He wouldnt be competing for left back. Whitbread plays 'centre half' for Liverpool. So assuming he ever gets consistent first team action at Liverpool, it would be as a central defender. I think the only reason he was deployed as a left back in UAE was because our situation at left back was dismal; as opposed to the center of our defense which was adequate with the pairing of Marshall and Cochrane.
which is how it is now. we have pope and boca as our CB. then there's Gibbs. after that...well...besides the bubble mlsers, there's also OO and even, possibly, Spector. i think the chances are likely that bruce might try him as a right back, and hopefully forever do away with the albright experiment. ooops...i don't want to hurt anybody's sensitive feelings by saying that.
I believe he plays both LB and central defense for the reserves. Although he is more likely to replace Henchoz' spot than Riise's...
No. They interviewed him after the game and he sounded as American as baseball and apple pie Hopefully he gets some minutes in the other friendlies...
But he did talk about "us Americans" which I was glad to hear. I was thinking the same thing about the accent though.
I'd be the first to admit he is a 'barely Yank'...just like Haertgraves is a 'barely Englishman'.. But the boy was BORN here, so he ranks a bit higher for me (but I know FIFA is different).....In the new world US, we count where YOU were born/grew up/went to school/value system much more then where your Dad came from... Europeans/Americans just view heritage differently...I'm OK with that. Its irrelevent, the FIFA rules are what they are.. I'm just glad Johnny Spector is a Yank...he's going to be a studdddddddd.
Interesting that you're OK with this but chastise someone with two British parents choosing to play for England. It's not as though Whitbread grew up in the US anyway. But double standards and jri are pretty much synonymous.
Last comment: My point (in previously posts) was he was a barely Englishman (only "technically"). I am claiming the same of Whitbread. That's a consistent position with this current posting. I'd be fine if both were disqualified for playing for England/US respectively. But the Fifa rules are what they are. BTW- Freddy's first year is playing out exactly as I expected. You were too quick to judge the kid's first season as disappointing. He is right on schedule to start and play in a top European league by 2007/2008, at the ripe age of 18. (Sklllwise, he'll be there sooner).
The nationality of one's parents is not a technicality. At least, not on this planet. If by Freddy, you mean Adu, then where have I passed judgment on his first season? Making stuff up again?
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/headlinenews?id=305466&cc=5901 think that link works about Diouf, but says: Benitez named all his star names, including the six players on Euro 2004 duty, plus five youngsters in the 23-man squad. They are the French U-21 pair Anthony Le Tallec and Florent Sinama-Pongolle, plus home grown players Paul Harrison - as third choice goalkeeper - defender Zak Whitbread and midfielder Stephen Warnock, who was out on loan last term at Coventry. You can read into it as much as you want, but I think Benitez brought along the five best youths who he thought would challenge for the first team this year. We already know FSP is a stud, Le Tallec has talent, but may be on his way out, i've heard that the goalie is penciled in as the future if Kirkland doesnt work out, and I've never seen anything about the midfielder Warnock. I think Riise has locked down the LB spot for Benitez, so I think the spot Whitbread is challenging for is centerback. Question? is Whitbread left-footed only assuming cause he played left for the U-20's and do you think will Benitez play him at an uncomfortable position at right centerback or move Hypia over? And what do you guys think about the signing of Josemi, does that mean Benitez doesn't have faith in Carragher to be able to do the job and/or in Whitbread to break in? Like to hear your thoughts. And I agree with all who have said it --- Spector is a stud. Looked completly at ease playing in a packed stadium against Bayern Munich, albeit the Bayern team that played that day sucked unbelievably.
I understand it very well - but that doesn't make it a correct statement, particularly as it's a sweeping generalization.
Hi jri and M - if you guys continue to go at it in this forum, I will be forced to remove your access. Consider this a final warning. Thanks.
All he said was that european view heritage differently and then attempted to drop it. I will drop it now. Can you.