the catastrophic ACL tear/ankle surgery kind. Which is not to say that he has not suffered a loss of form as a result of his down time, but let's not overstate the case.

]
or understate the case.

[Jasonisimo]

Bruce S - preparing everyone for the End of JOB.

[freisland]

or understate the case.

Well, Bruce, are you saying he has not played for two years? Because, of course, that is an incorrect, stupid comment made for gawd knows what reason.

JOB's hamstring injury has been since Feb 13 '04 - an unfortunate amount of time, but less than five months. His achillies also took him out of most of last season. 2002 - 2003 I think he played a dozen league games as well as friendlies, cup etc. He played 4 league matches in 2003 - 2004

Again, none of this is to suggest he has not been injury plagued. But he has not had a two year layoff and it is silly to expect the kind of drop of from that would come with a two year layoff. It is also overly pessimistic to expect the kind of drop of form that would come with a more severe injury. And it is silly to expect no loss of form either.

What I find most troubling is how long it is taking to get over the hamstring problem.

Hope that clears up the playing situation for those that don't know.

[Bruce S]

Bruce S - preparing everyone for the End of JOB.
aren't you the guy who was saying he should hold out for a big contract from Barca-while JOB was giving interviews talking of retiring from pro soccer?
I am a big JOB fan, but I am not an insane optimist. He has hardly played for a long time-sorry, that does not make me a pessimist or an optimist-it is just a fact.

[Jasonisimo]

No.

[dark knight]

I don't say this often, but I'm with Bruce S. If you barely play in 2 years because of an achilles problem that takes you out for a season and a half, and then when you return you soon have to sit out with another injury for 4 months -- well, I'll just be glad if he can play consistently again. Achilles problems have ruined careers in the past.

I'm not concerned about his form, however.

[freisland]

Ok, here's the rough stats best I can remember/find easily (just for the record) -

2001 - 2002: essentially healthy, one of the top number of starts for Ajax. Played in cup games, Europe etc. (27 league games plus)

Spring 2002: Played every minute of the WC for the US (one of 3 players to do so) also had highest number of caps in a year (9 I think) for the US. I think 01-02 has to be the most games JOB played in his career by far.

2002 - 03: Had 12 starts for Ajax (as well as a couple of Ajax 2 games and friendlies, I think) I can only remember one cap.

2003-04: 4 starts and maybe an Ajax 2 or two. But a very troubling season. Started with an achilles injury, came back and went out with a hammy.

The important points - he has not had a typically catastrophic/career ending injury like an ACL. He has had two achillies problems, but different legs, then the hammy. Is either achillies likely to recur? I have no idea, but that is certainly a worry. Has he been away from the game so long his skills are likely to have left him - probably not. Will he put together another couple of healthy season? I sure don't know, but I sure hope so.

[Jasonisimo]

He's only going to turn 27 years old this summer, too, so it's not like he's almost run out of time to come back fit, like maybe Sanneh (who has recovered from injuries?).

[DutchCane]

Best US Player ever imvho, and when he's on he makes the US a difficult team to beat.