Spector, Holden: West Ham vs. Bolton 8/21 [R]

Well we'll disagree then, because I think that is an untrue statement.

 

Bolton wins. Nice game by Stu.

 

Don't look now, but Stu and Bolton have 4 points to start the season.

 

Yea, that was a bit scary. He took a last minute touch away just like when De Jong tackled him. The difference is that De Jong never intended to go for ball.

 

We can test it in 35 minutes.

 

Not a small amount of this kicking around the thread today, huh?

Glad to see Holden and the boys grind out a fairly ugly win. It's definitely not going to get easier as the season progresses, so let's hope that Elmander has found his shooting cleats and that Lee now realizes which team he plays for.

I thought Holden had a solid game - my MOTM after Elmander (it amazes me that I'm typing that). Good passing, good runs off the ball, a good shot on frame from distance. What more could you ask for?

 

Holden's positional sense is exceptional. He does well to close down the passing lanes while defending and he makes really smart runs.

His late near-post run on the second goal drew the defender wide which left Elmander 1v1 with his defender. If Holden parks himself in the box for the cross and doesn't make that run Elander has a defender standing ball side of him and he wouldn't of had a clean header.

 

I only watched the second half, but I was also extremely impressed by his positioning. Holden always kept the team shape. He was in the right place on defense (every time), he provided outlets in transition, and he ran with the attack. Those nasty gaps that happened for the US in the World Cup did not happen for Bolton in the second half.

 

Great minds. lol

 

I don't know what you are talking about dude, I just watched the game live on my tv in my living room on DirecTV channel 624 (FSE).

 

Ummm....
If Holden isn't skillful, then no Yank Abroad is. Stu has been showing class on the ball.

 

That doesn't make any sense. Clint Dempsey is by far the most skillful yank abroad. Much more than Holden.

 

It does make sense if you have been watching how Holden has been playing for Bolton. He constantly looks like one of their best, looks like a natural in center midfield in the EPL, and I think you'd be challenged to find ways in which Stu's game falls short of Clint's in skill or any other area.

 

Easy on the Stulove Junior, Dempsey a step above in strength, against tight marking and making something out of nothing.

 

I think people forget how hard it is to step into this kind of situation and simply play correct and attentive football.

He is winning a lot of 50/50 balls at midfield, he is making the right pass and he is attacking in a low-risk manner.

This amounts to his 4th or 5th match in the EPL and he seems to be completely at ease.

That is simply astonishing.

 

More skillful than Holden? Quite possibly. Much more so? I don't think so.

Holden won't pull off flashy or dazzling moves, but he's always seemed extremely technically sound to me - very reliable with his touches. Soccer skill isn't measured in stepovers per second.

 

why would I take it back? I have seen him play at least 20 times. He is a damn good player, plus he has good skill. Not exceptional skill but good.

 

which is why I said he has good simple skills. That is a compliment, not an insult.

 

I love Stu's game but let's back the truck up a bit here. Call me when he's putting two in against Chelsea, daggering Juve in a Euro quarterfinal or placed on a major European paper's EPL First XI.

Let's give him some time before we start the silly comparisons. Their games aren't all that similar anyway. If anything I'd compare him to a young Danny Murphy. Attacking CM, always in position, good sense about when to go forward or possess the ball, not much flair per se but good creativity.

As Sam said above, it's a real accomplishment just to be able to walk on to an EPL team and look like you belong, let alone being one of his team's best performers.

 

So if he said "no Argentinian has Messi's skill on the ball" he be dissing Argentinian soccer players? I don't see how saying that someone is more skilled than other people in our pool is dissing our players.

 

by that standard then, Dempsey is the only American player who is better skillwise. Donovan is not. Jones might be, but depending how he comes back from long injury.

 

I'm going to provide a second echo to Sam's comment that one of the most impressive things is his seamless transition into an EPL starting job. What other American, save Donovan (who is much older and is our best player), has jumped right in and looked like he belonged? Very impressive, and an encouraging start to build upon.