Was Dempsey's yellow stupid?

[jri]

I thought he made a smart foul (and yellow) even though so many here have commented how 'stupid' it was.

US was up 2-0, but there was still 5 minutes or so on the clock (including extra). Why take any chances (Guat comeback) in such a big game? Dempsey got played pretty much a no-win ball (although he was a lil' slow reacting) in the middle of the pitch, (offensive end) with quite a few folks pushed up. The Guats were breaking quick, and several Yank players were caught forward on the unexpected change of possession.

If you are Dempsey, why give them a clean crack at a fast counter? By fouling, he broke the momentum, allowed his teammates to get back, and made sure the Guats would need a minute (or more) to work it downfield.
The only way the Guats were going to score a come-on goal was free kick or quick rush. They couldn't do anything against our set D all night.

Of course, it was an innocuous foul, and could have easily NOT been a yellow....but if you are Dempsey, I think you take that chance.....even if down the road you could get suspended as a result of yellow card accumulation (he's not a starter yet anyway....enough depth in midfield to deal w/this regardless)...

So why was it such a bad/dumb foul? I don't get it..

[DaMa]

My comment during the match was the same. Whether it warranted a yellow or not... accumulation of yellows is obviously not a concern for him at this juncture of his career. It stopped an obvious dangerous counter attack. In my mind it was what most observers would call a "smart professional foul".

If it was Landon and it was his second yellow meaning he had to sit out a game, I'd have a different feeling.

[Crew14]

I think it was a stupid card on behalf of the ref. I don't understand how he can let so much other stuff go (often without even a foul) and then give a card for that, especially being Dempsey's first foul.

[Chicago1871]

I think it was a stupid card on behalf of the ref. I don't understand how he can let so much other stuff go (often without even a foul) and then give a card for that, especially being Dempsey's first foul.
I agree. It was a smart foul, I would have done the same thing, but the yellow wasn't warranted considering some of the other fouls during the second half of that game.

[CCTX SoccerFreak]

I think it was a stupid card on behalf of the ref. I don't understand how he can let so much other stuff go (often without even a foul) and then give a card for that, especially being Dempsey's first foul.

I completely agree with you there were several more fouls even before Dempsey's that would by far warrant a yellow IMHO. I called it a "professional foul"...just a cool stop of the play...not a yellow though in my mind.

I did however, like the way he streaked into the box through 3 Guatemalans and took his shot (could've been better but hey way to go anyway).

[A_Bomb]

I agree it was a smart foul on Dempsey's part, and in all reality he shouldn't have any problems with card accumulation. With that said however there isn't a ref on earth that wouldn't have given him a card for the foul regardless of how rough the game has been.

[stopper4]

Smart foul/card, but not particulary bright in that there was no reason for him to be so out of position(i.e. in front of their attacking mid) up 2-0 in the waning moments of the game.

[Chowderhead]

Smart foul/card, but not particulary bright in that there was no reason for him to be so out of position(i.e. in front of their attacking mid) up 2-0 in the waning moments of the game.

Sure enough. But I think that we were putting the foot on the pedal a bit. Everyone. That sure as heck includes Cherundolo, as well. Guys were feeling it. And if Dempsey can emerge as a threat, so be it. At least he made it back to commit the foul.

[Motterman]

It was exactly the sort of smart foul I thought we were missing a few years ago playing down in Costa Rica that cost us a game...

[Adam Zebrowski]

dempsey's play is what fifa mandates to give yellows for, clear attempts to stop offensive attacks by fouling...

balboa's whining shows the defender in him...

I thought immediately of onyewu's yellow in columbus, similar attempt to kill an attack...

still arena's mandate was to push and attack, and not worry about things too much....

dempsey is getting into arena's rotation, so I presume arena overlooks the carding.....the eye of the tiger appeals to him a bit more than a careless yellow...

right now mastroeni, KZ and dempsey are the guys in defensive midfield, so clint's play will earn him more playing time...

[voros]

Smart foul/card, but not particulary bright in that there was no reason for him to be so out of position(i.e. in front of their attacking mid) up 2-0 in the waning moments of the game.
Remember Dempsey was in the A-mid slot when he came in this time. He replaced Donovan.

[Sachin]

It was exactly the sort of smart foul I thought we were missing a few years ago playing down in Costa Rica that cost us a game...
eggs-zactly!

[dfb547490]

Very smart foul. Now if it was Donovan or Mastroeni committing the foul, yeah, I would've been pissed off, because those guys have to worry about card accumulation. But it was Dempsey, so I'm not upset, the guy knows his role.

[forza inter]

i tihnk the ref erally really ********ed the game up in terms of no calls, on both sides in some cases.

some of what he let go was just really rediculous, like taht foul on donovan taht should have been a pk that he didnt call at all. there were many others. i think in the dempsey case you tell the player 1 more time and you see yellow, he had JUST come on so its not like it was really worth a yellow and its not like he had built up a few close hard fouls....just a bad bad card.


forza inter

[superdave]

dempsey's play is what fifa mandates to give yellows for, clear attempts to stop offensive attacks by fouling...

balboa's whining shows the defender in him...
Actually I think Balboa was just "whining" about the raging inconsistency of giving the yellow there, having passed up so many tactical fouls and tackles from behind.

[Adam Zebrowski]

true, balboa probably was more centered on the poor quality of the ref....

send him back to the cricket park...

[Minnman]

I recall Kreis getting a yellow card - about 5 seconds after entering the match - for an oafish challenge in a match (I think it was a qualifier vs. Guatemala or CR) about five years ago. Twellman's had similar moments. These have, basically been the "highlights" of the Nats careers.

Dempsey's yellow seemed unwarranted but, more than that, he followd it up with that incisive run and hard shot on goal a bit later. It was the kind of "I'm going to beat this guy and collapse the defense" maneuver I has hoping we'd try more all night. The kid seems to belong.

[Bajoro]

Dempsey made the right play.

Can't wait to see more of him. We've got to qualify early so the young guys on the bubble can get more time.

[ETSC]

Tactically it made no difference- Gooch would have flattened the guy. But I like the hardass attitude from Clint. Sets the right tone.

[puddleduck]

Remember Dempsey was in the A-mid slot when he came in this time. He replaced Donovan.

That a-mid slot ceased to exist when Bruce subbed Landon for Dempsey after that they were playing with an extra d-mid.

Not that Dempsey can't play a-mid, he's just a better pure-DM than Donovan.

And of course when Landon isn't just out there Doing the DonovanDillyDally (DtDDD) he brings sumpin' real nice an' special to the Offense.