We all saw the tackle during yesterday’s Netherlands/USA tilt (Precious Roy and Spectator saw it from a better angle, I’m sure) and the prognosis for American midfielder Stuart Holden isn’t good: fractured fibula, and six-to-eight weeks on the sidelines. Begin your GRRR! campaigns against Manchester City’s Nigel De Jong right about…. now.
I think it’s sad how these other teams hunt for US players like this. I mean, we’ve had 3 or 4 big injuries in the past year, so it must be true.
Motherf**ker. This is what I wake up to?
Dan-Nicely done.
Crap, crap, crap, just as he was really asserting himself with Bolton too.
After my re-education process from the debate earlier this week I am prepared to say that Holden’s problem is that he got too close to the ball in a 50-50 challenge and played it too quickly, De Jong is a good boy who’s never done this before and is therefore utterly blameless, and I for one am looking forward to a continuation of more ankle and leg breaking tackles– an integral part of football since time immemorial and therefore not up for ever being changed.
Seriously though, this sucks… Holden has had a recent knack of scoring timely goals for the USMNT.
hock, that tackle was closer to Gallas on Taylor (high and late) than Shawcross on Ramsey (clumsy)
Holden’s problem is that he is too fast and small and tried to take possession off the slower player.
Horrendous challenge. I don’t expect the ref to see it as it happened so fast.
FIFA needs to protect players. How? I wish I knew. I am sure de Jong had no bad intent, but that doesn’t excuse his lateness and high studs.
It ticked me off too to see the US players refuse to get in de Jong’s face. The only one with any balls to start yapping at him was Bradley. Say what you want about Baby Bradley but he doesn’t back down.
@Corky: You might have to change your avatar to this:
http://i.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01589/stuart-holden_1589889c.jpg
Let’s be straight here: FIFA doesn’t owe anything to anyone. They have the money and the beauty of never having to cede power to anyone.
They tried protecting players when they outlawed the tackles from behind in 1998, though refs took forever to understand the rules and waved red cards like they were going out of style. I’m not sure how they can ever stop being tackling hard, nor whether they should.
@Goat: Nice one.
@JT: Of course on FIFA. But I can dream!
AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
De Jong had one of these against Japan aswell. its like he cant play in a friendly game (not that this is allowed in a game that matters). he just doesnt have the sense to take it easier, eventhough he’s guaranteed a spot in the line up. Our head coach is not happy with this at all. he better bring cover cause Nigel will get suspended at the WC. hope the US kid will be good to go in time for the WC, but I think he should, right?
I think Holden will be back, Joep. Problem is, if he wasn’t before, now he is, at best, a borderline pick for the team. Even if he heals well, I don’t think he goes this time.
Oh, I think Stu is still pretty easily on the plane if he gets back healthy in time. Who would Bradley take over him? Robbie Rogers?
I dunno. It’s going to be cutting it really close to get him back before the end of the season. Of course, it’s Bob, so who knows what will happen. But I think that coming off an injury like that, he just won’t have enough time to get his legs back for the World Cup. Especially given the rather horrendous travel to get there.
Deep bench, as a late sub, is probably the best option for Holden.
Stu’s going. Apparently, as long as there’s no ligament damage, this is the mildest form of a leg break and he should be back by mid-April. Hopefully, Coyle will give him some games.
I do think he’s a sub. Believe it or not, I think Beasley will start in SA with Donovan up top with Altidore.