I think Arena has found Dempsey's real spot

[Bruce S]

Dempsey does well in MLS at a deep central midfield role, but internationally, it is too crowded for him to shine.His ball skills are excellent but he needs a little more space to excel.So Arena played him at wide right the last two games and he has exploded.It is partly Dempsey's form, but I believe it is a lot that that IS his position internationally.While not a winger-type midfielder, he is more of the Robert Pires-type outside player.Good with the ball , fast, good passer, and a REAL threat himself to score. With Beas or Lewis or Convey on the left, we will play a little asymmetrically, with a "winger" on one side and a more "midfielder" on the other.The point is, it works! Arena figured Dempsey's game out internationally IMHO. I think he will start on the right for the USA against the Czechs.

[jankballs]

I hope you are right and that he does start. I like him there and if he is starting it is because he continued his form that he has found recently and against higher competition.
I have been saying this for a while now, but if Demps shows the same skills in the Europe friendlies he has to start.
And props to Arena for finding a spot for him, even though he may have lucked into that position - Ralston injury. either way Arena did say somewhere that he felt like he finally found a spot for Dempsey.

[sidefootsitter]

Actually, Pires is more of a winger while Dempsey has been used as an inside-right mid in a Skinny Diamond (or, with Donovan setting camp lower, a "Skinny Y").

[carpediem175]

Either way, I like his style of play, he always seems to be in the thick of the attack. He comes off as one of those players that is always in a position to score, or at least contribute to the attack. Not too bad from long range either.

[Jagermeister]

I've had real doubts about Clint at this level. The mental aspects more than anything (speed of play, speed of thought, decision making, holds the ball too long)

Still not convinced, even though he is now giving me some real hope, and I want to believe. Play like that versus Germany and Poland Clint and you have solved a huge problem.

Keep it up. I want to believe.

[Ringo]

Bruce HAS found Dempsey's place:

http://www.totallysoccer.com/field_equipment/goal_products/bench_B21POB.jpg






now, calm down. it was mostly a joke. :D

[Jagermeister]

Bruce HAS found Dempsey's place:

http://www.totallysoccer.com/field_equipment/goal_products/bench_B21POB.jpg






now, calm down. it was mostly a joke. :D

Mostly.

[BenfromUSA]

Dempsey does well in MLS at a deep central midfield role, but internationally, it is too crowded for him to shine.His ball skills are excellent but he needs a little more space to excel.So Arena played him at wide right the last two games and he has exploded.It is partly Dempsey's form, but I believe it is a lot that that IS his position internationally.While not a winger-type midfielder, he is more of the Robert Pires-type outside player.Good with the ball , fast, good passer, and a REAL threat himself to score. With Beas or Lewis or Convey on the left, we will play a little asymmetrically, with a "winger" on one side and a more "midfielder" on the other.The point is, it works! Arena figured Dempsey's game out internationally IMHO. I think he will start on the right for the USA against the Czechs.

Yeah he is more of the outside midfield who lets to get down and dirty as opposed to someone who hangs out on the touchline. I like that type of player.

[Elninho]

I like the way Bruce is going.

Basically that's the same role Earnie Stewart played in WC2002 qualifying - goalscoring right mid frequently playing closer to the center. Dempsey takes it to another level though, getting stuck in and making tackles in the middle and following scoring opportunities all the way across the width of the field (he scored his goal vs. Japan from the left side of the box). I'm still not sure he thinks as fast as Stewart, but that seems to be improving. In his first caps he seemed to spend a moment or two hesitating as if deciding what to do... against Japan he drew a lot of fouls by turning and going with the ball the moment it arrived at his foot. A year ago, Dempsey would have lost the ball in those situations.

And now, unlike 2001, we are capable of taking full advantage of Dempsey pinching in, as Cherundolo is better at pushing forward to give us some width in the attack (whereas Sanneh and Hejduk were, at the time, sending crosses over the endline). Last Friday, Klein, as badly as he played, had extra space when he got forward because the Japanese wingback was pinching inward to mark Dempsey. Now imagine Cherundolo in Klein's spot, with all the time in the world to place his cross on someone's head.

[jankballs]

Even Hejduk now in Klein's spot would add alot more danger.

[Ringo]

(whereas Sanneh and Hejduk were, at the time, sending crosses over the endline).


good post, but I wanna give a little love to tony. he had one hell of a cross in the WC. I believe it stopped traffic all over europe, too.
:)

[dmike]

I agree Dempsey has been superb in RW spot but it all depends on that performance vs Germany. If he shines once again I will be sold on him to start that RW spot for the WC.

[Scoobs]

Dempsey does well in MLS at a deep central midfield role, but internationally, it is too crowded for him to shine.His ball skills are excellent but he needs a little more space to excel.So Arena played him at wide right the last two games and he has exploded.It is partly Dempsey's form, but I believe it is a lot that that IS his position internationally.While not a winger-type midfielder, he is more of the Robert Pires-type outside player.Good with the ball , fast, good passer, and a REAL threat himself to score. With Beas or Lewis or Convey on the left, we will play a little asymmetrically, with a "winger" on one side and a more "midfielder" on the other.The point is, it works! Arena figured Dempsey's game out internationally IMHO. I think he will start on the right for the USA against the Czechs.

The Germany/Poland games will tell the tale.

[Elninho]

good post, but I wanna give a little love to tony. he had one hell of a cross in the WC. I believe it stopped traffic all over europe, too.
:)

Sure. But I was referring to the qualifiers - against Portugal it was Donovan on the right side of midfield for most of the match anyway.

[ritsoccer86]

im half way sold on dempsey on the RM for starting in WC. After another amazing MLS season and his recent form, im very happy to see clint where he is. He deserves it in my opinion after all the off-season hard work he has been doing. His rap video, it shows just a glimpse of his desire to be on the WC team. Him making the WC team and starting will only making his rap profile grow tenfold. Right now, we dont really have a good RM except Dempsey. We are loaded on the left side with beasley, convey, and lewis but who would play right? could noonan switch to RM? we are short on RM. taking Ben Olson to WC would be a bad idea, his time has past with the USMNT after all of his injuries.

[Allamerican74]

I think Bruce found that Dempsey can beat up on weaker competition at this point. Like TT we'll see what he does in the upcoming friendlies against Poland and Germany, but wouldn't it be amazing if he did anywhere near the same level of play he has these last 2 friendlies? One can only hope.

[Bruce S]

I think Bruce found that Dempsey can beat up on weaker competition at this point. Like TT we'll see what he does in the upcoming friendlies against Poland and Germany, but wouldn't it be amazing if he did anywhere near the same level of play he has these last 2 friendlies? One can only hope.
I am curious about this statement.Japan is ranked 15 or so, and is in the WC.And that was their A defense. Who did EJ shine against? That said, I also think he has to keep in going.

[m vann]

Arena mentioned in an interview this week on USSF's site that he sees Dempsey modeling his game after a Gerrard or Lampard. If you will, these two guys are a "hybrid" midfielder able to defender and attack box to box. They can float from the outside or even venture into the middle depending on the flow of the game. They have no really set position. They are dangerous on the cross, dangerous at attacking 1-v-1, very good on the tackle/tracking back, and have the ability to drop a bomb from long range. Dempsey can be used in this role. Let him float a bit and allow him to dictate if he will play more defensively or more attacking.

[Allamerican74]

I am curious about this statement.Japan is ranked 15 or so, and is in the WC.And that was their A defense. Who did EJ shine against? That said, I also think he has to keep in going.


First of all that wasn't Japan's A team top to bottom...none of their Euro players were there. Secondly they hadn't played together since November. Remember how we played against Canada in our first match? Well that was Japan against us. Lastly Johnson actually scored against teams when it counted for something. Again don't get me wrong I would love for Clint to play like this against Poland and Germany but people are rushing to these massive conclusions based on 2 matches against subpar competition...it's premature.

[ritsoccer86]

but still, his performance was impressive. I'm not surprised at all though. If he can do it in the Guatemala game, he can do it in germany.