Spector's future with MAN U

[dredgfan]

How did Man U ever pick this kid up from the US? How long is his contract and what is his situation on playing time? Surely if he cracks the 1st team at Man U he'd be a lock for national team duty as well.

[listen_up_fergie]

They saw him play for the USA team in the U17 World Cup I think. They were impressed by him, so offered him a trial, and then he signed professionally with United.

[Achtung]

Here's a good article on how Spector was discovered and some of his initial impressions on life at United. A bit old, but it should answer some of your questions.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/feature?id=293214&cc=5901

[sarabella]

Give the kid a break. He's not ready for national team duty, just like he's not ready for regular first team action.

[xfactor857]

Here's a good article on how Spector was discovered and some of his initial impressions on life at United. A bit old, but it should answer some of your questions.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/feature?id=293214&cc=5901
In the article, that "young boy from China" is Dong Fangzhuo.

[prk166]

Give the kid a break. He's not ready for national team duty, just like he's not ready for regular first team action.

I don't know if I'd say he's not ready so much as not ready to produce consistantly on a regular basis for ManUtd. I don't know. He's shown he's got some skills. I'm kinda hoping he gets more playing time in next year. Maybe he can get loaned out to a newly promoted club?

[JC7rox]

Whatever happened to Dong? I remember the thread that made fun using newspaper headlines with this kids name.

[sarabella]

I don't know if I'd say he's not ready so much as not ready to produce consistantly on a regular basis for ManUtd. I don't know. He's shown he's got some skills. I'm kinda hoping he gets more playing time in next year. Maybe he can get loaned out to a newly promoted club?
I agree about a loan. It would certainly do him some good. But I don't think he's ready for regular first team Man Utd action. Everton, sure. Man Utd, no. :)

[prk166]

I agree about a loan. It would certainly do him some good. But I don't think he's ready for regular first team Man Utd action. Everton, sure. Man Utd, no. :)

Everton? No way, Moyes is leaving this summer to take over at Ajax! :D

Ya, I don't know about that. I wonder if time at a Prem team is what is best. I was thinking a newly promoted club would be desperate enough to take him. But then again they're likely to need to fight for every possible point. Do they really want some teenager trying to keep Henry or Duff or someone like that from scoring? And if he doesn't play regularly, what's the use of venturing away from Old Trafford?

Maybe the thing for a loan would be to join a club in the fizzy pop league on loan for a few months? A few months there and then maybe back to OT to play in the reserves and maybe nab a few first team appearnces.

[sarabella]

haha, Moysie and Ajax won't mix. They play attacking football, he's more defensive minded. Or maybe he's just forced to be defensive minded because of the team he coaches. :D

I don't think that a little Premiership time could hurt him, at least not if he had a veteran to guide him. But like I said before, I really don't think he's ready for that (I was making a joke about Everton). I agree that a loan to a smaller club would be a good idea.

What I don't understand are these people trying to rush him to the Nats team. He does have skills, no doubt, or he wouldn't be with United. He just needs a little more time to develop and grow.

[xfactor857]

Whatever happened to Dong? I remember the thread that made fun using newspaper headlines with this kids name.
He's still playing for Antwerp, whom are fighting for promotion via a play-offs spot. Dong is the team's second leading scorer with 5 goals (leader has 6). His loan ends in 2007.

His thread in the Asia forum. (http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?goto=lastpost&t=132524)

[haven]

I actually think it's close to bizarre how little time Rossi and Spector have got this year. Spector was sensational in the reserves last year. For the first team at the beginning of the year, he was solid. He arguably played better than at least one of the regular defenders.

Yet he hasn't gotten a call since. He's made the bench a few times, but no starting spots. For a manager who's given so many other players shots, I find the fact that SAF hasn't let Spector play a bit more (and Rossi, too) very strange. Sure, he's not ready to play against Arsenal.

But he wouldn't be bad, say, against a bottom-feeder. In fact, you probably don't even lose anything playing Spector against a team that will play defensively, since he's better on the ball than Phil Neville or Wes Brown. His lack of experience is compensated for by the fact that such teams almost never attack the wings against us.

He should be played or loaned out.

[Mac_Howard]

I wonder if there isn't another Kleberson style situation happening here - something happening behind the scenes that we don't see that has affected his selection. What I saw of him in the first part of the season certainly didn't suggest that he wasn't ready at least to play occasionally. Of course Heinze has been an ever present at LB but you would think that Alex could find an occasionally spot for him.

[hawk_claw]

Loan him out for a season....and in a few years i think he can be really good and as he gets experience SPector could be a probable starter in the future

[dredgfan]

Why not send him to MLS for Eddie Johnson or another defender thats a few steps ahead of Spector like Mastro

[2ndstarright]

how can someone in the MLS be ahead of Spector?

[robby241]

Why not send him to MLS for Eddie Johnson or another defender thats a few steps ahead of Spector like Mastro

because johnson will get lost in the mix and Spector has a good upside. he's still a kid. just give him time.

although look at what MLS did for landon donovan. thats where your point i think has great merit. Landon is mature and a good leader at a young age. that could well do spector some good.

personally i dont think the boy could go wrong either way.

[ASUCruz]

Why not send him to MLS for Eddie Johnson or another defender thats a few steps ahead of Spector like Mastro

Sounds like a good a idea, but MLS won't do it. They turned down a bid from Benefica for 6 million Euros I think. With Landon and Demarcus gone I think MLS is hoping Johnson becomes the face of the league at least until Adu becomes a star.

[ASUCruz]

how can someone in the MLS be ahead of Spector?

Spector is a good prospect and all but for everyone kid that comes through the ranks and makes it(Neville's, Butt, Scholes, etc.) there's hundreds that don't. I think there's more hype around Spector because he's American and we Americans tend to overrate our players. Maybe not overrate, be overly optimistic maybe? Anyways Mastroeni is a very good player for the US and he's definantly proven a lot more that Spector has(see performances against, Portugal, Germany, Mexico)

[Iplayedforchelsea]

What ever happened to his loan to Blackburn back in January? I know that SAF put a hold in it for awhile, but I never heard anything after that.

Or was I just a hallucinating.............