Its not just Spector who was robbed by injuries. Simek probably would be a Premier league player if he did not suffer constant injuries and Zak Whitbread continues to struggle with injuries. He also played some Champions league ball, I believe. That would have been some nice depth in Defense.
What's an injury that affects one's long-term ability level? Spector's hip injury is often blamed for robbing him of some lateral quickness.
It's not self-explanatory? A broken bone takes time to recover, but if it's a clean break, there shouldn't be recovery issues. A knee is much more complex, so injuries can have greater long-term consequences (in spite of a lot of medical progress). As for Spector's hip surgery, perhaps it wasn't entirely successful, but from what I saw, he was always slow on the outside. He's a classic tweener, not quick enough for outside back, not skilled enough for midfield or forward, and (by English standards) not physical enough for center back.
He seemed sufficiently skilled enough for midfield the times last season when he was put there. I think Spector's versitality might have hurt his rapid development. And deuteronomy points out, his injury history has lowered his ceiling. But, as I pointed out upthread, Spector's career is far (knock wood) far from over. He's younger than Steward Holden, Geoff Cameron, and Kljestan.
Spector: ManU vs Dinamo Bucharest. ManU fans gave him high marks and were very encouraged about him after that game...http://www.redcafe.net/f6/player-ratings-vs-dinamo-bucharest-56213/
Does anyone have anything definitive about him being "benched"? He did just play to Internationals with long travel. Maybe the manager thought to rest him last week. Just a thought.
Spector was never slow and is only 6'0. As others have noted, his hip injury robbed him of his lateral quickness which had a not insignificant impact on his ability to defend. He was not that bad of a right back while at Charlton and early during his stint at West Ham. I can recall him having an excellent game against United for WH, while managing to deal well with the speed of both Giggs and Ronaldo.
I agree that his career may be far from older. Bear in mind, while he is slightly younger than those three guys, he has been playing professionally some 3 years longer.
in addition to a long Championship season plus Europa and domestic cup(s). I assume Birmingham will have plenty of rotation.
This. Don't worry about Spector not starting the occasional game. Spector is on the right path at Birmingham and it is good that he has been playing a lot the last couple of months.
I believe Spector is currently 2nd choice RB at Birmingham (and given his verstalitly maybe 2nd choice in a few other postions). He started today's Europa League match as the club captain Stephen Carr is injured.
Looks like he went 90 today in a 2-1 win over Club Brugge. He picked up a yellow for his troubles. They're second in the group.
I thought Spector looked great as a central defender with the US U-20's in 2005 under Sigi but he never had the physical toughness to handle the EPL power forwards at that spot. It'd be interesting to see him in a less linear/direct league but he took the English cash and one can't really blame him for it.
Spector has been back in the starting lineup for Birmingham's last two Championship games, going 90 minutes in the midfield during a 0-0 home draw with Brighton & Hove Albion. His only mention in the match report on the Birmingham website was playing a one - two to send Chris Wood into the box, but Wood was called offside. Spector also went the distance in the midfield in a 1-0 home win against Leeds United in midweek. He came inches away from connecting on a diving header.
90 minutes for Spector today as a central midfielder, as Birmingham win 2-1 in a key make-up match against Burnley. They still have two matches in hand due to Europa League, but have moved up to 8th in the Championship.
Got the start today. From ESPN's lineup listing, it would look as if it was as a CB, but methinks that is incorrect.