Bruce Arena on Dempsey...

[macheath]

Lots of Bruce in today's Grant Wahl piece (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/writers/grant_wahl/08/17/us.rankings/index.html).

Here's the excerpt on Dempsey:

...On leaving midfielder Clint Dempsey off the U.S. roster for tonight's game: "I didn't think in this particular game he was going to be on the field. I think he'd be better off playing against Colorado with New England. I also think he needs more games, because he's got a long ways to go."

Agreed. Clearly Clint has not fully won Bruce's heart, although Arena is interested enough in Dempsey to start needling him in public, trying to spur him forward. Lucky Clint.

[ATPDC]

cause evey time I watch him with the national team he seems to be making plays.

[RevsRule]

Lots of Bruce in today's Grant Wahl piece (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/writers/grant_wahl/08/17/us.rankings/index.html).

Here's the excerpt on Dempsey:

...On leaving midfielder Clint Dempsey off the U.S. roster for tonight's game: "I didn't think in this particular game he was going to be on the field. I think he'd be better off playing against Colorado with New England. I also think he needs more games, because he's got a long ways to go."

Agreed. Clearly Clint has not fully won Bruce's heart, although Arena is interested enough in Dempsey to start needling him in public, trying to spur him forward. Lucky Clint.

He must think that either Reyna or O'brien can go the distance. I think that at some point, Reyna or O'brien will come off and Donovan will drop back and he'll sub up front. Against a speed time like Mexico, I can't see Reyna or maybe O'brien keeping up and he may need someone with wheels like Dempsey.

[ACGreen]

Looks like Bruce feels the same way as BSers on the "Honest Appraisal of Dempsey" thread, after the GC.

[okcomputer]

Interesting dig at Howard. I agree with Bruce sitting on the bench at FC soccer giant is never better than playing everyday for a lesser club. I hope Gooch doesnt go there.

[twelfth man]

Not a bad piece by SI. I never find coverage of soccer in the magazine.

[monster]

Not a bad piece by SI. I never find coverage of soccer in the magazine.
Grant gets a "Inside Soccer" thing about once a month. They will have briefs in the front of the magazine a couple of times a month maybe. And Grant does, I'd say, 3-5 features a year.

Would definitely like to see more, but the quality of the people who do the writing when they cover stuff makes it nice.

[appoo]

so uh, what position does Dempsey? and note that he is now a target forward with the Revs

[ursula]

He must think that either Reyna or O'brien can go the distance. I think that at some point, Reyna or O'brien will come off and Donovan will drop back and he'll sub up front. Against a speed time like Mexico, I can't see Reyna or maybe O'brien keeping up and he may need someone with wheels like Dempsey.

Well I expect to see some subbing up front but probably one of Ralston and Quaranta and ASrmas will be on the bench and I can see that perosn subbing in.

[ursula]

so uh, what position does Dempsey? and note that he is now a target forward with the Revs


And so the "long ways to go" bit is very apt.

[onefineesq]

so uh, what position does Dempsey? and note that he is now a target forward with the Revs And that's the quandary with Dempsey. He's like some of these 6'3" scorers in basketball that come out of college. Not enough "handles" and passing ability to play the point, but not enough size and strength to defend the shooting guard position. He may indeed get squeezed out because his skills are not suited to the style and/or the responsibilities that arise from the formations that Arena prefers to play. I hate it for the guy, but it's got to be team first.

[Aquarius21]

As we keep saying on these boards, Dempsey is an unfinished product. As much as he could be a great player coming in off the bench during WC'06, who knows if he's going to be ready. I've noticed he's dribbling a lot more than he was at the beginning of the season, and he hits the turf way too easily right now. I said on another thread that Bruce hasn't ripped Dempsey yet, but I think here he's hinting to wanting Dempsey to step up his game, and honestly I think he is right now... after the roster was released Dempsey scored against RSL and FCD. Who knows what will happen during this second half of qualifying

[appoo]

And that's the quandary with Dempsey. He's like some of these 6'3" scorers in basketball that come out of college. Not enough "handles" and passing ability to play the point, but not enough size and strength to defend the shooting guard position. He may indeed get squeezed out because his skills are not suited to the style and/or the responsibilities that arise from the formations that Arena prefers to play. I hate it for the guy, but it's got to be team first.

His jack-of-all trades means he won't start for USA anytime soon, but it also gets him onto the World Cup roster IMHO.

[DaMa]

BA is clearly just continuing in his career long trend of knowing when a young player is ready and when not. Ignoring the fact that he doesnt always seem to know when a player is done... generally when bruce decides to go with a player regularly in the starting lineup they tend to perform out.

Dempsey has shown flashes of abililty and raw talent but is clearly not yet refined enough. I have to assume at this point he is dropping down on the wc pool list and justifiably so. He may still be in... but if we have all of the midfielders we have now healthy, i think clint is on the outside looking in. Have to assume that ralston, pablo, LD, DMB, JOB, Lewis, Reyna are all absolute locks if healthy. Given that LD and Lewis may have multiple positions possible (and even DMB) How many more midfielders does that let you bring?

[Dave Marino-Nachison]

His jack-of-all trades means he won't start for USA anytime soon, but it also gets him onto the World Cup roster IMHO.

I agree. More importantly, his "What will he do next?" approach to the game, as well as his energy, athleticism and total lack of fear make him an ideal situational sub. Barring injuries to key players I don't see him as a starter -- but I could definitely see him playing an important role in certain games.

[macheath]

BA is clearly just continuing in his career long trend of knowing when a young player is ready and when not. Ignoring the fact that he doesnt always seem to know when a player is done... generally when bruce decides to go with a player regularly in the starting lineup they tend to perform out.

Dempsey has shown flashes of abililty and raw talent but is clearly not yet refined enough. I have to assume at this point he is dropping down on the wc pool list and justifiably so. He may still be in... but if we have all of the midfielders we have now healthy, i think clint is on the outside looking in. Have to assume that ralston, pablo, LD, DMB, JOB, Lewis, Reyna are all absolute locks if healthy. Given that LD and Lewis may have multiple positions possible (and even DMB) How many more midfielders does that let you bring?

Excellent analysis. Dempsey gets into shooting positions far more frequently than many US players, and then fails to finish consistently. Midfield play has a lot of energy, but disorganized. I agree with the sense that his current style falls between two positions for the MNT.

The Gold Cup was an eye-opener for all concerned. Dempsey is one of the top mids in MLS, but even CONCACAF was a big challenge for him. In a year or two, maybe he'll move to Europe (Coca-Cola league level, methinks) and that would help his game a lot.

[DrBobC]

BA probably saw the nike commercial where Dempsey was rapping and getting knocked down by the england players.

[DaMa]

Excellent analysis. Dempsey gets into shooting positions far more frequently than many US players, and then fails to finish consistently. Midfield play has a lot of energy, but disorganized. I agree with the sense that his current style falls between two positions for the MNT.

The Gold Cup was an eye-opener for all concerned. Dempsey is one of the top mids in MLS, but even CONCACAF was a big challenge for him. In a year or two, maybe he'll move to Europe (Coca-Cola league level, methinks) and that would help his game a lot.


Thanks. And just to clarify for those who love Clint. I'm not saying he doesn't have it a la someone like Razov who performs in MLS but does not seem to have the physical tools to translate it. I think Dempsey has the athletic tools AND the (equally important) soccer instincts to be a future international pool player. The fact that none of us are really sure at what position is indicative of the fact that he has not refined his technical skills to the point where he is ready for that jump.

[Colo-Colo]

I think Dempsey is a perfect example of the kind of guy who would really benefit from a move overseas. He has the ball skills and the athleticism, but he has to get used to playing qucker in tighter spaces, which comes from playing at a higher level.

He needs to go to a club where he has more of a clearly defined role so he can get more comfortable and think a little less. His problem right now is that he is good enough to start at just about any position in MLS, so the Revs use him as a stop gap where ever they need it.

[sch2383]

I think "a long way to go" is caused by the fact that Dempsey has such a high ceiling, has so many quality players in front of him, and is still so young. He is a very good player now, but has the potential to be great, so he has to be held to a higher standard.