Zak Whitbread to Norwich: 5-16-2012 released by Norwich

Makes Soccernet's TOTW.

 

He's only about 22 months younger than Onyewu. We just haven't heard about him a lot because he's spent a lot of time rehabbing injuries.

 

Zak and Dempsey both make soccernet's team of the week.... when did we last have 2 American outfield players do that?

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story/_/id/1012068/team-of-the-week:-january-22,-2012?cc=4716

"Zak Whitbread was another outstanding performer for Norwich, though it's worth noting teammate Daniel Ayala could just as easily have been included. Paul Lambert's side's defence - indeed, the entire team - are a truly committed outfit and deserve to be in the top-half of the Premier League. Whitbread is one of those not blessed with outstanding natural talent but a spirited performance from him meant Chelsea's dangerous front three failed to score the solitary goal they would have needed."

 

Just got done watching chelsea vs norwich. Whitbread played a very solid game and positioned himself well to cut out a ton of crosses and through balls. He seemed to be actively organizing the defense which would be his job considering his CB partner is younger.

Norwich played a very, very compact and cohesive system so he rarely had to defend 1v1 in space. One area of concern was the amount of times he had to leave his feet in order to make plays. Chelsea were sending a lot of balls into the box and Whitbread was forced into a lot of desperate lunging, sliding clearances. I don't know how that bodes for a player with his injury history.

Although he was give man of the match by the announcers it wasn't decisive, I thought Ayala, Pilkington or Holt all deserved it, a team effort really. All in all a good game for ZW.

 

Almost two years can make a difference when the players are nearing the end of their careers.

 

Off-topic, but I think Dempsey and Holden may have both made it on the same week once last year. But your point is taken, and if it's not a first, it's probably a second.

 

I think Altidore and Donovan made it in on the same team in Spring 2010.

 

Jurgen was asked about Zak in this subscription only ESPN.com Insider story.

The coach was also asked about Norwich City defender Zak Whitbread, who was named Man of the Match in the Canaries' scoreless draw against Chelsea over the weekend and who could be in line for his first U.S. cap against Italy next month. "Zak is on our radar screen, absolutely," Klinsmann said.​

http://insider.espn.go.com/sports/s...94185/us-soccer-panama-match-unique-road-test

 

Great news for Zak

 

Hopefully he can stay healthy, continue to play, and play well for his club, and get that NT call-up.

 

Norwich signed another CB, Ryan Bennett, near the deadline.

 

I don't think I've ever heard Klinsmann say "No, he is not on our radar screen." That said, I expect Whitbread called in (late sub cameo?) vs. Italy.

 

I'm waiting to see a coach say something like that.

 

"What was his name again? And you say he plays in the Premier League? Like, the soccer one? Gosh, I've never heard of him, but, you know, me and the guys, we don't really like to watch games and stuff. So I guess we do miss a lot of guys if they don't fill out the 'I Have What it Takes to Play for the US Men's National Team' form on the website."

 

Went off injured with a knee problem v Bolton.

 

It's a shame that Whitbread is literally the most injury-prone American professional soccer player.

 

So much for that...

 

Dear Balerion,

I disagree.

Signed,
Frank Simek
John O'Brien
Claudio Reyna
Daniel Karbassiyoon
DaMarcus Beasley
Stuart Holden

 

JOB and Holden were definitely as injured as Whitbread, but the other guys didn't have as many injury problems as Whitbread.

 

Karbassiyoon and, maybe, Holden. The thing with Witbread, who I think is very talented, is he has not been able to solidify his position in any good way before having to sit for long spells to rehab. JOB comes close too but at least he had to those one or two strong seasons at Utrecht and one really strong season at Ajax to solidify his rep. It's too bad for Zak. I thought he was going to be a Beerhoder-esque back with a bit more upside. Hope this is only a small knock.

 

Holden I feel has just been unfortunate. A bar fight and two hard tackles, one of which has kept him out a year now. Whitbread's injury problems I don't feel are going to go away because they seem to be a chronic issue going on several years now.

 

Doesn't look bad, according to Lambert.

Via Ives.

 

Since when did not being good enough count as an injury?

One thing that's clear about Whitbread is that he has the curse of Spector's mom. He subs off with more minor injuries than anyone.

 

he retired at 22 because of knee problems, that counts as an injury to me. He played several games for Arsenal...if he is good enough to get in their team even on the periphery, then he's good enough to play pro soccer.

 

The only time he ever played for Arsenal was in the League Cup. Of the three appearances he made there, only one of them lasted ten minutes. Only after flopping at Burnley and trying out in MLS did he give up due to "injury".

At least Johann Smith got into an actual Premier League game.