7.1 Miles Per Game (R)

[Nutmeg]

That's how far Clint Dempsey is running in this tournament. Only two other players are in his league from ANY country, and those two are Landon Donovan and Michael Bradley.

If you want to criticize him for coughing up the ball, sure. That's fair. If you want to criticize him for not creating enough (never mind scoring the crucial go-through goal), OK, tenuous but I can understand that POV.

But criticizing Dempsey on EFFORT? Uh, no.

22991 meters = 14.28 miles over first two games per FIFA Statistics.

[toddk15]

Most important stat for Bob. How far and long did you run?

[appoo]

Not effort, just decision making

[ty webb]

Dempsey has historically scored big goals against good teams for the US.

Today's goal was clinical and came at a great time. Brilliant ball by Spector as well.

[IndividualEleven]

Everyone jogs about nowadays. What's emerging as more important is the number of runs at medium to sprint speed. At the elite level more of the distance is being taken by sprints and higher speed runs.

[Kalur]

Dempsey makes really poor decisions in midfield, but I like him up top as a striker.

[cpwilson80]

That's how far Clint Dempsey is running in this tournament. Only two other players are in his league from ANY country, and those two are Landon Donovan and Michael Bradley.

If you want to criticize him for coughing up the ball, sure. That's fair. If you want to criticize him for not creating enough (never mind scoring the crucial go-through goal), OK, tenuous but I can understand that POV.

But criticizing Dempsey on EFFORT? Uh, no.

Dempsey has become the great US Soccer litmus test. He does things well that few - if any - others can do. He also makes mistakes that seem amateur, particularly with turnovers.

However, to paraphrase an Adidas ad, he can be our spark. I have been, and continue to be, pro-Dempsey.

[IndividualEleven]

Dempsey doesn't make enough of those sprints and medium speed runs.

And he turns the ball over too damn much.

But I've always praised him for putting up the goals in big games. No US player comes close to him that regard.

[Nutmeg]

Dempsey doesn't make enough of those sprints and medium speed runs.

Quantify this. Here you go: http://www.fifa.com/confederationscup/statistics/players/distanceandspeed.html

I look forward to seeing it.

[Nutmeg]

Most important stat for Bob. How far and long did you run?

I agree the amount of distance our players run is a symptom of one of the critical problems of Bob's gameplan, and I'd be happy to take that on in a separate thread.

But this thread is meant to put to bed the mouth-breathing mindless criticisms of Dempsey's EFFORT. In Prozone, he is typically one of our better defenders. In this tournament, the stats are there for everyone.

I firmly believe the only reason people think he dogs it is because he doesn't have the facial expressions people expect from a guy giving a ton of effort. I'm inviting them to check their impressions against real data.

[TrueCrew]

He doesn't make enough of them at speed in my book.

I like him up front better.

Thing is, we are soooo thin on the wing.

[IndividualEleven]

Quantify this. Here you go: http://www.fifa.com/confederationscup/statistics/players/distanceandspeed.html

I look forward to seeing it.

His numbers are damn good, Nutmeg. But something is missing.

[radmonkey]

His numbers are damn good, Nutmeg. But something is missing.
Yeah. This stat.

http://www.fifa.com/confederationscup/statistics/players/passes.html

[Nutmeg]

His numbers are damn good, Nutmeg. But something is missing.
Oh, I agree. I agree with Appoo - his decisions are consistently wrong. But not his effort. Let's quit calling him lazy and focus on the real issues.

[IndividualEleven]

If I had to put my hand on it too often I see him lose the ball and not sprint back as quickly as he needs to recover the ball. I also don't see him running hard in helping the team maintain defensive shape.

Perhaps he makes for it on the attacking end in terms of his running. The man does have knack for getting into scoring position.

[Nutmeg]

He doesn't make enough of them at speed in my book.

Of the players who had been tracked through two games, no player had a longer "High Activity" rate - meaning "at speed" than Dempsey.

I disagree with your assertion.

EDIT: Sorry - two players covered more distance sprinting than Dempsey.

[75 Cent]

I will agree that Dempsey doesnt have the peed to play outside mid at this level. He's much more effective (and has always been) in the middle or up front.

[IndividualEleven]

Oh, I agree. I agree with Appoo - his decisions are consistently wrong. But not his effort. Let's quit calling him lazy and focus on the real issues.

I don't think his decisions are consistently wrong; he increasingly makes too many big mistakes.

As I mentioned upthread I suspect he hustles--in terms of the sprinting--a lot more on the attacking side than on the defensive side of things but those number aren't available.

[IndividualEleven]

He doesn't make enough of them at speed in my book.

I like him up front better.

Thing is, we are soooo thin on the wing.

Dempsey's numbers are quite good actually. Check out distance cover stats on the Castrol.

[Elninho]

Most important stat for Bob. How far and long did you run?

That's not the point. The point is to refute the widespread claims that Dempsey isn't running.