I first saw Jon Spector during the halcyon days of Fox Sports World (now known as Fox Soccer Channel). I didn't actually have Fox Sports World, but my local Fox sports affiliate broadcast FSW games every Tuesday during lunch. It was always a Premiere League match. On this particular Tuesday in 2004, I was home sick and fortunate to see not one but two yanks in action.
At the time, I knew that Tim Howard was the regular starter for Manchester United. What I didn't know is that 18 year old American Jon Spector also would get the nod at left defense. Two American starters for the most decorated club in the world? It was impossible to fathom. I didn't know much about Spector at the time, other than he was either incredibly talented or incredibly lucky. The game itself was pretty exciting, with Howard in top form. Spector fared well too. He linked up confidently with old stalwarts Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes. The young kid even had the audacity to make a few runs toward goal, with one shot narrowly curling over the crossbar. To see an 18 year old American shining for Manchester United was a rare, somewhat surreal, event... and it was short-lived.
Spector's time in the starting lineup was due to a rash of injuries. As the older players got healthy, Spector's minutes dropped. As an 18 year old, Man U manager Alex Ferguson rightfully thought he should be loaned to a lower-tier club. Spector found himself at Charlton Athletic. Surely, a kid who could man the pitch for Man U could crack the starting lineup at Charlton. It was not to be. Charlton didn't quite know what to make of Spector. He came through the youth ranks as a striker, but Man U used him exclusively as on defense. Charlton tried him in both spots, without much success.
It was during this time that Spector received his first call from the US national team in a friendly against Scotland. Based on his strong showing with Man U, I figured Spector would confidently take any position on defense he wanted, but, with the nats, he seemed nervous, unsure. It was strange... as if the real Spector was left in Manchester. It was an unfortunate sign of things to come.
In June 2006, Spector signed with West Ham. Initially, it was a good fit. West Ham used Spector often at any spot on defense. West Ham liked Spector and extended his contract. Over the subsequent seasons, Spector shifted regularly from the bench to the field, depending on injuries. He had a serviceable season in 08/09, faring well against lesser competition, but he always struggled against the elite strikers. That summer, Bob Bradley picked Spector to play in the Confederations Cup in South Africa. Spector started every match and was pivotal in the crucial wins against Egypt and Spain. It looked like the youngster finally arrived on the international scene.
Hopes were high when he returned that August to West Ham. For the 09/10 season, Spector earned 21 starts for West Ham. Yet, that's the end of the good news. While he did get minutes, his play suffered. Over the course of the year, Spector seemed to lose his technical ability, speed, and, ultimately, his confidence. The timing for this slump proved especially painful. Looming that summer was the World Cup - a chance to redeem himself in front of billions. He never made it off the bench. Bradley opted instead for Jonathan Bornstein. If Spector couldn't seize the position over Bornstein, did he have a future with the national team? Did he have a future with West Ham?
This past August, Spector received a few token starts with West Ham at defense, but he was quickly supplanted. He spent the past few months not even suiting up for games. It seemed clear he was not in West Ham's plans. With the January transfer window looming, Spector's future was cloudy.
That's when a minor miracle happened - a rebirth as unexpected and unlikely as pitcher-turned-outfielder Rick Ankiel. In training, the West Ham coaches could see Spector was not working out as a defender. It's clear now that his prior success at that position - especially the success at Man U - was due to quality defensive teammates. Against superior competition, Spector was exposed. But he still had natural ability. You don't make swerving runs across the pitch as an 18 year old unless you have true soccer instincts and talent. At this point, I've got to give the West Ham staff credit. It would've been easy to write Spector off as a lost cause. Instead, they moved Spector to central midfield - the theory being that, at the top ranks, Spector doesn't have the pace to be a striker or outside defenseman, but at midfield he could rely on his natural instincts developed as a youth striker.
Apparently, the training went well, and West Ham surprised their fans (and the US supporters) by unveiling their lineup for the November 30th match against Man U - Jonathan Spector at center midfield. Against his old club, Spector shined. He scored not one but two goals in a 4-0 rout.
It was a special night.
West Ham gave Spector the nod again last weekend in a 1-0 league loss to Sunderland. No goals for Spector that time around, but he showed well enough to earn a 6.4 rating from the fans (2nd highest on the team in the losing effort). The position switch clearly opens up a world of possibility for Spector. He's just 24 and may still blossom into a Premier League talent and regular on the US Nats. Sure, the sampling size is incredibly small, but it's a rare night when an American scores twice, especially from the midfield spot.
I'm very happy for Jon Spector. He had a fortuitous youth, signing with Man U at such a young age. But since then, he's been saddled with injuries, bad timing, poor teammates, and lack of confidence. It's a great story of redemption but also a testament to the power of coaching. Coaches can't instill confidence - clearly Spector's main problem last season - but they can put a player in a position to succeed. They experimented, and, at least for this player, it's worked. On a local level, I see similar talent squandered on the Pistons and Lions. Both coaching staffs should be taken to task for not getting the most of their talent. Why is Calvin Johnson not on the field in red zone opportunities? Why is Austin Daye playing power forward? Why is Rip trying to post up?
But I won't get bogged down in the negative. The Spector story is proof that rebirth and redemption are possible - at least for one special night.
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