this was posted elsewhere. but i thought i'd point out that he has made the team of the week at two different positions in the past month...LB and RB! http://home.skysports.com/list.asp?...miership&title=Opta+Team+of+the+Week+-+Apr+10 they must've been joking when the rated him a 6 and labeled him as unspectacular!
I'm guessing that the Opta rating is based on some statistcal measure (e.g., tackles attempted, tackles won, etc.) instead of an overall, more "real life meaningful" measure of performance.
so you're saying the opinions of the sky sports staff are more accurate than statistical analysis or am I reading this wrong?
I think a group of people watches a bunch of games, and combines stats and gets the rating. Just because one douche rates him a 6 doesn't mean three other voters wouldn't rate him higher. Team of the week honors are valid in my opinion... a "6" unspectacular from one voice from the same publication doesn't hold as much weight with me.
I think it will be interesting to see what happens to him next season. If Heinze comes back full strength it adds to the players ahead of Spector back there. Maybe United will finally get rid of Silvestre, which would make sense with the addition of Vidic and the emergence of Pique.
It may not be inconsistent - it could mean all the others in that position on other teams played at an even lower rating!
exactly what I meant to say To clarify, I think these guys (Opta) are the like the Punch-stat guys for Soccer http://www.sportingstatz.com/ourtech/live.htm So although I'm sure there is a reasonable correlation between some stats and subjective "ratings" of a player, I can envision scenarios in which a player's touches and passes don't really lead to anything meaningful in the overall context of the match.
I think "unspectacular" is a pretty good comment on what he did. I saw his 20-30 minutes, and he didn't do much but clear the ball a lot . . . and not all that accurately. He was nothing special. Must be a statistical anomaly, or a really bad game for all of the other right backs in the league. Don't get too excited about this rating if you didn't see him play. I thought he was marginal at best. I agree that this is guy for next cylce. I've seen him play about 10-15 times now, and he's spotty. I'm not convinced he's a great asset as the last defender on the WC team, and I'd rather have a more reliable defensive specialist for that spot (i.e., Hejduk or a fit Albright). People gush about Spector because he's got some ball skills, but his primary role on this WC team would be defense, and he's not the finished product yet. He's got a strong upside, though.
Thing is, it's awfully optimistic to view either Hejduk or Albright as a reliable defensive specialist. Hejduk is under-sized and has a tendency to dive in over-aggressively, while Albright is a failed attacker who is prone to damaging lapses of concentration. (Wasn't he burned for a set-piece goal this past weekend?) Spector, after a shaky start at Charlton, has performed competently over the past couple of months. He has held up defensively against opponents who are on a par with the ones the US will face in Germany; that's something Hejduk hasn't done recently and Albright has never done.
20 - 30 minutes huh? are you aware he played the full 90? and all he did was clear the ball...theres a concept. a defender that clears the ball and keeps the danger out of his defensive end and helps keep another clean sheet for his team. you're right, nothing special.
I think that the collective expectations for Spector on BS are just as out of wack as the ratings he gets. What is he 20/21 and he's playing in the premiership. How many US players have done that and on the defensive side no less. The games I've seen him play he's held his own and hasn't wow 'd me but considering how young he is you can't expect him to dominate. He has the skill and tools to be a very good player on the defensive side he just needs the experience.
"Unspectacular"? What the hell does that mean? He could be outstanding, terrific, inimitable and sublime, but still be "unspectacular". Why not just say he was "uncraptacular", it still gives no real insight into his game. Unless this is the sorriest play on his name ever, what drivel.
That's the whole point dingus. He was rated one of the top performers in the scale that this thread is based upon.
I thought he played as well or better than any other defender on the pitch. He made very few mistakes (which is exceptional given his age); he possesed the ball well, controlled the tempo out of the back, passed well, good crosses, and most importantly didn't make a mistake that gave away a goal. He's certainly not a Cherundolo type back (speedy sideline runs), nevertheless, he is turning into a very solid player. Please consider the level of competition he's defending.