Clint Dempsey is just tired

[furby]

There is a lot of Clint Dempsey bashing going on right now.

Relax, Clint is just tired. He has been for some time. Here is a quote from early May by Roy Hodgson: "We've had to use the same players all season and we’re pushing people to their physical limits. Clint Dempsey is looking very tired. It's his heart and his lungs that have taken him through. But we've injuries at the moment and we don't have a vast degree of alternatives.”

He hasn't really gotten a substantial break since then, diving straight into crucial qualifiers and now Confed Cup. So don't listen to John Harkes, who it seems has an almost personal vendetta against Clint.

I don't see a guy underperforming, I see a guy who rose up to make yet another huge and timely contribution despite the fatigue. We should be appreciating his commitment, guts and heart rather than tearing him down.

Sorry to go on, but seeing a WC lineup posted where a poster suggests Brek Shea starting ahead of Deuce makes me think the Dempsey hatred groupthink has gone way, way too far.

[Bruce S]

There is a lot of Clint Dempsey bashing going on right now.

Relax, Clint is just tired. He has been for some time. Here is a quote from early May by Roy Hodgson: "We've had to use the same players all season and we’re pushing people to their physical limits. Clint Dempsey is looking very tired. It's his heart and his lungs that have taken him through. But we've injuries at the moment and we don't have a vast degree of alternatives.”

He hasn't really gotten a substantial break since then, diving straight into crucial qualifiers and now Confed Cup. So don't listen to John Harkes, who it seems has an almost personal vendetta against Clint.

I don't see a guy underperforming, I see a guy who rose up to make yet another huge and timely contribution despite the fatigue. We should be appreciating his commitment, guts and heart rather than tearing him down.

Sorry to go on, but seeing a WC lineup posted where a poster suggests Brek Shea starting ahead of Deuce makes me think the Dempsey hatred groupthink has gone way, way too far.
Harkes had almost zero skill. An awful first touch and could not dribble for shite. Maybe he is jealous.

[SamsArmySam]

Harkes had almost zero skill. An awful first touch and could not dribble for shite. Maybe he is jealous.
Or perhaps we could simply agree with the OP about Dempsey and leave it at that. Harkes gave his all for the shirt in his day.

[CenterLine]

I was just happy that we won 3-0. I was tired at the same time, and it wasn't until I saw everybody else celebrating that I knew we advanced.

Quotes from the Man himself from the US soccer website http://www.ussoccer.com/articles/viewArticle.jsp_14942216.html

I think Clint's probably the most tired out of all the players, the EPL basically has a 1-week winter break and as a midfielder, he does the most running for his team. I think once he gets to rest his wheels he'll be back in top form:D

[E Diddy]

This is obvious. The people who are griping all the time about Clint aren't thinking about his long season.

[plorish]

Problem is that Clint may not get a rest for his wheels any time soon. Fulham have yet to sign much cover in the midfield and the added games of the Europa league will be a challenge for the whole squad. I'm not saying Clint won't be up for the MNT qualifying games, etc...but the man has played a lot of matches and could have a really busy EPL season coming up.

As to the general point of the post, I totally agree. As someone who watched a lot of Fulham this season, the greatest improvement in Clint's game was in his efficiency in attack and defensive bite. Lots of folks with the Nats can run all day (and we need our Frankies and Ricos), but Clint chooses his spots well, which is key. I too saw the Brek Shea bit and laughed out loud.

[moytoy12]

This is obvious. The people who are griping all the time about Clint aren't thinking about his long season.

Perhaps then, it would have been wise to get dempsey off of the field during one of the first three games. First, to provide a little rest. Second, to give some fringe players some experience. Third, because he was ineffectual for large stretches.

[humancarl]

I thought he was just tired, but then after seeing his face after scoring the goal I was convinced he just had a monkey on his back. Maybe ditching that extra weight will get him his legs back. If that is the case, we have Spector to thank. That ball was perfect.

[moytoy12]

If that is the case, we have Spector to thank. That ball was perfect.


No kidding. what a perfect cross. Spector has really impressed me.

[morrissey]

He's been "tired" for a long time now. Without Spector he'd still be "tired"

james

[TrueCrew]

If he's so damn tired, why doesn't his coach give him a rest?

1. He could have started DMB (left mid) or Kljestan (right mid) with Landon either of the first two games.

2. He could have started Adu or Torres in any of the games to rest him.

But he hasn't.

[CenterLine]

1. He could have started DMB (left mid) or Kljestan (right mid) with Landon either of the first two games.

No and No. DMB is just so out of form, he's the anti-dempsey, he hasn't played games for so long that he's just really out of sync.
As for Sacha, he has really hit a poor run of form, not only for the Nats but also for Chivas, I remember preki even benching him just because he was so poor lately. I would rather have Robbie Rogers(sweet nutmeg on Dax McCarthy the other day:D) out there or Jeremiah White.

2. He could have started Adu or Torres in any of the games to rest him.

But he hasn't.

I hope we get to see these guys but it looks more and more likely we'll have to wait for the Gold Cup to see any significant PT for Adu & Torres.

[Ghosting]

This is a lousy excuse.

The problems with Dempsey's play have been more about decision-making and less about fatigue. He has been holding the ball too llong and tries to dribble out of trouble instead of making quick passes. You work the hardest with the ball at your feet, so if he's tired, he needs to keep his teamates more involved.

BTW... I thought Dempsey did pretty well yesterday (even without the goal). I hope he continues to play more like that and less like he did the past few games.

[elephantstone]

This is a lousy excuse.

The problems with Dempsey's play have been more about decision-making and less about fatigue.

Even in my crappy co-ed rec league, I can feel my decision-making and touch slip the more tired I get. Keeping your mental edge is if anything harder than running fast when fatigue sets in.

I've been griping about Clint's play a lot, but I'm a big fan. He just needs some time off, or at least to get the last half hour of a match off at some point.

[mick357]

Every World Cup you hear a lot of the European teams complaining about being tired because of long seasons and the short break before the WC. The WC players typically start all season for their clubs. Same thing here for Clint.

[oscar_in_fw]

Clint had a whole nine (9) days between Honduras and Italy.... :)

How much time (if any) will he have off between the 1st/3rd place Confederation Cup match and start of Fulham pre-season ?

[USAin2006]

I think Clint looks tired, well, because that's just how he looks. Something about him, I dunno know if it's poor posture, makes him look like he's off.


But for a tired dude, he is covering an awful lot of real estate. In fact, he has covered more ground than any other player at the Confederations Cup, save Michael Bradley:

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

He might be turning the ball over a ton, but he is working hard off of the ball. I think some around here are being a little to harsh on Clint.

[Ghosting]

Even in my crappy co-ed rec league, I can feel my decision-making and touch slip the more tired I get. Keeping your mental edge is if anything harder than running fast when fatigue sets in.

I've been griping about Clint's play a lot, but I'm a big fan. He just needs some time off, or at least to get the last half hour of a match off at some point.
That's true... but the type of fatigue that you get from a long long season is different from the short-term fatigue you get when you are temporarily physically exhausted.

I stand by my original point

[mallrat]

Clint hasn't really had a break for almost 3 years. Last season when Hodgson took over he came out and said he thought Deuce was suffering from dead legs. I think it's the same here. He seems to be playing on heart right now. I actually would have liked to have seen him come off in the Brazil and Italy games. Even being tired he's still covered the 2nd most ground in the WHOLE Confed. Cup.

[Dom. FC]

I'm glad to see this thread because we (Mrs. Dom FC - not her real name - and I) have been saying that too. Usually a comment much like the thread title is made after we get done with a longer rif on how crappy he is playing. ;>)

When a coach has a choice between a long-term fatigued great player and a rested good that can be great player it should be an easy one (Torres, Adu, Benny all come to mind). (Sorry Michael the won-one-good-match-got-lots-of-help-from-Italy-&-Brazil pass only lasts 24 hours.)