Holden out for a quick recovery: Stu at Bolton [R]

Has anyone heard if it really was just "cuts and bruises" and he will be back soon?? Last time injury reports started this way...well...we all know. When Stu starts catching some breaks he's going to need to be crowned king to balance all this crap luck.

 

I saw a random tweet that said he went 90 in a closed doors friendly today, but I couldn't find any info confirming that so I didn't post it. I think he is fine though, we would have heard something by now if it was anything that would keep him out of action.

 

Per Facebook this morning:
Bolton Wanderers Official
Stuart Holden completed 90 minutes of a behind-closed-doors game at Euxton on Tuesday afternoon. Mark Davies also featured.

 

That is very encouraging to hear. I bet that the look of disgust people said he had after the tackle was aimed more at the tackle than the fear of injury. Stu has worked his tail off rehabbing from all of these injuries and he deserves an injury free remainder of his career, which starts with him not being the victim of rash tackles.

 

Full article on the closed door match in which he went 90 here, with quotes from Stu: http://www.teamtalk.co.za/champions...ys-90-minutes-in-behind-closed-doors-friendly

 

Another match tonight:

Bolton Wanderers Official
Our development squad to face Bury in tonight's Manchester Senior Cup tie is as follows...

Wanderers: Lonergan, Threlkeld, McQuade, Mills, Wheater, Kamara, Wylde, Holden, Eaves, Gregus, Odelusi

Subs: Sievers, Blakeman, Sampson, Kellett, Dennis

Bury: Dibble, Melia, Roune, Sodje, Clarke, Holden, Carole, Dickinson, Healy, Yulu, Myler

Subs: Keane, Pratt, Thornton, Nasseri, Prickett

Kick-off 7pm at the County Ground.

 

I guess is should be mentioned that Euan Holden is starting for Bury and Stuart Holden is starting for Bolton.

 

Bolton Wanderers Official
FULL TIME: Our development squad containing Matt Mills, Stuart Holden, David Wheater and Medo Kamara win 1-0 against Bury thanks to an own goal. Report to follow.

 

Both Holden brothers went 90. Stuart had a near miss on goal early.
http://www.bwfc.co.uk/news/article/...ry-11.2.13-651943.aspx?pageView=full#anchored

 

Get Holden back in form, get him back with USA please in the next month. I say its possible!

 

If Holden were Mexican and Chelis was the coach...yeah, maybe ( ). He's not and he's not so....no, he won't be.

 

I think if he starts two games and performs well he should be in the camp. Same with Brekken.

 

He needs more than a couple games to be ready. Best to leave him at Bolton for the rest of the season and bring him in for the Gold Cup. That way we know how he is playing and if he can help us in the 2nd half of Qualification. No need to rush him and risk another injury. I mean, he hasn't played a full 90 min 1st team game yet. Chill.

I think he'll be ready for the Gold Cup and WCQ in the late summer/fall but that's just hope at this point rather than certainty.

 

I realize "he hasn't played a full 90 min. 1st team game yet." That is why the premise of my point required him to go 90 for two games. Failing to win in CR would place us in a desperate situation that there may be no digging out of. If Holden is performing at a high level and looks like the Holden of old, I think he deserves a call up.

 

I just don't think A) Two games is enough to get Holden back to his old self (if that is even possible) and B) The risk is far greater than the reward after only a couple games.

Would Bolton or the USA benefit tremendously from an in-form Stuart? Hell to the Yes power. Is that likely to happen by mid March? Nope. Not very likely. Let's see how he handles a regular schedule from now till May. If he is still healthy and actually any good (no guarantee...see Davies, Charlie) then we add him to the Gold Cup for his Reunion Tour and bring him into the 1st team fold after.

Neither the US or Bolton are in a desperate enough situation at present to rush things and potentially ruin Stuart for good.

 

I don't want him anywhere near this worthless gold cup. If it were for a conferations berth, then yes. As it is, take a summer off, get in shape, get that knee further along, and come back in 2013-14 firing on all cylinders.

 

This.

Not worth the risk.

 

It's not worthless, it's for honor and glory and more importantly bragging rights!(and a cup made of pure 24 carat gold, I presume) The Confed Cup is nice but it is viewed as a step above a friendly by most of the world.

 

That is he bs we hear only when we do better than they want. Confed cup is also worthwhile for a trial run. This off year gold cup should be used mainly to blood newbies. Holden needs to stay healthy. Getting hurt in an off year gold cup could cost him millions in future earnings. Honestly, i think it would b shittay of jk to call him in nd make him decide

 

I want him to do whatever his doctors and trainers think will be best for his knee and his fitness generally. If that's to rest, great. If it's to follow a specialized offseason training routine, great. If it's to keep working out and building up strength by getting match fit at the Gold Cup, great.

 

Dempsey surely would not agree with this.

 

Then the rest of the world is stupid. It may not be as good as the European Championship, but since that is not an option for us, the Confederation Cup would offer (if we had qualified) the best level of competition in a quasi-serious format outside of the world cup finals. And you get to experience the host country conditions as well. It also has bragging rights and beats the heck out of what the Gold Cup offers.

As for Holden, I want to see some indication that he is anywhere near the player he was AND he can stay healthy. Until that happens, this discussion is a waste of time.

 

Holden needs to
1 regain match fitness
2 regain his form prior to the injury

That's not going to happen in a couple games.
Let's not screw this up by rushing him. Besides, Bolton should insist he not play in this year's worthless Gold Cup.

 

Bolton is in no position to insist on anything. They are a middling second tier English football club. I assure you that the USMNT does not care one bit about Bolton. That said, I have no interest in having Holden play in the Gold Cup. This Gold Cup is meaningless except as a forum for unproved players to prove themselves worthy for the first team USMNT. Holden has proven his worth already. All he needs to do is regain form in the final two months of the Championship season and he'll immediately be called in with the full USMNT for World Cup qualifying. I expect that he will start Bolton's last ten games, regain full form and resume his role as a lock starter for the Nats in time for Match Day 4 on June 7.

 

Well, I'm 100% sure Bolton would argue, and I'm sure Stu agrees some, that as the payor of his wages the last 2 seasons while he's been on the shelf, he owes it to them to try to remain healthy for I think his last year on contract with them. Additionally, he'd be stupid to jeopardize his next contract with yet another catastrophic injury.

I'm all for USMNT doing well, and it doing well is hugely important for the future of the game here. However, Stu playing in this goldcup has little to no bearing on the overall mens program. His taking part might actually take a spot from a player who can use it to develop.

A world cup is great, but it doesn't pay the bills when you're 45 and coaching a u14 team in hoboken on bad knees and stiff ankles. I don't envy the choices these guys have to make. Fortunately, I have little talent other than running my mouth and a calculator.

If I were the parent of one of these 18-21 or so kids trying to break in and establish with an overseas club, I'd caution them strongly against going to a USMNT camp too early. Any calls to the under mens teams would be met with a no thank you, but call when you're ready for a full cap. Too much at stake for these young kids careers and future earnings.