Part 2 - Exclusive Interview: West Ham United's Jonathan Spector
Posted by Sport.co.uk on: 09 November 2009 - 12:09
Author: Nigel Brown
Big year for the USA, with the World Cup next summer, which players for the USA are set to sparkle in South Africa?
The USA players are getting more and more attention actually. Someone that you may not know about who I think could shine is Charlie Davies . Unfortunately he has just experienced some serious injuries in a car accident. He is going to be out for quite some time, and our thoughts are with him and his family. He is definitely one to look for in the future after coming on in recent games for the national team.
So, can the USA win the World Cup?
I think it is probably a bit unrealistic to think we can win it. Obviously, we have to believe we can win it, but certainly the most important thing for us is to get out of our group. And then, once you get out of your group anything can happen as it is a knock-out. It will be hard but we are definitely looking forward to it, and we will be looking to advance as far as we can in the competition. We showed we could do it the Confederations Cup, beating Spain, and nearly beating Brazil. So lets hope we have a run like that in the World Cup.
You hail from Illinois, the same state that Brian McBride grew up in. Did you ever bump into him?
We actually lived about five minutes apart back home. We grew up in the same neighbourhood, obviously he is a few years older, but I have followed in his footsteps. He was certainly one of my heroes growing up, and before I moved to England I spoke to him about what it was like, and he was really helpful. He is a fantastic guy, and had a great career over here becoming a bit of a cult hero.
Fulham fans say Brian McBride has never cried, is that true?
Personally I have never seen him cry, but you never know.
They also say, if he did cry, his tears could cure cancer?
I am sure he is honoured how highly they rate him. But I wouldn't put money on it.
David Beckham fever has gripped America. What do you make of his impact in the States?
He has certainly caused quite a lot of media attention to the game in the USA, and hopefully as a nation we will be able to capitalise on the attention the sport has gained there. Just as Europe, and England I think there are a lot of players that look up to Becks in the USA, and he is doing a great job of keeping the spotlight on the MLS?
Do you think you will tempted to give the MLS a try?
It is certainly something I will keep my eye on. Possibly at some point. But for the moment I am very happy in England. The Premier League is the best league in the world, and I want to keep playing here until for the foreseeable future. The MLS has come on leaps and bounds in recent years, and people forget what a young league it is. I am sure it will keep improving, but for the moment I am happy playing in the Premier League.
So, what are the hopes for the Hammers this season?
Well, we were massively disappointed to miss out on Europa League football last year. So this season, it is obviously a target of ours, and still is. It is still early and we haven't had a great start to the season, but hopefully our bad run is behind us. You have to remember most teams will go on a bad run at some point in the season, and I am confident we can have a very successful campaign.
The east enders are know for having a good sense of humour, especially with all that cockney rhyming slang. Who are the jokers in the Hammers' dressing room?
The cockney rhyming slang always makes me laugh. I have picked up a bit, but I always have to ask what it means. I have no idea what they are saying but it always makes me laugh. I just find it amusing. In terms of jokers I would say Mark Noble is probably up there, as is Scott Parker. They both use a lot of cockney slang.
Have you ever eaten a jellied eel?
I never have.
You should, they are great. Looking around the dressing room, who would you say is the longest in the showers?
That's not a question I am going to answer, as I wouldn't want to embarrass anyone.
Alright, I'll re-phrase it: Who is the last out of the showers?
I would actually say if you asked my other team mated they might say me, I always bring in my Head and Shoulders two in one. I'll take the fall on this one.
What about the gaffer? He looks well-groomed.
He is. And, he has started to wear suits in some of the games, so I am not sure what is happening there. He is starting flex some more style.
We saw Alessandro Diamanti change the game against Arsenal. But why has he shaved his head?
He has actually had three different haircuts since he arrived. He started with his version of an afro, and then he just shaved the sides, then he shaved the whole lot off. I am not sure if anyone knows what he was going for exactly, but I think he has decided to assimilate to the English culture and just shave it all off.
He is being compared to West Ham icon Paulo Di Canto. Is he aware of the comparison?
No, we haven't. It seems to be more discussed in the media than the team. He is still learning English, he is getting better and he certainly has talent. He is starting to prove himself as an impact player, and he is scoring goals. He can change a game very quickly, which coming off the bench is great. But I wouldn't be surprised if he started to get more regular starts.
Your USA colleague Clint Dempsey, is a part time rapper, have you ever laid down some beats with him?
No, I am afraid not. It isn't a talent of mine, and I try to stay away from that. My hidden talent would probable be basketball. My Granddad played for the Boston Celtics. In fact he was the first player to sign a professional contract with the Celtics, with his nickname being the original Celtic. He only played the first four years of the franchise, there was no money in it, so he had to get a real job. Missing out on the cash and the championship rings. I played through High School to a high level, but I am not sure I could have played professionally. But I could have continued to have played to a high standard at College.