bad.... although I guess I will now be blasted for being "Anti-American" although I also think Quashie was pony* and Harewood was pony* *PONY.... and trap = CRAP!!!
Funny. Thanks for the explanation. I don't think you're wrong. It's one thing to say the entire backline sucked. It's another to say 1 man was responsible. I don't think anyone can say they played well. They lost 2-0. Obviously they didn't do something right, but to pin blame on one player...that is what I was trying to avoid.
First of all, I do not profess to be an expert (one of the few on BS). Secondly, the market was still open so I really only had one eye on the game. If that was not Jonathan that misjudged the lob pass, I happily stand corrected. On the second one, I agree he was not egregiously at fault, but I do not know who was supposed to pick up Crouch if it wasn't him. He did take a swipe at the pass but did not make contact. My son plays center back and if the other center back moves to stop the man with the ball from attacking the goal after going by him, he should fill his space and pick up any attackers(Crouch in this instance).
He's originally a forward, moved back to defense while with the U.S. U17's if I remember right. So it's not a matter of not possession offensive skills, I believe his skills are actually quite good for a defender.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x13j88_west-ham-vs-liverpool-goals goals... eh ... looks like Davenport is partually responsible for both of them... and why can't the US move the ball like 'Pool?
better video... you be the judge: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KCQ8E75AR4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWBJGq9vvnA
Regardless of accontability for the goals, Spector is average by MLS standards. Nothing special about him at all.
I thought that Spector didn't play any worse than any other member of the back 4, but that is not a compliment. Right now it seems like West Ham have a really weak back line which is regularly exposed because their midfield does not maintain possession very well. No one in the team has much confidence and this goes especially for Spector who, to me, is still trying to learn the fullback position. On a positive note, he does seem to possess some of the versatility that Carragher has, but I'm not sure if he will develop the confidence and instinct that Carragher possesses.
How is Spector's natural position centerback? He was a forward just 4 1/2 years ago and almost all of his first team games have been at fullback. I think Spector has said that centerback is his preferred position but that doesn't mean it's his natural position.
This should be the official motto of our Yanks Abroad forum for sure. This is especially true with Bocanegra, Spector, and Howard. I can't wait until Newcastle start giving up goals. The hand-wringing and blaming will be outstanding to read. Oh no, Thierry Henry blew past Gooch! He sucks, he's awful. Perhaps some credit should go to the offensive players. You know? These EPL defenders aren't marking Nate Jaqua out there.
I put the 2nd goal mostly on Yossi who passed it directly to a Pool player who then started the counter with West Ham off balance.
Not sure if Spector was "accountable" for either goal, per se. However, it's pretty safe to say, as has been said by others in this thread and other WHU threads, that the defenders as a whole aren't shutting things down. It seems pretty easy to move the ball around against the WHU defense, Spector included.
Those were two pretty good finishes by Kuyt and Crouch. Whatever happened to giving credit to a good attacking move? Liverpool are playing about as well as anyone in Europe right now and West Ham are relegation fodder. It's hardly surprising they lost 2-0 to a team that is rapidly moving up the table and challenging Chelsea and Man U. If you seriously think those goals were Spector's fault you've probably never actually played soccer.
Not saying Spector isn't head and shoulders above average MLS standards (somewhere between Bobby Rhine and Chris Albright), but the obvious answer is "not anyone can get a work permit." Name another MLS-based defender who could get a work permit.
All the evidence he needs is to watch MLS and watch Spector play -- it's opinion, not fact. My prior point was unclear -- I meant that while it is hard to compare players in different league, it can be done by people who observe and have the requisite ability. Of course, whose judgement to trust is the $1 million question.
hopefully Spector can work his way up to the MLS one day. His form is regressing playing weak EPL opponents like Peter Crouch and Dirk Kuyt. He'll never stand a chance against superior 'world class' attackers Landon Donovan and Nate Jaqua.
Or has an EU passport, which is how Spector can play in England, as you well know. No other American right back would easily qualify for a work permit most likely, as far as I know. I think Spector's better than MLS players, but it's not a perfect meritocracy to be allowed to play in the EPL.