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Spector facing surgery, could miss Olympics

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U.S. national team defender Jonathan Spector is facing surgery to repair a torn labrum, surgery that could sideline him from three to six months and would force him to miss the Olympics.

If Spector does wind up having surgery, which appears likely, it would be a big blow to the U.S. Olympic team, which would have had Spector penciled in as a starting central defender. His absence would make it all the more likely that one of the team’s three over-age slots will be used on a central defender (Carlos Bocanegra anybody?).

Who among the age-eligible players can pick up the slack? Michael Orozco was very impressive in Olympic qualifying and looks like a strong candidate to start. Maurice Edu could also be used in central defense.

Who could you see stepping in to  fill the void? Share your thoughts on the news below.

Comments

  1. I think we should use Cherundolo as a overage player to make up for the loss of Spector. Cherundolo is a leader and a long-time Nats vet. He would be perfect.

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  2. Sack Bradley before the next world cup. Youth program came off a great tourney in U20 Canada were are those players? We were just dominated in Europe U23 tourney. MNT was just humiliated by England. Something needs to change. Hurry Up, US!!!!

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  3. Thanks DS. I know a very good player who unfortunately had to undergo hip surgery for a torn labrum. I follow some of Original Aaron’s feedback on the shoulder injury. Depending on his threshold for pain he could play in the Olympics.

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  4. Torn labrum is in his hip, a far more serious injury for a soccer player. No chance he’s back for the Olympics, although it’s unlikely to have any longer term effects.

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  5. Gerald-

    everybody heals differently, but like I said before, I wouldn’t say he is definitely out for the olympics. I was doing all my normal physical activity (including playing soccer) 60 days after surgery (fully detached labrum), and I didn’t have the best sports medicine doctors in the world working with me daily to speed my recovery… To me, the argument isn’t whether he would be physically able to play by the time the Olympics roll around (I’m pretty certain he would be), but rather whether he could be in good enough shape endurance-wise to play. On the one hand, he certainly won’t have had any games or anything, on the other hand he can do things to keep his touch (like juggling) even while he is having to wear a sling to immobilize his arm (only the first 4 weeks). After that, he will be able to run and stuff, he just wouldn’t be cleared for contact. At the end of the day, soccer is a game that is played with your feet. Defenders certainly use their arms more, and he would be at a disadvantage playing with an arm that doesn’t have the same strength as his other arm, but it certainly could be done.

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  6. Donovan is also out with a groin strain, and evidently Orozco and Clark were dropped from the roster for Spain. This leaves us with a 20 man groupat Santander. With what we have remaining, I think we’re going to need to think outside the box some for our remaining friendlies.

    It will hurt speed and scoring not to have Donovan, so maybe we could move Bradley out of the midfield and put him up top with Dempsey in a 4-4-2 set, mainly because he seems to have such a penchant for scoring at Herenveen. I’d then put Beasley, Edu, Adu, and Mastroeni in the midfield, and have the back line be DeMerit, Onyewu, Bocanegra, and Cherundolo. Howard at GK. I know, I know, there’s NO WAY we’ll see Edu and Adu start, but it’s just wishful thinking.

    For Argentina at home, I think we should bring somebody in like Twellman, if we’re not going to have Donovan. We need scoring! I’d like to see us be able to get at least one win out of these three friendlies.

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  7. Really too bad for Spector, reminds me of Gibbs just before WC ’06. Orozco will be there starting with Bocanegra while McBride is up top with Jozy and Howard at ‘keeper.

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  8. It has yet to be mentioned whether it was the shoulder or the hip. Does anyone know the specifics? I guess 3 to 6 months for shoulder. Hip I would not see him back for the start of the EPL. Any ideas? Thanks Chris

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  9. thanks for the insight Aaron it sounds like he can’t possibly play in the Olympics as that is barely 2 months away

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  10. Suxs, he was great in qualifying and actually getting EPL minutes again at the end of the season. Spector showed he was the class of the young defenders.

    Call in Wynne for the Olympics!

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  11. I had surgery on Feb. 15 to repair a torn lab rum. It was completely torn off the shoulder and was a full repair. I’m no professional athlete, and I don’t have the benefit of full time athletic trainers, but I’ve been back playing soccer recreationally on the weekends for about a month now… so I’m guessing Spector is back in time for the Olympics.

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  12. so is it a fact he’s getting the surgery??

    they claimed DMB would be out for longer then he was… we Yanks heal quicker then the rest of the world… something in the water i guess…

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  13. this isn’t good for club or country. he gave us depth at defense and he is a solid young player trying to ply his trade in a top league. hope he has a speedy recovery.

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  14. a move of Edu back to the backline wouldnt be the worst move… if mcbride goes, id say this as a forward/mid lineup

    —-jozy—mcbride—-

    rogers—adu—-Holden

    ——bradley——–

    im pretty sure Holden is a left mid anyhow, but i cant think of a more suitable person to fit the right mid… with Rogers current form and how effective Holden was in the quals, i think thatd be a solid front line

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  15. That sucks. I like Spector, especially on the youth teams. I hold little hope he will be back for the Olympics, hopefully he gets back to 100% in the early part of the season for West Ham. I like Orozco to fill in, like you said, he was great in the qualifying tournament. I wouldn’t mind seeing Orozco get a cap or two for the full national team as well.

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  16. I sure hope Neven Subotic decides to play for the U.S. He’d be pretty much guaranteed to start alongside Orozco. I’d rather not see Edu play out of position or Bocanegra (who will need to get settled at a new team).

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  17. So he could be out till Christmas? Yikes. He’s got more to be concerned about than just the Olympics, I’d say.

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