When will we see Jonathan Specter???

[aj2lagop]

The EPL games I have seen with Jonathan Specter, I have been quite impressed, especially for his age...When will we see him suit up for the Nats??? With Onyueyu, Pope, Gibbs,Bocanegra, Berhalter, Churundolo, and Specter that could be a good defensive pool to work with for the World Cup...Oh yeah, dont forget about Hejduk (uggghhh)....

[Martin Fischer]

The EPL games I have seen with Jonathan Specter, I have been quite impressed, especially for his age...When will we see him suit up for the Nats??? With Onyueyu, Pope, Gibbs,Bocanegra, Berhalter, Churundolo, and Specter that could be a good defensive pool to work with for the World Cup...Oh yeah, dont forget about Hejduk (uggghhh)....

I would bet the farm on the fact that Spector would get his first cap on .... just a wild guess ... November 17, 2004.

[denver_mugwamp]

I would bet the farm on the fact that Spector would get his first cap on .... just a wild guess ... November 17, 2004.

Whoa, you must be sigh-kick or something.

[WC2010Champs!]

well, hopefully we will see spector again over the gold cup at left back (has it been mentioned we could use one of those ;))

[IMOX77]

Some might say the Gold Cup but I do not think so. He will most likely be with the u20's in May and June preparing for the WYC in Holland (June 11th-July 2nd). After that tournament SAF is going to want Spector to have a rest and I think US soccer will agree because Bruce wants to have a good relationship with Man U for when future callups are needed

[WC2010Champs!]

good point- i forgot all about the u20 world championships - lets just hope for a loan bc we all know he wont play in front of heinze

[onefineesq]

Some might say the Gold Cup but I do not think so. He will most likely be with the u20's in May and June preparing for the WYC in Holland (June 11th-July 2nd). After that tournament SAF is going to want Spector to have a rest and I think US soccer will agree because Bruce wants to have a good relationship with Man U for when future callups are needed And what exactly would Spector be resting from? The kid needs the time to play. If SAF doesn't play him and simultaneously doesn't think that he should not get the time to play elsewhere, then screw him.

[IMOX77]

And what exactly would Spector be resting from? The kid needs the time to play. If SAF doesn't play him and simultaneously doesn't think that he should not get the time to play elsewhere, then screw him.
I dont know thats just the way SAF is. Last year the u20's had a friendly against Brazil in FL and SAF did not want Jonathan to participate in this one game because he said Spector needed the break even though he only played a half of the season in the "reserves" because of work permit problems.

Im all for calling calling Spector in for the Gold Cup but I just think its unlikely.

[appoo]

SAF would have no say, this is a FIFA sanctioned tournament and he wouldn't have a choice on whether or not to release him, and further - I'd bet he'd WANT Spector to play in both U20 and Gold Cup to get more experience. There are going to be changes at Old Trafford over the summer and I think some of those casulties will come along the back line

[onefineesq]

I dont know thats just the way SAF is. Last year the u20's had a friendly against Brazil in FL and SAF did not want Jonathan to participate in this one game because he said Spector needed the break even though he only played a half of the season in the "reserves" because of work permit problems.

Im all for calling calling Spector in for the Gold Cup but I just think its unlikely. If I came off as snide to you, I didn't mean that. I'm more or less taking a shot at SAF. Spector is not getting any time at ManU, which is TOTALLY understandable. However, if SAF doesn't allow this guy to get all of the experience that he can get, in light of the fact that the experience might actually make him a better player for ManU, then he is off his rocker. Spector doesn't need a rest from sitting on the bench. We need help at the fullback positions, going into the WC. Any chance at finding a revelation somewhere would be welcomed. Arena doesn't have time to be catering to the whims of SAF.

[Mason16]

I dont know thats just the way SAF is. Last year the u20's had a friendly against Brazil in FL and SAF did not want Jonathan to participate in this one game because he said Spector needed the break even though he only played a half of the season in the "reserves" because of work permit problems.

Im all for calling calling Spector in for the Gold Cup but I just think its unlikely.

I'm a big U20 fan but if there is an opportunity for Spector to play for the MNT at the Gold Cup and possibly help us at LB, I would think the Gold Cup would be the more important of the two. The U20's are there to help prepare potential MNT players. If he is already at the MNT level, what would be the point in missing the opportunity to impress BA at a position where we could really use the help?

[Adam Zebrowski]

ussf values high performances at age group tourneys too much NOT to call spector into holland...

I agree GOLD CUP should follow it, just to get him into the mix again with the older guys....don't have to play him every minute of every match, but the camp experience with some PT is a step in the right direction...

finally, match days 9 and 10 of the hex, once usa has clinched 3rd, he should get the call just like the jamaica match...

[purojogo]

Gold Cup i suppose....either to raise awareness of him in other clubs even more, or just for him to get more used to the USMNT setting...

[Clint Eastwood]

There's no doubt that the Gold Cup would be a perfect time to give players such as Spector and Burciaga a shot a left back. We'll also see Philipakos and Russel IMO. One thing though, we want to win this tournament. Bruce isn't going to go crazy with his experimenting. You can't do that against CONCACAF teams anymore. Canada will beat us if we play a bunch of kids.

[robchap628]

If I came off as snide to you, I didn't mean that. I'm more or less taking a shot at SAF. Spector is not getting any time at ManU, which is TOTALLY understandable. However, if SAF doesn't allow this guy to get all of the experience that he can get, in light of the fact that the experience might actually make him a better player for ManU, then he is off his rocker. Spector doesn't need a rest from sitting on the bench. We need help at the fullback positions, going into the WC. Any chance at finding a revelation somewhere would be welcomed. Arena doesn't have time to be catering to the whims of SAF.

I agree the more international experience Spector gets, the more he's going to be able to help ManU, its in SAF's best interst to let him play in the gold cup, but he probably won't anyways. Spector is going to have a future with the national team and, its best for him, ManU and the USMNT to let him gain some international experience.

[ETSC]

Same boat as Eddie Gaven-- at the WYC. If a player is already capped with the seniors then Gold Cup camp\games makes more sense to me. I'm willing to bet one of them is a "suprise" Germany inclusion-- injuries happen. Hunting luxury hardware should be low on the list for USSF. Use the WYC for player development and as a draft combine.

[FC Tallavana]

Same boat as Eddie Gaven-- at the WYC. If a player is already capped with the seniors then Gold Cup camp\games makes more sense to me. I'm willing to bet one of them is a "suprise" Germany inclusion-- injuries happen. Hunting luxury hardware should be low on the list for USSF. Use the WYC for player development and as a draft combine.

I actually think it is more important for the USA to win the U20s than the Gold Cup. A U20 win would make lots of headlines and open a lot of doors around the round for American kids. Does anyone even notice the Gold Cup? Did any of us get too excited over beating Cuba 5-0 last time? How about the Martinique match? I guess that match against Brazil's U20 team was a huge deal huh?

If we manage to win this year's U20, it will be huge. We would have to advance from the Group of Death (Germany, Argentina, Egypt), and it would all happen in Holland, where scouts from every club in Europe will be camped out.

And...there's no such thing as luxury hardware for a country that has only laid claim to CONCACAF championships.