http://home.skysports.com/list.asp?...id=21&lid=2&title=Painstil+nears+Hammers+move Looks like an interesting fight at right back....however, do we know if he is fighting for right back minutes, center back (or both?)
my question would be, will he ever stay healthy enough, not to play a lot during the season, but to be able to develop like he should. he has to be behind where he should be just based on being injured so much. ?
My impression is the guy is still a bit raw based on watching him during the youth world cup and his PT with the senior team. He's going to be good if he can get the consistent, quality pitch time with his club.
A more honest assessment has never been made. Here at YA and in USA Men, Spector has been annointed to a ridiculous level. He can be a mainstay for club and country, but he does still have a bit of a ways to go.
my question is though, is this do to his injury history. it would seem to me, he would be a lot better had he been healthy and able to work on his game all the time. and if he cant start to do that, will he ever be as good as he could. or will it not matter
Well, he isn't playing now and the Hammers need cover. As to PT, most teams have it all sorted out by mid-season. And I agree about Jon in general - good talent, needs to show it off.
I think you are undervaluing Spector. I say this based on my viewing of his PL games as well as the national team time. Yes, he has a ways to go, but in the right situation (i.e., right mates around him) I think he is already a power. The game that really impressed me was the last Charlton-Arsenal game last spring. Charlton was a disaster, but Spector was really quite awesome, IMHO. He was the only guy pressing the attack and totally stopping the Arsenal passing game when it came his way. I was thoroughly impressed. Do I think he will show that each opportunity? Hardly. But that performance demonstrated a combination of skills and desire that are wonderful and absolutely necessary for someone who wants to rise to the highest ranks of the game.
Well, I think a little exhuberence was in order for him. After all, its not everyday that an 18 year old American starts matches for Man U, and was named one of the 'Men of Match' by observers in 2 of his 3 starts He's still got things to learn, but his story is pretty remarkable- even with all the great YA stories these days.
Nigel Reo-Coker ... he wears the captain's arm band. __ West Ham roster as of this moment The more I look at it, the less likely I see Spector in a starting role. Still have to remember that with a good UEFA Cup run and either a good FA or League Cup run ... there are going to be a lot of matches this season for the Irons.
didn't ferdinand limp out of yesterday's game with a hammy? they sent him back home for an mri. if he's out for any extended time, spector gets more opportunities - which is what he needs.
I think Collins gets the first look in the middle if Anton is out for any extended period of time give that Spector is not likely to be fit until September.
I don't think that Spector will be handed a starting spot anytime soon, but he is getting some opportunites for playing time that he wouldn't have gotten at Man U, He is going to provide depth across the whole back line, and over the course of a long season, as he gets his chances and improves, he should see plenty of time. I don't expect him to start too many games early in the year though.
I don't think that's the case at all. Jonathan would probably get just as much time for Manchester United this season that the doom-n-gloomers on here think he will get at WestHam. The difference is the reason he would get playing time. At Manchester it would most likely be due to injuries. At WestHam it would most likely be due to forces he can control himself (earning it over healthy players). I think Spector is too competitive a person to sit around and wait for the next Wes Brown injury.
This can't be true. Manchester United are VERY deep in the back line this year. Across the back they have Heinze, Silvestre, Oshea, Rio Ferdinand, Vidic, Brown, Neville, and Evra. Thats 8 players clearly ahead of him in the pecking order, all 8 of which are full internationals for major countries. On top of that he has to compete with Pique, Bardsley, and Richardson to be the 5th choice backup to a world class back line. Now is a really really really bad time to be trying to break in to the United back line, especially at such a crucial juncture in Spector's career. In contrast, if he isnt a starter at West Ham, he at least only have a few people in front of him, and the level of competition isn't nearly as fierce.
I saw Paintsil play at RB for West Ham in the pre season game in Sweden and he looked our best player, I can see Pardew wanting to sign him. I see Spector as 4th choice CH and 3rd choice RB if we sign Paintsil. If Spector can play LB then maybe 2nd choice ahead of Clive Clarke. I think he'll get a start in the Carling Cup games initially but it depends on when he is fit of course. If Pardew rests players ahead of UEFA Cup games then Spector may get a start in the PL too.
Well then he made a terrible decision IMO. Supposedly, Spector had 8 offers (including extention at Man U) when he left. To swap a better team (Man U) for a worst team (West Ham) and not improve your chances of first-team action would be kindof silly. I think also your view is skewed by a brief Spector appearance last year. It likely wasn't indicative of his overall strength of play- and basically the entire season he played out of position (LB). Because the coach asked him too. BTW- Spector has been named 'Man of the Match' before at Man U. West Ham was only 8 points better in the league than Charlton last year, yet Spector got a lot more playing time with them than what you are projecting this year. Something doesn't add up here (either Spector made a bad decision or he is not as far down the pecking order as you would believe). Why go to West Ham to be a reserve team player?
I think he has improved his chances of first team appearances at West Ham then by remaining at Manchester United, clearly they are at a higher level than us and have more strength in depth quality and numbers wise. Spector is not joining as a reserve player but as a first team squad player and all clubs have to have strong squads if they want to compete and improve. We had to field weakened teams in PL games prior to a few FA Cup games last season as our players needed resting, we can't afford to do that again so players like Spector are important to us. There are not that many players just turned 20 that are automatic PL starters in any case, so unless he was a world class prospect he would be a starter at few PL clubs. Pecking orders change and as I already said I can see him getting starts in several games just not starting week in week out at the moment. I don't think we should get too hung up on how many games he starts at this stage. At his age it is more important he gets a well rounded footballing education gained not only from first team play, but at the training ground with good coaches who along with the other players are highly motivated and with top notch medical and sports science facilities in place. He'll improve more that way than starting week in week out in a club with a less advanced training regime in a poorly motivated team. His time at Charlton is an example of playing time not being everything, he got plenty of playing time but he was played out of postion so how has that developed him as a player? For all we know it may have set him back as he struggled to be something he wasn't and damaged his confidence. Few clubs have a better record of developing young players than West Ham so his time here will not be wasted.
I guess it all depends how many games he gets. Players get better by playing. Spector played 2 full seasons with Man Us reserves, and got some spot starts (in which he showed well). He had reached a point in which he needed to play. So he got loaned. At Charlton- well, I'm surprised you think he didn't learn anything by playing. Spector learned a lot. He was handicapped by not being left-footed, but playing left back certainly improved his ability with his left foot- since he was forced to use (more than usual). Also, defending does not vary that much (going from right to left back). You act as if it is totally different from right back. Its not that different. I agree it could impact the confidence of a young player- but since it was only for one year...in the long run, I think it was great fo him. He got to face Cisse' (who he shut down) and some other top forwards who were actually putting it all out there. Compare that to early Cup games vs. less skilled lower division teams (what may happen at West Ham). Give me 'Pool/Cisse vs. Smithhead/Swansea anyday. The issue is: Spector had many offers. Likely some of those were fellow Premiership clubs. Although it must be nice to have someone like Spector as 3rd or 4th cover for West Ham- it is not necessarily to best thing for Spector's growth. Had he gone back to a Charlton (who wanted him still) or say a Reading or Watford- he'd likely be starting or close. More matches- same opponents. If Spector had not put in the previous 3 years as such, I'd probably agree with you. As you project it, I'm not terribly thrilled with season as develop. Sounds mostly like practicing with the first squad and watching them play (if you are right). He's done that for the last 3 years basically (already). and more. Spector is not your normal 20 year old defender. He's had a lot more experience (with higher levels) than most. It is fair game to think he could do better at a (lower table) Premiership club. BTW- I think all the Premiership clubs are equally hungry- the newbies are maybe even more hungry (but less talented) than the regulars. Training facilities- hard to me to judge, but are West Ham really that far ahead of others? BTW- Its interesting that West Ham are pursuing Persil, when in an article 2 1/2 weeks ago, West Ham's boss said he would not be pursuing any more right backs. I wonder what changed his mind and/or how it was represented to Spector (when Spector signed several weeks ago). Sucks that for the 2nd year in a row, Spector is already a lap behind going into the season. Not easy to make that up (impression-wise). He certainly will have to be patient this season.