Stuart Holden has been enjoying a dream season for Bolton, which made his expected participation in the U.S. national team's upcoming friendlies a highly-anticipated storyline.
That storyline looks like it will have to wait now after Holden was injured in Bolton's 1-0 loss to Manchester United on Saturday.
Holden was taken off the field on a stretcher after a nasty tackle from Johnny Evans, who went in studs up on a 50-50 challenge that left Holden with a visible laceration and bruising on his left knee.
Here is video of the tackle:
The full extent of Holden's injuries is unknown at this time, but given the visible state of his knee, Holden looks highly unlikely to be available for the United States' friendly against Argentina on March 26th and Paraguay on March 29th.
We will pass along developments as they become available.
MLS time
No, just being at a big four club does. Obviously it applies even moreso to non-reseves.
Lol if Dempsey isn’t starting in a forward or reserve striker position then I don’t know what Bob’s line of thinking is.
Holden should play Winger because he can, the other center mids can not.
Need all the best players on the field
50-50 ball or not, Evans came in studs up after leaving his feet. You. just. can’t. challenge. like. that. Period.
after some good fulham passing
nice left footed shot to the lower left corner from 20 yards or so.
There may not have been intent, but there was recklessness. Lack of intent is no defense. There’s no place for that kind of tackle in soccer.
The only problem with the English leagues is the English refs, English Coaches, and English players. Otherwise it is the best league in the world. Not trying to be mean, I like English people just not their interpretation of soccer.
I really hope the MLS goes away from this type of soccer.
Holden = unlucky
It wasn’t even 50-50, it was more like 60-40 for Evans, which does highlight his stupidity for tackling like that.
Not sure if anyone is justifying the tackle, but attaway to make this a patriotism isusse.
It was a daft challenge, but there was no intent there. It was a 50-50 ball and both were entitled to go for it. Studs up challenges happen. It’s unfortunate that Stu got hurt but you guys are really showing your maturity here.
How did Dempsey score?
Too soon to give up on him. United gave up Pique – who plays a similar style to Evans – too soon, and look how he ended up.
Holden’s teamate hung him out to dry with that pass.
Dempsey playing very deep in center of the Fulham midfield…looking pretty good. Maybe he heard about Stu’s injury and figured Bob would need a replacement.
Yeah, but the downside is that he did it against Timmmmaaay.
i consider that a pretty honorable trait in any player. more honorable than hacking other players down or going in studs up. wouldn’t you rather be known as a guy who leaves it all on the field than as a hack?
on a positive note… Dempsey just scored
“Always picking up injuries”? Come on…this play was Evans leaving the ground with both feet, studs up…you want to blame the De Jong tackle on Holden too, where he stuck his studs into Holden’s shin?
Other than those two injuries, when has Holden been out for a significant amount of time due to a problem like this? Come on. Holden’s been unlucky, twice the victim of stupidity on the part of another player. At least Evans was red carded this time.
He just meant that Holden needs to be more careful because he’s picking up a lot of injuries. He is always putting his body on the line for the team but sometimes you have to think about yourself.
Stu Holden is starting to suffer for being such a good, gutsy midfielder. Careless and dangerous tackle. At least the perpetrator was punished for it this time. This will likely only be a one match ban for Evans, but it doesn’t seem fair when his carelessness likely knocked out Stu for longer.
surely if his leg was broken we’d know about it by now
That’s why they are at the top of the EPL then, right?
really? this was holden’s fault and he needs to learn how to protect himself? that’s one of the least intelligent comments i’ve ever read.
Agreed with most everyone. That was a shameful tackle and you’re deluding yourself if you think it was fair in any way.
Get better Stu.
There is a huge difference between a dirty tackle and just a stupid tackle. When someone claims a tackle was dirty that implies that the player knew they wouldnt get the ball and just took out the player instead. There wasnt intent by Evans to injure, he was going for the ball, but it was a stupid tackle.
Additionally, United fans that are justifying that tackle are a a joke and I’m not surprised.
United fans that are born and raised in the States justifying it should be blatantly slapped across the face and reminded what flag is flying above them.
so if youre a reserve for a big club that makes you a primadonna? stop crying.
No way–Holden went into the tackle with his instep, Evans went with his studs up. Holden’s studs were not facing Evans.
Gentlemen, I take the blame for Holden’s injury.
While watching the match, I told a friend, “I don’t care how Holden looks today, I just want him healthy for the upcoming National Team friendlies”.
^^ Kiss of Death/Jinx.
Extremely frustrating too, because I wanted to see Bob’s mindframe on fitting in our loaded midfield and how he arranged the talent.
Unfortunately, it looks like we’ll have to wait longer (again) to see Holden implemented into his newer role his play, form and ability is commanding.
Huge sigh of frustration as I type this post.
How can you honestly say that wasn’t dirty? Oh yea you’re a Utd fan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cs88nvpF_gw&feature=related
im no knee expert but the knee doesnt look mangled and out of place (from the little that i can see on tv). Lets just hope its a bad gash and nothing more. Hopefully Stewie can learn from this and protect himself a little more
That wasnt a dirty play. Both players went into it with their studs up if you actually watch the video. Hope Holden comes out okay though, he’s been fantastic this year.
The photos from the game are coming out. There are a couple of Stu looking like he’s in incredible pain and Elmander and Chungy yelling to the sidelines for help. However this injury turns out, they really are a bit chilling to look at.
The one good thing is that his leg doesn’t look as though it is strangely positioned or anything.
This is just awful. Here’s to hoping Stewie heals up quickly and gets back onto the field ASAP.
He’s clearly bleeding after the tackle but his knee seemed to not twist when hit so hopefully only a laceration. (see comment above quoting Coyle) Plus they didn’t seem to put him in a splint, only wrapping it in a towel. Still figure he’s out of the US camp. Bummer for Stuart + US Soccer.
Screw Man U, the most overrated team in Europe
Evans should be banned for the season. Effin horrendous.
That’s the EPL for you.
Looks like it’s just a laceration… probably a couple weeks out to let it heal.
Why is anyone surprised by this?
Vidic? Rooney? Evans? Scholes? Carrick?
This is typical United dirty play.
Which is sad, because Holden has arguably had the most significant impact on Bolton’s offense this year, yet a bench riding primadonna at a top four club would still make more.
5 game match ban for any player on United would be Holden’s entire salary for the year
These studs up tackles need to stop. It’s one thing to be aggressive and physical, but it’s entirely another thing to play recklessly. The EPL needs to start handing out 5 match bans and fines = the player’s salary over that stretch.
I agree 100%, and any Man U fan (and this is coming from one) who tries to defend Evans should remember their reaction to Carra’s tackle on Nani recently.
Owen Coyle on Stuart Holden ‘his knee is wide open, we’re hoping it’s just a cut, not a break or ligament damage but we don’t know yet’
someone posted that on twitter from an interview
Absolutely horrendous. It does NOT matter if it was initially a 50-50 ball. You can not leave the ground and go in with two cleats up. And for all you Man U fans who are going to try to defend Evans as a good boy, look at his track record. He’s no angel. Repeated offenders like he and Nigel De Jong should sit out as long as their victims are injured–bottom line. There is no other way for governing bodies of football to send a meaningful message. For someone like Sir Alex who consistently whines about the referees not protecting his players, he has set no example whatsoever.
Really idiotic tackle by Jonny Evans. Holden was the best on the field. (coming from a Man U fan, BTW)
Evans is a moron, should’ve been sold long ago.
Adding insult to injury was losing so late like that; but it almost highlighted how important Holden is to the team. I hope it’s not a break or anything very serious. Bolton and the USMNT can’t afford him to be out for long.