Spector and West Ham travel to Anfield today to take on Liverpool. Here's the match preview from soccernet: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/preview?id=234861&cc=5901 and the preview from the BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/7260358.stm If Spector gets on the field he'll be making his 50th appearance for the Hammers.
It's now in the 84th, and Liverpool have a 4-0 lead. Doesn't sound like Specs was at fault for either goal while he's been in.
This is all I have on my matchtracker as far as Spector is concerned: 62:59 Cross by Alvaro Arbeloa(Liverpool), clearance by Jonathan Spector(West Ham).
Spector has the record for number of Prem Appearances by 22 for an American right? Along with being the only field player to start a match in the Prem for one of the Big 4.
I still don't see what West Ham see in their captain and starting right back. The guy has been poop every single time I've seen the Hammers play this season.
I honestly don't know where he played as I didn't see the game. I assume that he played in central defense because he replaced Upson but I figured I would leave it to everyone else to make their own assumptions. Heaven forbid if I said he played in the middle and he didn't. There are posters lurking in the shadows around here that would jump on that sort of oversight as though they'd uncovered Watergate.
http://www.skysports.com/football/user_ratings/0,19768,11065_2941224,00.html Sky gave him a "6". Fans weren't as charitable but the entire WH line-up was clobbered by the same token as well. Outside of Rob Green in goal, Spector tied for the 2nd highest (Mullens "won" with "4.9") on the squad
Any news on the severity of Upson's injury? I heard rumors that Spector will get the start v. Tottenham this weekend. My interest in this case is purely selfish as I'm heading over to London next week, have tickets for the WH/Blackburn match next weekend (First live Premier League match for me. Heck, first time in London actually.) and would love to get to see Spector first hand for a full match. By the way, if anybody has any inside tips on how not to look like too much of a rube at the match please pass them my way. (ie. Never use the word 'rube.')
While I haven't been to a football match in London I have been to London - the place has more non-British people than British people. I don't think it's even possible to look like a Rube (whatever that means)
Unless you are a genuine West Ham fan don't go in the club shop and deck yourself out in claret and blue, you'll just be viewed as a muppet. West Ham is not the destination of choice for football tourists. The ground is located in one of the poorest parts of England. It's that type of background that makes the club and more importantly the fans the way they are. Don't expect happy clappy tolerant people. You will be sussed if you come over as someone wanting to see an American player and not bothered about the game. I was the game and it looked like Spector was at CH. Even allowing for Torres being in excellent form, three of the goals were not defended particularly well. We've got a non scoring striker in a 451 which does not help either. We've not won at Liverpool since 1963 so I'm not losing sleep over another loss, though of course not getting in until 4.40am meant plenty of sleep was lost by the 3000 away supporters.
And, of course, if you're green, fuzzy and have a stick up your bum, you'll be viewed a muppet as well, but in a friendlier light one would hope.
How does it compare to Charlton? I went there to watch a game but Spector didn't play. Dull game except for a great goal by Viduka (Boro). The fans around me were uniformly negative about Charlton and extremely friendly and welcoming. A nice day.
Charlton has a pretty good 'family' atmosphere. As does Fulham. While there are quite a few families at West Ham games, a good number of them will sit back and watch while grandpa kicks you in the balls.