Dempsey once again in the starting lineup. Friedel on the bench. Game is at 8:30 am, Eastern Time. #THFC team today: Lloris, Walker, Dawson, Vertonghen, Assou-Ekotto, Dembele, Parker, Lennon, Bale, Dempsey & Defoe #THFC subs: Friedel, Gallas, Naughton, Huddlestone, Livermore, Sigurdsson & Holtby #COYS
Hopefully Dempsey scores in the 40th to put them up 2-0 and is subbed at halftime so he can rest and get on a plane to Miami.
Make that a hat-trick, a 3-0 lead, with Dempsey and Bale getting a rest to see what Siggy, Holtby, and Defoe can do in the second half. I wonder if Holtby can take Parker's or Dembele's place ? Dempsey has to score goals to keep his starting spot. Even then, he might be rested for the EPL game next week after international duty.
parker is going to get manhandled. so are defoe and dempsey for that matter. lets hope Deforward can get two strikes and lennon and bale can run the pitch.
Is parker always out of position or just on defense and transition? Park Lukaku above CB's have Long run off him. Should score at least one.
important fact: clint is wearing fuchsia boots. --------------Defoe--------------- ------------------Bale-------------- Dempsey-------------------Lennon---- -------------Parker-----Dembele------- Dempsey with an open header into side netting. Should have done better. Another missed chance. I think he had his nose broken or nearly broken early by a defenders elbow. It is noticeably red and a bit swollen.
This is my least favorite announcing team. John Champion always sounds like he's just seconds from making love to himself.
Parker makes a lot of moves forward, but he is terrible at it. Meanwhile, Dembo is forced to check his runs because Parker is free-flowing out there. AvB needs to put a leash on parker and let Dembo work it forward.
Dempsey is going to get reamed for that side net header and just failing to reach Dembele's through ball. And Bale with a tight angle shot where a pass in front of the mouth seemed more promising (so what else is new?).
And Bale with the great run and terrible look off of Dempsey, who's perfect run and positioning was ignored by Bale and will be so by ignant spuds fans.
The team looks sluggish again. Dempsey should have done better with that header. Unbelievably selfish play by Bale in the 14th. This is a 50 million player?
Thats the thing. It was a beautiful run and great play. But the biggest difference between he and Messi/Ronaldo is that they would have played in the teamate (amongst other things).
It's that slooooooow buildup and tempo. Same reason I find USMNT so frustrating to watch. Too many slow touches. Gotta play it faster to break that last line.
yeah, I know man. same story last match. he ran past many defenders, but he was not able to convert it. The difference is pretty simple, he doesnt know how to translate talent into winning. He still thinks winning is running past people.
Too bad the Tottenham fans see no wrong with Bale's play (and usually for good reason to be fair) but Bale could have tons more assists (and fewer goals) if he were less selfish.